Watcher

Chapter 5: Special task

Those words cause the whole room quiet for a moment. They are silent and think about one person who might kill Mr. Eugene.

“Cad, is it possible that Madam Theresa killed Mr. Eugene?”

"Brad, you should keep your mouth." Caden tapped his best friend's shoulder. "Madam Theresa is mean, but we can't take a conclusion too soon."

"That's true too, but .... "

A knocking sound comes from outside Bradley's room. He quickly opened the door and it is Madam Theresa.

"Madam, I have put all the groceries on the table downstairs."

“Bradley, you and Caden go downstairs and prepare dinner.”

"Yes, Madam."

A few minutes later, Madam Theresa's footsteps suddenly fade away. They quickly go downstairs and sees Madam Nigera in the kitchen. She is rinsing and also examining the rotten part of the vegetables.

“Madam, what we can do for you?” asks Bradley. “Madam Theresa told us to go here.”

“You can help me cut the vegetables.”

Bradley and Caden cut up some of the carrots and potatoes. They take a knife and potato peeler laid on the kitchen table. Everyone is so focused on doing the task. The atmosphere inside the room is so quiet.

“Bradley, Caden. Do you like soup?” Madam Nigera tries to break the silence.

“Yes, Madam we loved it," they said together.

Madam Nigera explained this recipe was made by her mother when she was a child. In the past, her mother used to cook this soup every day before she died.

"Such a beautiful childhood memory," she smiles then puts a few pieces of vegetables into the pot.

Nigera's face looks so different in the kitchen. Her smile makes Bradley surprised. He has never seen her smile happily when she is with Madam Theresa. However, Bradley brushes aside the doubts in his mind. He remembers what had happened earlier. Madam Nigera may be just seeking sympathy from them. A few minutes later, thunderous footsteps are heard from outside the room.

Caden looks outside and sees all the children and Madam Theresa have taken their seats. They quickly grabbed the cutlery and bring the food.

“What a delicious smell.” Madam Theresa smells the soup being. "This soup is made by Nigera, isn't it?"

“Yes, Madam,” said Bradley, and Caden nodded.

After all the food is done, Madam Theresa tells all the children to have dinner. While eating, she asks Bradley and Caden for taking a manners class.

"Madam, but we've taken that class." Caden quickly interrupted Madam Theresa.

"Yes, Madam. We also already know all that is being taught.”

"Who said you only take that class?" Madam Theresa raised her eyebrows sipping her soup. "Both of you already have experience. Of course, you can teach them already, right?"

Those words make them speechless, their faces looked tense when heard about it. Madam Theresa seems to have planned something bad for them. But, they don’t know what her motive is.

"Class will start tomorrow," said Madam Theresa, wiping her mouth with the white cloth that is on the table and walking away from them.

"Jeez!" Caden panicked and looked at Bradley.

Caden quickly finished her soup. He can no longer enjoy Madam Nigera's soup in peace. His mind is restless. However, Bradley doesn’t care too much about it.

"Brad, how are you so calm?" Caden pulls Bradley who seems still enjoying this soup.

"Cad, you're just disturbing my meal." Bradley glares at Caden. “At least let me enjoy this.”

“Yeah, sorry my mistake. But I'm not used to this kind of thing at all." Caden whispers something in Bradley's ear. "I have stage fright."

"Cad, calm down. “Bradley patted Cad's hand. "Woah Cad! What's wrong with your hand?" Bradley quickly let go of Caden's wet hand.

After dinner, the other children one by one left the room. Bradley and Caden are assigned to clean the dishes. Bradley sees the dozens of dishes and starts to complain.

"Argh! Why do we always clean all this!” Bradley stomps his feet while rinsing the dirty dishes in his hands. "How about the others?"

"Cad, they are not old enough. We as the oldest have to help them first,” Caden said while placing the dishes inside the brown basket. “You know, all of that kids are her income right?”

“Yes, that’s a good statement. But they can if they want to learn, right?” Bradley said in a slightly raised tone. "Mr. Eugene taught us, we must learn independently since childhood. Do you remember about it?"

Caden nods and sighs hearing all of that. The situation in this home now seems to have changed since Madam Theresa's arrival. She seems to prefer the other children compared to them. Bianca also heard information that Madam Theresa doing this for a purpose. Maybe it is because of the funds from the donors.

"Argh, I think Madam Theresa is very good at hiding her true self," Bradley said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"I don't know, but people see her differently. They think she is just like a hero." Caden sighs. "Especially the children of the orphanage now."

"Ah, never mind. We should focus on our teaching materials for those children.” Bradley turned off the water faucet and takes clothes nearby to dry his hands.

The two of them immediately rush to Caden's room and start arranging the material that will be used for tomorrow. Caden picks up the yellow notebook that is under his bed. His hands quickly flip through each page of his notes.

"Hey look! This is material about that." Caden pats Bradley's shoulder. "Hey, you don't sleep right?"

Caden feels strange Bradley doesn’t respond to his words. His head keeps down without moving an inch. This time, Caden pats Bradley on the shoulder quite hard.

"Hey, Brad!" Caden screams right into her ear, making Bradley suddenly wake up.

"Hah? What is it?" said Bradley with 5-watt eyes and back to sleep again.

Caden shakes her head and sighs. He is furious at Bradley's attitude because he doesn’t hear his explanation at all. But, he realized something. What have they done today is fatiguing.

"Well, I guess we should take a break for a while," Caden said with a yawn.

***

The sound of birds chirping from outside wakes up Anastasia. “Geez, I overslept last night.”

He sees Caden still sleeping soundly, clutching his book so tight. Several minutes later, someone knocks on the door from outside. Bradley immediately walks to approach the door and slowly opens it.

Two orphanage children are carrying a box that is quite large. They give the box to Caden and walk away. He closed the bedroom door and walks with a question of surroundings in his mind.

"Strange, who give this?"

***