Paint can over the door

“VICKY! STOP!” Zack tried to warn his friend, but it was too late.

As soon as Victoria was inside her apartment, the trap set by her brothers did what it was supposed to do. Vicky screamed as a cascade of red paint poured all over her body. The crimson liquid wasted no time absorbing into her brand new dress. As it splattered on the floor, the paint created a pool at her feet, ruining her shoes as well.

The poor girl gasped not only at the sudden **** from the liquid, but from how cold the stuff was. Tears filled her eyes as she stood there in her doorway. Zack to his credit stepped up to the plate again.

“MISTER WALKER! GET OUT HERE NOW!” Zack shouted as he ripped the paint can off of its perch and tossed it down the steps. He then wrapped his arms around Vicky, not caring that he got paint all over himself.

In an instant, Don Walker sprung from his back door and flew off his deck towards his daughter’s living space. Olivia was right behind him.

“WHAT HAPPENED?” Don shouted up to Zack as he hit the steps.

“The twins! They rigged her door with an open paint can and she walked right into it! It spilled all over her! Watch your step! There’s paint everywhere,” Zack informed Don as he ran to his little girl’s aid. Scooping her up, Don carried her into the bathroom and placed her in the tub.

“OH MY GOD!” Olivia yelled as she saw the mess in her daughter’s doorway.

“Liv, she’s gonna need your help getting that paint out of her hair,” Don informed his wife as he foraged for cleaning supplies under Vicky’s sink. “This isn’t going to work. Zack, come with me, I have stronger stuff in the garage.”

Zack maneuvered around the paint puddle and followed Don down into his garage. The severity of the situation prevented Zack from admiring Don’s classic Chevy Bel Air. As Zack held out his hands, Don filled them with various cleaners and paint thinners.

“Do you think we’ll be able get all the paint out with this?” Zack asked.

“Oh, we ain’t cleaning up this mess. My idiot sons are. That is if their sister doesn’t kill them first. Can you take this stuff upstairs while I go get those little assholes?” Don asked.

“Sure thing!” Zack nodded as he headed out of the garage, making sure to close it behind him.

As Zack carried everything up the steps, he could hear Don shouting at his sons. Zack shook his head and thanked his lucky stars that he wasn’t in their place right now. As he carefully placed everything away from the paint, Zack listened to the two boys trying to argue their way out of the mess they were in.

“WE DIDN’T DO NOTHING DAD!” Kevin shouted.

“YEAH! ZACK DID IT!” Jimmy added.

“Don’t care if he did! You’re still cleaning it!” Don informed them.

“THAT’S NOT FAIR!” the boys screamed in unison.

“NOT FAIR? Did you two morons stop to think what could have happened if Vicky got that shit in her eyes? Or if the can came loose and hit her in the head? NO? DIDN’T THINK SO!” Don blew a gasket as he dragged his sons up the stairs and threw them to the floor.

“We weren’t tryin’ to get her, Dad. We were trying to get him!” Jimmy stated.

“I thought you said ‘Zack did it’? Guess what? You two are going to sit there all night and watch the shit dry. Then, you’re going to clean it up. And when your mother and Vicky are finished in the shower, you’re going to clean that up as well. If you miss one God damned drop of paint, you’ll be cleaning the whole apartment again! You’re also going to buy Vicky AND Zack new clothes to replace the ones you ruined!” Don fumed.

“Is there anything else you need from downstairs, Mister Walker?” Zack asked.

“No Zack, I think we’re good. If they need something else, I’ll make them get it,” Vicky’s father replied as he walked the boy outside. “Listen, I know I told you to stay out here, but no one’s going to sleep anytime soon. I’d invite you to stay in the house, but there will probably be a lot of screaming here in the morning. Do you mind staying at your place by yourself tonight?”

“Not at all, Sir. I understand completely. Can you ask Vicky to call or text me when she’s ready?” Zack asked.

“Absolutely. And if she doesn’t want to talk, I’ll shoot you a message with her phone. Let me grab your stuff before you go!”