The Giver PDF

The Giver Lois Lowry Houghton Mifflin Company Boston  For all the children To whom we entrust the future The Giver  1 It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened. No. Wrong word, Jonas thought. Fri...

The Giver Lois Lowry Houghton Mifflin Company Boston  For all the children To whom we entrust the future The Giver  1 It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened. No. Wrong word, Jonas thought. Frightened meant that deep, sickening feeling of something terrible about to happen. Frightened was the way he had felt a year ago when an unidentified aircraft had overflown the community twice. He had seen it both times. Squinting toward the sky, he had seen the sleek jet, almost a blur at its high speed, go past, and a second later heard the blast of sound that followed. Then one more time, a moment later, from the opposite direction, the same plane. At first, he had been only fascinated. He had never seen aircraft so close, for it was against the rules for Pilots to fly over the community. Occasionally, when supplies were de- livered by cargo planes to the landing field across the river, the children rode their bicycles to the riverbank and watched, intrigued, the unloading and then the takeoff directed to the west, always away from the community. But the aircraft a year ago had been different. It was not a squat, fat-bellied cargo plane but a needle-nosed single-pilot jet. Jonas, looking around anxiously, had seen others — adults as well as children — stop what they were doing and wait, confused, for an explanation of the frightening event. 1  Then all of the citizens had been ordered to go into the Even the children were scolded if they used the term nearest building and stay there. IMMEDIATELY, the rasping lightly at play, jeering at a teammate who missed a catch or voice through the speakers had said. LEAVE YOUR BICY- stumbled in a race. Jonas had done it once, had shouted at CLES WHERE THEY ARE. his best friend, “That’s it, Asher! You’re released!” when Instantly, obediently, Jonas had dropped his bike on its Asher’s clumsy error had lost a match for his team. He had side on the path behind his family’s dwelling. He had run been taken aside for a brief and serious talk by the coach, indoors and stayed there, alone. His parents were both at had hung his head with guilt and embarrassment, and work, and his little sister, Lily, was at the Childcare Center apologized to Asher after the game. where she spent her after-school hours. Now, thinking about the feeling of fear as he pedaled Looking through the front window, he had seen no home along the river path, he remembered that moment of people: none of the busy afternoon crew of Street Cleaners, palpable, stomach-sinking terror when the aircraft had Landscape Workers, and Food Delivery people who usually streaked above. It was not what he was feeling now with populated the community at that time of day. He saw only December approaching. He searched for the right word to the abandoned bikes here and there on their sides; an describe his own feeling. upturned wheel on one was still revolving slowly. Jonas was careful about language. Not like his friend, He had been frightened then. The sense of his own Asher, who talked too fast and mixed things up, scrambling community silent, waiting, had made his stomach churn. He words and phrases until they were barely recognizable and had trembled. often very funny. But it had been nothing. Within minutes the speakers had Jonas grinned, remembering the morning that Asher had crackled again, and the voice, reassuring now and less dashed into the classroom, late as usual, arriving urgent, had explained that a Pilot-in-Training had misread breathlessly in the middle of the chanting of the morning his navigational instructions and made a wrong turn. Des- anthem. When the class took their seats at the conclusion of perately the Pilot had been trying to make his way back the patriotic hymn, Asher remained standing to make his before his error was noticed. public apology as was required. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WILL BE RELEASED, the voice “I apologize for inconveniencing my learning commu- had said, followed by silence. There was an ironic tone to nity.” Asher ran through the standard apology phrase rap- that final message, as if the Speaker found it amusing; and idly, still catching his breath. The Instructor and class Jonas had smiled a little, though he knew what a grim waited patiently for his explanation. The students had all statement it had been. For a contributing citizen to be re- been grinning, because they had listened to Asher’s expla- leased from the community was a final decision, a terrible nations so many times before. punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure. “I left home at the correct time but when I was riding 2 3 along near the hatchery, the crew was separating some Sometimes Jonas and his sister, Lily, argued over turns, salmon. I guess I just got distraught, watching them. over who would get to go first. Their parents, of course, “I apologize to my classmates,” Asher concluded. He were part of the ritual; they, too, told their feelings each smoothed his rumpled tunic and sat down. evening. But like all parents — all adults — they didn’t “We accept your apology, Asher.” The class recited the fight and wheedle for their turn. standard response in unison. Many of the students were Nor did Jonas, tonight. His feelings were too compli- biting their lips to keep from laughing. cated this evening. He wanted to share them, but he wasn’t “I accept your apology, Asher,” the Instructor said. He eager to begin the process of sifting through his own was smiling. “And I thank you, because once again you complicated emotions, even with the help that he knew his have provided an opportunity for a lesson in language. parents could give. ‘Distraught’ is too strong an adjective to describe salmon- “You go, Lily,” he said, seeing his sister, who was much viewing.” He turned and wrote “distraught” on the in- younger — only a Seven — wiggling with impatience in structional board. Beside it he wrote “distracted.” her chair. Jonas, nearing his home now, smiled at the recollection. “I felt very angry this afternoon,” Lily announced. “My Thinking, still, as he wheeled his bike into its narrow port Childcare group was at the play area, and we had a visiting beside the door, he realized that frightened was the wrong group of Sevens, and they didn’t obey the rules at all. One word to describe his feelings, now that December was al- of them — a male; I don’t know his name — kept going most here. It was too strong an adjective. right to the front of the line for the slide, even though the He had waited a long time for this special December. rest of us were all waiting. I felt so angry at him. I made my Now that it was almost upon him, he wasn’t frightened, but hand into a fist, like this.” She held up a clenched fist and he was... eager, he decided. He was eager for it to come. the rest of the family smiled at her small defiant gesture. And he was excited, certainly. All of the Elevens were “Why do you think the visitors didn’t obey the rules?” excited about the event that would be coming so soon. Mother asked. But there was a little shudder of nervousness when he Lily considered, and shook her head. “I don’t know. thought about it, about what might happen. They acted like... like...” Apprehensive, Jonas decided. That’s what I am. “Animals?” Jonas suggested. He laughed. “That’s right,” Lily said, laughing too. “Like animals.” “Who wants to be the first tonight, for feelings?” Jonas’s Neither child knew what the word meant, exactly, but it father asked, at the conclusion of their evening meal. was often used to describe someone uneducated or clumsy, It was one of the rituals, the evening telling of feelings. someone who didn’t fit in. 4 5  “Where were the visitors from?” Father asked. Jonas smiled back at his sister. Lily’s feelings were Lily frowned, trying to remember. “Our leader told us, always straightforward, fairly simple, usually easy to re- when he made the welcome speech, but I can’t remember. solve. He guessed that his own had been, too, when he was I guess I wasn’t paying attention. It was from another a Seven. community. They had to leave very early, and they had He listened politely, though not very attentively, while their midday meal on the bus.” his father took his turn, describing a feeling of worry that Mother nodded. “Do you think it’s possible that their he’d had that day at work: a concern about one of the rules may be different? And so they simply didn’t know newchildren who wasn’t doing well. Jonas’s father’s title what your play area rules were?” was Nurturer. He and the other Nurturers were responsible Lily shrugged, and nodded. “I suppose.” for all the physical and emotional needs of every new-child “You’ve visited other communities, haven’t you?” Jonas during its earliest life. It was a very important job, Jonas asked. “My group has, often.” knew, but it wasn’t one that interested him much. Lily nodded again. “When we were Sixes, we went and “What gender is it?” Lily asked. shared a whole school day with a group of Sixes in their “Male,” Father said. “He’s a sweet little male with a community.” lovely disposition. But he isn’t growing as fast as he “How did you feel when you were there?” should, and he doesn’t sleep soundly. We have him in the Lily frowned. “I felt strange. Because their methods extra care section for supplementary nurturing, but the were different. They were learning usages that my group committee’s beginning to talk about releasing him.” hadn’t learned yet, so we felt stupid.” “Oh, no,” Mother murmured sympathetically. “I know Father was listening with interest. “I’m thinking, Lily,” how sad that must make you feel.” he said, “about the boy who didn’t obey the rules today. Jonas and Lily both nodded sympathetically as well. Do you think it’s possible that he felt strange and stupid, Release of newchildren was always sad, because they being in a new place with rules that he didn’t know hadn’t had a chance to enjoy life within the community yet. about?” And they hadn’t done anything wrong. Lily pondered that. “Yes,” she said, finally. There were only two occasions of release which were not “I feel a little sorry for him,” Jonas said, “even though I punishment. Release of the elderly, which was a time of don’t even know him. I feel sorry for anyone who is in a celebration for a life well and fully lived; and release of a place where he feels strange and stupid.” newchild, which always brought a sense of what-could-we- “How do you feel now, Lily?” Father asked. “Still have-done. This was especially troubling for the Nurturers, angry?” like Father, who felt they had failed somehow. But it “I guess not,” Lily decided. “I guess I feel a little sorry happened very rarely. for him. And sorry I made a fist.” She grinned. “Well,” Father said, “I’m going to keep trying. I may 6 7 ask the committee for permission to bring him here at night, guilt, that she hadn’t made a difference in his life. if you don’t mind. You know what the night-crew Nurturers “I feel frightened, too, for him,” she confessed. “You are like. I think this little guy needs something extra.” know that there’s no third chance. The rules say that if “Of course,” Mother said, and Jonas and Lily nodded. there’s a third transgression, he simply has to be released.” They had heard Father complain about the night crew be- Jonas shivered. He knew it happened. There was even a boy fore. It was a lesser job, night-crew nurturing, assigned to in his group of Elevens whose father had been released years those who lacked the interest or skills or insight for the before. No one ever mentioned it; the disgrace was more vital jobs of the daytime hours. Most of the people on unspeakable. It was hard to imagine. the night crew had not even been given spouses because Lily stood up and went to her mother. She stroked her they lacked, somehow, the essential capacity to connect to mother’s arm. others, which was required for the creation of a family unit. From his place at the table, Father reached over and took “Maybe we could even keep him,” Lily suggested her hand. Jonas reached for the other. sweetly, trying to look innocent. The look was fake, Jonas One by one, they comforted her. Soon she smiled, knew; they all knew. thanked them, and murmured that she felt soothed. “Lily,” Mother reminded her, smiling, “you know the The ritual continued. “Jonas?” Father asked. “You’re rules.” last, tonight.” Two children — one male, one female — to each family Jonas sighed. This evening he almost would have pre- unit. It was written very clearly in the rules. ferred to keep his feelings hidden. But it was, of course, Lily giggled. “Well,” she said, “I thought maybe just this against the rules. once.” “I’m feeling apprehensive,” he confessed, glad that the appropriate descriptive word had finally come to him. Next, Mother, who held a prominent position at the De- “Why is that, son?” His father looked concerned. partment of Justice, talked about her feelings. Today a re- “I know there’s really nothing to worry about,” Jonas peat offender had been brought before her, someone who explained, “and that every adult has been through it. I know had broken the rules before. Someone who she hoped had you have, Father, and you too, Mother. But it’s the been adequately and fairly punished, and who had been Ceremony that I’m apprehensive about. It’s almost De- restored to his place: to his job, his home, his family unit. cember.” To see him brought before her a second time caused her Lily looked up, her eyes wide. “The Ceremony of overwhelming feelings of frustration and anger. And even Twelve,” she whispered in an awed voice. Even the small- est children — Lily’s age and younger — knew that it lay in the future for each of them. 8 9  “I’ m glad you told us of your feelings,” Father said. “Lily,” Mother said, beckoning to the little girl, “Go on now and get into your nightclothes. Father and I are going to stay here and talk to Jonas for a while.” Lily sighed, but obediently she got down from her chair. “Privately?” she asked. 2 Mother nodded. “Yes,” she said, “this talk will be a private one with Jonas.” Jonas watched as his father poured a fresh cup of coffee. He waited. “You know,” his father finally said, “every December was exciting to me when I was young. And it has been for you and Lily, too, I’m sure. Each December brings such changes.” Jonas nodded. He could remember the Decembers back to when he had become, well, probably a Four. The earlier ones were lost to him. But he observed them each year, and he remembered Lily’s earliest Decembers. He remembered when his family received Lily, the day she was named, the day that she had become a One. The Ceremony for the Ones was always noisy and fun. Each December, all the newchildren born in the previous year turned One. One at a time — there were always fifty in each year’s group, if none had been released — they had been brought to the stage by the Nurturers who had cared for them since birth. Some were already walking, wobbly on their unsteady legs; others were no more than a few days old, wrapped in blankets, held by their Nurturers. “I enjoy the Naming,” Jonas said. His mother agreed, smiling. “The year we got Lily, we 10 11 knew, of course, that we’d receive our female, because she would fit into their established family unit. He re- we’d made our application and been approved. But I’d been membered climbing the steps to the stage with his parents, wondering and wondering what her name would be. his father by his side that year instead of with the Nur- “I could have sneaked a look at the list prior to the cer- turers, since it was the year that he would be given a new- emony,” Father confided. “The committee always makes child of his own. the list in advance, and it’s right there in the office at the He remembered his mother taking the newchild, his Nurturing Center. sister, into her arms, while the document was read to the “As a matter of fact,” he went on, “I feel a little guilty assembled family units. “Newchild Twenty-three,” the about this. But I did go in this afternoon and looked to see Namer had read. “Lily.” if this year’s Naming list had been made yet. It was right He remembered his father’s look of delight, and that his there in the office, and I looked up number Thirty-six — father had whispered, “She’s one of my favorites. I was that’s the little guy I’ve been concerned about — because it hoping for her to be the one.” The crowd had clapped, and occurred to me that it might enhance his nurturing if I could Jonas had grinned. He liked his sister’s name. Lily, barely call him by a name. Just privately, of course, when no one awake, had waved her small fist. Then they had stepped else is around.” down to make room for the next family unit. “Did you find it?” Jonas asked. He was fascinated. It “When I was an Eleven,” his father said now, “as you didn’t seem a terribly important rule, but the fact that his are, Jonas, I was very impatient, waiting for the Ceremony father had broken a rule at all awed him. He glanced at his of Twelve. It’s a long two days. I remember that I enjoyed mother, the one responsible for adherence to the rules, and the Ones, as I always do, but that I didn’t pay much at- was relieved that she was smiling. tention to the other ceremonies, except for my sister’s. She His father nodded. “His name — if he makes it to the became a Nine that year, and got her bicycle. I’d been Naming without being released, of course — is to be Ga- teaching her to ride mine, even though technically I wasn’t briel. So I whisper that to him when I feed him every four supposed to.” hours, and during exercise and playtime. If no one can hear Jonas laughed. It was one of the few rules that was not me. taken very seriously and was almost always broken. The “I call him Gabe, actually,” he said, and grinned. children all received their bicycles at Nine; they were not “Gabe.” Jonas tried it out. A good name, he decided. allowed to ride bicycles before then. But almost always, the Though Jonas had only become a Five the year that they older brothers and sisters had secretly taught the younger acquired Lily and learned her name, he remembered the ones. Jonas had been thinking already about teaching Lily. excitement, the conversations at home, wondering about There was talk about changing the rule and giving the her: how she would look, who she would be, how bicycles at an earlier age. A committee was studying 12 13 the idea. When something went to a committee for study, was not the element of suspense that there is with your the people always joked about it. They said that the com- Ceremony. Because I was already fairly certain of what my mittee members would become Elders by the time the rule Assignment was to be.” change was made. Jonas was surprised. There was no way, really, to know Rules were very hard to change. Sometimes, if it was a in advance. It was a secret selection, made by the leaders of very important rule — unlike the one governing the age for the community, the Committee of Elders, who took the bicycles — it would have to go, eventually, to The Re- responsibility so seriously that there were never even any ceiver for a decision. The Receiver was the most important jokes made about Assignments. Elder. Jonas had never even seen him, that he knew of; His mother seemed surprised, too. “How could you have someone in a position of such importance lived and worked known?” she asked. alone. But the committee would never bother The Receiver His father smiled his gentle smile. “Well, it was clear to with a question about bicycles; they would simply fret and me — and my parents later confessed that it had been ob- argue about it themselves for years, until the citizens forgot vious to them, too — what my aptitude was. I had always that it had ever gone to them for study. loved the newchildren more than anything. When my His father continued. “So I watched and cheered when friends in my age group were holding bicycle races, or my sister, Katya, became a Nine and removed her hair building toy vehicles or bridges with their construction ribbons and got her bicycle,” Father went on. “Then I didn’t sets, or — “ pay much attention to the Tens and Elevens. And finally, at “All the things I do with my friends,” Jonas pointed out, the end of the second day, which seemed to go on forever, it and his mother nodded in agreement. was my turn. It was the Ceremony of Twelve.” “I always participated, of course, because as children we Jonas shivered. He pictured his father, who must have must experience all of those things. And I studied hard in been a shy and quiet boy, for he was a shy and quiet man, school, as you do, Jonas. But again and again, during free seated with his group, waiting to be called to the stage. time, I found myself drawn to the newchildren. I spent al- The Ceremony of Twelve was the last of the Ceremonies. most all of my volunteer hours helping in the Nurturing The most important. Center. Of course the Elders knew that, from their obser- “I remember how proud my parents looked — and my vation.” sister, too; even though she wanted to be out riding the bi- Jonas nodded. During the past year he had been aware of cycle publicly, she stopped fidgeting and was very still and the increasing level of observation. In school, at recreation attentive when my turn came. time, and during volunteer hours, he had noticed the Elders “But to be honest, Jonas,” his father said, “for me there watching him and the other Elevens. He had seen them taking notes. He knew, too, that the Elders were 14 15 meeting for long hours with all of the instructors that he “There are very rarely disappointments, Jonas. I don’t and the other Elevens had had during their years of school. think you need to worry about that,” his father reassured “So I expected it, and I was pleased, but not at all sur- him. “And if there are, you know there’s an appeal proc- prised, when my Assignment was announced as Nurturer,” ess.” But they all laughed at that — an appeal went to a Father explained. committee for study. “Did everyone applaud, even though they weren’t sur- “I worry a little about Asher’s Assignment,” Jonas con- prised?” Jonas asked. fessed. “Asher’s such fun. But he doesn’t really have any “Oh, of course. They were happy for me, that my As- serious interests. He makes a game out of everything.” signment was what I wanted most. I felt very fortunate.” His father chuckled. “You know,” he said, “I re- His father smiled. member when Asher was a newchild at the Nurturing “Were any of the Elevens disappointed, your year?” Center, before he was named. He never cried. He giggled Jonas asked. Unlike his father, he had no idea what his and laughed at everything. All of us on the staff enjoyed Assignment would be. But he knew that some would dis- nurturing Asher.” appoint him. Though he respected his father’s work, Nur- “The Elders know Asher,” his mother said. “They’ll turer would not be his wish. And he didn’t envy Laborers find exactly the right Assignment for him. I don’t think at all. you need to worry about him. But, Jonas, let me warn you His father thought. “No, I don’t think so. Of course the about something that may not have occurred to you. I Elders are so careful in their observations and selections.” know I didn’t think about it until after my Ceremony of “I think it’s probably the most important job in our Twelve.” community,” his mother commented. “What’s that?” “My friend Yoshiko was surprised by her selection as “Well, it’s the last of the Ceremonies, as you know. Doctor,” Father said, “but she was thrilled. And let’s see, After Twelve, age isn’t important. Most of us even lose there was Andrei — I remember that when we were boys track of how old we are as time passes, though the infor- he never wanted to do physical things. He spent all the mation is in the Hall of Open Records, and we could go recreation time he could with his construction set, and his and look it up if we wanted to. What’s important is the volunteer hours were always on building sites. The Elders preparation for adult life, and the training you’ll receive in knew that, of course. Andrei was given the Assignment of your Assignment.” Engineer and he was delighted.” “I know that,” Jonas said. “Everyone knows that.” “Andrei later designed the bridge that crosses the river “But it means,” his mother went on, “that you’ll move to the west of town,” Jonas’s mother said. “It wasn’t there into a new group. And each of your friends will. You’ll no when we were children.” longer be spending your time with your group of Elevens. After the Ceremony of Twelve, you’ll be with your Assign- 16 17 ment group, with those in training. No more volunteer the comfort objects, like Lily’s, were soft, stuffed, imagi- hours. No more recreation hours. So your friends will no nary creatures. Jonas’s had been called a bear. longer be as close.” “Here you are, Lily-billy,” he said. “I’ll come help you Jonas shook his head. “Asher and I will always be remove your hair ribbons.” friends,” he said firmly. “And there will still be school.” Jonas and his mother rolled their eyes, yet they watched “That’s true,” his father agreed. “But what your mother affectionately as Lily and her father headed to her sleeping- said is true as well. There will be changes.” room with the stuffed elephant that had been given to her “Good changes, though,” his mother pointed out. “After as her comfort object when she was born. His mother my Ceremony of Twelve, I missed my childhood moved to her big desk and opened her briefcase; her work recreation. But when I entered my training for Law and never seemed to end, even when she was at home in the Justice, I found myself with people who shared my inter- evening. Jonas went to his own desk and began to sort ests. I made friends on a new level, friends of all ages.” through his school papers for the evening’s assignment. But “Did you still play at all, after Twelve?” Jonas asked. his mind was still on December and the coming Ceremony. “Occasionally,” his mother replied. “But it didn’t seem Though he had been reassured by the talk with his par- as important to me.” ents, he hadn’t the slightest idea what Assignment the “I did,” his father said, laughing. “I still do. Every day, Elders would be selecting for his future, or how he might at the Nurturing Center, I play bounce-on-the-knee, and feel about it when the day came. peek-a-boo, and hug-the-teddy.” He reached over and stroked Jonas’s neatly trimmed hair. “Fun doesn’t end when you become Twelve.” Lily appeared, wearing her nightclothes, in the door- way. She gave an impatient sigh. “This is certainly a very long private conversation,” she said. “And there are certain people waiting for their comfort object.” “Lily,” her mother said fondly, “you’re very close to being an Eight, and when you’re an Eight, your comfort object will be taken away. It will be recycled to the younger children. You should be starting to go off to sleep without it.” But her father had already gone to the shelf and taken down the stuffed elephant which was kept there. Many of 18 19  hind, but she glanced back over her shoulder at Jonas and teased, “Maybe he had the same Birthmother as you.” Jonas shrugged. He followed them inside. But he had been startled by the newchild’s eyes. Mirrors were rare in the community; they weren’t forbidden, but there was no 3 real need of them, and Jonas had simply never bothered to look at himself very often even when he found himself in a location where a mirror existed. Now, seeing the newchild and its expression, he was reminded that the light eyes were not only a rarity but gave the one who had them a certain look — what was it? Depth, he decided; as if one “Oh, look!” Lily squealed in delight. “Isn’t he cute? were looking into the clear water of the river, down to the Look how tiny he is! And he has funny eyes like yours, bottom, where things might lurk which hadn’t been dis- Jonas!” Jonas glared at her. He didn’t like it that she had covered yet. He felt self-conscious, realizing that he, too, mentioned his eyes. He waited for his father to chastise had that look. Lily. But Father was busy unstrapping the carrying basket He went to his desk, pretending not to be interested in from the back of his bicycle. Jonas walked over to look. the newchild. On the other side of the room, Mother and It was the first thing Jonas noticed as he looked at the Lily were bending over to watch as Father unwrapped its newchild peering up curiously from the basket. The pale blanket. eyes. “What’s his comfort object called?” Lily asked, picking Almost every citizen in the community had dark eyes. up the stuffed creature which had been placed beside the His parents did, and Lily did, and so did all of his group newchild in his basket. members and friends. But there were a few exceptions: Father glanced at it. “Hippo,” he said. Jonas himself, and a female Five who he had noticed had Lily giggled at the strange word. “Hippo,” she repeated, the different, lighter eyes. No one mentioned such things; it and put the comfort object down again. She peered at the was not a rule, but was considered rude to call attention to unwrapped newchild, who waved his arms. things that were unsettling or different about individuals. “I think newchildren are so cute,” Lily sighed. “I hope I Lily, he decided, would have to learn that soon, or she get assigned to be a Birthmother.” would be called in for chastisement because of her in- “Lily!” Mother spoke very sharply. “Don’t say that. sensitive chatter. There’s very little honor in that Assignment.” Father put his bike into its port. Then he picked up the “But I was talking to Natasha. You know the Ten who basket and carried it into the house. Lily followed be- 20 21 lives around the corner? She does some of her volunteer voice that all the Speakers seemed to develop, saying hours at the Birthing Center. And she told me that the things like, ATTENTION. THIS IS A REMINDER TO Birthmothers get wonderful food, and they have very gen- FEMALES UNDER NINE THAT HAIR RIBBONS ARE tle exercise periods, and most of the time they just play TO BE NEATLY TIED AT ALL TIMES. games and amuse themselves while they’re waiting. I think He turned toward Lily and noticed to his satisfaction I’d like that,” Lily said petulantly. that her ribbons were, as usual, undone and dangling. “Three years,” Mother told her firmly. “Three births, There would be an announcement like that quite soon, he and that’s all. After that they are Laborers for the rest of felt certain, and it would be directed mainly at Lily, though their adult lives, until the day that they enter the House of her name, of course, would not be mentioned. Everyone the Old. Is that what you want, Lily? Three lazy years, and would know. then hard physical labor until you are old?” Everyone had known, he remembered with humiliation, “Well, no, I guess not,” Lily acknowledged reluctantly. that the announcement ATTENTION. THIS IS A RE- Father turned the newchild onto his tummy in the bas- MINDER TO MALE ELEVENS THAT OBJECTS ARE ket. He sat beside it and rubbed its small back with a NOT TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RECREATION rhythmic motion. “Anyway, Lily-billy,” he said affection- AREA AND THAT SNACKS ARE TO BE EATEN, ately, “the Birthmothers never even get to see newchildren. NOT HOARDED had been specifically directed at him, If you enjoy the little ones so much, you should hope for an the day last month that he had taken an apple home. No Assignment as Nurturer.” one had mentioned it, not even his parents, because the “When you’re an Eight and start your volunteer hours, public announcement had been sufficient to produce the you can try some at the Nurturing Center,” Mother sug- appropriate remorse. He had, of course, disposed of the gested. apple and made his apology to the Recreation Director the “Yes, I think I will,” Lily said. She knelt beside the bas- next morning, before school. ket. “What did you say his name is? Gabriel? Hello, Ga- Jonas thought again about that incident. He was still briel,” she said in a singsong voice. Then she giggled. bewildered by it. Not by the announcement or the neces- “Ooops,” she whispered. “I think he’s asleep. I guess I’d sary apology; those were standard procedures, and he had better be quiet.” deserved them — but by the incident itself. He probably Jonas turned to the school assignments on his desk. should have brought up his feeling of bewilderment that Some chance of that, he thought. Lily was never quiet. very evening when the family unit had shared their feel- Probably she should hope for an Assignment as Speaker, so ings of the day. But he had not been able to sort out and that she could sit in the office with the microphone all day, put words to the source of his confusion, so he had let it making announcements. He laughed silently to him-self, pass. picturing his sister droning on in the self-important It had happened during the recreation period, when he had been playing with Asher. Jonas had casually picked 22 23 up an apple from the basket where the snacks were kept, my hand onto the ground!” Asher had just dropped it once and had thrown it to his friend. Asher had thrown it back, again. and they had begun a simple game of catch. So Jonas laughed too, and with his laughter tried to ig- There had been nothing special about it; it was an activ- nore his uneasy conviction that something had happened. ity that he had performed countless times: throw, catch; But he had taken the apple home, against the recreation throw, catch. It was effortless for Jonas, and even boring, area rules. That evening, before his parents and Lily arrived though Asher enjoyed it, and playing catch was a required at the dwelling, he had held it in his hands and looked at it activity for Asher because it would improve his hand-eye carefully. It was slightly bruised now, because Asher had coordination, which was not up to standards. dropped it several times. But there was nothing at all But suddenly Jonas had noticed, following the path of unusual about the apple. the apple through the air with his eyes, that the piece of He had held a magnifying glass to it. He had tossed it fruit had — well, this was the part that he couldn’t ade- several times across the room, watching, and then rolled it quately understand — the apple had changed. Just for an around and around on his desktop, waiting for the thing to instant. It had changed in mid-air, he remembered. Then it happen again. was in his hand, and he looked at it carefully, but it was the But it hadn’t. The only thing that happened was the same apple. Unchanged. The same size and shape: a perfect announcement later that evening over the speaker, the an- sphere. The same nondescript shade, about the same shade nouncement that had singled him out without using his as his own tunic. name, that had caused both of his parents to glance mean- There was absolutely nothing remarkable about that ingfully at his desk where the apple still lay. apple. He had tossed it back and forth between his hands a Now, sitting at his desk, staring at his schoolwork as his few times, then thrown it again to Asher. And again — in family hovered over the newchild in its basket, he shook the air, for an instant only — it had changed. his head, trying to forget the odd incident. He forced him- It had happened four times. Jonas had blinked, looked self to arrange his papers and try to study a little before the around, and then tested his eyesight, squinting at the small evening meal. The newchild, Gabriel, stirred and whim- print on the identification badge attached to his tunic. He pered, and Father spoke softly to Lily, explaining the feed- read his name quite clearly. He could also clearly see Asher ing procedure as he opened the container that held the at the other end of the throwing area. And he had had no formula and equipment. problem catching the apple. The evening proceeded as all evenings did in the family Jonas had been completely mystified. unit, in the dwelling, in the community: quiet, reflective, a “Ash?” he had called. “Does anything seem strange to time for renewal and preparation for the day to come. It you? About the apple?” was different only in the addition to it of the newchild with “Yes,” Asher called back, laughing. “It jumps out of his pale, solemn, knowing eyes. 24 25  themselves, and that he had even developed some ma- chines and methods to hasten rehabilitation. There was no doubt that Benjamin would receive his Assignment to that field and would probably be permitted to bypass most of 4 the training. Jonas was impressed by the things Benjamin had achieved. He knew him, of course, since they had always been groupmates, but they had never talked about the boy’s accomplishments because such a conversation would have been awkward for Benjamin. There was never any Jonas rode at a leisurely pace, glancing at the bikeports comfortable way to mention or discuss one’s successes beside the buildings to see if he could spot Asher’s. He without breaking the rule against bragging, even if one didn’t often do his volunteer hours with his friend because didn’t mean to. It was a minor rule, rather like rudeness, Asher frequently fooled around and made serious work a punishable only by gentle chastisement. But still. Better to little difficult. But now, with Twelve coming so soon and steer clear of an occasion governed by a rule which would the volunteer hours ending, it didn’t seem to matter. be so easy to break. The freedom to choose where to spend those hours had The area of dwellings behind him, Jonas rode past the always seemed a wonderful luxury to Jonas; other hours of community structures, hoping to spot Asher’s bicycle the day were so carefully regulated. parked beside one of the small factories or office buildings. He remembered when he had become an Eight, as Lily He passed the Childcare Center where Lily stayed after would do shortly, and had been faced with that freedom of school, and the play areas surrounding it. He rode through choice. The Eights always set out on their first volunteer the Central Plaza and the large Auditorium where public hour a little nervously, giggling and staying in groups of meetings were held. friends. They almost invariably did their hours on Recre- Jonas slowed and looked at the nametags on the bicycles ation Duty first, helping with the younger ones in a place lined up outside the Nurturing Center. Then he checked where they still felt comfortable. But with guidance, as those outside Food Distribution; it was always fun to help they developed self-confidence and maturity, they moved with the deliveries, and he hoped he would find his friend on to other jobs, gravitating toward those that would suit there so that they could go together on the daily rounds, their own interests and skills. carrying the cartons of supplies into the dwellings of the A male Eleven named Benjamin had done his entire community. But he finally found Asher’s bicycle — nearly-Four years in the Rehabilitation Center, working leaning, as usual, instead of upright in its port, as it should with citizens who had been injured. It was rumored that he have been — at the House of the Old. was as skilled now as the Rehabilitation Directors 26 27  There was only one other child’s bicycle there, that of a slow-paced place, unlike the busy centers of manufacture female Eleven named Fiona. Jonas liked Fiona. She was a and distribution where the daily work of the community good student, quiet and polite, but she had a sense of fun as occurred. well, and it didn’t surprise him that she was working with Jonas was glad that he had, over the years, chosen to do Asher today. He parked his bicycle neatly in the port beside his hours in a variety of places so that he could experience theirs and entered the building. the differences. He realized, though, that not focusing on “Hello, Jonas,” the attendant at the front desk said. She one area meant he was left with not the slightest idea — handed him the sign-up sheet and stamped her own official not even a guess — of what his Assignment would be. seal beside his signature. All of his volunteer hours would He laughed softly. Thinking about the Ceremony again, be carefully tabulated at the Hall of Open Records. Once, Jonas? He teased himself. But he suspected that with the long ago, it was whispered among the children, an Eleven date so near, probably all of his friends were, too. had arrived at the Ceremony of Twelve only to hear a public He passed a Caretaker walking slowly with one of the announcement that he had not completed the required Old in the hall. “Hello, Jonas,” the young uniformed man number of volunteer hours and would not, there-fore, be said, smiling pleasantly. The woman beside him, whose given his Assignment. He had been permitted an additional arm he held, was hunched over as she shuffled along in her month in which to complete the hours, and then given his soft slippers. She looked toward Jonas and smiled, but her Assignment privately, with no applause, no celebration: a dark eyes were clouded and blank. He realized she was disgrace that had clouded his entire future. blind. “It’s good to have some volunteers here today,” the at- He entered the bathing room with its warm moist air and tendant told him. “We celebrated a release this morning, scent of cleansing lotions. He removed his tunic, hung it and that always throws the schedule off a little, so things carefully on a wall hook, and put on the volunteer’s smock get backed up.” She looked at a printed sheet. “Let’s see. that was folded on a shelf. Asher and Fiona are helping in the bathing room. Why “Hi, Jonas!” Asher called from the corner where he was don’t you join them there? You know where it is, don’t kneeling beside a tub. Jonas saw Fiona nearby, at a differ- you?” ent tub. She looked up and smiled at him, but she was busy, Jonas nodded, thanked her, and walked down the long gently washing a man who lay in the warm water. hallway. He glanced into the rooms on either side. The Old Jonas greeted them and the caretaking attendants at were sitting quietly, some visiting and talking with one work nearby. Then he went to the row of padded lounging another, others doing handwork and simple crafts. A few chairs where others of the Old were waiting. He had were asleep. Each room was comfortably furnished, the worked here before; he knew what to do. floors covered with thick carpeting. It was a serene and “Your turn, Larissa,” he said, reading the nametag on 28 29 the woman’s robe. “I’ll just start the water and then help help the old man from the tub and tenderly pat his thin, you up.” He pressed the button on a nearby empty tub and naked body dry with an absorbent cloth. She helped him watched as the warm water flowed in through the many into his robe. small openings on the sides. The tub would be filled in a Jonas thought Larissa had drifted into sleep, as the Old minute and the water flow would stop automatically. often did, and he was careful to keep his motions steady He helped the woman from the chair, led her to the tub, and gentle so he wouldn’t wake her. He was surprised removed her robe, and steadied her with his hand on her when she spoke, her eyes still closed. arm as she stepped in and lowered herself. She leaned back “This morning we celebrated the release of Roberto,” and sighed with pleasure, her head on a soft cushioned she told him. “It was wonderful.” headrest. “I knew Roberto!” Jonas said. “I helped with his feed- “Comfortable?” he asked, and she nodded, her eyes ing the last time I was here, just a few weeks ago. He was a closed. Jonas squeezed cleansing lotion onto the clean very interesting man.” sponge at the edge of the tub and began to wash her frail Larissa opened her eyes happily. “They told his whole body. life before they released him,” she said. “They always do. Last night he had watched as his father bathed the new- But to be honest,” she whispered with a mischievous look, child. This was much the same: the fragile skin, the sooth- “some of the tellings are a little boring. I’ve even seen ing water, the gentle motion of his hand, slippery with some of the Old fall asleep during tellings — when they soap. The relaxed, peaceful smile on the woman’s face re- released Edna recently. Did you know Edna?” minded him of Gabriel being bathed. Jonas shook his head. He couldn’t recall anyone named And the nakedness, too. It was against the rules for Edna. children or adults to look at another’s nakedness; but the “Well, they tried to make her life sound meaningful. rule did not apply to newchildren or the Old. Jonas was And of course,” she added primly, “all lives are meaning- glad. It was a nuisance to keep oneself covered while ful, I don’t mean that they aren’t. But Edna. My goodness. changing for games, and the required apology if one had She was a Birthmother, and then she worked in Food by mistake glimpsed another’s body was always awkward. Production for years, until she came here. She never even He couldn’t see why it was necessary. He liked the feeling had a family unit.” of safety here in this warm and quiet room; he liked the Larissa lifted her head and looked around to make sure expression of trust on the woman’s face as she lay in the no one else was listening. Then she confided, “I don’t water unprotected, exposed, and free. think Edna was very smart.” From the corner of his eye he could see his friend Fiona Jonas laughed. He rinsed her left arm, laid it back into the water, and began to wash her feet. She murmured 30 31 with pleasure as he massaged her feet with the sponge. Jonas grinned. “I wish I’d been there to see it.” “But Roberto’s life was wonderful,” Larissa went on, Larissa frowned. “I don’t know why they don’t let chil- after a moment. “He had been an Instructor of Elevens — dren come. Not enough room, I guess. They should en- you know how important that is — and he’d been on the large the Releasing Room.” Planning Committee. And — goodness, I don’t know how “We’ll have to suggest that to the committee. Maybe he found the time — he also raised two very successful they’d study it,” Jonas said slyly, and Larissa chortled with children, and he was also the one who did the landscaping laughter. design for the Central Plaza. He didn’t do the actual labor, “Right!” she hooted, and Jonas helped her from the tub. of course.” “Now your back. Lean forward and I’ll help you sit up.” Jonas put his arm around her and supported her as she sat. He squeezed the sponge against her back and began to rub her sharp-boned shoulders. “Tell me about the celebration.” “Well, there was the telling of his life. That is always first. Then the toast. We all raised our glasses and cheered. We chanted the anthem. He made a lovely good-bye speech. And several of us made little speeches wishing him well. I didn’t, though. I’ve never been fond of public speaking. “He was thrilled. You should have seen the look on his face when they let him go.” Jonas slowed the strokes of his hand on her back thoughtfully. “Larissa,” he asked, “what happens when they make the actual release? Where exactly did Roberto go?” She lifted her bare wet shoulders in a small shrug. “I don’t know. I don’t think anybody does, except the com- mittee. He just bowed to all of us and then walked, like they all do, through the special door in the Releasing Room. But you should have seen his look. Pure happiness, I’d call it.” 33 32  Father said that he had had no dreams. “Gabe?” Father asked, looking down at the basket where the newchild lay gurgling after his feeding, ready to be taken back to the Nurturing Center for the day. They all laughed. Dream-telling began with Threes. If 5 newchildren dreamed, no one knew. “Jonas?” Mother asked. They always asked, though they knew how rarely Jonas had a dream to tell. “I did dream last night,” Jonas told them. He shifted in his chair, frowning. Usually, at the morning ritual when the family members “Good,” Father said. “Tell us.” told their dreams, Jonas didn’t contribute much. He rarely “The details aren’t clear, really,” Jonas explained, trying dreamed. Sometimes he awoke with a feeling of fragments to recreate the odd dream in his mind. “I think I was in the afloat in his sleep, but he couldn’t seem to grasp them and bathing room at the House of the Old.” put them together into something worthy of telling at the “That’s where you were yesterday,” Father pointed out. ritual. Jonas nodded. “But it wasn’t really the same. There was But this morning was different. He had dreamed very a tub, in the dream. But only one. And the real bathing vividly the night before. room has rows and rows of them. But the room in the His mind wandered while Lily, as usual, recounted a dream was warm and damp. And I had taken off my tunic, lengthy dream, this one a frightening one in which she had, but hadn’t put on the smock, so my chest was bare. I was against the rules, been riding her mother’s bicycle and been perspiring, because it was so warm. And Fiona was there, caught by the Security Guards. the way she was yesterday.” They all listened carefully and discussed with Lily the “Asher, too?” Mother asked. warning that the dream had given. Jonas shook his head. “No. It was only me and Fiona, “Thank you for your dream, Lily.” Jonas said the stan- alone in the room, standing beside the tub. She was laugh- dard phrase automatically, and tried to pay better attention ing. But I wasn’t. I was almost a little angry at her, in the while his mother told of a dream fragment, a disquieting dream, because she wasn’t taking me seriously.” scene where she had been chastised for a rule infraction she “Seriously about what?” Lily asked. didn’t understand. Together they agreed that it probably Jonas looked at his plate. For some reason that he didn’t resulted from her feelings when she had reluctantly dealt understand, he felt slightly embarrassed. “I think I punishment to the citizen who had broken the major rules a second time. 34 35 was trying to convince her that she should get into the tub He sank back down into his chair, puzzled. He waved to of water.” Father and Lily as they left the dwelling, carrying Gabe in He paused. He knew he had to tell it all, that it was not his basket. He watched while Mother tidied the remains of only all right but necessary to tell all of a dream. So he the morning meal and placed the tray by the front door for forced himself to relate the part that made him uneasy. the Collection Crew. “I wanted her to take off her clothes and get into the Finally she sat down beside him at the table. “Jonas,” tub,” he explained quickly. “I wanted to bathe her. I had the she said with a smile, “the feeling you described as the sponge in my hand. But she wouldn’t. She kept laughing wanting? It was your first Stirrings. Father and I have been and saying no.” He looked up at his parents. “That’s all,” he said. “Can expecting it to happen to you. It happens to everyone. It you describe the strongest feeling in your dream, son?” happened to Father when he was your age. And it hap- Father asked. pened to me. It will happen someday to Lily. Jonas thought about it. The details were murky and “And very often,” Mother added, “it begins with a vague. But the feelings were clear, and flooded him again dream.” now as he thought. “The wanting,” he said. “I knew that Stirrings. He had heard the word before. He remem- she wouldn’t. And I think I knew that she shouldn’t. But I bered that there was a reference to the Stirrings in the wanted it so terribly. I could feel the wanting all through Book of Rules, though he didn’t remember what it said. me.” And now and then the Speaker mentioned it. ATTENTION. “Thank you for your dream, Jonas,” Mother said after a A REMINDER THAT STIRRINGS MUST BE REPORTED IN moment. She glanced at Father. ORDER FOR TREATMENT TO TAKE PLACE. “Lily,” Father said, “it’s time to leave for school. Would He had always ignored that announcement because he you walk beside me this morning and keep an eye on the didn’t understand it and it had never seemed to apply to newchild’s basket? We want to be certain he doesn’t wiggle him in any way. He ignored, as most citizens did, many of himself loose.” Jonas began to rise to collect his schoolbooks. He the commands and reminders read by the Speaker. thought it surprising that they hadn’t talked about his dream “Do I have to report it?” he asked his mother. at length before the thank you. Perhaps they found it as She laughed. “You did, in the dream-telling. That’s confusing as he had. enough.” “Wait, Jonas,” Mother said gently. “I’ll write an apology “But what about the treatment? The Speaker says that to your instructor so that you won’t have to speak one for treatment must take place.” Jonas felt miserable. Just when being late.” the Ceremony was about to happen, his Ceremony of Twelve, would he have to go away someplace for treat- ment? Just because of a stupid dream? 36 37  But his mother laughed again in a reassuring, affection- "All of your adult life. But it becomes routine; after a ate way. “No, no,” she said. “It’s just the pills. You’re while you won't even pay much attention to it." ready for the pills, that’s all. That’s the treatment for Stir- She looked at her watch. "If you leave right now, you rings.” won't even be late for school. Hurry along. Jonas brightened. He knew about the pills. His parents "And thank you again, Jonas," she added, as he went to both took them each morning. And some of his friends did, the door, "for your dream." he knew. Once he had been heading off to school with Pedaling rapidly down the path, Jonas felt oddly proud to Asher, both of them on their bikes, when Asher’s father have joined those who took the pills. For a moment, had called from their dwelling doorway, “You forgot your though, he remembered the dream again. The dream had pill, Asher!” Asher had groaned good-naturedly, turned his felt pleasurable. Though the feelings were confused, he bike, and ridden back while Jonas waited. thought that he had liked the feelings that his mother had It was the sort of thing one didn’t ask a friend about called Stirrings. He remembered that upon waking, he had because it might have fallen into that uncomfortable cate- wanted to feel the Stirrings again. gory of ‘being different.’ Asher took a pill each morning; Then, in the same way that his own dwelling slipped Jonas did not. Always better, less rude, to talk about things away behind him as he rounded a corner on his bicycle, the that were the same. dream slipped away from his thoughts. Very briefly, a little Now he swallowed the small pill that his mother handed guiltily, he tried to grasp it back. But the feelings had him. disappeared. The Stirrings were gone. “That’s all?” he asked. “That’s all,” she replied, returning the bottle to the cupboard. “But you mustn’t forget. I’ll remind you for the first weeks, but then you must do it on your own. If you forget, the Stirrings will come back. The dreams of Stirrings will come back. Sometimes the dosage must be adjusted.” “Asher takes them,” Jonas confided. His mother nodded, unsurprised. “Many of your groupmates probably do. The males, at least. And they all will, soon. Females too.” “How long will I have to take them?” “Until you enter the House of the Old,” she explained. 38 39  pendence, the first very visible symbol of growing up. The bicycle, at Nine, would be the powerful emblem of moving gradually out into the community, away from the pro- tective family unit. 6 Lily grinned and wriggled away from her mother. ''And this year you get your Assignment,'' she said to Jonas in an excited voice. "I hope you get Pilot. And that you take me flying!" "Sure I will," said Jonas. "And I'll get a special little "Lily, please hold still," Mother said again. parachute that just fits you, and I'll take you up to, oh, Lily, standing in front of her, fidgeted impatiently. "I maybe twenty thousand feet, and open the door, and — " can tie them myself," she complained. "I always have." "Jonas," Mother warned. "I know that," Mother replied, straightening the hair "I was only joking," Jonas groaned. "I don't want Pilot, ribbons on the little girl's braids. "But I also know that they anyway. If I get Pilot I'll put in an appeal." constantly come loose and more often than not, they're "Come on," Mother said. She gave Lily's ribbons a final dangling down your back by afternoon. Today, at least, we tug. "Jonas? Are you ready? Did you take your pill? I want want them to be neatly tied and to stay neatly tied." to get a good seat in the Auditorium.'' She prodded Lily to "I don't like hair ribbons. I'm glad I only have to wear the front door and Jonas followed. them one more year," Lily said irritably. "Next year I get It was a short ride to the Auditorium, Lily waving to her my bicycle, too," she added more cheerfully. friends from her seat on the back of Mother's bicycle. Jonas "There are good things each year," Jonas reminded her. stowed his bicycle beside Mother's and made his way "This year you get to start your volunteer hours. And re- through the throng to find his group. member last year, when you became a Seven, you were so The entire community attended the Ceremony each year. happy to get your front-buttoned jacket?" For the parents, it meant two days holiday from work; they The little girl nodded and looked down at herself, at the sat together in the huge hall. Children sat with their groups jacket with its row of large buttons that designated her as a until they went, one by one, to the stage. Seven. Fours, Fives, and Sixes all wore jackets that fas- Father, though, would not join Mother in the audience tened down the back so that they would have to help each right away. For the earliest ceremony, the Naming, the other dress and would learn interdependence. Nurturers brought the newchildren to the stage. Jonas, from The front-buttoned jacket was the first sign of inde- his place in the balcony with the Elevens, searched the Auditorium for a glimpse of Father. It wasn't at all 40 41 hard to spot the Nurturers' section at the front; coming from part of the community. If he were released, they would not it were the wails and howls of the newchildren who sat see him again. Ever. Those who were released — even as squirming on the Nurturers' laps. At every other public newchildren — were sent Elsewhere and never returned to ceremony, the audience was silent and attentive. But once a the community. year, they all smiled indulgently at the commotion from the Father had not had to release a single newchild this year, little ones waiting to receive their names and families. so Gabriel would have represented a real failure and Jonas finally caught his father's eye and waved. Father sadness. Even Jonas, though he didn't hover over the little grinned and waved back, then held up the hand of the one the way Lily and his father did, was glad that Gabe had newchild on his lap, making it wave, too. not been released. It wasn't Gabriel. Gabe was back at the Nurturing Center The first Ceremony began right on time, and Jonas today, being cared for by the night crew. He had been given watched as one after another each newchild was given a an unusual and special reprieve from the committee, and name and handed by the Nurturers to its new family unit. granted an additional year of nurturing before his Naming For some, it was a first child. But many came to the stage and Placement. Father had gone before the committee with accompanied by another child beaming with pride to re- a plea on behalf of Gabriel, who had not yet gained the ceive a little brother or sister, the way Jonas had when he weight appropriate to his days of life nor begun to sleep was about to be a Five. soundly enough at night to be placed with his family unit. Asher poked Jonas's arm. ''Remember when we got Normally such a newchild would be labeled Inadequate and Phillipa?'' he asked in a loud whisper. Jonas nodded. It had released from the community. only been last year. Asher's parents had waited quite a long Instead, as a result of Father's plea, Gabriel had been time before applying for a second child. Maybe, Jonas labeled Uncertain and given the additional year. He would suspected, they had been so exhausted by Asher's lively continue to be nurtured at the Center and would spend his foolishness that they had needed a little time. nights with Jonas's family unit. Each family member, in- Two of their group, Fiona and another female named cluding Lily, had been required to sign a pledge that they Thea, were missing temporarily, waiting with their parents would not become attached to this little temporary guest, to receive newchildren. But it was rare that there was such and that they would relinquish him without protest or ap- an age gap between children in a family unit. peal when he was assigned to his own family unit at next When her family's ceremony was completed, Fiona took year's Ceremony. the seat that had been saved for her in the row ahead of At least, Jonas thought, after Gabriel was placed next Asher and Jonas. She turned and whispered to them, "He's year, they would still see him often because he would be cute. But I don't like his name very much." She made a face and giggled. Fiona's new brother had been 42 43 named Bruno. It wasn't a great name, Jonas thought, like back again to the seats, for the Fives, Sixes, Sevens, and fi- — well, like Gabriel, for example. But it was okay. nally, last of the first day's ceremonies, the Eights. The audience applause, which was enthusiastic at each Jonas watched and cheered as Lily marched proudly to Naming, rose in an exuberant swell when one parental pair, the stage, became an Eight and received the identifying glowing with pride, took a male newchild and heard him jacket that she would wear this year, this one with smaller named Caleb. buttons and, for the first time, pockets, indicating that she This new Caleb was a replacement child. The couple was mature enough now to keep track of her own small had lost their first Caleb, a cheerful little Four. Loss of a belongings. She stood solemnly listening to the speech of child was very, very rare. The community was extraordi- firm instructions on the responsibilities of Eight and doing narily safe, each citizen watchful and protective of all chil- volunteer hours for the first time. But Jonas could see that dren. But somehow the first little Caleb had wandered Lily, though she seemed attentive, was looking longingly away unnoticed, and had fallen into the river. The entire at the row of gleaming bicycles, which would be presented community had performed the Ceremony of Loss together, tomorrow morning to the Nines. murmuring the name Caleb throughout an entire day, less Next year, Lily-billy, Jonas thought. and less frequently, softer in volume, as the long and It was an exhausting day, and even Gabriel, retrieved in somber day went on, so that the little Four seemed to fade his basket from the Nurturing Center, slept soundly that away gradually from everyone's consciousness. night. Now, at this special Naming, the community per-formed Finally it was the morning of the Ceremony of Twelve. the brief Murmur-of-Replacement Ceremony, repeating the name for the first time since the loss: softly and slowly at Now Father sat beside Mother in the audience. Jonas could first, then faster and with greater volume, as the couple see them applauding dutifully as the Nines, one by one, stood on the stage with the newchild sleeping in the wheeled their new bicycles, each with its gleaming mother's arms. It was as if the first Caleb were returning. nametag attached to the back, from the stage. He knew that Another newchild was given the name Roberto, and his parents cringed a little, as he did, when Fritz, who lived Jonas remembered that Roberto the Old had been released in the dwelling next door to theirs, received his bike and only last week. But there was no Murmur-of-Replacement almost immediately bumped into the podium with it. Fritz Ceremony for the new little Roberto. Release was not the was a very awkward child who had been summoned for same as Loss. chastisement again and again. His transgressions were He sat politely through the ceremonies of Two and small ones, always: shoes on the wrong feet, schoolwork Three and Four, increasingly bored as he was each year. misplaced, failure to study adequately for a quiz. But each Then a break for midday meal — served outdoors — and such error reflected negatively on his parents' guidance and 44 45 infringed on the community's sense of order and success. time with no meaningful changes. There was new clothing: Jonas and his family had not been looking forward to Fritz's different undergarments for the females, whose bodies were bicycle, which they realized would probably too often be beginning to change; and longer trousers for the males, with dropped on the front walk instead of wheeled neatly into its a specially shaped pocket for the small calculator that they port. would use this year in school; but those were simply Finally the Nines were all resettled in their seats, each presented in wrapped packages without an accompanying having wheeled a bicycle outside where it would be waiting speech. for its owner at the end of the day. Everyone always Break for midday meal. Jonas realized he was hungry. He chuckled and made small jokes when the Nines rode home and his groupmates congregated by the tables in front of the for the first time. "Want me to show you how to ride?" older Auditorium and took their packaged food. Yesterday there friends would call. "I know you've never been on a bike had been merriment at lunch, a lot of teasing and energy. before!" But invariably the grinning Nines, who in technical But today the group stood anxiously, separate from the other violation of the rule had been practicing secretly for weeks, children. Jonas watched the new Nines gravitate toward their would mount and ride off in perfect balance, training wheels waiting bicycles, each one admiring his or her nametag. He never touching the ground. saw the Tens stroking their new shortened hair, the females Then the Tens. Jonas never found the Ceremony of Ten shaking their heads to feel the unaccustomed lightness particularly interesting — only time-consuming, as each without the heavy braids they had worn so long. child's hair was snipped neatly into its distinguishing cut: "I heard about a guy who was absolutely certain he was females lost their braids at Ten, and males, too, relinquished going to be assigned Engineer," Asher muttered as they ate, their long childish hair and took on the more manly short "and instead they gave him Sanitation Laborer. He went out style which exposed their ears. the next day, jumped into the river, swam across, and joined Laborers moved quickly to the stage with brooms and the next community he came to. Nobody ever saw him swept away the mounds of discarded hair. Jonas could see again." the parents of the new Tens stir and murmur, and he knew Jonas laughed. "Somebody made that story up, Ash," he that this evening, in many dwellings, they would be snip- said. "My father said he heard that story when he was a ping and straightening the hastily done haircuts, trimming Twelve." them into a neater line. But Asher wasn't reassured. He was eyeing the river Elevens. It seemed a short time ago that Jonas had un- where it was visible behind the Auditorium. "I can't even dergone the Ceremony of Eleven, but he remembered that it swim very well," he said. "My swimming instructor said that was not one of the more interesting ones. By Eleven, one I don't have the right boyishness or something." was only waiting to be Twelve. It was simply a marking of 46 47  "Buoyancy," Jonas corrected him. could apply for children, had always been a successful one. "Whatever. I don't have it. I sink." Like the Matching of Spouses and the Naming and "Anyway," Jonas pointed out, "have you ever once Placement of newchildren, the Assignments were scrupu- known of anyone — I mean really known for sure, Asher, lously thought through by the Committee of Elders. not just heard a story about it — who joined another com- He was certain that his Assignment, whatever it was to munity?" be, and Asher's too, would be the right one for them. He "No," Asher admitted reluctantly. "But you can. It says only wished that the midday break would conclude, that the so in the rules. If you don't fit in, you can apply for audience would reenter the Auditorium, and the suspense Elsewhere and be released. My mother says that once, would end. about ten years ago, someone applied and was gone the As if in answer to his unspoken wish, the signal came next day." Then he chuckled. "She told me that because I and the crowd began to move toward the doors. was driving her crazy. She threatened to apply for Else- where." "She was joking." "I know. But it was true, what she said, that someone did that once. She said that it was really true. Here today and gone tomorrow. Never seen again. Not even a Ceremony of Release." Jonas shrugged. It didn't worry him. How could some- one not fit in? The community was so meticulously ordered, the choices so carefully made. Even the Matching of Spouses was given such weighty consideration that sometimes an adult who applied to re- ceive a spouse waited months or even years before a Match was approved and announced. All of the factors — dispo- sition, energy level, intelligence, and interests — had to correspond and to interact perfectly. Jonas's mother, for example, had higher intelligence than his father; but his father had a calmer disposition. They balanced each other. Their Match, which like all Matches had been monitored by the Committee of Elders for three years before they 49 48  since there were other Nineteens, of course, in each age group. And today, now that the new Elevens had been ad- vanced this morning, there were two Eleven-nineteens. At the midday break he had exchanged smiles with the new 7 one, a shy female named Harriet. But the duplication was only for these few hours. Very soon he would not be an Eleven but a Twelve, and age would no longer matter. He would be an adult, like his parents, though a new one and untrained still. Asher was Four, and sat now in the row ahead of Jonas. Now Jonas's group had taken a new place in the Auditorium, He would receive his Assignment fourth. trading with the new Elevens, so that they sat in the very Fiona, Eighteen, was on his left; on his other side sat front, immediately before the stage. Twenty, a male named Pierre whom Jonas didn't like much. They were arranged by their original numbers, the Pierre was very serious, not much fun, and a worrier and numbers they had been given at birth. The numbers were tattletale, too. "Have you checked the rules, Jonas?" Pierre rarely used after the Naming. But each child knew his was always whispering solemnly. "I'm not sure that's within number, of course. Sometimes parents used them in irrita- the rules.'' Usually it was some foolish thing that no one tion at a child's misbehavior, indicating that mischief made cared about — opening his tunic if it was a day with a one unworthy of a name. Jonas always chuckled when he breeze; taking a brief try on a friend's bicycle, just to heard a parent, exasperated, call sharply to a whining experience the different feel of it. toddler, "That's enough, Twenty-three!'' The initial speech at the Ceremony of Twelve was made Jonas was Nineteen. He had been the nineteenth new- by the Chief Elder, the leader of the community who was child born his year. It had meant that at his Naming, he had elected every ten years. The speech was much the same each been already standing and bright-eyed, soon to walk and year: recollection of the time of childhood and the period of talk. It had given him a slight advantage the first year or preparation, the coming responsibilities of adult life, the two, a little more maturity than many of his group-mates profound importance of Assignment, the seriousness of who had been born in the later months of that year. But it training to come. evened out, as it always did, by Three. Then the Chief Elder moved ahead in her speech. After Three, the children progressed at much the same "This is the time," she began, looking directly at them, when level, though by their first number one could always tell we acknowledge differences. You Elevens have spent all who was a few months older than others in his group. your years till now learning to fit in, to standard- Technically, Jonas's full number was Eleven-nineteen, 50 51 ize your behavior, to curb any impulse that might set you Number One — her name was Madeline — returned, apart from the group. finally, amidst applause, to her seat, wearing the new ''But today we honor your differences. They have deter- badge that designated her Fish Hatchery Attendant. Jonas mined your futures." was certainly glad that that Assignment was taken; he She began to describe this year's group and its variety of wouldn't have wanted it. But he gave Madeline a smile of personalities, though she singled no one out by name. She congratulation. mentioned that there was one who had singular skills at When Two, a female named Inger, received her Assign- caretaking, another who loved newchildren, one with un- ment as Birthmother, Jonas remembered that his mother usual scientific aptitude, and a fourth for whom physical had called it a job without honor. But he thought that the labor was an obvious pleasure. Jonas shifted in his seat, Committee had chosen well. Inger was a nice girl though trying to recognize each reference as one of his group- somewhat lazy, and her body was strong. She would enjoy mates. The caretaking skills were no doubt those of Fiona, the three years of being pampered that would follow her on his left; he remembered noticing the tenderness with brief training; she would give birth easily and well; and the which she had bathed the Old. Probably the one with sci- task of Laborer that would follow would use her strength, entific aptitude was Benjamin, the male who had devised keep her healthy, and impose self-discipline. Inger was new, important equipment for the Rehabilitation Center. smiling when she resumed her seat. Birthmother was an He heard nothing that he recognized as himself, Jonas. important job, if lacking in prestige. Finally the Chief Elder paid tribute to the hard work of Jonas noticed that Asher looked nervous. He kept turn- her committee, which had performed the observations so ing his head and glancing back at Jonas until the group meticulously all year. The Committee of Elders stood and leader had to give him a silent chastisement, a motion to was acknowledged by applause. Jonas noticed Asher yawn sit still and face forward. slightly, covering his mouth politely with his hand. Three, Isaac, was given an Assignment as Instructor of Then, at last, the Chief Elder called number One to the Sixes, which obviously pleased him and was well deserved. stage, and the Assignments began. Now there were three Assignments gone, none of them Each announcement was lengthy, accompanied by a ones that Jonas would have liked — not that he could have speech directed at the new Twelve. Jonas tried to pay at- been a Birthmother, anyway, he realized with amusement. tention as One, smiling happily, received her Assignment as He tried to sort through the list in his mind, the possible Fish Hatchery Attendant along with words of praise for her Assignments that remained. But there were so many he childhood spent doing many volunteer hours there, and her gave it up; and anyway, now it was Asher's turn. He paid obvious interest in the important process of providing strict attention as his friend went to the stage and stood nourishment for the community. self-consciously beside the Chief Elder. 52 53  ''All of us in the community know and enjoy Asher," the Poor Asher, who always talked too fast and mixed up Chief Elder began. Asher grinned and scratched one leg words, even as a toddler. As a Three, eager for his juice and with the other foot. The audience chuckled softly. crackers at snacktime, he one day said ''smack'' in-stead of ''When the committee began to consider Asher's ''snack'' as he stood waiting in line for the morning treat. Assignment," she went on, ''there were some possibilities Jonas remembered it clearly. He could still see little that were immediately discarded. Some that would clearly, Asher, wiggling with impatience in the line. He remembered not have been right for Asher. the cheerful voice call out, ''I want my smack!'' ''For example,'' she said, smiling, ''we did not consider The other Threes, including Jonas, had laughed ner- for an instant designating Asher an Instructor of Threes.'' vously. "Snack!'' they corrected. ''You meant snack, Asher!'' The audience howled with laughter. Asher laughed, too, But the mistake had been made. And precision of language looking sheepish but pleased at the special attention. The was one of the most important tasks of small children. Asher Instructors of Threes were in charge of the acquisition of had asked for a smack. correct language. The discipline wand, in the hand of the Childcare worker, ''In fact," the Chief Elder continued, chuckling a little whistled as it came down across Asher's hands. Asher herself, ''we even gave a little thought to some retroactive whimpered, cringed, and corrected himself instantly. chastisement for the one who had been Asher's Instructor of "Snack," he whispered. Threes so long ago. At the meeting where Asher was But the next morning he had done it again. And again the discussed, we retold many of the stories that we all re- following week. He couldn't seem to stop, though for each membered from his days of language acquisition. lapse the discipline wand came again, escalating to a series ''Especially," she said, chuckling, ''the difference between of painful lashes that left marks on Asher's legs. Eventually, snack and smack. Remember, Asher?" for a period of time, Asher stopped talking altogether, when Asher nodded ruefully, and the audience laughed aloud. he was a Three. Jonas did, too. He remembered, though he had been only a "For a while," the Chief Elder said, relating the story, we Three at the time himself. had a silent Asher! But he learned.'' The punishment used for small children was a regulated She turned to him with a smile. ''When he began to talk system of smacks with the discipline wand: a thin, flexible again, it was with greater precision. And now his lapses are weapon that stung painfully when it was wielded. The very few. His corrections and apologies are very prompt. Childcare specialists were trained very carefully in the dis- And his good humor is unfailing.'' The audience murmured cipline methods: a quick smack across the hands for a bit of in agreement. Asher's cheerful disposition was well-known minor misbehavior; three sharper smacks on the bare legs throughout the community. for a second offense. 54 55  ''Asher.'' She lifted her voice to make the official an- Jonas prepared himself to walk to the stage when the nouncement. ''We have given you the Assignment of As- applause ended and the Chief Elder picked up the next sistant Director of Recreation.'' folder and looked down to the group to call forward the She clipped on his new badge as he stood beside her, next new Twelve. He was calm now that his turn had come. beaming. Then he turned and left the stage as the audience He took a deep breath and smoothed his hair with his hand. cheered. When he had taken his seat again, the Chief Elder ''Twenty,'' he heard her voice say clearly. ''Pierre.'' looked down at him and said the words that she had said She skipped me, Jonas thought, stunned. Had he heard now four times, and would say to each new Twelve. wrong? No. There was a sudden hush in the crowd, and he Somehow she gave it special meaning for each of them. knew that the entire community realized that the Chief ''Asher,'' she said, ''thank you for your childhood.'' Elder had moved from Eighteen to Twenty, leaving a gap. On his right, Pierre, with a startled look, rose from his seat The Assignments continued, and Jonas watched and lis- and moved to the stage. tened, relieve