Eli is wiry and quick, with a shock of unruly brown hair and a mischievous smile that rarely fades. Marcus stands taller, his dark curls bouncing as he shifts, and his hands fidget with a slingshot tucked in his pocket. "Are you sure this is going to work? Last time you nearly took out Mrs. Greene's mailbox," "Relax, Eli. This time we’re aiming for the trash can lid, not a moving target,"

Marcus squints, tongue poking out in concentration, while Eli holds his breath. "Here goes nothing," The stone arcs through the air and strikes the lid with a deafening clang, sending a flock of birds scattering and drawing the attention of a grumpy park attendant.

Mr. Daniels, the attendant, is known for his sharp gaze and no-nonsense demeanor. "You two up to trouble again? That racket scared half the park," Eli glances nervously at Marcus, whose bravado falters. "We were just... testing the slingshot. For science,"

"You want to play with park property, you can help clean it up. One hour, then you’re free," "Aw, come on, Mr. Daniels... It was just a little noise," "Start with the litter by the pond,"

"Next time, maybe we should just play soccer," "Yeah. Or at least make sure Mr. Daniels is on lunch break," They share a tired laugh, tossing the last bag into the bin as the sun dips low.

"Not bad, boys. Park’s cleaner than when you found it. Maybe next time you’ll remember that," Eli and Marcus exchange relieved grins, the weight of trouble lifted, and head home under the sheltering arms of the maple trees, wiser for their mischief.