Scenario:The scout troop in our parish sat in the first pews for the awarding of the four legged merit badge, for the scouts’ achievement of four leggedness, adding an identical, second pair of their original legs immediately behind the originals. As a symbol of their humility, the boys were bare legged and barefoot. The boys averaged 7 feet tall and with their four legs they struggled to get in and out of the pews, as well as to stand sit and kneel during the ceremony. The cantor sings a beautiful hymn about the beauty of the boys’ four legs and the beauty of their four feet. Here are the words:
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The scout troop in our parish sat in the first pews for the awarding of the four legged merit badge, for the scouts’ achievement of four leggedness, adding an identical, second pair of their original legs immediately behind the originals. As a symbol of their humility, the boys were bare legged and barefoot. The boys averaged 7 feet tall and with their four legs they struggled to get in and out of the pews, as well as to stand sit and kneel during the ceremony. The cantor sings a beautiful hymn about the beauty of the boys’ four legs and the beauty of their four feet. Here are the words:
Eliel
He is a member of the scout troop. He is adventurous, humble, and optimistic. Eliel underwent a transformation to gain four legs, just like the boys in the troop. He was initially skeptical but later experienced the wonders of having an additional pair of legs. During the ceremony to award the fourlegged merit badge, Eliel felt a sense of pride and belonging among his peers. He was amazed by the boys' natural ability to grow extra legs and appreciated the camaraderie among the scouts.
Cantor
He is responsible for leading hymns during church ceremonies. He is devout, melodious, and uplifting. The cantor sang beautifully about the boys' four legs and their significance in the troop. His hymn brought a sense of reverence and appreciation to the occasion, highlighting their uniqueness and importance to the community. Through his song, he expressed deep respect and admiration for the scouts' accomplishments, adding a spiritual dimension to their achievement.
The Boys in the Troop
They are members of an elite scout troop. They are exceptional, confident, and charismatic. The boys underwent natural transformations to gain four legs, enabling them to move in unique ways. During the merit badge ceremony, they displayed humility by sitting on the floor despite their towering height and impressive physique. Their presence added a sense of wonder and awe to the ceremony, and they were admired by Eliel and the rest of the troop for their achievements.
Today was the day the boys in our troop would receive their fourlegged merit badge.
The scouts in our parish sat in the first pews to ensure everyone had a good view of the ceremony.
The boys were bare legged and barefoot as a symbol of humility, even though they had done nothing wrong and this was a celebration of their achievement.
It was only fitting they showed humility when they received such an amazing gift.
Each boy averaged seven feet tall, and with their four legs, they struggled to get in and out of the pews.
They had to crawl over each other just to get to their seats.
Even though it took time and patience, everyone stayed positive and excited.
When everyone was settled, the ceremony began.
The cantor stood at his podium and cleared his throat.
He faced the boys in the first pews and sang beautifully about the boys’ four legs and four feet.
"Oh, legs of four, so sturdy and strong,
A second pair, right behind the first, where they belong.
Four feet to walk upon, four knees to bend and pray,
You are blessed with more than others in a special way.
"Your extra limbs allow you to walk on fours,
Just like your leaders, who have been blessed with more.
"You can run and jump and kick a ball,
Just like any other boy, but when you crawl,
You can use all four of your limbs to pull yourself along,
As the cantor’s voice filled the church, I noticed subtle changes in the boys.
Tommy, who was sitting next to me, blinked rapidly and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
The four legs of each boy began to shift restlessly against the wooden floor.
Sixteen toes curled and uncurled, back knees flexed.
Marcus, who was in the pew ahead of us, leaned forward and placed his head in his hands.
His shoulders shook slightly as he tried to hold back tears.
The movement rippled through our group as more boys began to cry.
I felt my throat tighten when the cantor’s voice swelled, singing about how we had all been on this journey together.
The ceremony ended with a quiet resolve, as each boy stood tall on their four legs, united in their shared strength and newfound pride.
The cantor’s final note faded away, and Father Michael stepped forward.
He carried a copper basin and a white towel.
My stomach fluttered with nervous anticipation.
One by one, we scooted forward in our pews, extending our four bare feet into the aisle.
Marcus went first, carefully maneuvering his front and back feet over the wooden edge of the pew.
The water splashed gently as Father Michael knelt before him.
His weathered hands were steady as he dipped the towel into the basin.
I watched him methodically wash each of Marcus’s feet - right front, left front, right back, left back.
The cold water made Marcus’s toes curl slightly, but he remained still and silent throughout the ritual.
As I waited my turn, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension.
I had heard stories about this moment from older scouts who had gone through it before me.
They spoke of a deep sense of connection to their faith and to their fellow scouts during this ceremony. When it was my turn, I gripped the edge of the pew tightly and inched my feet forward.
The smooth wood pressed against my calves as I extended them into the aisle.
Father Michael moved gracefully on his knees, dipping the towel into the basin once more.
He began with my right front foot, gently wiping between each toe before moving on to my left front foot.
The sensation was both soothing and slightly ticklish at the same time.
