The giver

The Selection (8)

Sometimes I pictured my father who must have been a shy and quiet boy, for he was a shy and quiet man seated with his group waiting to called to the stage.

The ceremony of twelve first day just started as I watched and clapped

There was no way to know in advance it was a secret selection made by the leaders of the community, the committee of Elders who took the responsibility so seriously that there were never even any jokes made about assignments

My mother seemed surprised too "how could you have known" she asked

Father gave his gentle smile "Well it was clear to me and my parents later confessed that it had been obvious to them too what my aptitude was. I had always loved the new children than anything. When my friends in my age group were holding bicycles races or building toy vehicles or bridges with their construction sets or all the things I do with my friends" father said going into details

"All the things I do with my friends" agreeing and my mother nodded along

"I always participated of course because as children we must experience all of those things and I studied hard in school. But during free time I always found myself drawn to the new children. I spent most of my volunteer hours helping in the nurturing center, of course the Elders knew that from observation" father says grinning

During the past year i been awarded of the increasing level of observation. In school, at recreation time and during volunteer hours. I noticed the Elders watching me and the other Elevens. I seen them take notes and that the Elders were meeting for long hours with all of the instructors that me and the other elevens had during their years of school.

"So I expected and I was pleased but not at all surprised when my assignment was announced as nurturer" father finished

"Of course everyone was happy for me that my assignment was what I wanted, I felt most fortunate" as father looks like he remembering something

"We're any of the elevens disappointed you year?" I asked

Unlike my father I had no idea what my assignment would be but I knew that some would disappoint him.

Though I respected my father work, Nurturer would not be his wish and he didn't envy Laborers

"No I don't think so, of course the Elders are so careful in their observations and selections. More so after Noah failure"

As I frown

"I think it's the most important in our community" mother commented

"My friend Yoshiko was surprised by her selection as doctor but she was thrilled and let's see there was Andrei I remember that when we were boys he never wanted to physical things. He spent all the recreation hours he could with his construction set and his volunteer hours were always on building sites, the Elders knew that and was given the assignment of Engineer, Andrei later designed the bridge that crosses the river to the west of town"

"It wasn't there when we we're children" mother smiled

"They are very rarely disappointments like how Noah was, which still brings us regret. But you don't need to worry and if there are, you know there's an appeal process"