The Italian priest was preparing to ring the bell to announce noon from the old cathedral. He hears a footstep
on the stairs, and turns to see who approaches. His old heart nearly stops to see a young man with no arms
step out onto the bell platform, but the priest realizes that this is not the same boy from yesterday. He is a
slightly older version...
"Father, I know my brother came to you yesterday to ring the bell for our mamma. I am here to ring the bell
for them both. Let me do this."
"Absolutely not!" cries the priest. "I cannot do this! Your brother dies yesterday after trying to ring the bell,
and you want to do this today?"
"Please, Father -- I know he did not know what to do, but I rang the bell in the town we moved from, it was
my job. I know what to do."
Finally, the old priest, saddened by the whole situation, relents.
A moment later, at noon, the boy runs at the bell -- GONGGGGGGGG -- and staggers over the side.
The old priest's heart is anguished as he scurries down the stairs. There in a heap is the young man, clearly
no longer of this world. The crowd from the day before seems to have responded even more quickly this
time: "How can this be? Two boys with no arms? Who in the world is THIS?" they cry.
The priest, tears in his eyes, replies "I don't know who he is, but he's a dead ringer for his brother..."
Level Head |
