"Hi-hi-hi!" Big One shouted, and heaved erect with the front end of It.
"Hi-hi-hi," Fat One and the dozen others echoed more mildly, lifting wherever they could get a hold on It.
It was lifted and borne forward in a half crouching trot.
"Hi-hi hi-hi-hihihi," Elf chanted, running and skipping alongside the panting men and their massive burden.
It was carried forward through the lush grass for perhaps fifty feet.
"Ah-ah-ah," Big One sighed loudly, slowly letting the front end of It down until it dug into the soft black soil.
"Ahhh," Fat One and the others sighed, letting go and standing up, stretching aching back muscles, rubbing cramped hands.
"Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah," Elf sang, running around and in between the resting men. He came too close to Big One and was sent sprawling by a quick, good humored push.
Everyone laughed, Big One laughing the loudest. Then Big One lifted Elf to his feet and patted him on the back affectionately, a broad grin forming a toothy gap at the top of his bushy black beard.
Elf answered the grin with one of his own, and at that moment his ever present yearning to grow up to be the biggest and the strongest like Big One flowed through him with new strength.