Mr. Bitters demands, "Just be honest!"
"I am being honest! Don't blame me solely for the fire!" James retorts.
The fire chief interjects to halt their argument and address the situation. "The at-home sauna kit was discovered in an apartment located behind the lobby front desk of my latest team member. Is there anyone here who is bilingual? I require someone fluent in Spanish."
"I am, sir," Carlos responds as he approaches the new member of the firing squad. "Él encendió el fuego - points to Mr. Bitters. Acusó a James. Estamos fríos y cansados."
"Gracias por aclarar todo." The newest firing squad member says with a smile.
The fire chief fixes a stern gaze upon Mr. Bitters. "You, sir, find yourself in a significant predicament. Your carelessness with the appliances in your apartment has put the lives of these children at risk! Consider yourself fortunate that the fire was contained and did not escalate."
"Unbelievable! All this time, it was you, and yet you had the audacity to point fingers at me and the other children! How shameful! Do you even possess a sense of shame and remorse within your hollow, dark soul? It appears that your emotions are limited to greed, selfishness, and deflecting blame onto others for your own mistakes! Your actions are truly wicked." James remarks.
"I had a mere notion that by shifting the blame onto one of you, I would successfully divert any suspicion away from myself," Mr. Bitters utters with an air of arrogance and self-interest.
"Goodness gracious, your narcissism is so potent that it courses through your veins like a venomous elixir," Katie retorts, her voice dripping with disdain and disgust.
"Silence, you insolent child," Mr. Bitters snaps back.
"You should be the one to hold your tongue, you insufferable jerk!" Katie fires back, her words laced with anger.
"You ought not to speak to an adult in such a manner," Mr. Bitters scolds.
"And you ought not to fabricate stories about children starting fires!" Katie snaps back, her voice filled with righteous indignation.
"Enough!" The fire chief interjects. "Mr. Bitters, you should be utterly ashamed of yourself for engaging in an argument with a young girl! She has every right to be furious with you and to display such an attitude! Your carelessness with your electronics is inexcusable!"
"It was an unintended mishap, I did not plan for it to occur," Mr. Bitters defends himself. "Furthermore, she should show me the respect I deserve."
"Respect cannot be demanded, it must be earned," Katie asserts firmly.
"Perhaps a lesson in discipline through physical means is in order," Mr. Bitters suggests.
"Did you just threaten to harm my sister?!" Kendall asks, his fury evident as he fiercely protects Katie.
"All I am implying is that she is a terribly behaved and mischievous child, clearly a product of an inadequate mother," Mr. Bitters retorts.
A collective gasp fills the space. Katie's tears begin to flow uncontrollably. Kendall's anger reaches its boiling point as his fists clench and his teeth grind together. "DO NOT speak of my mother in such a manner! Do you possess any semblance of self-awareness regarding the cruelty of your words?!"