Three Brood Instigators

5. Orientation Day

Two months before,

"Alright Wilkes. This is like the 50th time, are you ready?" Nory asked, holding nanny's camera.

"Yeah, yeah, ready," Wilkes prepared.

"Alright's we're rolling in 2, 1," Nory said, starting the recording.

Wilkes saluted, holding the small star-spangled banner in his hands tightly. "My fellow Mentors," he greeted in formal and format. He returned to his still, rigid position, with a committing expression. "I, Wilkes Hilton, have a mission, to serve for the Boy Scouts of America in the Scout Academy of Eagle Lake," he introduced in format. He breathed in once directly, and made his commitment speech without his paper:

My mission to join the scout academy is to make a name, make an honor, and make my own mark in this thriving journey that I want to accept. As a future boy scout, who is committed to all the values, goals, and activities of a scout, I have five reasons, goals of why I willingly swear to commit to becoming a boy scout in your academy: To share and influence my love, patriotism, nationalism values for my country; To prepare my future in preserving and adopting potential abilities and skills that I will learn in the academy, and integrity; To strive, hunger, and rise my way to soar above the blue sky with the eagles;  To bring honor, name, and sacrifice for all the American people and its beautiful country; and lastly, To serve my purpose for the country that I love and value most, just as the founding fathers and other American heroes long before me did. As Civil War Hero Joshua Chamberlain once said, "But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure and high, we may cherish such thoughts and such ideals, and dream such dreams of lofty purpose, that we can determine and know what manner of men we will be, whenever and wherever the hour strikes and calls to noble action." And I too want to call for noble action, to call for a purpose with all my arduous effort, attention, and understanding to the preservation of my values, my hands, and my goals. I hope—very dearly—that you, the admissions for the Scout Academy in Eagle Lake, could accept me to become a part of the mission.

After the body of his commitment speech, memorizing everything with his best, avoiding stutters, he raised his right hand, and swore his oath, "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

He saw the video again on the nanny's 70s camera when she was just a young woman, he was about to cry, despite that he couldn't. "Wilkes, breakfast is ready," nanny called on the earliest of mornings, taking his waffle out of the iron.

"Coming," Wilkes said, walking quickly downstairs for breakfast.

He feasted like a running dog, without spilling any syrup or cream to the waffle. "Look who's all ready to be a humble scout!"

"Thanks nanny, your waffles are always the best," Wilkes said.

"Of course they are, handmade, not instant," Nanny smiled. "Oh Wilkes," she placed her hands on his cheeks. "Look how you have grown. Look how you rose before the sun could even pass the moon," she inspired. "Are you ready?"

Wilkes saluted, "Yes, mam" And he hugged her. "Thanks, Nanny Villa, you're the best..

And they spent the dinner, hugging, and sharing their gratitude to one another, while everyone were still asleep for the early Monday. The bell knocked, "James," Wilkes called. Wilked opened the door. "James, you're here..

"Uhh, yes, sup Wilkes," James greeted

"Uhm, nanny, you remember James, right?" Wilkes asked.

"Ah yes, our neighbor seven blocks from us, I see that you're a boy scout too,"  she said.