27.12.12 Call of Duty

It says so much about society - or at least the people round my way.  Initially I wondered whether there was some intended sarcasm on the part of the wearer, but on reflection, decided there was simply an ignorance that allowed Junior and I to marvel at the irony of the situation.

Outside the kitchen window late in the morning on Christmas Day, outside the church opposite, we saw a young chap who'd emerged from the gloom and the terror.  This was not the gloom and the terror of the game 'Call of Duty' of course, but the gloom and the terror associated with an hour sitting in a pew rather than a gaming chair.  This chap had come out of the church, unscathed physically but no doubt damaged (more than he already was) mentally by the water torture [or is it only Catholic priests who chuck water over you with a strange handheld device?].  He did look a little shell-shocked, as he stood and smoked with a trembling hand.  He was wearing combats and "Call of Duty" was emblazoned across the back of his jacket - so appropriate for a service on Christmas morning.

Was his presence demanded by a wife, girlfriend, mother or sergeant major?  We will never know, but in some sense it seemed so fitting that his attendance was likely to be a call of duty rather than a voluntary thing, with eagerness overflowing.  Was he making a statement about being dragged along for the service?  Was he simply obsessed with the game, and thought it was trendy to wear his favourite gear? 

The priests (for there were three) came out after the sinners had all departed, and they swapped notes about their dresses/cassocks/ornate bomb disposal protective gear.  They were serving some higher being, having answered a call.  Their call of duty was to relay orders from above - from high command.  These three 'generals' were hardly wise, though.  One was a grumpy geezer with a face like a monkfish, another looked like he was related to the guy in the chair from Father Ted, and the third looked like something Hitler would have been pleased with - blond hair, blue eyes etc.  Hmm . . . wonder whether that explains anything.  Maybe this was a reconnaissance mission.

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