Little Thief

Ahh... I've failed again on this mission.

Aunt Vera never let me escape with the corn I stole.

Even though there're still a lot of them in her farm.

Why is she so angry, even though i only took a few?

Damn, she will tell mom and dad...

I will massively scolded this time...

Aunt Vera pulled me home.

Grumpily, she told my mother.

My mother repeatedly apologized to her.

"Make sure he doesn't do this again!" said Aunt Vera to my mother.

"Okay, sorry once more, Mrs. Vera." My mother said as she bowed her body.

After that, Aunt Vera left my house.

Then, the door of my house closed.

My mother looked at me with a very scary face.

If I can describe, her face looks like a sharp-toothed monster ready to devour its prey right now.

"Andre..."

"Y-Yes, mom...?"

"You stole corn from Mrs. Vera's family farm?"

I nodded slowly and showed a pitiful face. I hope mom's going a little soft on me.

My hope was not granted.

I was scolded all out.

Not only that, I was punished for not going out for a week.

All I do is resigning, I am also afraid of my mother's anger.

My fear grow when I hear my dad's voice coming home.

Double kill.

I hear the sound of footsteps slowly rising towards the 2nd floor.

Looks like he's heading to my room.

"Andre, are you inside?" Ask dad from behind the door.

My heart is pounding. I'm really unlucky, My dad will scold me like my mom did.

I don't dare to reply to dad's words. I'm too afraid to hear his anger.

"I'm in." He said slowly.

As soon as I came in, our faces looked at each other.

I saw the look on his face, his face was still as usual, doesn't look any slightest bit of anger.

"There you are. Why didn't you answered my words?"

My mouth shut, I'm still afraid to answer.

Dad sighed.

"Let's go down." He said as he pulls my hand.

I had no power to fight dad's hand that pulled me slowly.

My body is limp, I will definitely be scolded again. This time double, dad and mom's attack.

Dad pulled me downstairs.

I was told to sit on a chair, I just obeyed. Now it's better to just give up than to be scolded even more.

"I heard you stole corn from Mrs Vera's field?" Ask dad.

I nodded slowly.

"I didn't hear anything." Dad said flatly but very intimidating.

"Yes, I stole corn in Aunt Vera's field, dad." I said.

Dad sighed again.

"You know that stealing is wrong, right?"

"Yes I know. I'm sorry, dad."

"Why are you still doing it?"

It seems that dad did not heed my apology.

"I was ordered by Maxim. Said it was a mission given to me."

Dad shook his head.

"I asked, why are you still doing it, when you know it's wrong?"

I'm confused at dad's question this time, haven't I already answered it? And again, it seems my answer is pretty clear.

"Why are you silent? Answer."

Dad's voice was low, but very firm.

"I… I already answered it…." I said.

"That's not an answer." he said

Once again I'm at a loss as to what to say.

"I… I'm confused dad. I don't know what to say."

Dad looked at me intently, he sighed again.

"Why would you want to do it? Why would you want to do what Maxim says, even though you know it's wrong?" Dad explained the question.

"I... That..."

I know stealing is wrong.

I knew I shouldn't have followed Maxim's orders.

But, I also want to play with children at my age.

I have no siblings, dad is always busy with his work and mom is always busy with household matters.

Who will I play with?

I want to hang out with them, I want to play with them.

But I'm afraid, if I go against their words then I will be abandoned.

I am lonely...

Unknowingly, my tears fell.

"I... I'm afraid that if I don't do what they say, I'll be abandoned."

Dad stopped staring at me intently.

"We know that since childhood you have always collected small things from nowhere. But, stealing is wrong. Especially stealing things that clearly belong to someone else."

Since childhood, I have often collected strange objects that I find interesting, regardless of the value and ownership of the object. That's why I was once called a little scavenger.

But now it's different. I've rarely picked up things. I already knew that was a bad thing to do.

Dad bends his knees so his face is level with mine. He looked at me right in front of my face

"Whatever your reasons, your behavior was wrong. You can't justify your behavior, even if you're cornered."

This time dad then stroked my head.

"But, I understand why you did this. I believe that my son will not steal for small matters."

Yes of course.

If there was another choice, I certainly wouldn't steal.

Mom and dad never taught me to steal.

Even when I was caught taking a ring that belonged to Daniel's family, I was immediately reprimanded.

Dad moved from his position.

"Well, now let's eat the boiled corn from Mrs. Vera." Dad said.

From the kitchen, mother brought a basket containing some boiled corn that was still warm.

"Earlier, on the way home, i met Mrs. Vera in front of her house. She gave us this boiled corn. She asked me to tell you so you won't steal again. If you really want it, it's better to ask." Dad said.

Ah.... I feel so bad for Aunt Vera.

Aunt Vera was so grumpy. Many kids at my age can't escape from her anger.

Since I was little, I have been scolded by her countless times.

However, she was so kind.

Like now, it seems that she also doesn't want children like me growing up to be a person who have bad manners.

"Tomorrow, make sure you apologize to Mrs Vera." Dad said.