Mailboxes, spray paint, and the police

One of our more interesting experiences happened just a few days after we moved into our new house. Since our new mailbox had the name of the old owner painted on it, mom sent my brother and I with a can of black spray paint to paint over it. After enjoying the half mile hike we arrived at the row of ten mailboxes. While we stood in front of the long line of mailboxes shaking a can of black spray paint, a police car turned in. I was afraid of how this looked, but Philip and I both mustered up a smile and waved cheerfully, trying hard not to look like a pair of vandals. After all we had nothing to hide, right? Luckily he completely ignored us driving by a little faster than the 20 mph speed limit. My brother and I looked at each other and laughed, not the “wow that was cool” laugh, but “wow that was close” laugh. To keep from spraying over the house number while we sprayed over the previous owners' name we made do with 2 large leaves and a hunk of cement we found beside the road. After finishing our appointed task, we had begun our trek home when the policeman passed again this time he too smiled and waved. We had an interesting story to tell mom when we reached home. ---Anna