Later because of the reckless stunt jade pulled off, he was called to the office of Miss Merry. The second in head to the orphanage.
Miss Merry stood near her desk, arms crossed, her stern gaze directed at Jade as he stepped in.
"What am I hearing, Jade?" she asked, tone biting.
"A reckless trick? Again?"
Jade rubbed the back of his neck, fidgeting uncomfortably under her scrutiny.
"No, Miss, I believe there's been some confusion. It's not what it seems."
Miss Merry raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, really? So the whole class saw something that didn't exist? Some elaborate illusion, is that it?" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Jade smiled weakly.
"I swear, I was just trying to save… a life."
"A life?" Miss Merry repeated, her voice full of incredulity.
"What life?"
Jade nodded in the direction of a cat huddled on the windowsill.
"This life," he said, with great drama.
The poor fellow was up on the ledge. I saw him from down below and figured he was going to fall. I was just trying to save him, that's all."
Miss Merry glared at the cat, then at Jade. The quiet in the room became oppressive.
At last, she said glumly, "And you think I should believe that?"
Then, speaking a bit louder, she called out, "Don't you, Sapphire?
There was a movement by the door. A second later, a diminutive figure looked in—Sapphire. He had been eavesdropping from the corridor. At the sound of his name, he entered, producing a self-conscious smile.
"Come on in here, kid," Miss Merry commanded, extending a firm hand.
Sapphire slouched in and stood alongside Jade, looking at the floor with downcast eyes.
Miss Merry let out a sigh, then addressed him in a careful voice,
"Sapphire, it's not good to cover for your brother this way. You do know that, don't you?"
Sapphire nodded slowly.
"Yes, Miss," he muttered.
"He could have hurt himself seriously getting up there. It's not courage, it's foolishness. And covering for him means you're just as guilty."
"I'm sorry, Miss," Sapphire whispered.
Miss Merry stiffened and regarded both of them with disappointment and determination.
"Apologies won't be good enough this time. Actions have consequences."
She grabbed a clipboard off her desk and started writing.
"For the next two months, you two will do half the orphanage's daily work. That means sweeping the floors, doing errands to the market, cleaning the dining hall—everything."
Jade's jaw dropped.
"Two months? But—Miss, we're just kids!"
Miss Merry didn't bat an eye.
"Just exactly. And it's about time you learned some responsibility before one of your 'stunts' gets you into a hospital… or worse."
The boys looked at each other, slumping their shoulders.
Harsh. Extremely harsh.
They were kids, for goodness' sake. A little bit of mercy wouldn't have killed the poor things.