A/N: Wrote this from a school computer in forty-five minutes. That's how I explain away the relatively "blah" quality of this story. Inspired by both The Giver and Gathering Blue, as well as a little bit of Narnia that just happened to creep its way in.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Lois Lowry's. Because I'm not Lois Lowry. Duh.
"His eyes be a very amazing blue."
That's what Matt had said, wasn't it?
He hadn't lied. I found myself looking into the bluest pair of eyes I had ever seen. And I found that they were looking back into mine. A hand laid itself on my shoulder and I jumped.
"Kira, don't stare," my father said, somehow sensing the depth of my gaze with that peculiar sixth-sense that the blind are said to have. He turned his ruined eyes upon the boy who stood in front of me. "Jonas, this is my daughter Kira."
He smiled at me—such a lovely smile, I'd never seen one like it in the village—and extended his hand. "Pleased to meet you."
No doubt my resulting confusion showed on my face, as he turned to my father with a slightly apologetic air. "Did they shake hands in your village, Christopher?"
My father chuckled. "Not as I can recall." He turned to me. "Take his hand."
I did so. With a little pang of self-consciousness, I noted that his hands were clean and smooth, while mine were scratched and dirty from the journey to the Village of Healing. Jonas didn't seem to mind, though. He gave me a little nod of encouragement, and I felt my cheeks go strangely hot.
"I think it would be appropriate for Jonas to start the handshake," Father said. He still couldn't keep the mirth out of his voice. It annoyed me. I had a vague feeling that I didn't like being made a fool in front of this boy with the startling blue eyes.
Jonas moved my hand up and down several times, than dropped it. I looked at him curiously. "Have I done something wrong?"
"No, that's how you end a handshake."
"Oh. Well, then." I turned my sunniest smile upon him. "How very interesting."
Father turned to Jonas. "Perhaps you would like to show my daughter to the guest-house?"
His face fell slightly, almost imperceptibly. "You mean she's not staying?"
"She has work to do, back in our village." He patted my shoulder fondly. "As the Weaver of the Council Edifice, Kira has power to alleviate the sufferings of our people."
Jonas muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "That's what I once thought."
"Hm?"
"Nothing, Christopher." He was smiling at me again. "Would you like me to take you to the guest-house now?"
I grinned back. "I should like nothing better."