Saturday m began for Billy by waking up early, as he had ag csses scheduled after lunch. Before that, he had a theater pany workshop on cssical improvisation and a painting to finish.

  Billy took a refreshing cold shorepared to head home to work on a mural for the toy store. His creative ideas teo lean towards the extravagantly unique. Saturdays were one of the busiest days at the mall, with families, young people, couples, and children heading out to watch a movie, enjoy a delieal at a reended restaurant, or visit the mall.

  The early m was illuminated by a clear blue sky, and the cold alpable, an unusual occurren California. He hopped on the bus to the ema. After all, the toy store was right across from the ema. Buying the storefront had been costly, and the repair expenses added up to a substantial sum. However, for now, property taxes are more eical than paying regur rent.

  He spotted the rge store in the distance. A sed flht be a possibility iure, but for now, one floor is more than enough. The rge vas mural was destio bee one of his artworks. What better way to give it a unique look? He bought spray paint s, various tempera, brushes, and paintbrushes.

  He arrived almost at the same time as Mr. Murphy. In a surprise enter, they greeted each other.

  -How's everything going, Mr. Murphy? - Billy asked hesitantly, not knowing the man's full name.

  -You're the boss's son, the little sir, - the man said amiably, sp round gsses that only an older person would wear.

  -You call me Billy, - he replied.

  -A pleasure, Billy. You call me Raln Murphy, or just Murphy. My little daughter calls me Mary, but that's just for her, - Mr. Murphy expined calmly and slowly, leaving an impression that very few people had mao create.

  -Well, I'm going to start w on the mural, - Billy said.

  -All the materials are ie room. e, I'll help y them to the back, - Mr. Murphy offered.

  For the artwork, Billy began with some sketches on the bnk, untouched wall. He marked off long lines with short ones, and an image stu his mind: Sakuragi smming the ball into the hoop. It's one of his favorite drawings. He po create a different kind of sharpness, exposing an abstract type with scattered designs.

  He drew a basketball pyer against a hazy backdrop, a fierce mix of tempera and graffiti that resulted in an impressive oute. The pyer executed a powerful sm dunk, a ball in his hand, all blurred in a bck circle. This image worked well. In the remaining spa the wall, he decided to add an image of Yuyu Hakusho.

  However, in the end, he opted to extend the Sm Dunk logo, pg the Nike brand beside it. Other characters were slightly faded in bd white, a good trast with the image he inteo create. Unfortunately, he ran out of wall space for further improvisation. He finished by filling the remaining areas with e, red, and bck. In the lower er, he added the name "NBA" in small, clear, geometrid symmetric details.

  The entire image looked like an impressionist vas of Sm Dunk, with ic images in bd white and a few detailed touches. It was almost like a dynamic page cut at the ers. He began sealing the wall with a special transparent resin to prevent damage, applying two well-pced yers.

  -It's fantastic, -Murphy said with amazement.

  -Well, I worked all m to achieve something resembling a rge painting, - Billy responded.

  -Well, this has gone much further than I imagined. It's truly a great painting. I had no idea things could be dohis way. I thought it would be simpler. I'm speechless, young Carson, - Raln tinued.

  Raln Murphy's story is one of many struggles. He has navigated a challenging path as an Afri-Ameri man, born fifty years ago. Everything he's achieved has been through hard work, as he had little money for education. His determination to provide a better life for his four children has led him through many difficulties. By ce, w as an assistant in a supermarket, he met a fellow tryman who taught him crucial lessons about store ma and achieving promotions. He pursued a math course in college, and his hands-on experience as a store manager has led to signifit advas.

  He never asked for vacations, he never rested itle between giving up and persisting. But...

  A great opportunity arrived, a high position in a toy store. The job from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM is long, but the pay is very good. With that pay, his eldest son go to college. He has been w happily, even his direct boss reended some books to perform better. He only thank God fiving him this opportunity, even though the job is nearly a 2-hour bus ride away or 1.5 hours by car. It's everything he could ask for. He wants to be with good people.

  -Thank you, Mr. Murphy. But I have to go, I have a theater css to attend. Let Anne know that the corporate gift for employees' children is our pany's ics, the main franchise omnibus. If your son likes them, he ask for more. You're entitled to a copy, - Billy said.

  -Of course, son. I'll call Miss Anne and I'll also mention that the mural is almost finished. Is there anything else? - Mr. Murphy asked.

  -No, Mr. Murphy, that's all. Maybe I'll e to visit the store someday, - Billy replied, nodding. His white shirt had a bit of paint, but luckily his pants were in perfect dition.

  -Oh, and before I go, would you like something for lunch? I'm going ter King, - Billy asked.

  -I have a bit of work, son, but ime I'll ask my wife to prepare something for the both of us. Oh, you should know she's one of the best cooks around. You'll love it, - Mr. Murphy said.

  -That sounds great. Goodbye, Mr. Murphy, - Billy said.

  Leaving the store with renewed energy, painting is something he finds astonishing.

  He crossed the street to grab a bite at the Burger King across the way, and there he found the cheerleading squad from his sore ces, oer another. Alice, Abby, Selene, and Jessica. Froup of teenagers, it's difficult to hold onto things. Even for him, with years of experie's unsustaio go on for more than a few days. Alice raised her hand, signaling for him to e over.

  -We saw you painting the mural across the street. We walked past you, but you ignored us. You were focused. I even stopped for a bit just to watch you,- Alice said.

  For the past two months, Billy had been iing with the cheerleading squad, spending a lot of his time with the group of girls. Almost all of his csses were iwined with some of the girls from the circle. It could be said that the queens of the group were Alid Jessica.

  -Sorry, I was trating, - Billy replied.

  -Sit down here. Jessid Abby just arrived. We're going to grab a bite and then check out the clothing stores around the er, - Selene said.

  -Sure, let me order something. What would you like? - Billy asked.

  -Get four smoothies. We didn't have enough money for them. I'll have the traditional one, - Alice said.

  "The blueberry one for me wouldn't be bad, - Abby chimed in as she munched on her fries.

  -Traditional for me, - Jessica replied.

  -Lemon for me, Billy, - Selene added, causing all firls to ugh.

  Teenagers and their craziness.

  Billy ordered two Whopper burgers, upsized fries, onis, two cheeseburgers with ba, and four smoothies.

  -Alright, dies, here you go, four smoothies just as you ordered, - Billy said as he sat down.

  -My knight! - Selene excimed.

  -It's the Carson charm that Cudia fell for, - Alice added.

  The girls burst into ughter once again.

  -This is the first time we've seen you here. We usually hang out, watch a movie, go shopping, or chill in the food court across the street. Cudia used to join us too, - Selene said, moving a bit closer to Billy.

  -Ah, I was w on the mural. My dad's opening a toy store in a few days. And well, I suggested to my dad that I paint the toy store. Who better than you when you hings dht, - Billy expined.

  -I see. Your dad bought a toy store, - Aliented.

  -How did you know? - Billy excimed, surprised.

  -Well, it's not a secret that your dad is into business, - Alice replied.

  -I wouldn't put it in those terms, - Billy retorted.

  -Oh, but you are! Don't try to deny it. I've got some information on you, mister, - Alice teased.

  -Someone's been keeping an eye on me. Alice, stop stalking me. I don't want trouble with the school crowd, - Billy said.

  -We know about it because Cudia promoted her boyfriend's new burger joint. We tried them over the summer, they're delicious, - Alice said.

  -Guilty, miss, - Billy replied, realizing he had fotten that little detail.

  -That's better, - Alice said with a smile.

  -So, they say you're on the basketball team, - Selene asked, ging the subject.

  -Not at all, I'm just doing the practice sessions to fulfill my physical educatios, - Billy expined.

  -I think you're done, - Alice added.

  -True, I've got to go, girls, - Billy said.

  The girls had ordered some fries and a small burger for themselves. Nothing too big pared to the supersized bos that Billy was chowing down on.

  -Have you dohe chemistry homework? - Selene asked Alice.

  -Not at all, I hope Francis help me. I'll call him tomorrow, I'm sure he'll end up doing the whole assig himself, - Alice said, ughing as she sipped her milkshake.

  - I e tomorrow? - Jessica chimed in.

  -Sure, everyone's wele. Francis is a total sweetheart, - Alice said.

  Billy felt a bit out of pce. Francis was indeed a great guy, always willing to help everyone.

  -Do you want us to share the assig with you too? - Selene asked Billy.

  -Ah, I already did it, but thanks anyway, - Billy replied.

  -I'm telling you, Selene, Mr. Carson here is a busy man. He's only having lunch with us by ce, - Abby said, revealing that she was one of Cudia's closest friends and knew about Billy's schedules on the surface.

  Billy chuckled at Abby's ent. It seemed like his e to Cudia was more widespread than he initially thought.

  ...

  ..

  .

  here is the chapter, in my Patreon I have the story up to chapter 101, I hope you enjoy it and have a happy week.