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The old Priest, on the other hand, had always been strict, and shamefully unpitying— or at least, as far as anyone could remember. He had two loving parents who, in his view, were always far too 'lenient' on him whenever he misbehaved— or so the infant Priest never failed to vehemently point them out. He was a very pious, self-aware soul, even as a child.
From a very early age, he instinctively nurtured a fervent devotion to reprimand. A particularly remarkable instance occurring in kindergarten when, little Billy Floyd, stole some candy from a defenseless classmate. And, by the end of the day, found himself with two fewer shoes— to great delight of a street beggar who, waking up, discovered in his feet two new ones!
Another extraordinary example taking place many years later when, in high school, Billy Floyd stole a younger student's lunch money. And, by the end of the day, found himself with two fewer teeth— to great dismay of the same street beggar who found, one day under his pillow, two bloody, entirely unnecessary new ones.
As time went on, the strict Priest's stern disposition grew only worse and harsher still. His commitment to discipline increasingly fiercer, evolving into an unflinching, worrisome devotion to 'just retribution', and an escalating, alarming obsession for unmerciful justice. A kind that, for some reason, in his view, was impossible to achieve— no matter how much repentance or contrition was shown. No atonement was ever enough to appease his unattainable level of redemption, or heal the terrible injustices of this wicked, horribly sinful world.
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YOU ARE READING
The Priest, the Boy and the Slug.
Short StoryThere was once an innocent naughty boy whose evil uncle-priest made him do all the temple's chores. The boy was miserable and all alone in the world until, one day, he found his best friend and hope- in a slug!
