I reluctantly open my eyes to the sound of the morning bell, which kindly tears me away from my beloved sleep. Looking around the cramped room which was made of marble like the rest of the church, I see the other servant boys start to get out of their bunks. They put on their under eight church servant uniform, consisting of a grey shirt, pants, and sandals. Following the example of my fellow servants, I unenthusiastically roll off the bed, get changed and make my bed then join the long line of other adolescent servants awaiting Father Paul.

None of the servants talked, we were not allowed to make friends because the Priests say that we need to save all our friendship for the gods to make them happy. Although it is sad not having anyone to talk to I will always do what the priests say, because they are always right and if you are wrong you get hurt. Plus they are so kind and nice. They even took me in 7 years ago when not even my own family wanted me. I can’t wait until my birthday tomorrow when I turn 8 and can do all the big boy work for the priests. Some of the special servants over 8 years old get to go in the priest’s private chambers alone with them. I don’t know what they are doing but it must be great. The lucky boys who get to go into the Priests private chambers sometimes come out with tears on their faces; they must be tears of joy. They are so lucky!

Waking from my daydreaming I see Father Paul enter the room. He is a tall man with a pale face with black eyes and hair. As the servants at the front of the lines walk up to him he puts a tick next to their names on the paper in his hands. Patiently I wait as the line slowly moves as Father Paul ticks off each servant’s name. When it is my turn Father Paul looks at me and moves his hand to stroke my face

“ Good morning Jacob, now if I am not mistaken you turn 8 soon don’t you?” asks Father Paul.

“ Yes, Father I turn 8 tomorrow and can't wait to help father and the church with the special tasks” I answer excitedly my voice slightly croaky from the lack of use.

“Yes I can’t wait for it myself, Jacob, I greatly look forward to it,” says Father Paul as licks his lips halfway then catches himself. “ Run along now Jacob get some breakfast then get started with work”.

I give a quick bow and jog over to the servant’s cafeteria. It's a large room with five long tables, each filling up with silent servants. Breakfast, as usual, is a bland porridge, but I don’t mind today. Father Paul talked to me! That makes me happy today's going to be a great day I just know it!

Today was not a good day. I had the job of cleaning the entrance hall to the church in the morning. And while it is beautiful with its large marble floors and giant stained glass windows it was raining so all the people coming in brought mud in with them and by the smell some dog poop as well. I laboriously mopped the floors continually for hours. I even work into lunchtime to make sure my replacement comes to take over as I couldn’t leave the grand entrance hall of the church in such a state all covered in mud and the like.

By the time my replacement came to take over and I have gotten down to the servant cafeteria there was only a quarter bowl of porridge left for me to eat. And then in the afternoon, I had to help Father David, who is blind and always angry, make his rounds in the church. I spent a lot of time being yelled at as the afternoon went by. One time I was asked to get three slices of bread and a glass of orange juice. But I couldn't get the juice and was beaten with Father David’s cane, but it was definitely my fault. Who forgets Juice? Even when there were no oranges? Silly me.

But finally all my work is done for the day and I can have the evening stew for dinner nice and hot with potato and chicken. The evening bell rings signaling the end of the day and time to go back to our bunks. The servants walk back to the dormitories as one body, silent as usual. I get dressed into my nightclothes with a smile on my face. I will finally be 8 tomorrow then I can move to the older boys dormitories, maybe they have bigger beds and get to have bigger meals! Not to mention all the special jobs I will get to do. With these thoughts in my head, I lay down in my bed as the day's hard work takes me to sleep with ease.