The giver

Benjamin (13)

As I rode at a leisurely pace, glancing at the bikeports beside the building to see if I could spot mason's, he often tried to keep his bike in the perfect position vs me who often left it leaning.

Unlike Mason I often fooled around with my groupmates making casual jokes, Mason always took volunteer hours seriously

But now with twelve coming Soon and the volunteer hours ending, it didn't seem to matter

The freedom to choose where to spend those hours had always seemed wonderful luxury; other hours of the day was carefully regulated but whenever I complained about it to Mason, he just shrug it off

I remember when I was a eight and had been faced with that freedom of choice

The eights always set out on their first volunteer hour a little nervous, giggling and staying with their group of friends

They almost invariably did their hours on recreation duty first, helping with the younger ones in a place where they still feel comfortable.

But with guidance as they developed self confidence and maturity, they moved onto jobs gravitating toward those that would suit their own interests and skills.

A make eleven named Benjamin had done his entire nearly four years in the rehabilitation Center, working with citizens who had been injured. It was rumored that he was as skilled now as the rehabilitation Directors, i admired him sticking to his passions.

He had even developed some machines and methods to hasten rehabilitation. There was no doubt Benjamin would receive his assignment to that field and would probably be permitted to bypass most of training.

I was impressed by the things Benjamin had achieved

I didn't personally know him even though we were groupmates he was too serious for me

No one talked about the boy's accomplishments because such a conversation would been awkward for Benjamin.

There was never any comfortable way to mention or discuss one's success without breaking the rule against bragging.

It was a minor rule like rudeness, punishable only be gentle chastisment

But still better to clear of an occasion governed by a rule would be easy to break

The area of dwellings behind me, I rode past the community structures hoping to spot Mason bicycle parked beside one of the small factories or office buildings, I passed the play areas surrounding the Childcare Center, I rode through the Central Plaza and large auditorium where public meetings were held.

Finally stopping at the department of justice where my mother worked I saw the name tags of the bicycles lined up outside

I checked those outside food distribution earlier: it was always fun to help with the deliveries and I hoped I would find Mason there so they could go together on the daily rounds, carrying the cartons of supplies into the dwellings of the community.

As I looked at the department of justice I decided to move on heading to do my volunteer hours somewhere else