Edward and Freya paint opposite sides of rectangular wooden planter bright blue with brushes in school courtyard.

The Wet Paint

School Readers · Level 11

Edward and Freya paint a wooden planter at school. They choose a bright blue colour. Edward paints one side while Freya paints the other. They put the brushes down when they finish.

Freya hand pauses above freshly blue-painted planter side while Edward gently gestures wait.

Freya reaches toward the planter. “Wait,” says Edward. “The paint is still wet.” She stops before touching it. “We need to let it dry,” she says.

Visiting orange-sweatshirt student holds pot of flowers and asks Freya beside wet blue planter; Edward nearby, no flowers inside planter yet.

A student walks toward the planter with a pot of flowers. “Can I put this in now?” she asks. “Not yet,” says Freya. “The sides need more time to dry.”

Edward and Freya place plain warning card on small stand beside wet blue planter while Miss Dale helps keep area clear.

Edward makes a small sign. Freya puts it beside the planter where people can see it. Then they tell their teacher, Miss Dale, about the wet paint. She helps them keep the area clear.

Next morning Miss Dale checks dry blue planter while Edward and Freya put flower pots inside.

The next morning, the paint is dry. Miss Dale checks the planter with them. Edward and Freya put the flower pots inside. They move the sign away.

Edward and Freya admire dry blue planter full of colourful potted flowers beside school door.

The blue planter stands beside the school door. Freya looks at the flowers. “It was worth waiting,” she says. Edward smiles. “And we kept the blue paint off our hands!”

The Wet Paint

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