“Who did this?” he demanded. There was no answer. He asked again, but got the same response. Nothing. Well, there was another way of finding out.
“Who’s suppose to fix the stove this week?”
This time, there was an immediate response. “Savio!”
This came as even a greater shock than the ashy stones. Fr. Cugliero called Dominic forward.
“Who did this?” the teacher insisted. His question was met with silence.
“Did you do it, Dominic?” he asked.
The boy just hung his head and said nothing. The poor priest just stared at the silent culprit before him. What a disappointment! Dominic’s reputation was not that of a trickster. In fact he’d often stuck out from the crowd expressly for his piety and good behavior.
Fr. Cugliero looked sternly at the boy before him. “Dominic,” the slow words were spoken in a solemn tone. “I must say your behavior this morning has been a real disappointment.” Not only was it a terrible shock, to the point where Father could barely believe it, but if it had been any other boy who’d done it, they would have received a harsh punishment. But since this had only been Dominic’s first offense, Fr. Cugliero merely sent him to kneel in the middle of the classroom. He was to remain there, though, until told to get up.
And so Dominic stayed kneeling until the class was interrupted by the regular recess. Before recess started however, several boys quietly made their way to the front of the classroom. Glancing up, Fr. Cugliero, found the small group standing in front of him.
“What's all this about? Is there anything I can do for you boys?” The teacher surveyed their sullen and somewhat hesitant faces. At length, one of them - the one responsible for ruining the stove - blurted out how it wasn't Savio.
