Kids Get the Money, Pastor Gets the Goat

"They have hundreds of them," said Ken, who was dressed in a practical goat-wrangling outfit: crisp blue denim overalls and black cowboy boots.

"You didn't dehorn them, did you?" asked one of the men after seeing the six-inch-long horns sprouting from one of the goats.

"Oh, no, you wouldn't want to do that," Ken said.

They lifted the mother goat, Natasha , out of the box and put her on the ground. Next came her baby, who bleated a few times, then started nursing with a single-minded determination.

"They said Natasha was a very friendly mom," Ken said. "And we don't have to worry about the baby, because she'll stay close to the mom."

Natasha was led by the rope around her neck to the front of the church, where a throng of children awaited. Pastor John waited there, too, looking like a man who, notwithstanding all the good works that could be done with it, was surprised that $1,270 had actually been raised.

He was sucking on a breath mint, though he admitted this probably would be lost on Natasha.

There followed a brief discussion of the safest way to kiss a goat. Some people recommended that Pastor John firmly hold Natasha's horns. One man suggested that Pastor John kiss the baby goat instead, that he bend over at the waist in front of the mother and pucker up.

This was a joke.

Finally, while Ken Lebo held the rope, Pastor John leaned in and delivered a modified Eskimo kiss. He kissed Natasha's nose, then, encouraged by the crowd, kissed it again.

Well, the minister was asked, what is it like to kiss a goat?

"Fuzzy," he said. "Maybe that's what my wife thinks when I kiss her."

As Natasha fertilized the grass in front of the church, there was some discussion of whether the goat had been well and truly kissed. Some people thought a peck on the nose didn't count.

"Next year, when he kisses a pig, we'll make sure he kisses it on the mouth," Jon Webster said.

Pastor John popped another breath mint.

My e-mail:kellyj@washpost.com