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Ben and Bob are standing outside the school with construction outfits and holding a toolbox and ladder. They are discussing what needs to be fixed with the principal.
Bob and Ben are builders. They are at the school. 'What needs fixing today?' says Ben.
Inside the classroom reading corner under fluorescent lights, Ben holds a tape measure against a wobbly wooden bookshelf, concentrating, while Bob steadies a bubble level, grinning. Scattered screws and a screwdriver lie on the floorboards beside them.
'Oh no! This shelf is going to fall. 'Can we fix it, YES WE CAN!'
A bookshelf that Ben and Bob were trying to fix falls on top of them and books fly everywhere
Wobble Wobble Wobble. The shelf is falling! Helppppppppp!
On the sunlit playground asphalt, Bob crouches placing blue painter's tape in straight lines, concentrating, while Ben stands with a roller dripping bright yellow paint, cheerful. Orange traffic cones and a soccer goal frame the background.
Outside, the playground lines had faded. "Fresh paint will help games," Ben said. Bob taped straight guides carefully. "Bright yellow, coming up!" he cheered. They rolled paint like sunshine stripes.
Inside a tidy classroom at midday, Bob kneels holding a wooden student desk steady, serious, while Ben slides a slim wood shim beneath a shaky leg, smiling. Sunlight filters through blinds, illuminating scattered pencils and notebooks on nearby desks.
In a classroom, a desk wobbled. "Let's fix the legs," Bob said. Ben found a snug wood shim. "Hold it steady," she guided. The desk stood firm, ready for homework.
Beside tall classroom windows glowing with afternoon light, Bob, wearing safety glasses, saws a pine board on a workbench, focused, while Ben measures another board with a tape, content. A partially assembled rectangular planter box and wood shavings surround them.
By the windows, dirt needed borders. "A planter box would help," Ben said. Bob measured boards with tape. "Safety glasses on," he reminded. They sawed, sanded, and screwed a rectangle.
On a dim indoor stairwell, Ben grips a metal handrail, determined, while Bob kneels beside her, tightening a bolt with a wrench, concentrating. Yellow safety stripes edge the concrete steps and a fluorescent fixture casts cool light overhead.
On the stairs, a handrail wiggled. "Loose bolts," Bob noted. Ben held the rail. "I'll tighten with the wrench," she said. The rail felt solid, keeping steps safe and steady.
In a bright hallway corner, Bob stirs white filler in a plastic tray, focused, while Ben spreads the paste over a zigzag crack on the beige wall with a putty knife, smiling gently. A paint roller and bucket wait nearby.
A small wall crack zigzagged. "We can patch that," Ben said. Bob mixed smooth filler carefully. "Spread it like icing," he joked. Together, they smoothed, waited, then painted a finish.
Inside the school workshop lit by a single hanging bulb, Ben stands at an open toolbox, drawing colorful labels, content, while Bob arranges hammers and drills on pegboard hooks, pleased. Neat rows of jars filled with screws line the shelf.
Back in the workshop corner, they organized tools. "Labels help everyone," Bob said. Ben drew pictures for each label. "Hammer, screwdriver, drill," she read. The toolbox looked tidy, and welcoming.
Outside the school entrance in golden afternoon sunlight, Bob slides a packed toolbox into the bright truck’s bed, proud, while Ben raises her hand for a triumphant high-five, beaming. The repaired playground and tidy planters appear in the background.
Afternoon sun warmed the school. "Everything's fixed and safe," Ben cheered. Bob packed the last tool. "Teamwork builds communities," he said proudly. They high-fived, promised return checks, and rolled smiling.