" Now smile… Joyeuse! "
The words came as an order. An order with intent, the intent to kill. But kill what ? A fellow human. Or in their self justifying eyes, to kill a Sin.
' They're all the same. ' Lozo thought as he lay motionless on the muddy ground. It was quite surprising what the humans and the beings of the world could do. This was a random thought he had had once while meditating under the old sycamore tree by the stream.
He didn't always meditated and for a period in his younger days he'd thought that meditation was for the enlightened, those who wished to be free of the dark spots of the world. But that view changed when the old man told him that he was a sin.
***
It was a year after old man Ji had found him, bleeding out north of the stream by a large forest that soothed the landscape there. He had finally settled in finding a place in the orphanage amongst the many other children stranded their by their parents either due to war or the usual, not wanting to take responsibility. The orphanage was ever lively, given it being a place for kids left without a dream in the outside world. Everyday never lacked one or two fights amongst the children which always lead to them both being heavily scolded by the adults who took care of the place and almost most of the times them getting punished but each had a vibrant smile on their faces. The smiles were organic. They had to be for the punishment would on scale up from there if the relationship was not mended.
This particular day Lozo was amongst the two boys involved in the scuffle. They had each gotten their dose of scolding and were now tending to the dishes served to over fifty children… brutal right?
If not to you, it was brutal to the two six year old children who were stuck doing the dishes. Messy, dirty and stacked together the dishes awaited them in a mountain. What's funny was that some of the dishes didn't have a speck of food on them. They sparkled like the clean ones stacked onto the shelf room in the kitchen yet they were grouped with the dirty ones. This detail put a smirk on Lozo's and his adversary's faces.
" You scrub and I'll rinse. " Lozo told his partner.
" No you scrub, I'll rinse. " His partner rebuked.
Anger was evident in both of them.
" You wanna go again, this time I wont hold back. " Lozo said provokingly.
" Any-time… let's go. " His partner fired back.
Their fight reignited, only this time it was around the orphanage's china. Nothing could go wrong.
Lozo's fist and his partner's were at nose length to each others face when a sudden voice stopped them.
" Stop! it both of you! "The female voice said stopping them with a knuckle to their foreheads.
" Aw! " They each cried rubbing their heads to relieve the pain.
" Honari what was that for ? " Lozo asked crossed due to the pain flaring at his forehead.
" It really hurts. " The other boy said.
" You two seriously haven't had enough scolding for one day ? " Honari asked angry at the two boys.
" He started it. " Lozo said pointing to the other boy.
" No I didn't. "
Honari's anger only grew.
" I don't care who started it. I only care to see all those dishes down before supper. You hear me you two. "She snapped.
" Yes. " They both said.
" I can't hear you? "
" YES. " They both said as they shot into action.
On seeing this Honari's anger settled.
" Also once you're done the head master wants to see you, Lozo. " She added before pulling up a seat to watch the two. She drew a book from her pocket and started to peruse through the pages to her book mark,
" Alone? " Lozo asked his voice diminished in fear of what came next.
" Yes alone. Now don't disturb me and get to scrubbing. " Honari added.
" You're in trouble now. " The other boy whispered with a chuckle.
Lozo lowered his head as he took the scrubber… he was in serious trouble now.
In the dream Well orphanage children were recognized by the color of their sash. These were differently colored band of cloth that was bound around their waist to strengthen their skirt or trousers. The color was based on the age set one belonged to and the longer you had it the higher your superiority amongst the children was. It had nothing to do with merit only age. Lozo, his friend and Honari had the same colored sash. It was terracotta, a reddish brown color. Of the three Honari was the oldest and so her command was absolute to the two who had only gotten their sash just that month.
It actually the reason for their fight. They were arguing over who was superior between the two of them. Their natures conflicted resulting into the skirmish that lead to the their dish duty. Lozo and Poldy were close friends, and the closer the friends are the more they fight.
At the top of the sash color pyramid was the man Lozo was about to meet. Rumors among children spread like wild fire and the rumors about the headmaster were far from welcoming. Also since they're rumors they reach the recipients ears obscured by the fantasies of those who spread them.
Lozo gulped as he stood next to the well just upfront the Common building, which was also the building that house the Headmaster.
The common building was large, in the perspective of a six year old's height. It was made of wood that was surrounded by a foundation of cemented river stones. Other than the headmaster's office, it had a branch to the main eating area another to the Learning garden and lastly to the quiet Loom room, for those who preferred a quite alone time.
Navigation to the headmaster's office was quite simple. Enter the common Building. Far across the spacious hall one would see a flight of stairs that took you to the second floor of the Common building where you'd find several doors with their respective labels on them. At the far end of the corridor of you'd find your destination engraved on a jade colored label. And with that you would have arrived to the head master's office.
Almost all the children in the orphanage could sing this route. And so could Lozo.
Brave at heart the young Lozo had finally made his way to the second floor of the building. He stood at the staircase looking into the dark corridor of doors that in his playful mind seemed to be stretching.
He swallowed another gulp.
There was a creek under his footsteps and that was enough to make his jump.
" It's okay… it's okay… the others were lying just to scare me. "
" There is no way the headmaster looks like a walking zombie with green glowing eyes…" he said trying to calm himself.
Then Poldy's voices came into mind.
" I heard he looks like a really old blood hound. He has a green tag strapped around his throat to prevent his skin falling off. And his favorite food… kids he calls into his office. "
Most of the time rumors end up to not to be true… just obscured from the truth. But surprisingly this time it was more than accurate.
Lozo knocked on the headmaster's room. A rough voice answered.
" Come in, Lozo. "
" How old is this guy? " Was the first question that popped up in Lozo's mind after hearing the headmaster's voice.
Lozo opened the door and stepped into the famed offices that had haunted most of thee kids in the orphanage.
The office was simply layered. On entering one would see the head master's wooden desk and leather arm chair. The desk had lots papers, most of them inked while others stacked to the side in a large heap. Behind the chair was large portrait of a man and his wife. In hands of the man was small boy, roughly Lozo's age. The picture describe the three standing in front of a white mansion, stone mansion, blessed with a beautiful garden of flowers and green. The family looked happy, content and lastly united.
Just in front the desk was a luxurious couch, brown in color, lay in front of a short glass table. From his observation Lozo could deduce that the office was the single largest room in the whole building.
Seated on the couch was a lady. She had a worried look on her face. Besides her a little girl stood. She was younger than Lozo given her soft gray sash. She seemed sad, as though she had been crying, and wouldn't let go of the lady's long white dress.
Lozo stepped into the room cautious not to have interrupted anything important.
" Your dismissed, please take Hinari to the rest of the children. " The rough voice said to the lady.
" Come on Hinari, lets go play with the others. " The caretaker said in a concerned and ushering voice.
Hinari only shook her head, still not willing to let go of her dress.
" Lozo, I hope all the dishes are done. " The caregiver said as she walked out.
Lozo nodded but his eyes were currently fixated on Hinari.
' She's been crying. ' He deduced.
The caregiver and Hinari left the office locking the door behind them.
" Welcome Lozo. " The headmaster said before turning to give Lozo one of the biggest shocks of his life.