“Haah…”
It was a lazy afternoon on the Sabbath. Marcel, having finished mass and gotten dressed, began to leave the church with slow, dragging steps, separating from his fellow orphans. It wasn’t because he was being ostracized.
––It was because he felt awkward.
(Why doesn’t anyone get mad at me?)
Walking inside the sparsely populated church, Marcel gazes blankly at the stained glass. Despite being old and some colors having dulled, the stained glass, made from a large quantity of high-quality glass, was still quite impressive. As he looked at the red and blue light cast by the glass, Marcel sighed once more.
The window panes at the Hannah Orphanage had been replaced immediately by an infuriated Hannah, with new ones fitted right away. Marcel had been astonished at how quickly it was done, considering the orphanage’s financial situation, but Leo, who was strutting around, might have had something to do with it. Given his knack for conning, he might have stolen them from somewhere.
Marcel hadn’t been scolded or beaten by anyone. Everyone probably had a vague idea that Marcel was the cause. Ever since then, people would often pat him on the head or say “Don’t worry about it,” more frequently.
(Patting? Why?)
Marcel couldn’t understand it. The Hannah Orphanage had children of prostitutes too. But since incidents like these had started happening since Marcel arrived, it must have been targeting him. Other children seemed to manage without any harassment, but trouble always followed Marcel. He felt like a burden to the Hannah Orphanage. Yet, the orphanage members were carefree. They had been angry when they saw the graffitied windows, but after the glass was replaced, they nonchalantly said things like, “It’s like we got new ones.” They didn’t even bother to be cautious afterward, thinking, “If it gets graffitied again, so be it.”
Feeling responsible, Marcel had taken it upon himself to stand watch alone, but he had fallen asleep, allowing Damien to graffiti again two nights ago. This time it was with yellow paint.
(How frustrating…!)
Marcel felt pathetic. At the same time, he was puzzled and anxious. No one blamed or hit him. He couldn’t understand why. That was why he wanted to handle things himself, but he couldn’t. That was frustrating.
Marcel didn’t know the name of the emotion growing within him. As he was about to step through the church’s large wooden door,
“Hey, wait. You there, the boy with brown hair! Yes, you!”
A voice called out from behind. Turning around, the first thing Marcel saw was a gray robe, a kindly face buried in a white beard, and a ruddy complexion. The plump figure walking toward him, jiggling his belly, was the church’s deacon. He had just been conducting the choir earlier. If Marcel remembered correctly, his name was Holger.
Instinctively stepping back in caution, Holger spoke to Marcel with a smile.
“Now, now, don’t be so scared. I’m not a frightening old man. I’m Holger, the choir director at this church. You sang along with my choir earlier, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“Yes, yes, and it’s about that hymn that I have a proposal for you.”
With gentle, squinted eyes and a calm tone, Holger’s words began to ease Marcel’s tension. He didn’t seem to have any intention of bullying Marcel. Moreover, he looked kind and not like a troublemaker.
After hearing Holger’s proposal, Marcel’s eyes widened in surprise.
“A boys’ choir? Me?”
“Yes. You have a very clear and beautiful voice. When I heard your voice during the choir, I immediately thought, ‘We must showcase such a wonderful singer to the spirits.’”
“That can’t be…”
It was the first time Marcel had ever been praised by anyone. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Holger invited him to join the church’s boys’ choir, making Marcel’s heart race with excitement. Holger’s passionate pitch continued.
“Of course, it’s not without compensation. Being part of the church’s choir means you’ll get paid. It should be a sufficient amount for a boy your age.”
“What…?”
Unfortunately, the added remark about needing a certain “determination” for a decent pay slipped past Marcel’s ears. His head was filled with a single thought.
(If I get paid, will I be recognized…?)
Marcel gulped. No one at the orphanage hit or blamed him. But that’s why Marcel wanted to secure his place in the Hannah Orphanage. If he had money, he could do that. He might even replace the windows himself if they got graffitied, and if he earned money respectably, no one would mock him.
“Um… could you tell me more about…”
Just as Marcel was about to lift his downcast face and eagerly ask for details,
“Wait! Don’t be hasty, Marcel!”
A boisterous voice echoed in the church. A boy—Leo—stood up from between the pews. Leo marched over to Holger, grabbed him by the collar, and shook him vigorously.
“Hey! Mr. Holger! You said you wouldn’t do this kind of recruitment anymore! Why are you trying to trick an innocent kid!? Are you a servant of the dark spirits!?”
“Ha ha ha, no, Leo. I gave up on you a long time ago, along with a hefty compensation. I’m merely trying to guide Marcel here to the spirits through his singing. Not you, Leo, not you.”
“When the director took that compensation, she told you not to lay a hand on any of the children at Hannah Orphanage, didn’t she?”
“What?”
Holger blinked in surprise at Leo’s shouted content. Tilting his saggy neck, he said,
“Did she? I don’t really remember. Must be my old age.”
“Shall I remind the director again?”
When Leo threatened with a menacing tone, Holger, visibly flustered, began stroking his beard.
“Oh, yes, yes. Now that you mention it, I think I recall that. Yeah, we might have made that promise. But look, I didn’t know Marcel was from Hannah Orphanage. It was a misunderstanding. Please, let it slide.”
“Marcel sang with us. You clearly marked him as a kid from Hannah Orphanage. What are you talking about?”
“Oh Leo, may the spirits bless you!”
Judging the situation unfavorably, Holger abruptly grasped both of Leo’s hands.
“Hey Leo, can we keep this between us and not tell the director?”
“I don’t know. Let go, you old pervert.”
Holger’s sweet talk was promptly rejected by Leo. Leo shook off Holger’s grasp, acting as if he had touched something dirty, then glared at him fiercely.
“You always pull these sneaky tricks, offering only the benefits and explaining the ‘determination’ part once they’re strapped to the operating table, right?”
“Oh, come on. Highlighting the benefits is a basic business tactic.”
“I’d rather not lose money or my balls!”
Leo dismissed Holger’s pitch outright. However, Holger, still smiling apologetically, continued,
“But it’s not a bad deal, is it? If you get paid, it would help Hannah Orphanage too. I shouldn’t be saying this, but the donations from Hannah Orphanage have been rather meager lately.”
“You shamelessly admitted it! You greedy old man!”
Leo demoted Holger from an old man to a geezer and took Marcel’s arm in hand.
“Let’s go, Marcel! Mr. Holger, I’ll be informing Director Hannah about this.”
“Wait, please! I’m not forcing anyone!”
“I don’t care. I’m furious!”
“I’ll overlook your little embezzlement if you let this go!”
“Alright, let’s think about it.”
Leo immediately reconsidered. Apparently, he had been searching for small coins that might have fallen between the pews––no wonder he had stayed behind alone in the church.
Marcel, unable to follow the conversation, stood there in a daze. But when Leo pulled him through the church doors and they had walked a few feet, Marcel realized his resolve had once again been thwarted by Leo, and he frowned.
“Why did you reject the offer without consulting me!?”
He shook off Leo’s hand, shouting in the middle of the street with a red face.
“I want to join the choir! I want to get paid! So why are you interfering!?”
“Well, that’s because…”
Leo, looking hesitant, averted his gaze––though Marcel felt like he was being looked at around his groin––but Marcel cut him off and continued,
“I want to earn money! That way, I’ll be recognized by everyone!”
“Your determination is admirable, but the method is the problem. It’s flawed––”
“I hate you!”
Feeling as if his method of earning money was being criticized, Marcel snapped back. He didn’t fully understand the context but wanted to retaliate against Leo.
(This guy is a coward, lazy, always interfering, the worst…)
Yes, Leo was a coward, stopping Bruno from dealing with Damien even though he was trying to help Marcel. When the window was graffitied for the second time, Marcel had confessed to Bruno that it was Damien’s doing. Bruno, upon hearing this, had planned to retaliate. However, Leo’s interference had once again caused Bruno to abandon the plan.
“Why do you always interfere!? Last time, if you hadn’t stopped him, Bruno would have beaten Damien for me! You stop our revenge. You stop my money-making plans. You do nothing but laugh lazily!”
“Hey, I called the authorities to investigate both times, didn’t I?”
“That…!”
Marcel bit his lip. Leo’s words only reminded him of his own shame.
Both times, Leo had called the city’s officials to report the vandalism. He didn’t hesitate to call, despite being questioned about whether Marcel himself was really the victim. This had created considerable friction between Damien and Marcel. Without Leo’s interference, Marcel would have been hurt and humiliated even more.
“Listen, Marcel. Being a member of the boys’ choir is something you should think about very seriously.”
Leo began speaking to Marcel earnestly, not for once reverting to his usual lazy demeanor.
“In this town, choir boys have always been paid, but there’s a reason for that. As they grow older, their voices change, and their singing talent might not be as valuable. Some boys choose to undergo certain treatments to maintain their high-pitched voices, and this can be very risky.”
Marcel looked at Leo, his eyes widening in realization. He hadn’t thought about what becoming a choir boy truly meant. He only saw the immediate benefit of getting paid and gaining recognition. But now, hearing Leo’s warning, he understood the potential danger involved.
“Marcel, the people at the Hannah Orphanage care about you. They don’t blame you because they understand your situation. They want you to be happy and safe. And I don’t want you to fall into a trap that could harm you.”
Marcel’s face softened as he listened to Leo’s sincere words. He realized Leo wasn’t trying to undermine him but protect him from making a harmful decision. Marcel’s shoulders slumped as he felt a mix of relief and gratitude.
“Thank you, Leo. I didn’t think about that. I just wanted to prove myself.”
Leo smiled gently, patting Marcel on the shoulder.
“You have nothing to prove, Marcel. Just focus on growing up strong and happy. Leave the windows and bullies to us. We’ll handle it together.”
Marcel nodded, feeling a weight lift off his chest. He had misunderstood Leo, but now he saw him as a protector and a friend. Together, they walked back towards the orphanage, ready to face whatever challenges came their way.
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