Life was good for Jonas. The Watsons came to love him and Gabriel
like part of their family. Of course, that wasn't hard, with Gabriel so
cute and Jonas so eager to love and be loved. Affection between him and his
peers grew slowly, but strong. He inspired a deep loyalty in his friends.
His fresh perspective on life kept those close to him looking around them
with more appreciation for the things they usually took for granted.
His birthday that spring dawned bright and warm, and as it was a Saturday, the Watsons held a party for him. Jonas' new friends and family ate hot dogs and hamburgers outdoors on a picnic table. Jonas knew about birthday celebrations from the memories, but he was surprised nonetheless.
Most of the time, Jonas felt closer tot he people of his new life than he had ever felt with anyone from the old. They were tied together by emotion and love. But there were still times when he felt as isolated and alone as he had during his training to be the Receiver. At those times, he would pick up Gabriel and hug him tightly and remember that he wasn't alone. Though energetic, Gabriel would never struggle to be let down when Jonas did this, but clung to him, as if he knew what Jonas felt. And perhaps he did; it wasn't as if they had never communicated mind-to-mind before!
In June, Jonas experienced something else he'd never thought of—the end of the school year. School was year-round in the Communities, and Jonas had trouble imagining a vacation for the children that extended over a whole three-month period. During the last week of school the rules were relaxed, classes were ended. It was almost freedom incarnate. The first day of summer vacation, Jon, Charity and their friends went on a hike at a nearby park. The trail led to large rocks, which the kids clambered over like lizards. At the top, they could see a waterfall that gushed down over ledges to end in a wild spray below. The sun shone through the water, and a rainbow gleamed out.
"Whoa," Katie breathed. Everyone nodded.
"What does it make you think of?" Jackie asked Charity.
"Hope," Charity said. "After the long hard climb, there's always hope and happiness."
Jonas looked at her face. Her green eyes were brighter than the June foliage around her, and there was a look of such joy on her face that Jonas was surprised she wasn't singer. He felt something rise up in him, like a great rushing wind, louder than the noise of the waterfall, and far more forceful. And without being told what it was, he knew, as if it were a memory. He knew that Charity was well named 'love', because he loved her. And she turned and looked at him, and she smiled more brilliantly than the waterfall. And he knew that she loved him, too.
His birthday that spring dawned bright and warm, and as it was a Saturday, the Watsons held a party for him. Jonas' new friends and family ate hot dogs and hamburgers outdoors on a picnic table. Jonas knew about birthday celebrations from the memories, but he was surprised nonetheless.
Most of the time, Jonas felt closer tot he people of his new life than he had ever felt with anyone from the old. They were tied together by emotion and love. But there were still times when he felt as isolated and alone as he had during his training to be the Receiver. At those times, he would pick up Gabriel and hug him tightly and remember that he wasn't alone. Though energetic, Gabriel would never struggle to be let down when Jonas did this, but clung to him, as if he knew what Jonas felt. And perhaps he did; it wasn't as if they had never communicated mind-to-mind before!
In June, Jonas experienced something else he'd never thought of—the end of the school year. School was year-round in the Communities, and Jonas had trouble imagining a vacation for the children that extended over a whole three-month period. During the last week of school the rules were relaxed, classes were ended. It was almost freedom incarnate. The first day of summer vacation, Jon, Charity and their friends went on a hike at a nearby park. The trail led to large rocks, which the kids clambered over like lizards. At the top, they could see a waterfall that gushed down over ledges to end in a wild spray below. The sun shone through the water, and a rainbow gleamed out.
"Whoa," Katie breathed. Everyone nodded.
"What does it make you think of?" Jackie asked Charity.
"Hope," Charity said. "After the long hard climb, there's always hope and happiness."
Jonas looked at her face. Her green eyes were brighter than the June foliage around her, and there was a look of such joy on her face that Jonas was surprised she wasn't singer. He felt something rise up in him, like a great rushing wind, louder than the noise of the waterfall, and far more forceful. And without being told what it was, he knew, as if it were a memory. He knew that Charity was well named 'love', because he loved her. And she turned and looked at him, and she smiled more brilliantly than the waterfall. And he knew that she loved him, too.
