The Giver by Lois Lowry chapter 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 flown 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 in 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 delivered by cargo planes to the landing field across the river the children rode their bicycles to the river bank and watched intrigued the unloading 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 with a needle nose single pilot jet Jonas looking around anxiously had seen others adults as well as children stopped what they were doing in wait confused for an explanation of the frightening event then all of the citizens had been ordered to go into the nearest building and stay there immediately the rasping voice of the speaker's had said leave your bicycles where they are instantly obediently Jonas had dropped his bike on its side on the path behind his family's dwelling he had run indoors and stayed there alone his parents were both at work and his little sister Lily was at the child care center where she spent her after-school hours looking through the front window he had seen no people none of the busy afternoon crew of street cleaners landscape workers and food delivery people who usually populated the community at that time of day he saw only the abandoned bikes here and there on the sides an upturned wheel on one was still revolving slowly he had been frightened then the sense of his own community silent waiting had made a stomach churn he had trembled but it had been nothing within minutes the speakers had crackle again and the voice reassuring now and less urgent had explained that a pilot in training had misread his navigational instructions and made a wrong turn desperately the pilot had been trying to make his way back before his error was noticed needless to say he will be released the voice it said followed by silence there was an ironic tone to that final message as if the speaker found it amusing and Jonas had smiled a little though he knew what a grim statement it had been foreign contributing citizens to be released from the community was a final decision a terrible punishment an overwhelming statement of failure even the children were scolded if they used the term lightly at play jeering at a teammate who missed a catch or stumbled in a race Jonas had done it once had shouted about his friend that's it Asher you're released when Ash's clumsy error had lost a match for his team he had been taken aside for a brief and serious talk by the coach had hung his head with guilt and embarrassment and apologized to Asher after the game now thinking about the feeling of fear as he pedaled home along the river path he remembered that moment a palpable stomach sinking terror when the aircraft had streaked above it was not what he was feeling now with December approaching he searched for the right word to describe his own feeling Jonas was careful about language not like his friend Asher who talked to you fast and mix things up scrambling words and phrases until they were barely recognizable and often very funny Jonas grinned remembering the morning that Asher had dashed into the classroom late as usual arriving breathlessly in the middle of chanting of the morning anthem when the class took their seats at the conclusion of the patriotic hymn asher remained standing to make his public apology as was required I apologise for inconveniencing my learning community Asher ran through the standard apology phrase rapidly still catching his breath the instructor in class waited patiently for his explanation the students had all been grinning because they had listened to Asher's explanation so many times before I left home at the correct time but when I was riding along the near hatchery the crew was separating some salmon I guess I just got distraught watching them I apologize to my classmates Asha concluded he smooth his rumpled tunic and sat down we accept your apology Ashur the class recited the standard response in unison many of the students were biting their lips to keep from laughing I accept your apology Ashur the instructor said he was smiling and I thank you because once again you have provided an opportunity for a lesson in language distraught is too strong an adjective to describe salmon viewing he turned in wrote distraught on the instructional board beside it he wrote distracted Jonah's nearing his home now smiled at the recollection thinking still as he wheeled his bike into a narrow port beside the door he realized that frightened was the wrong word to describe his feelings now that December was almost here it was too strong an adjective he had waited a long time for this special December now that it was almost upon him he wasn't frightened but he was eager he decided he was eager for it to come and he was excited certainly all of the Elevens were excited about the event that would be coming so soon but there was a little shudder of nervousness when he thought about it about what might happen apprehensive Jonas decided that's what I am who wants to be the first tonight for feelings Jonas his father asked at the conclusion of the evening meal it was one of the rituals the evening telling of feelings sometimes Jonas and his sister Lily argued over turns over who we get to go first their parents of course were part of the ritual they too told their feelings each evening but like all parents all adults they didn't fight in wheedle for their turn nor did Jonas tonight his feelings were too complicated this evening he wanted to share them but he wasn't eager to begin the process of sifting through his own complicated emotions even with the help that he knew his parents could give you go Lily he said seeing his sister who was much younger only a seven wiggling with impatience in her chair I felt very angry this afternoon and Lily announced my childcare group was at the play area and we had a visiting group of sevens and they didn't obey the rules at all one of them a male I don't know his name kept going right to the front of the line for the slide even though the rest of us were all waiting I felt so angry at him I made my hand into a fist like this then held up a clenched fist and the rest of the family smiled at her small defiant gesture why do you think the visitors didn't obey the rules mother asked Lilly considered and shook her head I don't know they acted like like animals Jonas suggested he left that's right Lilly said laughing too like animals neither child knew what the word meant exactly but it was often used to describe someone uneducated or clumsy someone who didn't fit in where were the visitors from father asked Lilly frown trying to remember our leader told us when he made the welcome speech but I can't remember I guess I wasn't paying attention it was from another community they had to leave very early and they had their midday meal on the bus mother nodded do you think it's possible that their roles may be different and so they simply didn't know what your play area rules were Lilly's shrugged did nodded I suppose you've visited other communities haven't eugenicist my group has often Lily nodded again when we were six as we went and shared a whole school day with a group of sixes in their community how did you feel when you were there Lilly frowned I felt strange because their methods were different they were learning usages that my group hadn't learned yet so we felt stupid father was listening with interest I'm thinking Lilly he said about the boy who didn't obey the rules today do you think it's possible that he felt strange and stupid being in a new place with rules that he didn't know about Lilly pondered that yes she finally said I feel a little sorry for him Jonah said even though I don't even know him I feel sorry for anyone who is in a place where he feels strange and stupid how do you feel now Lilly father ass still angry I guess not Lilly decided I guess I feel a little sorry for him and sorry I made a fist she grinned Jonah smiled back at his sister Lilly's feelings were always straightforward fairly simple usually easy to resolve he guessed that his own had been to when he was a seven he listened politely though not very attentively while his father took his turn describing a feeling of worry that he'd had that day at work are concerned about one of the new children who wasn't doing well Jonas's father title was nurturer he and the other nurturers were responsible for all the physical and emotional needs of every new child during its earliest life it was a very important job Jonas knew but it wasn't one that interested to him much what gender is it Lily asked male father said he's a sweet little male with a lovely disposition but he isn't growing as fast as he should he doesn't sleep soundly we have him in the extra care section for supplementary nurturing but that's the committee's beginning to talk about releasing him oh no mother murmured sympathetically I know how sad that must make you feel Jonas and Lily both nodded sympathetically as well release of new children was always sad because he hadn't had a chance to enjoy life within the community yet and they hadn't done anything wrong there were only two occasions of release which were not punishment release of the elderly which was a time of celebration for a life well and fully lived in release of a new child which always brought a sense of what could we have done this was especially troubling for the nurturers like father who felt they had failed somehow but it happened very rarely well father said I'm going to keep trying I may ask the committee for permission to bring him here at night if you don't mind you know what the night crew nurturers are like I think this little guy needs something extra of course mother said and Jonas and Lily nodded they had heard father complained about the night crew before 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 maybe we could even keep him Lily suggested sweetly trying to look innocent the look was fake Jonas knew they all knew Lily mother reminded her smiling you know rulz two children one male one female to each unit it was written very clearly in the rules Lili giggled well she said I thought maybe just this once next mother who had held a prominent position at the Department of Justice talked about her feelings today a repeat offender had been brought before her someone who had broken the rules before 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 to see him brought before her second time cost her overwhelming feelings of frustration and anger and even guilt that she hadn't made a difference in his life I feel frightened too for him she confessed you know that there's no third chance the rules say that if there's a third transgression he simply has to be released Jonas shivered he knew it happened there was even a boy in his group of Elevens whose father had been released years before no one ever mentioned it the disgrace was unspeakable it was hard to imagine Lily stood up and went to her mother she stroked her mother's arm from his place at the table father reached over and took her hand Jonas reached for the other one by one they comforted her soon she smiled thanked them and murmured that she felt soothed the ritual continued Jonas father asked your last Jonas side this evening he almost would have preferred to keep his feelings hidden but it was of course against the rules I'm feeling apprehensive he confessed glad that the appropriate descriptive word had finally come to him why is that son his father looked concerned I know there's really nothing to worry about Jonas explained that every adult has been through it I know you have father and you too mother but it's the ceremony that I'm apprehensive about it's almost December Lilly looked up her eyes wide the ceremony of 12 she whispered in an awed voice even the smallest children Lilly's age and younger knew that it lay in the future for each of them 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 night clothes father and I are going to stay here and talk to Jonas for a while Lilly side but obediently she got down from her chair privately she asked mother nodded yes she said this talk will be a private one with Jonas The Giver