"The Giver Quartet" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lowry, Lois)

“Why is that, son?” His father looked concerned.



“I know there’s really nothing to worry about,” Jonas explained, “and that every adult has been through it. I know you have, Father, and you too, Mother. But it’s the Ceremony that I’m apprehensive about. It’s almost December.”



Lily looked up, her eyes wide. “The Ceremony of Twelve,” she whispered in an awed voice. Even the smallest children — Lily’s age and younger — knew that it lay in the future for each of them.



“I’m glad you told us of your feelings,” Father said.



“Lily,” Mother said, beckoning to the little girl, “Go on now and get into your nightclothes. Father and I are going to stay here and talk to Jonas for a while.”



Lily sighed, but obediently she got down from her chair. “Privately?” she asked.



Mother nodded. “Yes,” she said, “this talk will be a private one with Jonas.”





2




Jonas watched as his father poured a fresh cup of coffee. He waited.



“You know,” his father finally said, “every December was exciting to me when I was young. And it has been for you and Lily, too, I’m sure. Each December brings such changes.”



Jonas nodded. He could remember the Decembers back to when he had become, well, probably a Four. The earlier ones were lost to him. But he observed them each year, and he remembered Lily’s earliest Decembers. He remembered when his family received Lily, the day she was named, the day that she had become a One.