Journey into Disaster by NOKBEW™

1.04. Say it!

In the meantime, the chamber becomes calmer. Apart from the sonorous whirring of a table fan and the working noises of the two officials at the desks, it is actually depressingly quiet in the office. Through the window of the door, I see Ma'am Papillio and Ma'am Tolisan conspiring to approach the children. The children sit in a semicircle around the policewomen. Every now and then the children secretly watch me through the smeared glass of the wooden chamber door.

The boys are tired and confused.

The day before this horror story began was full of action. Firstly, the bus ride, secondly, the time in the mall with our lunch. Then more than two hours in the hotel swimming pool. The kids couldn't get enough. After the swim we relaxed for a short time in the hotel room. Then we went back to the mall for a burger and iced tea. But the main reason was the medicine for Phil's toothache. Back at the cottage, the boys saw “Tom and Jerry” on TV and fell asleep quickly.

The boys today! Their shining eyes and their joy. The highest level of happiness!

My eyes burn slightly after rubbing my face with both hands. I'm totally exhausted. Officer Sarang offers a lemon candy: “A little patience, please.”

The candy stimulates my senses.

I'm being investigated, the boys are being interrogated and there's nothing I can do, here in this cramped, shabby and musty police station. What comes next? The questions spin in my head, but there are no answers. It's almost one o'clock, and I have a headache. Nevertheless, I noticed that the atmosphere in the chamber became tense.

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Basically, the policewomen have recorded the personal data of the children. There are a few gaps in the data, but that's not important for now because the policewomen know that the families will show up soon.

Ma'am Papillio and Ma'am Tolisan are a well-rehearsed team. The wordless communication between the two can hardly be interpreted by outsiders. Especially not for children. They decide to ask the crucial questions, despite the late hour and the poor condition of the children. The policewomen approach the children and lower their heads as if to discuss a secret. Unconsciously, the children do the same.

Ma'am Papillio quietly asks: “Did your big friend Tommy do strange things to you?”

Ma'am Tolisan adds: “Such things that children shouldn't do.” She stretches out her arms, plays fatigue and yawns artificially: “Private things. You know what I mean.”

Ma'am Papillio wants to know: “Did Tommy touch your private body parts?”

The children shaking their heads, remaining silent and staring at the floor.

Aboy is the first to speak. In an aggressive tone, he answers believably: “No!”

Ma'am Tolisan speaks motherly and trustingly: “Tommy has a very beautiful and certainly expensive photo camera.”

Ma'am Papillio interrupts Ma'am Tolisan: “Tommy took pictures of you?”

Ma'am Tolisan gets louder: “Without clothes? Pictures, when you are naked?”

“No!” answer the boys at the same time.

Aboy is outraged, jumps up and shouts: “Why should Tommy do this?“

Little Dan sobs a little, but doesn't cry.

Sam is also upset, but just says “No!” and shakes his head wildly.

Phil holds his hand in front of his mouth. He has big eyes and looks scared.

It seems that he keeps a secret, interpreting Ma'am Papillio Phil's behavior.

Jan and Sam, the two elders, move the chairs a few centimeters back. Then Sam holds his hands in front of his face. Jan's face color changes from pale brown to red and back again. The bodies become rigid and sweat builds up on the faces. They are calm and will not say anything more.

The policewomen realize how the boys go into self-protection.

Aboy nervously drums his fingers on the seat of the plastic chair.

Dan and Phil lock themselves in and then to the polished concrete floor.

Sam leaves his stiffness and his right knee moves up and down.

Jan continues to look at an imaginary point on the wall behind the computer.

Ma'am Tolisan tries again awkwardly: “Do not be afraid or shy. You can tell us anything. We are on your side. Trust us!”

The boys are silent. The conversation is very unpleasant and embarrassing for them.

Ma'am Papillio is frustrated and realizes that she doesn't get the five. She did not manage to build a bridge to them.

Tomorrow they will tell us their secrets, Ma'am Papillio gives the signal to come to the end: “Oh,” she plays in amazement and looks at the colorful Mickey Mouse watch on her wrist, “is it so late? Time to sleep!” Twice she gently clapped her hands and whispered something in Ma'am Tolisan's ear.

The children remain silent and continue to avoid direct eye contact with each other and with the policewomen.

Ma'am Tolisan carefully folds the yellow paper with the notes and does it under the computer keyboard. Then she gets up and leaves the chamber.

Ma'am Papillio opens a tiny bottle of “Efficascent Oil,” places drops at the tip of her index fingers and rubs her temples. Immediately the small chamber smells pleasantly of the essential herbs.

“Does anyone like refreshment?” she asks, noticing how cute the five little boys are. Ma'am Papillio says sadly: “Tommy is a nice guy. He likes you. That's right, isn't it? He is your great friend and buddy. If there was anything unusual between you and Tommy, say it! I know this might be embarrassing for you. You may already know that adults do things that children don't. And you all probably know a Bayot — a homosexual? A man who lives with a man and not with a woman.”

The boys nod barely visible and grin a little.

Aboy suddenly laughs: “Sam's cousin is that one.”

Sam immediately counters: “So what! What about Boboy? Your uncle, right?” He asks for a drop of the green Efficascent Oil, rubs it on his neck and says: “That's good.”

Aboy and Phil also accept the offer. All the boys are thawing.

Now I catch them, Ma'am believes and she formulates the most important question already in her head: Did Tommy touch you? She wants — damn it — to clarify the case! Here and now. She takes a nervous deep breath, is about to ask her question, but then the door slams open so that the loose glass pane rattles.

The woman who knocked on the hotel room door is standing in the chamber door: “Ma'am Papillio,” she gasps breathlessly, “do you want to talk to me? Did the children tell you something?”

Ma'am Papillio is at first amazed, then perplexed and finally angry. “Shit!” she hisses.

The woman in the doorway asks: “Sorry, Ma'am?”

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