60

Chapter 60

Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2023, Planet: Grimoire

Oh, so that's what was going on. There was no way those unwelcome guests could've done that much damage. This had to have happened some other time, then.

Grifton nodded. "Yes, sir." He went over to the left and found the buckets that weren't wrecked. He glanced back at the others with a frown.

In that case, who managed to do such precision cutting? Some of those holes were awfully uniform in where they were placed. That wasn't done through being worn out either. It looked as if they'd been drilled on purpose to make the buckets useless.

Grifton headed to the good buckets and carried them swiftly to the well. There he started the mechanism to bring up water and started filling each bucket carefully. Once Grifton filled up all the usable buckets, he took them one by one over to where three men stood patiently waiting.

Surprise and gratitude crossed their faces when Grifton trotted over with a bucket almost the same size as him.

"Thanks, kiddo, much appreciated."

"No problem," Grifton continued what he was doing.

At last, when he was done with the buckets, he waited off to one side to see what was done with them.

The men first quenched their thirst and set aside three buckets used for drinking water. The other two dozen or so buckets were then carefully taken around the orchard and the water was distributed throughout the trees. That's when Grifton noticed several new saplings being tended to very carefully and he frowned. "When were those put in?" He didn't remember that happening.

"Huh?" Denby saw where Grifton gestured with one hand. "Oh, there was a blight, so we had to get rid of all the diseased trees." He shook his head wearily. "That was quite a massive problem." He scratched his head. "However, the Director must've been forewarned of when it might happen."

Grifton blinked. It hadn't been him that wasn't his forte. Maybe past planting records were something the Director researched.

Denby merely shrugged. "Fortunately, we'd already planned to replace half the lost trees with some new plantings." He shook his head. "Good thing too, it also meant we could clean up this area and make it a proper orchard once again."

So, this area hadn't always been an orchard? Interestingly, now that Grifton glanced around some more, he saw the signs of other usages. "What was it before?"

Denby grunted. "Playground." He shook his head in disbelief over that planning of grounds' usage. "However, there were too many instances of kids getting out of the fences."

Hmm, Grifton could certainly see why that was a problem.

Denby continued speaking. "So, it was decided to make it planting worthy and an orchard was the best utilization for the area."

Maybe that was so, Grifton didn't know otherwise. "Well, it looks pretty good right now." He turned a bucket upside down and sat on it. He didn't enjoy being in the bright sunlight that much.

It was getting too hot right now. Was it midday already? His stomach growled, well, midmorning at the latest. Soon the bells would ring and that would give an indicator of the time.

Before they could converse further, Grifton was found by Anne Greaves. "Ah, there you are, rascal." She looked at Denby. "Thank you for watching over him temporarily."

Denby glanced at Anne with surprise. "Hmm? Oh, it wasn't really a problem." He shrugged indifferently. "The director alerted me to the fact that he couldn't come over here right away."

Anne nodded with a frazzled scowl. "Yes, some potential investors made the mistake of bringing their children with them." She shook her head with annoyance. "The director made them, and their children depart without further discussion the moment he heard them picking on Grifton and the other smaller ones."

"Oh, is that what happened?" Denby nodded. "Well, while I was waiting for someone to come get him, I discovered that he makes a good water boy."

"Oh, really now?" Anne was surprised.

"Yes, indeed. He even knew which buckets could be used and which could not." Denby sighed. "Though I reckon I'll be spending time repairing those buckets. What fool drills holes on the sides and bottoms of buckets?" He frowned in annoyance.

Grifton watched the workers and saw a few of them flinch. Hmm, that wasn't a good sign. Some of them might not have the good welfare of the orchards or orphanages in mind. Why did creeps like those come into this place anyway? Just seemed like a waste of time to Grifton when they'd get caught eventually. Whatever, not his problem right now.

Anne recaptured his attention when she uttered. "Well, now that is good to hear."

Hmm, had he missed something?

"Oh really, do tell?" Denby looked at Anne curiously. "You are certainly cheerful now that I think about it."

Anne glanced sideways at Grifton. "Idle hands do nothing but get into mischief, mayhem, and unendurable chaos of late."

Grifton winced and kicked a small rock to one side. It clinked against something hard and captured his attention. What was that? He took one step only to be halted immediately. Ugh.

"Oh, no you don't," Anne collared him before he could go looking for the source of the noise.

Ouch, that was mean, but on target. Grifton hadn't meant to do any of that, he'd just been bored and looking for something to do.

At his reaction, Anne shrugged. "I think that the Director is going to make some changes in how the children can start volunteering early if they're strong and willing enough to do so."

When Grifton nodded with interest, Anne and Denby smiled.

"Well, it would probably make life easier for Grifton if he could do something without worrying about being beaten up." Anne agreed with a sigh.

Grifton grimaced but shrugged in resignation. Not being able to talk properly was a problem he'd yet to overcome. Granted most of these people had telepathic ability so he could communicate that way. That didn't matter in this society. Plainly known as a fact, it was considered impolite not to speak out loud. He spread his hands. "No teeth, cannot speak properly." A sigh escaped Grifton. "Embarrassing and frustrating." What else could he possibly say in explanation?