The entire orphanage is gloomy as the skies cast a grayish dim. Liez takes a deep breath, mustering inner strength as she walks her way downstairs from the attic. She has been called to report at Miss Ruth's office. Her despair is now replaced with anxiety, mounting by the minute. She knows this won't be good. Miss Ruth would never forgive her for beating Ginny up. But somehow, she thought it felt great.
Liez smirks a bit.
Ginny and her bunch of brats have been relentlessly making fun of her since they were kids. She feels exhilarated to finally fight back after years of being bullied. She knows she's in the right. However, there's that sense of guilt in her that won't go away. Maybe because she knows that she's not the kind of person who beat people up. Until this afternoon, that is.
She takes another deep breath and knocks at the door to Miss Ruth's office. Seeing that it's unlocked, she slowly opens it and enters the room. To her relief, nobody else is there yet. Liez rubs her clammy hands on her pants as she finds herself on the couch just across the o.
Floor to ceiling bookshelves occupies two walls of the large room. The sweet, musky smell of old books lingers in the air. The large glass window behind the mahogany desk overlooks the whole front yard and the orphanage gate. The sight has somehow calmed her down when suddenly, the door opens.
Joanne and Leah enter the room first as Miss Ruth follows closely behind them. The two girls take a seat on the couch where Liez is. Joanne sits in between and lowers her head while fidgeting with her hands, as though she's as nervous to be there as Liez is.
Leah, sitting on the opposite end, stares at Liez with so much loathing. If looks could kill, she'd be dead by now. But as Liez turns and looks back at her, Leah immediately looks away. Maybe the scuffle in the dining area earlier left a whole new impression on her.
Miss Ruth sits down on her office chair, leaning forward. Her poise is still regal despite her dim expression.
"Okay, let's start from the beginning..."
"She attacked us.", Leah blurts out.
"I can explain Miss Ruth--", says Liez.
"She pushed Ginny to the wall without warning!"
"Well, you started it!"
"No Liez! You did!"
"I did not!"
Their voices overlap as they try to outdo each other in getting their conflicting explanations across. Muddled with their mixed-up talk, Miss Ruth shakes her head and clears her throat.
Silence follows. That's all it takes to make both girls shut up. She looks at them sternly.
"Okay, let's start all over again. Joanne, let's hear it."
"Well Miss Ruth, we were just doing our chores... um... we were um..."
"She attacked us for no reason at all!", interjects Leah, as she points at Liez accusingly.
"That's a lie!", replies Liez.
Ms. Ruth suddenly stands up and slams both hands on the table.
"We either do this in a civilized manner, or we don't do this at all. Or better yet, I will just think of an easier way to stop your bickering for good."
The girls slowly shrink back to their seats. Miss Ruth nods and sits back calmly.
"Very well, go ahead Joanne?"
"Uhm...you see Miss Ruth, the rumors circulating about Liez... well, let's just say her reputation precedes her.", she says with such a low voice, as if trying to keep Liez from hearing it.
"W-we may have said some things that offended her. I-it all happened so fast. One moment she was by the door at the dining area and then suddenly, in a split second, she had Ginny up against the wall. She looked almost feral and I am sure that we all heard her...growling."
She emphasizes the last word while looking at Liez as if she was a puzzle that she couldn't solve.
Liez clears her throat.
"Miss Ruth, I-I didn't know what came over me. I was on clean-up duty like you asked me when the three of them were saying hurtful words. I tried my best to ignore them when they suddenly spoke about--"
Liez cuts herself off, her fists clenching. She looks up to keep her tears from falling. An awkward silence follows.
Miss Ruth stands up and pulls the stool nearby. She takes it right in front of the girls and takes a seat,
"Alright, whatever happened at the Dining hall earlier and whatever we will talk about in this room, I would appreciate it if this doesn't get out to the other kids, do you understand?", says Miss Ruth as she pointedly looks at Leah and Joanne.
They both nodded. Liez bows her head in mortification.
"Now, you know I do not condone bullying here in Littlewood. It is rude. It is childish insecurity rearing its ugly head and striking at the perceived weaknesses and imperfections of others. It is unfortunate to know that you still do that, and just right under my nose?"
Joanne and Leah look at Miss Ruth attentively, bracing themselves for the head matron's admonition.
"What made you think you're better than Liez and everyone else in Littlewood? Don't you know that when you point at anybody, three of your fingers point right back at you? Judging others doesn't define who they are. It defines who you are."
Joanne and Leah look down in shame.
"Girls, I want you to promise me to never do it again. Not just to Liez but to anybody, understood?"
The girls nod.
"As for you, Liez. I thought you knew better than this. Emotions, especially anger, if not kept in check, cloud one's mind. It puts not just you in danger, but the people around you as well. Ginny is in terrible shape and it might take weeks, if not days, for her to fully recover."
Liez's shoulder hunches, her eyes cast down.
"I trust you all to know and do better because we've all lost something. We've all experienced rejection. We are a family. And who's supposed to be there for you when everyone has turned their backs on you?", says Miss Ruth, her eyes lingering on each of them.
The girls are speechless. A pin drop could be heard in the midst of the uneasy silence.
"I do not demand you do this right now, but I can only hope over time, you could all get along. I'll be visiting Ginny this evening to speak with her. Leah, Joanne, you may now go and do the rest of your tasks."
She stands and leads them both to the door and Liez is about to follow them out of the office,
"Liez, if you can stay for just a minute longer, I would like to speak to you about something..."
Liez sits back on the couch as Miss Ruth closes the door. Sitting down right beside her, Miss Ruth lets out a deep breath.
"You really need to be more careful from now on, Liez. Don't let your emotions control you.", says Miss Ruth as she holds her hands.
Liez looks down, her eyes welling with tears again.
"I really didn't know that happened, Miss Ruth. I was filled with so much anger when Ginny talked about my Mom, it was like rage blinded me."
The tears stream down her face.
"I didn't really want to hurt her. I never wanted to hurt anybody. I want you to know that..".
Miss Ruth holds her face and wipes away her tears,
"I know you never meant to hurt Ginny or anyone else, Liez. I've never doubted you. You have such a good heart, just like your Mother..."
Liez turns at her, her brows furrow,
"What do you mean, Miss Ruth?", she asks with a sudden spark of hope.
She breathes out a deep sigh,
"Your Mom is the kindest and bravest person I have ever known. She has selflessly committed her life to protect and save people from danger."
Her gaze drifts from Liez to the glass window behind her desk,
"I wish I could tell you more..."
Tears flow from Liez's eyes. Miss Ruth turns back to her and holds her shoulders,
"I assure you, Liez, that your Mom loves you so much. She sent you here to keep you safe..."
Safe? From what? She holds herself back from asking another question that she knows will remain unanswered. Finding more about her Mother has suddenly become bleak.
"I know you have lots of questions, but there is a perfect time for everything. You will find what you're looking for when that time comes, Liez. I promise you."
The reassuring look in her eyes reveals the truth behind her words.
Liez wants to believe her. She really does. But the head matron is speaking so vaguely. It's clear to her now that Miss Ruth is hiding something.
© 2022 C.J. Gracie Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
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