《Short Story 31》Teach Me, Brother Leo – Art – (3)

What happened in the next few hours was entirely beyond Marcel’s expectations.

Leo brought a large old cloth to the backyard, laid out the dirty window panes on it—apparently, the first two panes that had been soiled were also stored in the shed—then called out to the orphanage kids and gathered them.

He collected hammers and mallets from around the orphanage, distributed them to the children, and had them throw them at the glass panes one after another.

“Alright everyone, let’s make some noise!”

“Yeah!”

At first, the orphanage kids didn’t understand what was happening. But once they got the idea that they just needed to break the glass as much as they wanted, they got excited and started throwing the hammers enthusiastically.

Being allowed to break things to their heart’s content was something unheard of, even during festivals.

“Whooo! One swing, all my strength!”

“Wow, it shattered all at once! Ten points!”

“I shall cleave the glass! Spirit of thunder, give me strength!”

“Your lines are all over the place! Three points!”

The lively kids from Hannah Orphanage shattered the glass with glee, while Marcel stood by, watching in bewilderment.

In no time, the paint-smeared glass had turned into variously sized pieces.

Next, Leo sorted the shards by color. He broke the too-large pieces with a hammer and polished the too-sharp ones with sandpaper.

Soon, colorful glass fragments began forming a neat gradient in front of him.

When Leo showed a small blackboard saying, “Here’s the design!” Marcel’s eyes widened.

The jagged pieces formed a sun shining brightly in the sky. It was—

“…Stained glass?”

Indeed, it was a stained glass design that wouldn’t look out of place in a church.

“Yep. I’m incorporating the theme of the Light Spirit’s symbol. We’re gonna suck up to the church big time!”

Marcel could only stare in astonishment at Leo, who was laughing cheerfully.

(Make stained glass? With those soiled windows? Sacred decorations dedicated to the spirits?)

“Such a thing…”

“Yeah, I was worried about the light transmission, but the paint is cheap and watery, so it doesn’t block light at all. Even with paint-soaked glass, it’s perfect!”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Oh, soldering? No problem, I’m almost a pro at it!”

Leo responded with a smile, suggesting that Marcel could also try his hand at it, leaving Marcel feeling a bit overwhelmed.

“That’s not it…”

Mumbling, Marcel gradually came to understand.

Leo’s words about how it wasn’t enough.

Bruno’s exasperated look.

They had planned to make stained glass from the very beginning when the windows were first dirtied.

Marcel, unable to say anything to Leo, who was happily arranging the glass pieces, turned to Anne and Emilio, who happened to be nearby.

“Did everyone… plan this from the start?”

“Hm? Plan what?”

“Stained glass.”

When Marcel asked softly, Emilio and Anne tilted their heads.

“We knew Leo was up to something, but we didn’t think it’d be stained glass. Right, Anne?”

“Oh, I figured it out. Recently, Leo’s been muttering, ‘How can we avoid begging the church for donations?’ Plus, he’s been investigating that guy Damian’s father’s business and going to the town hall.”

“Why would he… oh, I get it!”

With just that much explanation, Emilio seemed to have an epiphany.

They continued to praise Leo’s foresight, while Marcel stood there, dumbfounded, until they noticed and patted his head.

“It must be the first time you’ve seen Leo like this, Marcel. It’s hard to keep up, right?”

“Leo doesn’t punch enemies like Bruno, but he always thinks about us and finds a way to fight back.”

“Yeah. If you leave things to Leo, most problems get solved.”

So, it’ll be okay.

Hearing that, Marcel’s eyes widened.

Think and fight back? It’ll be okay?

“What do you mean by… fighting back?”

Marcel didn’t quite understand. Making stained glass from the ruined windows seemed fun, and it did ease his guilt a little, but why was it considered fighting back?

While Marcel was puzzled, Anne, acting like an older sister, raised her index finger.

“Listen, Marcel. When the windows got dirtied, remember what Leo did?”

“Uh…”

Marcel blinked, trying to recall. He didn’t think Leo did anything significant. He got an accident certificate from the officials, kept the dirty windows, and now was making them into pieces.

(When the windows were replaced, he looked proud… maybe he arranged that?)

Reflecting on it, that seemed possible. How had he managed to get new windows twice on the orphanage’s meager budget?

“Uh, well…”

As Marcel struggled to find the answer, Anne, impatient, began to explain.

“Do you know what Damian’s father, the culprit, does for a living?”

“Uh, he’s a wealthy merchant, so…”

“Right. And one of his businesses is insurance.”

“Insurance?”

Marcel tilted his head at the unfamiliar word, and Emilio explained, “It’s where you pay a little money regularly for something valuable, and if it gets damaged, you get compensation.”

“It’s a new business. Leo, knowing the windows are valuable and the area’s unsafe, insured them when he had some extra money.”

“Really…”

That an orphan would think of and take part in such a new business was surprising.

About to nod in agreement, Marcel suddenly realized something.

“Wait, so the new windows…”

“Yeah. Up to three times, the windows get replaced for free if they’re damaged. So, every time Damian broke the windows, he was hurting his family’s business. It’s not a huge amount, but it adds up. Damian’s probably in for a scolding.”

“Getting the accident certificate from the officials wasn’t easy, but Leo managed.”

So, regardless of the insults or rough treatment, Leo had persevered to get the certificates.

And Leo’s plan didn’t stop there.

Once the stained glass was made at zero cost, they planned to “donate” it to the church.

Even if the quality wasn’t up to professional standards, it would still be a glass creation made by “poor children prioritizing faith over livelihood,” which would surely move hearts.

“That way, the donation exceeds several years’ worth of alms! The priest, who always tries to make kids join the choir if donations are low, won’t be able to do that!”

Anne boasted, and Marcel was stunned.

Not only would they make sacred decorations from the ruined windows, but they’d also shift the financial burden to Damian’s father and avoid the church’s demands.

“We’ll still have Bruno punch Damian as a punishment, though.”

“Division of roles, right?”

Anne and Emilio concluded their ominous conversation with smiles.

“No way…”

Lost for words, Marcel was called out by Leo, who seemed to need help.

“Hey, give me a hand here.”

“Okay!”

“Sorry, Marcel!”

Anne and Emilio cheerfully left to help, leaving Marcel standing there, unsure how to feel. Leo, looking up from his crouched position, called out.

“Marcel, come here.”

“…”

Before he knew it, Marcel’s feet were moving.

The colorful fragments were almost all neatly arranged on the old cloth.

Emerging from it was a beautiful, large sun, symbolizing the Light Spirit.

Everyone, kneeling around the cloth, smiled gently at Marcel.

No one blamed him.

Everyone smiled kindly at Marcel.

“Marcel, put in the last piece.”

“…”

Leo handed him a red glass shard. Marcel couldn’t say anything.

The red graffiti that had cornered him.

Now, reflecting the light, it was so beautiful.

“…”

“Marcel?”

Leo, puzzled by Marcel’s silence, looked up at him.

“…uh…”

Marcel couldn’t speak. His eyes filled with tears.

He didn’t understand why he was crying.

He just thought the stained glass made by everyone was beautiful enough to make him cry.

Leo, scratching his cheek awkwardly, pulled Marcel’s arm and made him crouch by the cloth.

Then, he patted Marcel’s head.

“Marcel, Damian and the officials didn’t hurt you on purpose.”

“Uh?”

Marcel blinked, not understanding. Leo claimed Damian and the officials acted without malice, which seemed strange.

“They don’t understand. They’re indifferent to how you feel. It’s not personal for them.”

“…yeah.”

“There are many people like that. You could punch each one, but I don’t. Do you know why?”

Marcel thought hard.

He initially believed Leo was just cowardly, avoiding trouble because he feared pain.

But it was different.

Surely, this boy with chestnut eyes had a deeper reason.

Maybe, like the priest, Leo believed in resolving conflicts through dialogue, not violence.

“Heroes win without fighting?”

Leo looked puzzled at Marcel’s hesitant answer.

“No, it’s because my hands would hurt. I hate pain.”

Marcel’s eyes turned distant. “Of course,” he muttered.

Leo patted Marcel’s head again.

“Also, making them realize it affects them makes them think. Even if they’re indifferent to others, they care about their job or family. If they face trouble because of their negligence, they’ll panic a bit.”

Hurting others only breeds resentment, but self-reflection brings growth.

Leo explained that’s why his method was more effective.

“And one more thing. This way, we benefit too! This is important. Remember, Marcel. Retaliation isn’t over until you’re happy.”

Don’t forget.

Leo smiled and urged Marcel to place the shard.

“Put it here.”

“…”

Not just enduring being hurt, but turning it into something beautiful with everyone.

Tears welled up again, blurring his vision.

Marcel sniffled, wiped his tears, and placed the shard.

“Okay, great!”

“Yeah.”

With everyone patting his head, Marcel managed to smile amidst his tears.