The Giver

“I apologize for inconveniencing my learning community.”

“Distraught’ is too strong an adjective to describe salmon-viewing.”

Jonas, nearing his home now, smiled at the recollection.

But it’s the Ceremony that I’m apprehensive about.

But like all parents- all adults- they didn’t fight and wheedle for their turn.

“He’s a sweet little male with a lovely disposition.

We have him in the extra care section for supplementary nurturing, but the committee’s beginning to talk about releasing him.”

It was a lesser job, night-crew nurturing, assigned to those who lacked the interest or skills or insight for the more vital jobs of the daytime hours.

Most of the people on the night crew had not even been given spouses because they lacked, somehow, the essential capacity to connect to others, which was required for the creation of a family unit.

Most of the people on the night crew had not even been given spouses because they lacked, somehow, the essential capacity to connect to others, which was required for the creation of a family unit.

Next, Mother, who held a prominent position at the Department of Justice, talked about her feelings.

Next, Mother, who held a prominent position at the Department of Justice, talked about her feelings.

Someone who she hoped had been adequately and fairly punished, and who had been restored to his place: to his job, his home, his family unit.

The rules say that if there’s a third transgression, he simply has to be released.”

Soon she smiled, thanked them, and murmured that she felt soothed.

“I’m feeling apprehensive,” he confessed, glad that the appropriate descriptive word had finally come to him.

But it’s the Ceremony that I’m apprehensive about.

It was right there in the office, and I looked up number Thirty-six- that’s the little guy I’ve been concerned about- because it occurred to me that it might enhance his nurturing if I could call him by a name.

Though Jonas had only become a Five the year that they acquired Lily and learned her name, he remembered the excitement, the conversations at home, wondering about her: how she would look, who she would be, how she would fit into their established family unit.

Sometimes, if it was a very important rule -unlike the one governing the age for bicycles- it would have to go, eventually, to The Receiver for a decision.

“But to be honest, Jonas,” his father said, “for me there was not the element of suspense that there is with your Ceremony.

“Well, it was clear to me-and my parents later confessed that it had been obvious to them, too- what my aptitude was.

“I always participated, of course, because as children we must experience all of those things.

And he didn’t envy Laborers at all.