Ceremony of 12

The Ceremony of 12 is when a person is told to the community that he or she has grown up to an adult by turning twelve years old. This is a very significant period when we are assigned a job to work on. Everybody is assigned a job and I was assigned a job as a Receiver of Memory for the community. I was flabbergasted by this event as I knew that being a Receiver of Memory, you would be greatly honored and respected by the community. She had told,"Jonas is the new Receiver." The auditorium was soundless. I could see the audience stunned. I felt as if I was thrown out by my friends group because their job was not as honored as mine and I started to predict that they would leave me aside as I was now greatly honored. I felt the fear in me. I felt pride and brave but on the other hand, sadness and fear. I didn't want to be left out by my friends. I wanted to be part of them.

Receiver of the Memories

I was chosen as the receiver of memories in the ceremony of  12. It was a different feeling then. The one who gave me the memories was called the giver. First I would have to rest on the bed and then the giver would put his hand on my back and I would receive the memories. The first memory that I received was me on the sled going or sliding down the hill full of snow. That was a fabulous memory. It was so exciting . I later thought that the memories will all be as good as this one but then I was given the memory of war. There was an elephant and two men shooting their guns. This was a disaster. I also received a sunburn memory where it is very hot and the sun is hitting you directly. I hated that memory, I also received a memory of colors and rainbow. Life is so boring without colors. I wish I could choose a trouser of my choice of color but unfortunately there are no colors. The memory of love is so fascinating. Grand parents are the parents of your parents. They don't exist in my community. Its all about love. They are sent to the House of the Old after they turn old and the children don't even know  who their grand parents are, I feel so weird to the community. The past had choices to make. I don't really know why people hate choices. I don't feel like living here anymore. The memories are pulling me towards it.

Release

Sent off to elsewhere! That was all I thought about release. Elsewhere is somewhere but not here. I have no idea of how elsewhere is like. Is it better or is it worse? Once, an airplane was flying around this community and I heard a man saying that the pilot should be released as it was against the rules and laws. How are they going to release him? Kill him? Or just send him to elsewhere? That was all I thought about release before. After I was chosen as the Receiver of Memory, I was given all kinds of memories. I got to know that the pilot was actually killed which was sad. I had also heard that if two twins were born, the one with the lesser weight would be released. The Giver, the one who gave me all the memories, showed how my dad released a twin wtih a syringe. He inserted it into the head and the little kid was killed. I felt utter sorrow as killing is very sad and unfair. From then on, I felt that releasing is totally unfair so the world itself is so unfair.

My Family

My family is a family that is as straight forward as the other families. My dad is a person who cares about small children. That is why he is a nurturer. A nurturer is a person who brings up small children, giving them healthcare and education. My mother is a very kind hearted person. She is always busy with her work and whenever i reach my dwelling at evening, she is ready with my dinner. I always obeyed my parents for everything. For example, I was taught that I should never lie and when I turned twelve years old my mother told me that I had to take some pills to stop the stirrings.Stirrings are basically just when you get attracted to  someone of the different sex. But then after I was chosen as the Receiver of the Memory. I received the memory of love. So, I stopped taking the pills. Their aim is just to eliminate love. As, we take the pills, it  prevents stirrings. Stirrings is basically love, so if you stop the stirrings, you are also eliminating love. Lastly, my sister, Lilly. Lilly is eight years old and she is crazy about getting a bicycle. She always obeys my parents' rules and she is mostly into questioning my parents. Whenever me and my parents are discussing something about growing up,she always tries to be with us. She is the sadly sent off by my father. My dad, as he is a nurturer, has adapted a boy called Gabriel. We call him Gabe. He has got the same eye color as me which is blue. Everybody else in the community have dark colored eyes. Gabriel can't sleep alone, hence I have to sleep with him. I'm glad to have a family like this.