“If this amount is not paid within twenty-four hours, the court will order the store to be closed.”
The store owner stood silently, unable to believe what he had just heard.
The people in the gallery exchanged astonished glances.
But Judge Bennett had not finished.
“And now, I have one more announcement.”
The room fell silent.
“Every person sitting in this courtroom will be invited to contribute whatever they can to help this boy and his mother.”
A man seated near the back stood abruptly.
“Your Honor, why should we be responsible for his crime?”
The judge looked at him calmly.
“Because a hungry child does not appear out of nowhere. Hunger grows when a society stops seeing the people who are suffering.”
The man opened his mouth, then closed it.Judge Bennett continued.
“Today, this boy stole bread. Tomorrow, another child may do the same. We can keep filling our prisons with people driven by desperation, or we can begin filling their homes with food.”
