With a start, you notice the door opening again to reveal Reverend Trask peeking his head in.
"Children, are we all in bed?"
"Yes, Reverend Trask." came the chorus of children's voices, as they all answered at once. All except one, that is.
"No! No! Look!" called one of the younger boys, "The new kid's still got his shoes on."
Trask's gaze locked on you and for the first time, it struck you just how incredibly tall he was. Surely he wasn't that tall before! But now as he walked past the bunks towards you he only seemed to be getting larger and taller until he towered well over twice your height.
"Now now, my boy," he said in a gently scolding tone as he knelt down to look you in the eye, "This is your first day, so you won't be punished, but part of doing the Lord's work is to learn obedience. After all, how can you follow God's calling if you're still fully dressed at bedtime?"
First day?
"But, Reverend Trask I..." You stop cold mid sentence as you hear the light thin little voice coming from your mouth, "W-what's... happening to me?"
The Reverend smiled, "You've joined the family of Christ, my child, and He's so happy to have you."
"But... but I'm not a child! I'm a man!"
"You were a man," Trask said, "but a man who was lost; a man who had never heard God's word, or at least never truly listened when He spoke. Those questions you were asked when you came in were meant to find that out, and determine where you belonged." he reached out and ruffled your hair, "Looks like you didn't do too well."
The other boys chuckled from their beds, as your face turned bright red.
"Don't worry, though," the Reverend continued, "there's no shame in starting fresh. We all had to do it sometime." With this he stood up and gently grasped your tiny shoulders to turn you around, giving you a pat on the back to send you away, "Now go join your brothers in your bunk."
Too stunned, frightened, and embarrassed to do otherwise, you do as you're told, and shuffle over to your assigned bunk, only now realizing how baggy and unweildy your clothes have suddenly become. With some effort you manage to avoid falling over when your massive jeans fall into a rough pile around your ankles, but only just, inspiring a fresh round of giggles. On the bed you spot a small blue and white jump suit like the ones the others all wore, and you realize, with a sinking feeling, that you are expected to wear it too; that you will have no choice but to put it on yourself; that you are now, and likely will be for years to come, a part of Reverend Trask's Youth Congregation.