Oliver did as he was told. Obediently, he stripped down completely and put on the ceremonial robe. It was big and loose hanging on his body, clearly not made for him. As he tried to balance it on his shoulders, he wondered how many others had worn this exact garment.
Apprentice James felt the first peg enter his hole with a fiery sting. He was not quite ready as he sat down on the shiny wooden bench, intimidated by the line of toys securely sealed to its surface.
Oliver didn’t come up through any church like others before him. He wasn’t raised with religion or any sort of moral guidance. By his nature, he’s sweet and charming, but easily corruptible. It just took the peer pressure of school friends and neighborhood kids to steer him down a path of bad behavior. Now, having spent some time as a young man and away from those early influences, he’s found himself hungry for the kind of purpose and calling he never had before.