The surface below us

The funeral was brief , barely two hours . The orphanage did not have to go through the trouble of finding a priest or undertaker . One was already there and the other lived close by , he also had Coggins handy . Another thing that was no issue was the grave plot .

Long ago , the orphanage had had up to two hundred boys , a legion compared to the present amount . But it had been in a poor situation , boys starved , caught ill or just died from both afflictions .

As the numbers of death grew , a special section was created for their bodies . The nuns and Reverend Fathers had their own separate cemetery and so did the orphans . The orphanage had counted each boy , those that had been alive and chosen a plot for them . Unfortunately or otherwise , not all the children died and the plots remained vacant . They were occupied when a child died and for the past hundred years , only two had died at Pearl orphanage , the others dying in the outside world . One from a fallen tree and the other from a harsh reaction to poison ivy .

So it was with a grim air that the orphanage buried the young boy in the ground . All the boys were sad as the Reverend father , the ordained priest there , spoke to them of death and it's purpose .

" This day is a lesson onto us all ," he said solemnly , " For life in the flesh is fading and fast to disappear . The soul is not of this Earth and returns to it's Maker .The Almighty gives it and takes it away . We can not question or accuse it but ... we must accept it ."

It was at the last part that a few boys grumbled and turned their heads . Cook Elma was engulfed with venomous glares and even she was shocked by the animosity pointed at her .

The truth was that despite the strict competition for favour and goodness amongst the boys , there was a unity that even they were not aware of . If one of them fell out of favour and was punished , they would not care . But if one of them was punished for trying to obey an order , then rage would engulf them at the punisher ... as it did at that funeral .

There is a funny thing about rage . It is like a fire made of paraffin or gasoline , meant to be temporary . But if one was to add more burning liquids, then the fire would grow and catch on something solid . Fueling rage can be like this , for rage is temporary unless someone constantly fuels it . Then rage turns to animosity and that , given time , will lead to hatred .

This is what happened with Cook Elma .

After the funeral , the boys were told to resume their chores . None of them grumbled , they had expected this . A funeral did not halt the system of things and they went back with no fuss . The only problem was the one in the kitchen . Cook Elma got back to routine , yelling and ordering around . This the boys took with resigned acceptance . But when Cook Elma made a threat of putting one boy in the pantry ... the other boys lost their control .

The pot of stew was tipped over , those chopping vegetables froze and glared at the woman with fury . The others looked ready to throttle the woman and for the first time in her life , Elma felt true fear . She immediately made an excuse and fled from there . Everyone knew one fact ; if she had stayed , she would not have been left alive .

Soon after this , Elma went and talked to the Reverend father . She wanted the boys to stop glaring at her and giving those looks of murder . It wasn't her fault the boy ( she couldn't remember his name ) was dead .

" They need to stop hashing at me . " She said to the Reverend " I ain't killed anyone . They're forgetting themselves too soon."

" Cook ," Reverend father said with obvious patience ," Your action was wrong and it's easily expected the children will have an axe to grind . Threatening them , with the same punishment you gave to that poor child is not advisable . You should not even be threatening them with this . It's a forbidden practice of torture and our institute has nothing more to do with it . I believe I said this last night , did i not ? "

" Yes , all right . I get what you're hollering . But what about the boys ? It don't matter if I say this or that , they're aiming to kill me , I tell you . "

" Now , you sound daft . " Reverend father said getting up and Elma grew angry .

" I'm just saying the facts . Plain as cheese . Those sods hate me and nearly more than I hate em . They'll be a dead body in the kitchen or two if this goes on . So , " she poured her disdain for him in the next words , " what you going to do about it , Reverend ? "

The Reverend father was quiet a moment before he sat down with a sigh . For the past few years , he'd heard countless complaints about the woman infront of him and ignored them . But this time , she had pushed beyond his limits .

" I will fix the problem , " he said seriously , " By tommorow , everything will be better . For all included ."

Elma smiled , showing her yellowed teeth and got up . Good , she thought as she left without looking behind her , tommorow those boys will be back to cowering at her heels .

Unfortunately or otherwise , that is not what happened . The next day , in the brink of dawn , a lone figure was seen walking out of Pearl orphanage . She held a sack over her shoulder and a bag that was filled with pots .

It was Elma and her head was high and defiant as she walked out the gates . The boys , who could see the front gates watched on . Many smiled and some even felt cheated , but none knew the truth .

As Elma left Pearl orphanage with her head high , tears streaked her cheeks as her heart broke . She had lost her job and would never work in her kitchen again . Curse em , she thought angrily , curse the whole damn place and those inside !

.....

" I truly feel sorry for her ." Henric admitted to Link as they scrubbed the stairs of the Eastern wing .

Link paused in his motions and gave Henric an odd look , before shaking his head .

" You are daft for sure . " He said , " You feel sorry for her ? What of poor Milo , barely dust in the ground . "

" I'm not saying I ain't angry . What she did was harsh and I believe her being removed is best . " Henric said softly , " But she has worked here a long many years . She has grown attached to this place and now ... I doubt she'll feel complete somewhere else . "

" Well good . " Link said venomously , " I hope she's sacked at every job she takes for the rest of her life , and I hope to see her one day on the street where I was found."

" Link , " Henric said with a pointed look, " We're not to judge , condemn or decide punishment . Remember ? "

" I wish I was the Reverend father . " Link said ignoring Henric , " I'd have made her a slave , cleaning and scrubbing the floors ... with her clothes ."

Henric instantly stood up and walked next to Link . He went on his knees and faced the other boy . His deep brown eyes were clear and sharp .

" When I was five years , I was made to scrub the floors by myself . " Henric said softly , " It was to teach me humility and I accepted that with grace . I didn't argue or condemn anyone . I still won't and do you know why ? "

" Because you're a bloody perfect saint ." Link said with a wry smile .

" Because I didn't know better then and because I know better now . I can't change anything , that time is gone and I won't ever get it back . "

" And the point is ? " Link asked with a frown .

" You could hang Elma on a tree and burn her . " Henric said softly , " But Milo wouldn't come back . So your threats , do good to no one and I'd prefer you stopped before someone heard you ."

Henric got up and went back to scrubbing his section of the floor . Link watched him and gave a grunt of frustration. Henric , he thought angrily , always so bloody right !

" Fine , no more talk of that then ." Link said after awhile and Henric gave a nod , " But do you wonder who will be the new cook ? I doubt any Sister will take the position . You've seen them when it came to helping in the kitchen . The all hate the place . "

" I'm sure someone will take Elma's place . Maybe a cook from Yellow Cove ." Henric said and Link considered this .

" What I worry about is if they bring someone worse than Elma. " Link said with a glare , " If the new cook threatens us with the pantry then hell will break loose ."

" Yes , " Henric admitted with a sigh , " I worry about that too and pray for someone good . "

" I'll pray with Stuart this night for the same thing ." Link said and Henric coughed .

" Your night escapepades are very dangerous . Do you two have to have them ? " Henric asked and Link gave him a pointed look .

" We can't be together all the time in the day and it's barely an hour at night . I never risk much when I go to his room . But if I had to I would ." Link said , " You don't understand because you've never been in love ."

" I love plenty of souls . We're taught to love - "

" I ain't talking about what we are taught you twat ! " Link said , " Love ain't something you're told to do . It's a feeling of wanting to do something . This surface love they teach is a bloody shadow of the real thing . "

" I ... I ... I don't understand fully ." Henric said looking down and Link chuckled .

" You will or you won't . Love is not planned , the bloody thing hits you like a punch . " Link explained , " But then it's a kiss on a cheek , making you smile ."

Henric looked up and saw Link grinning at the floor . He smiled too , knowing he was thinking of Stuart . The two boys were snapped out of it when they heard foot steps approaching . They quickly got back to scrubbing the floor , as a nun walked up to them .

It was Sister Maria , her head low , a sign of grief .

" Henric , I'd like to talk to you . " She said softly , " Come with me . "

" Yes Sister ." Henric said getting up .

" I'll get a new boy to help you , this will take some time ." She added to Link , who nodded his head .

" Come Henric ." She said and turned around , Henric followed her , unaware that he was walking into danger .