Chapter 12: Sweeping Up the Pieces
Back in the hallway, the dust from the shattered Venus bust had settled. Rosa emerged from a supply closet carrying a dustpan and a heavy-bristled broom. Mateo followed closely behind her, his eyes downcast, the manic energy from earlier entirely drained from his small frame.
"Start with the big pieces," Rosa instructed, handing him a pair of thick canvas gloves. She didn't do it for him. She stood by his side, guiding him as he bent down to pick up the fragmented remains of the antique teacup.
Every piece of porcelain Mateo dropped into the metal dustpan made a sharp clink, a physical manifestation of his contrition. As they worked, the terrifying, untouchable nature of the mansion began to break down. It was just a house. It was just a cup. And he was just a boy who had made a mistake. By making him part of the restoration, Rosa was teaching him that while actions have consequences, nothing is so broken that it cannot be cleaned up.
