Ceremony of Release

25 November 2036

Before yesterday I had always been curious about release and how it happened but never dared being rude enough to ask. Yesterday morning started like any other day and my training was scheduled as usual. I biked to the Annex expecting new memories to be transmitted. I greeted the Giver and was surprised that he started a conversation not about memories. I mentioned that my father would be releasing one of the twins later today. The Giver seemed relaxed even though I mentioned release so I decided to ask for more details about the release ceremony. Without a word, the Giver switched the speaker on and requested to view the release ceremony from his room. We watched in silence as my very own father injected a needle into the forehead of the small newborn. The injection caused the crying newborn to become silent and motionless. I could not believe what I was seeing. My father stopped a newborn from breathing. I was completely confused and feeling all sorts of emotions. I was sad, frustrated and angry and so much more watching this happen. I was shocked and outraged and refused to go home. The Giver decided I could spend the night at his place. The two of us spent the entire night planning a way to make changes in our community. The final decision we made will change the community forever I only hope we succeed and manage to stay alive.

First Day of Training

2 December 2035

As I biked to my first day of training this morning, I didn’t know what to think. I was nervous, curious and excited all at the same time. As I walked through the door way a lady stood up from behind her desk and welcomed me. She explained that the present Receiver was waiting for me and point at a closed door across the hallway. My knock was answered by a deep voice saying, come in. On the other side of the door sat an elderly frail long bearded man. He explained I could call him the Giver. In the back of my head I kept thinking about the warning of how painful this training would be. He told me to remove my tunic and lay on the cot across from his desk. He then started talking about things I had never heard of: snow, ice and sledding. He explained that every story he would tell me going forward would be erased from his own memory and stored in mine. This morning he transmitted two memories. The first was fun and enjoyable but the second painful. I asked him why I had never heard of snow before. His explanation was the weather control prevented it. After transmitting his second memory to me he said it was enough for today but that me would continue tomorrow and sent me on my way. On my bike ride back to the family center I couldn’t help wonder what other new memories I would receive in future sessions.

Ceremony of Twelve

1 December 2035

I am still not quite sure why out of all new Twelves, the committee chose me to be the new Receiver of Memory. On my way to the ceremony of twelve I was more then anxious. I was desperate to know what my assignment would be. As they were going through numerous announcements I could feel myself becoming more and more nervous as they systematically moved along the line of the Twelves. Asher, number 4, was given the assignment of Assistant Director of Recreation. Only 16 more assignments and it would be me. I could only wonder what assignment I would be given. I knew that as soon as Fiona, number 19, was given her assignment, it would my turn but she skipped me. The announcer skipped me and went directly to number 21. This confused me completely. Could this be a mistake? Did the committee forget me? I wondered. No! They never make mistakes when reading out assignments. Had I done something wrong and they were not going to give me an assignment? I could not figure it out. Finally after all the Tweleves were given their assignments, the announcer explained that number 20, my number was indeed not forgotten but was assignment not often given out. She called me on up to the stage but I would have preferred to crawl under the stage, I was so humiliated. It was so embarrassing to have to stand there and listen to stories being told about me. Not only was I embarrassed but also confused as to why I was selected to be the new Receiver of Memory. When I got home I read the rules of my new assignment and was quite surprised to find there was only one page of them. More surprising then the number of rules was that I would be able to lie and would be exempt from any rules governing rudeness. Confused by why I had been selected to be the new receiver. What am I to do? Should I follow these rules? Or stick to the ones everyone else has to follow? Tonight I will just try to sleep and get a good rest. Tomorrow is my first day of training; I am looking forward to getting more details about my assignment as Receiver of Memory.

The Apple and the Recreation Center

25 January 2035

I cannot believe I risked public humiliation earlier today by taking an apple from the recreation center. It happened earlier this morning while Asher and I were throwing an apple back and forth to each other. Suddenly after one of Asher’s throws the apple changed in midair. I haven’t a clue what happened exactly but it changed and as quickly as it did, it changed back to an ordinary apple. I was so confused. I asked Asher if he had also seen something change in the apple but he did not seem to notice anything at all. We carried on tossing the apple but I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened. When we decided it was time to go I quietly slipped the apple into my pocket knowing well that if I were caught there would be another public announcement. Everyone would have known that the public reminder about not removing items from the recreation center was because of me but it was worth the risk. Something was just not right about the apple and I need to know more so I took chance and took it with me. When I got home I placed the apple at the corner of my desk and stared long and hard while thinking about what could have changed but still cannot figure it out. Sure enough, just before dinner the announcement came, “ATTENTION. This is a reminder to male elevens that objects are not to be removed from the recreation area and that snacks are to be eaten, not hoarded.” I still wonder what happened to the apple and why I could see the change but not Asher. There must be an explanation for this and I need to figure it out.