Ah, The Giver. I've been waiting to do this one for quite some time. Yes, yes; the story is a personal favorite of mine. Well, I can say that about a lot of books, but The Giver is a perfect example of the classic struggle of "Show; don't tell". When things about the story- like there being no color- are explained, not only do we not see it coming, but the main character doesn't know it ahead of time. And when we look back, we realize that there were numerous clues to this fact that we didn't see. That right there, is brilliant. My hats off to you, miss Lowry. Well, no more dilly-daily. It's time to get started!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Giver or any of it's characters. All rights go to Lois Lowry. I only own: Samantha, Eva, Catrina and Rosa May.
Chapter 1: Five Years Later
"Daddy! Wake up!" Little Gabriel squealed, pouncing on to the bed. Jonas awoke with a start, disgruntled.
"Ugh. What is it, Gabe?" he yawned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Mommy says breakfast is ready!" the little boy giggled, jumping off of the bed and running downstairs. Jonas sighed, rubbing his temples. He'd dreamed of the community again last night. Mother, Father, Lily, Asher and Fiona; all of them reaching out for him, as though trying to pull him back to them, to his old life. His worst nightmare; a nightmare he seemed to be suffering from a lot more often nowadays. He could only wonder why this was so.
"JONAS! GET YOUR LAZY BUTT DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!" his wife, Samantha, yelled upstairs. Jonas chuckled at her short temper.
"I'll be right down!" he called down to her. He grabbed a grey T-shirt and a pair of jeans. After he had pulled them on, he ran down the steps to greet the family.
"Morning, mom" he said, kissing Rosa May's left cheek. Rosa was 45, with dark black hair, tanned skin and pale blue eyes. She was wearing an apron, as usual, and a yellow, daisy covered dress.
"Morning, dear" Rosa May greeted him with a smile, patting his cheek "Did you sleep well?" she asked. Jonas gulped. He loved this lady; she was like the mother he'd never had. All the same, he didn't want to worry her.
"Oh yes, very well, mom. At least, I did up until somebody woke me up" He half-lied (That last part was true) , giving Gabriel a pointed and stern glance. Gabe giggled, sticking out his tongue at him before going back to his bowl of oatmeal.
"That's great, Dear" Rosa said.
"Hurry up and eat, Jonas" Samantha ordered, handing him a plate with 2 pancakes, a strip of bacon and a glass of orange juice "Remember, your coming to help me with the class Halloween party". Jonas groaned; he'd almost forgotten.
Samantha was a teacher for children grades K-4 at the only school in the tiny village. At 18, she had long blond hair held up in a messy bun and solemn, pale blue eyes. Today, she was wearing a dark red tank-top and a short, knee-length black skirt. Like everyone else in the village, she was barefooted.
"Thanks, honey" he told her, giving her a quick kiss before he began to eat his breakfast, joking around with the others. The day seemed like it would be eventful, but yet another happy day with his new family.
Oh, if only Jonas could have somehow known just how wrong he was.
Suspense! *giggles* What do you guys think?