Nothing awful, don't worry

This is what I remember about being an altar boy. Whoever arrived first got the best robe, with the best sash. When the priest wasn't looking, we'd twirl the cross like a kung-fu staff. During mass, we'd ring the bell as long/loudly as we could get away with, perhaps hoping to make each other giggle. Most actions would also be deliberately exaggerated. Dousing candles, we'd "accidentally" spill hot wax onto our hands so we could peel it off. (The guy who taught me that is now a respected chef.) Afterwards, we'd gossip about what we'd observed among the congregation from our perch. It wasn't really about religious devotion, was it?