Chapter Summary: The Giver

Was this what the Giver was talking about? Jonas pondered to himself. Was this the beautiful sounds the Giver had described before? Could Gabe hear it? Jonas decided he had no choice but to keep going, at least until he reached the first house. He felt ashamed to be disruptive on whatever they were celebrating, but Jonas knew it was what was meant to happen. Jonas got off the sled, with Gabriel still in his arms, and began his trek. The distance seemed insignificant now, after the long voyage from his community, but he still realized it would take some time to reach the first couple of ornate homes. Cradling Gabriel in his arms, Jonas remembered his first memory of snow, how he was going down the sled. Freedom, he realized, was what he
Jonas took a seat on the cold sidewalk, stinging and burning him through his clothes, and put his hand on Gabriel’s back. He thought of a memory of food, one that had an elongated table, with food enough to feed 300 villagers. A feast, he knew, was the word.
Gabriel seemed to enjoy this memory, at least at first. Jonas didn’t think this would backfire, but it did, seeming to only make the toddler hungrier. He put a much more dramatic fuss than before, and before Jonas could think of another memory, one that would undoubtedly calm Gabriel, he heard the chiming of a bell behind him. He turned around, and was met with an Elder, not old enough to be ready for release, but not young like his parents. Jonas had a flashback of a memory. He instantly recognized this woman as a grandparent. “Hello? What are two young boys like you doing on this cold December night? Christmas is only two days away! You should be celebrating with your family!” The woman said with a cheerful voice. The mention of family made Jonas’s mood drop, almost instantly. Gabe, astounded he was seeing another person, had stop
Better this way, he thought. The woman took a sit next to Jonas, introduced herself as Cynthia, and asked if she could hold Gabriel. Jonas happily dropped him in her arms, and she began bounding him, gigglings tumbling from the toddler’s lips. “Oh, you too look so alike! With your pale eyes and all! Do both of your parents have pale eyes?” Cynthia curiously questioned. Jonas did not understand this question at all, what do their pale eyes have to do with their parents? Deciding it was for the best he lied (again) to Cynthia, and just nodded his head. “Speaking of which, if you don’t mind me asking, where is your family? Why are they not here with you guys? Why did you leave?” Jonas knew he couldn’t just come out and tell Cynthia, who he just met, that he was a title as honored as the Receiver, and he couldn’t explain all that had happened. He was also surprised at her lack of precision in her grammar, (they were not speaking of their parents, she just happened to mention them). Against his better judgement, he decided to tell her the truth. The whole