Updated! As most of you know, I'm having computer software problems, so no new chapters are going to come out for some time. Don't get me wrong, I will finish WFMSTR, which is this story's sequel, but it will be a while.
I'm now trying to fix some of the technical errors in my earlier chapters, *grin* many have been pointed out to me. When I remember that promise that the next one would be out in a week...
Well, I hope all of my older readers will email me, even if they can't review again. I'd love to hear how everyone likes the updated version.
*Original Authors Note*
Hi! I'm back! In this chapter quite a bit happens. I hope you like it, and REVIEW!
I want to thank Liz Skywalker and Amethyst for their wonderful reviews, you know, a writers reward is the feed back they get.
Disclaimer- The Giver belongs to Lois Lowry.
Done with that, on to the fic!
Chapter 2
Elsewhere, December 26, 2245
Jonas dreamed that night of juicy turkey, smothered with salty gravy, and piles of delicious sweet potatoes. So many questions ran though his mind. How did these people get here? How will I help? How can I get them to help me? All this and more twirled and danced in his abused mind, as it struggled to pull him back from dreamland.
Jonas heard a loud clang from the kitchen, so he headed in that direction. As he entered, he saw Granny trying to reach up to a shelf that was eluding her, she finally noticed him and said, Jonas be a dear and get that pot for me will you?
Jonas was several inches taller than Granny so the cast iron pot she was pointing to was in his easy reach, though the older woman was having trouble getting it down. Jonas brought the pot down and handed it to Granny. She smiled her thanks.
I suppose you are wondering how we got her, and why we aren't in a Community. Jonas nodded eagerly.
Granny sighed, but began an obviously painful recollection. Well, when I was just a seven, we escaped from my Community it was a horrible! We were chased for days... Jonas was shocked, as Granny paused to wipe her eyes with her sleeve.
But we made it, and eventually, we found other people like us. I escaped with my family unit, and a couple others. Granny began to gather ingredients, moving around the kitchen while still talking.
Those that we found were either descendants of those who were missed in the original round up of people for the Sameness, or others like us that escaped. People escaped? How? He opened his mouth to ask, but she was already going on.
We all began to see color, and now we all try to make things as vibrant as possible. I'm the only one in this house who was ever a part of a Community. My daughter was born just across the meadow behind the house. My grandchildren were all born right here in this house. We are proud of it too! Granny's eyes flashed, and she turned her attention to the pot in front of her. He wondered if she'd say anything else.
Right now if we were in a community, I would either be dead, or in a House For The Old. I'm proud to be alive, and I told myself that I'd never let myself down. And I never have. Jonas realized she was right. At some point in that speech, she had stopped talking to him, and started talking to herself, he felt privileged to be so honored as to hear her story.
Granny looked at him again. So Jonas, we are going to help you. That is what we people from Elsewhere do.
The old woman looked up, opened her mouth to voice a warning, but it was too late. Suddenly, Jonas was on the floor. Eliza grinned down at him. Hi!! I'm up! He felt so weird having personal contact with someone. Lily never would have done that. Eliza grinned at him again, then rolled off him, scrambling over to her grandmother.
Granny! Can we dye the oat meal different colors? Eliza asked, jumping up and down with anticipation.
I don't see why not. Granny grinned at her granddaughter before pouring steaming oatmeal into several large bowls. She then reached into a drawer, and pulled out several small glass bottles of colored fluid. She handed them to Eliza.
The small girl was surprisingly careful as she opened one bottle and dripped several drops into the first bowl. She repeated the process in each bowl, always using a different color, then she took a big spoon and mixed it all in. The colors swirled around like rainbow tornadoes before becoming pastel tints of red, blue, yellow, green, orange and pink.
Granny slid a large platter out of a cupboard under the smooth wood counter and set the bowls on it. As she walked slowly into the dining room, she called to Jonas, Could you bring out the pitcher? It's on the counter.
Jonas looked at the counter. There was a blue pitcher sitting there with orange fluid inside. He picked it up and carried it into the dining room.
I'll get everyone! Eliza shouted. The little girl ran up the stairs, calling,
Soon everyone was in the dining room. As the family ate the Technicolor Ed oatmeal, Goren stood up, Everyone, I am going to take Jonas, Jake, and Duke back to the Community to help-
I'm coming too. Granny said. There was a look of determination on her face that combatted with her years to make her look younger. Just like when she smiled, Jonas thought.
Mother! You can't! You are too old! You could get hurt! Honey was shocked. She looked stunned.
None of you but Jonas have ever been in a Community. I'm going and that's final. It was final, but it took Granny the better part of a half hour to convince her family she was serious.
Goren sighed heavily, but he finally agreed. Everyone get ready. We leave on horseback at noon.
After that, the same kind of carefree conversation they'd had the evening before came back. Jonas was so relaxed, he almost could forget where he was going.
Almost.
***
As Jonas helped pack supplies, he realized something. Something very important. Something he couldn't believe he'd forgotten! Goren, I don't know how to ride a horse! Goren looked dumbstruck. This wasn't something he'd been prepared to deal with.
Then the twins were all over him. Duke spoke up, We'll teach you! Come on!
We sure will! added Jake, grinning like a fool. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Jonas thought.
**********
Community
The Giver must have been right about the Memories being almost over, for that night, Fiona's sleep was only interrupted once by Memories, and it was a good one. It was a rainbow, filled with colors she was only just beginning to see, they all named themselves to her, and the colors stuck with her. She would try extra hard to get those colors into her daily life. Everything was so gray. Color was life, Gray was the Community... Fiona drifted back to sleep.
Her alarm woke her at the usual time, but it seemed much too early. She just wanted to see that rainbow forever. Wanted to dream about it, slide down it, wanted to be so close she could taste the colors. But there were things to do today.
As she entered the eating room, she saw her come in as well. Are you going to go to work today? She asked. She already knew the answer.
her snapped. Who knows when another Memory will hit! They both looked tired and bedraggled. It was obvious that they hadn't have a nice Memory like she had. Either that or they didn't appreciate it like I did.
The only one who looked awake was her younger brother. The small two was toddling his way towards her; she swung him up into her arms.
Mother, I'm taking Bruno and going out for a while. I'll be back later. Fiona said, her just nodded absently.
Fiona sighed and walked out the front door. As she walked down the road with Bruno, she remembered the hills in her Memories. Everything here was so flat. No sunlight here either. She wished she was with Jonas. Where ever he was...
Fiona could have ridden her bike, but then she would have had to leave Bruno behind, and with the Community the way it was right now, she didn't think that it would be safe. Bruno would stay with her.
She knew that the Giver would have food. She hadn't eaten since breakfast the day before, and that was an apple stolen from the orchard. Then people had set it on fire. The blaze had been quenched, but it had mainly been the efforts of her and several other citizens in training. They seemed to be the only older people with their heads on straight. How ironic!
Fiona and Bruno rounded the corner of The House For The Old, and entered the Annex. She felt a slight pang of sympathy for the Old, nobody was taking care of them. She had to help them too. That is, if they were still alive. Many probably had died, they all needed help to do things...
In the Annex, she found the Giver talking to Asher. Asher had his three year old sister with him, just as Bruno was with her. Hi Fiona! Want a bowl of breakfast? Asher greeted her.
She nodded, and Asher passed out two bowls of cereal, one for her, and one for Bruno. The eager and hungry two dug into the food with a vengeance.
She ate only slightly more calmly.
As I was telling Asher, we have to make individuality favorable over Sameness. Soon here the Council will regain order, we can't let them. I've asked- The Giver began.
The door to the Annex slammed open, then the inner door. Fiona wondered who was coming in.
I don't know what you are trying to do! The Chief Elder yelled. I will regain order! And you can't stop us! You will take back the Memories and you will train another! With that she slammed both doors. Bruno and Phillipa stared at their order siblings, then at each other. Then started to eat again.
What do we think we're doing? What does SHE think she's doing! We can't let Jonas come back to a reformed Community. Giver, how do we make people see our side? Fiona shouted. She was so angry. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she wanted to scream wordlessly like some of her Memories of girls did. It seemed to help them at least.
We show them what they are missing. We get at the Sameness generator and turn it off. Sunlight will come back, so will clouds, rain, and- The Giver stated. It seemed so hopeless, but...
Fiona asked.
Then the Giver grinned. But soon his face hardened in concentration. But first we have to figure out how, it won't be easy.
**********
Elsewhere
Honey watched as her family rode off. They were off to save the world. Or the Community anyway. In the Elder's eyes, that's all that there was. Her eyes stung with salty tears Come back to me! She shouted.
We will! Goren shouted back. With two new additions to the family!
Never too many! Honey shouted.
Jonas, heels down! Jake shouted at Jonas. The boy grimaced, but corrected his posture.
That look on the normally serious Jonas' face was enough for Honey to decide then and there, that Jonas was her son.
~Siti~