Giver Journal Entries

The Giver Journal Entries
#1
“Finally the Nines were all resettled in their seats, each having wheeled a bicycle outside, where it would be waiting for its owner at the end of the day. Everyone always chuckled and made small jokes when the Nines rode home for the first time. ”Want me to show you how to ride?” older friends would call. “I know you’ve never been on a bike before!” But invariably the grinning Nines, who in technical violation of the rule had been practicing secretly for weeks, would mount and ride off in perfect balance, training wheels never touching the ground.” - Chapter 6, page 46
MY REACTION:
I picked this quote because of the thoughtfulness of the author,Lois Lowry. She must have her own kids or knows children very well, because she understands average children’s behavior. Breaking rules(sneaking a sneak, lying, etc.) while you're young is very big and exciting. The Nines acted like average kids in our world,going against what they're told, but still doing that. In this scene, it’s the Ceremony of Nines and the Nines just got their bikes. The Nines have secretly been practicing to ride their bikes, even though it’s against the rules to do that. It’s shows that still in this “perfect” community, that kids still have fun and still break the occasionally rule.
I remember when I was four or five years old, my parents left every morning to go to work. I remember my parents saying “ Don’t you go out and start practicing on your new bike” and make me promise not to, which of course I would promise them. One hot summer afternoon, my Grandpa was babysitting me. I remember looking at my new bike standing beautiful in the backyard. “ Why don’t we go outside and practice on your new bike” my Grandma said. What he had said surprised me, because I never thought of breaking a rule. “ This will be our little secret, Ok?”, I quickly nodded my name and smiled. We went outside and practiced almost everyday that my Grandpa babysit. We practiced form the moment my parents left and till the moment my parents came back. Every year my whole family have this day, where we all ride our bikes to a top of a hill and have a huge picnic on the top of the hill. The kids would usually will be in the back of the group. So this year, the way I was practicing with my Grandpa and knew i would be close to the front or at least not in the back. The day had finally came, we were at the bottom of the hill and getting ride. I heard the people in the front starting to pedal, and I started too. The whole to the top of the hill I was very close to the front of the group. When we reached the top of the hill, my parents were very impressed with my bike skill, they asked how i was readying so well. I looked at my Grandpa and show him wink and smile his toothless smile. “I guess it runs in the genes” I said.
I have a feeling that the cycle of breaking the rules will continue. The Eights will start practicing before they are aloud to, and riding like pros on the day they get their bicycles. Because children will always be children.