Page 8 of Bad for You

The sisters scream for help, but the boy raises his hands in surrender.

Father Merry comes charging into the room, and when he sees the boy, he shakes his head in anger. “You’re nothing but trouble, Lennon!”

And the boy has a name—Lennon.

“You’ve been here for less than a month, and you’re getting into fights already. You’re going to be punished for this! You’re going to see Saint Maria’s doesn’t tolerate hoodlums, and you’re nothing but a little punk!”

He grabs him by the arm and drags him from the room. But I can’t stand by and let him take the blame for something he didn’t do.

I jump up, ready to tell Father Merry I was the one who hurt Hugo, but Lennon places a finger over his lips. Why is he taking the blame? I don’t understand.

“It was—” I don’t get a chance to finish because Lennon turns around and headbutts Father Merry in the nose. Blood instantly pours down his face.

It’s utter bedlam, and when Lennon is dragged from the room with a grin on his face, I know he just saved me.

But why?

I’m mopping the long hallway as Sister Siobhan ordered when she saw the state I was in. “No one will want to adopt you,” she said in disgust. “You look a fright. For penance, you can mop the halls because cleanliness is next to godliness.”

And it’s here I’ve been all day, mopping while the other kids have a chance at a new life.

My hands are sore because of the blisters on them. But I persevere because I’m hoping I’ll cross paths with Lennon. I need to ask him why he took the blame for me. I knew the consequences that came with my actions, but he didn’t think twice as he saved me from being punished for my sins.

Father Merry suddenly appears, and I lower my face, my bravado gone into hiding. “You’ve done a good job,” he says, reaching out and lifting my chin so he can look into my eyes.

Is he searching for the truth?

“For your efforts, you’ll be rewarded.”

I gulp as there is no such thing when Father Merry is involved.

“I will come get you this evening. I’m expecting guests. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

I don’t say a word.

“You’re as stubborn as your mother was. But look where that got her. Don’t make the same mistakes she did.”

He grips my chin so hard, my lips purse, and when he licks his, I want to punch him in the face. I know what he’s thinking, and although I’ve not been taught about such matters, I know this is wrong.

When Father Merry hears footsteps approaching, he quickly releases me. “Did you give penance, Lennon?”

I suddenly feel braver with Lennon close by.

“I’m all penanced out,” he replies, not bothering to mask his sarcasm.

Father Merry’s lips pull into a thin line, but he doesn’t respond.

He cups my cheek, nodding in a promise that he will see me tonight, then he leaves.

I grip the wooden handle of the mop, my body trembling in anger. I want to choke him with my bare hands. The cross above the hallway mocks me because there is no God. Or if there is, he doesn’t believe in me.

“Why did you do that?” I ask, my back turned to Lennon.

“Because they both deserved it.”

“No,” I say, turning around to face him. But what I see has me gasping. “Wh-what happened to your face?”

“I slipped,” he counters with a cocky grin.

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