Tenth Bite of the Cherry

Whistling to Cherry

"Everyone! Gather to the Centre!"

That kind of demand is usually ignored, or anticipated, by us. This time, I think it's anticipation. It's been awhile since we get the chance to act in the crowd like this without immediately getting caught. But, for some reason, he is ignoring it.

"Where are you going?" I ask him, who ignores the people walking to the Centre, as he tries to go back to the alley

But, unfortunately, a soldier catches him and forcibly drags us to the Centre.

"Stay here and no funny business," growling so, the soldier leaves us alone, at the front of the crowd, to see someone who looks like a butler standing on a makeshift platform while looking down on us

I am not comfortable to be seen like this. He is also getting agitated. What is this gathering for?

After everyone has gathered at the Centre, the butler tells us the story of a missing important treasure belonging to the travelling Duke's Daughter. He is here to find the culprit and punish them.

"If nobody confesses to the crime, everyone would be punished without question. Be it elderly people or young children,"

Without question, everyone starts accusing each other to admit to the crime and returns the important treasure belonging to the Duke's Daughter.

I just stand here, listening to them without doing anything. I have no idea about that at all. What about him?

"Hey," with a pale face full of nervousness, as fights break out behind us between the adults, he slowly grins at me, "We are Brothers, aren't we?"

"Yeah," I answer, since that's what he has been calling us, Brothers. Even though we are not related.

We are just children abandoned by our parents without a place to belong. Living in the street, some of us work together to survive. He came to me when I was left alone to starve while offering food, to take me under his care. He didn't say anything about himself, but he is someone who has been living in that dark place for a long time.

As for me, it has only been months since I lived here.

Going back to my parents? Where are they now? This is not the place I am familiar with. I don't know where I am. I am just glad he is here, being kind to me, seeing me as his Brother.

His name? He doesn't tell me.

My name? I am Ricco.

"That's right, we are Brothers," he laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and whispers to me, "Then, go and confess your crime for me,"

As I turn to look at him, he pushes me forward, with enough force to make me fall down in front of this man who wants to punish us if nobody confesses to the crime.

Is it him? The one who stole the treasure? My Brother?

I am being roughly lifted up by a soldier who is not happy with my sudden appearance in front of the butler.

"What do you think you are doing?!" the soldier asks me gruffly

The one who is supposed to be my Brother shouts, "It's him! He is the culprit!"

Some people gasp while some also swear. For them to fight among themselves when in actuality, it's the foreigner's fault. That's what I hear. To them, this me who came from somewhere else, will always be a foreigner.

I close my eyes and bow my head, as I let the shouting and screams fly pass me. The cursing, the demands, the suggestions for me to pay with my life. They are all expected.