Housepainter Eddie has a solid business as a subcontractor for bigger construction and remodeling projects. Mostly, though, he's trying to keep his primary employee, Houston, on the straight and narrow, away from his many addictions. Then his 8-year-old neighbor Russell starts hanging around Eddie's place, attempting to escape from his abusive older brother and neglectful mother. Soon, Russell is spending more time helping Eddie clean paint brushes and take care of the dog than he ever spends in his own home.
This book doesn't necessarily have a strong plot, but it does have strong characters and a profound sense of the way friendship, even between an unlikely pair, can help people in the most downtrodden of situations. The story is told with care for all of the characters (even Russell's horrible brother), and a sense of realism that makes the reader feel like we can just look out the window and see Eddie and Russell hanging out with the dog. It's hopeful, but only in the most realistic and slightest sense of the word. A quiet story with a strong impact.
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