Chapter 4

Going on 12

Tacken had grown used to the community by the time the Ceremonies were taking place. He could hardly remember what life was like outside the community; He barely remembered what his city looked like, or his old friend's faces. He had grown so used to the way things were done now, that he could hardly remember a life that wasn't safe, sound and familiar. He waited on stage with his parents to receive his new sister. He stood beside his mother, who seemed to be happier over the past few months. His father received the infant, who was slightly younger than the rest, and was given her name, Meggie. Tacken didn't like the name very much, but it didn't matter.

As they sat and waited for the other ceremonies to occur, Tacken grew quickly fascinated by Meggie. He put his index to her, and she grasped it with her own. She gave a smile and it warmed his heart. Being a big brother might be okay after all, he though. She grew a little fussy as the day went on, but his mother held her close and she calmed. Tacken had been doing most of his hours at the Nurturing Center and he felt he was ready for whatever Meggie could do.

Nothing happened with his ceremony, since not much changed for Elevens, but he was engrossed with the idea of being a Twelve. The ceremony would take place the following day and he grew excited to see what was to become of him in the following year. When the first day concluded, he followed his parents on their bicycles home. His father had the baby seat in which he placed Meggie carefully, and securely. When they arrived home, they shared a meal, and put Meggie down to sleep. She slept well through the night, and in the following morning, they went back to the ceremonies.

The Ceremony of Twelve was a special occasion. The members of the community seemed joyed at the twelves as they walked up the stage, one by one, to receive their assignments. Tacken still could not find an assignment that he wanted to do, but he had faith the Elders would find him something suitable. Tacken had become accustomed to the faces of the Council of Elders. Some had taken their time and introduced themselves to him, so that when he was monitored for his hours, he would not be frightened. He hardly ever saw anyone, however, and he wondered how they became so elusive.

As he looked onward toward the council he spotted an unfamiliar face. The man was considerably older than his counterparts, and looked depressed as he glanced around the crowed. Tacken wondered who the man was, and asked his father who sat beside him.

"That is the Receiver of Memory, he is the wisest person within the community. It is a much respected assignment."

Tacken tried to understand what it meant. "What does he do?"

"He guides the council in hard decisions. He was kind enough to come to our community, but he also over sees others as well. He has a very hard, but highly regarded job."

Tacken felt that the man looked glum, and very sad. He did not know if the man enjoyed his respected job, and he doubted he did very much. As the ceremony came to a close and all of the Twelves received their assignments, Tacken grew excited for the months to come. He went home that night thinking that nothing but happiness could await him in the future.

Months passed and Tacken was growing anxious for the upcoming ceremony. He only had one month left before he would become a twelve and his sister would become a two. He enjoyed Meggie very much. She was a smart child, and was able to use the block exercises well for her motor skills. She was beginning to talk well, but still struggled with most words. His mother did her best to show Meggie the right way to speak, but Meggie had her own idea of how things should be done. As the months had progressed, his mother touched and held him less and less, and as time went on, Tacken did not even notice. He no longer hugged her, or anyone, or held anyone's hand. He felt that touching was something rude, and to be avoided at all cost, so as not to embarrass or discomfort someone.

Tacken watched with his fellow Elevens as his sister received her comfort object which was called giraffe. Tacken had a faint memory of the comfort object, as if he had seen something like it before, but he brushed it off, thinking he was foolish. She looked excited as she stroked the giraffes head, and Tacken looked forward to playing with her and it. The rest of the ceremonies were boring. Tacken was glad to be sitting next to Cole, who would sigh heavily as things happened. His brother was to become a seven now, having been made a six at the ceremony the year. His brother received a jacket which buttoned at the front, and he grinned happily from the stage. Cole and a few people within the community had same gendered family units. Tacken knew how unusual it was, but did not make note of it to his friend, in fear he would upset Cole of his differentness.

As the day came to a close, Tacken grew slightly ill for fear of the following morning. He discussed it with his family unit at dinner as they sat around the table and talked about the ceremonies. Meggie played with her giraffe as she ate her food and got small bits of food on the giraffe. His mother gave her a scolding look and Meggie slowed down her playing.

"But what if I'm assigned sanitation?" Tacken asked in fear. He had been worrying lately what would happen with his assignment. He had tried volunteering at every job he could, in hopes to grasp a feel for a particular job. He did not find one he overly enjoyed, however, and it worried him. His mother shook her head and smiled kindly at him. The worry lines that had once clouded her face were few now. She looked content nearly every day, and he was glad for that. He did not enjoy seeing his mother distressed, but since becoming fully ingrained into the community, there were no longer any real reasons to worry at all.

"You won't be, don't be silly Tacken. They will have found something for you, they always do."

"But what if they don't?"

His father gave him a stern look. "They will, stop fretting over something like this."

Tacken was not comforted by either of his parents that night. As he lay awake in bed, he pondered what would happen the following morning. He felt as though he had been waiting his entire life to become a twelve, and now that the ceremony was finally upon him, he felt scared with apprehension. He took a few long breaths and finally was able to relax his mind. As the dawn came up, he felt better than he had the night before, but still wary of what was to be in only a few short hours.

He joined his family for breakfast. He didn't feel very hungry, but he did not want to be chastised for not eating. It did not stop him from eating slowly, however. His father began a story of his dream, relaying that he dreamt that he could not finish his work at the clinic and he was released from the community. The dream frightened his father and his mother and himself comforted his father by patting him on the hands and shoulder.

"Thank you for your dream," Tacken said in unison with his mother. His mother related in telling that she did not dream. She did not often dream, so it had not been new to his father or himself. Tacken took a deep breath and began to tell his dream that he had been selected to become sanitation manager, and even though the dream was normal, he was unhappy as he awoke. His mother and father thanked him for the dream and everyone began to get ready for Tacken's big day. Tacken was eager to go, and so he arrived earlier than his parents. He was met by Cole as they each placed their bikes neatly on the bike rack outside the Community Center. Tacken gave a distasteful look at a new eight who sloppily put his bike next to Tacken's. The boy noticed Tacken looking and promptly apologized, and rightened his bike.

"I accept your apology," Tacken said automatically. Tacken and Cole took their seats in their proper section. Tacken was number thirty two out of fifty, and Cole was number thirty three. They each fidgeted in their seats, scared and anxious as the waited for the ceremony began. As the ceremony began, and Tacken heard the names and assignments, he was overly joyed that he did not get several of them. When number twenty eight received sanitation he was ecstatic. His worst fear had come to pass, and all he needed to do now was become excited for the council to reach him.

"Thirty one, Lenore," the Elder said. The woman speaking the names was older than most, but not as old as the Receiver of Memory, Tacken thought. Tacken did not pay much attention to the kind things the Elder woman said, because he was excited for his own turn. As Lenore sat back down Tacken was primed to jump up.

"Thirty three, Cole," she said. Tacken got up but immediately noticed something was wrong. Cole gave him a very puzzled, and slightly scared look. Had they skipped him? Tacken looked around for a confirmation but received none. Cole's name was repeated again. Tacken sat back down, perplexed, ashamed, and confused. He watched as Cole walked quickly to the stage, unsure feet leading him and his hands shaking with nerves. The audience was stunned silent. Had anyone's name ever been skipped before? Tacken's memory was fuzzy, he could not remember a time someone's name had been missed.

The ceremony continued and as the last name was called, a collective hush broke among the audience. The Elder woman looked over the crowed and smiled warmly.

"You all have noticed I made a mistake," she said and everyone gave a collect soft laugh. Tacken didn't know what to say or do, so he remained still as a statue and quiet as a sleeping person.

The woman continued to speak. "I have not made a mistake. Tacken has not been chosen, but he has been selected. Tacken, please come to the stage."

On shaky legs Tacken approached her. His hands felt sweaty but he did his best to ignore them. He stood beside her and wondered where this could be going.

"I apologize to you, Tacken, for putting you though embarrassment and confusion."

Unsure what to say, Tacken did the automatic apology. She smiled down at him, because he was still much shorter than most people, even those his own age and she put her arm very lightly on his shoulder.

"We have watched Tacken flourish within our community. He has taken great strides to become the boy he is today. I remember his first lessons on rudeness, and thanks to the excellent teachings of our own community members, we have taught Tacken to be a very polite individual. We have monitored Tacken's volunteer hours, as we have with every child in the community, and have selected him for a very special assignment, one that will take courage and patience. We have seen Tacken demonstrate a great deal of patience, as he has volunteered for the Nurturing Center, and a great deal of courage when he has chosen to freely speak in front of his peers for school."

Tacken did not feel either example given matched the words they were to describe, but he stood with the Elder, perplexed, and waited for her to continue.

"Tacken has been selected to become our next Receiver of Memory." The crowd around him hushed and many people looked to one another in curious murmurs. Tacken did not like this sound of this one bit. He looked over to the old man sitting apart from the rest, and the old man gave him a very faint smile, which Tacken could not return right away.

"You have a great responsibility to the community Tacken, and we feel you are able to handle this great service. Thank you for your childhood," she finished. Everyone stood and clapped in unison. Tacken was unsure if he should laugh or cry. He felt confused and overwhelmed. He was ushered off of the stage and given a very thin envelope, one visibly much smaller than those handed to his friends. Tacken rushed over to his parent's whose faces looked slightly grim. Meggie was quiet, much too quiet, as he approached, as if she sensed or knew, something bad were happening to him.

"You have received a great honor," his mother said but did not seem to mean the words. His father gave him a short pat on the back. "We are proud of your accomplishment Tacken." They all journeyed home together, though in silence. Tacken was curious what his envelope entailed, but he waited until he were at his desk, hidden away from his family in his room. The envelope held only a single piece of paper.

TACKEN

RECEIVER OF MEMORY

Go immediately at the end of school to the Annex located at the back of the House of the Old. Check in with the attendant.

Once Training Hours have been completed, continue back to your family unit.

You are now and furthermore exempt from the rules regarding rudeness. You may ask any question of anyone, anytime, and they will answer.

Do not discuss your training with anyone except the former Receiver of Memory.

You will not take any medication, for pain or otherwise, including your morning pill.

You may not dream-tell under any circumstance.

The rules seemed simple and straight forward. Tacken didn't want to be rude, so he did not feel as though he would follow that particular rule. He rather enjoyed the dream-telling and thought he might break this particular rule, but he would wait and decide. Tacken hoped he knew what he was about to get himself into, but he had a feeling that troubling days might be ahead of him.