Cub Scouts

First and Last Cub Scout Meeting

At ten years old, I found myself joining the Cub Scouts through my church. Nearly everything I did at that age revolved around the church. When your dad is the minister of a large, historic church in a rough neighborhood, that towering, gothic structure becomes the center of your world, a sanctuary amid the chaos.

The church, built in 1899, wasn’t just a place of worship; it was the beating heart of the community, providing services and a haven every day of the week. So, it wasn’t surprising when one of the adults decided that the kids of our congregation needed something like Cub Scouts to give us a sense of structure and adventure. Without much fanfare, she quietly started a group, and I joined with eager anticipation.

Our first outing was simple and full of promise. We piled into the old church bus and headed to a nearby park to play baseball. The air buzzed with excitement as we took our positions on the field, ready to warm up with a few practice pitches. I remember the sun shining, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the feeling that this was the start of something great.

But things didn’t go as planned. On only the second pitch, the batter took a mighty swing and missed. Unfortunately, the catcher, an Asian boy standing a bit too close, bore the brunt of that powerful swing. The aluminum bat cracked hard against the side of his head, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Panic set in. We were just kids, and seeing our friend lying there, unmoving, was terrifying. An ambulance was called, and the boy was taken away while the rest of us stood around in shock. Our excitement had turned to dread in a matter of seconds. The adults quickly decided that the best thing to do was to load us back onto the bus and return to the church.

That was the beginning and the end of my Cub Scout experience. We never had another meeting after that day. What was meant to be the start of new adventures ended abruptly, leaving behind a memory of how quickly things can change, even in the safety of that old church.