Fiona listened with half an ear as the various age groups got their new items and looks for the upcoming year. There were jackets that buttoned up in the front for the Fives, Sixes and Sevens, and shorter haircuts for the Tens, while the Nines got their first official bicycles. Fiona and her family received a newchild, a boy named Bruno. Her own Ceremony was fast approaching, and she looked nervously at her fellow Elevens, sitting together in numerical order, by order of birth. Fiona was number 19; Jonas was 20, so he sat beside her. A boy named Raymond sat on her right, he was a bit stuck-up, and so Fiona rarely talked to him. Asher was number 4, so he sat out of talking distance from his two friends. Finally, after a long refreshment break, the Ceremony of Twelve began.
The Chief Elder started off by saying what a great group they were, and how proud everyone was of their accomplishments. Then she went on to list how the new Twelves would soon receive their Assignments, their jobs, and what a huge responsibility they were taking on. "This is possibly the most important occasion in our new Twelves' lives. They have spent all of their lives trying to be the same, but now is the time when we honor their differences." The audience clapped politely.
Therefore, in the silence that followed, the Chief Elder proceeded to call out the numbers of the Twelves to cue them to the front, then she would announce their names, their qualities, and finally, present them with an Assignment and the rules for their Assignment. "Four," the Elder called. "Asher." Fiona's friend walked hesitantly up to the stage. "Asher is a bright, cheerful boy who often puts play before work. Although that may be a disadvantage at school, Asher's love of fun is perfect for the new Assistant Director of Recreation!" Asher looked proud and relieved as he received his file folder of rules.
"Eighteen," the Chief Elder called, "Raymond. A bright and intelligent young man, Raymond was chosen for his insight and creative knowledge." Raymond glanced haughtily around the room. "Therefore, Raymond will be Assistant to the Chief Engineer!" Raymond looked smug as he came back to his seat beside Fiona, holding a large stack of papers in one big folder. No one was surprised at the choice – Raymond had never volunteered anywhere else.
"Nineteen," called the Chief Elder. Fiona gulped, then rose from her seat and willed her legs to carry her to the stage. Her legs obeyed, wobbling. She spent, it seemed, a lifetime getting up to the stage, and she looked down to avoid the many staring eyes of the community. "Fiona," the Chief Elder announced, "Is a sweet, gentle girl. She has volunteered many hours of her time to help those both older and younger than her. Fiona is an extremely smart, careful student, and therefore is a role model for her year-mates. Fiona, you have been Assigned to the job of –" Fiona held her breath "Caretaker of the Old. Congratulations." The Elder dismissed her with a large pile of papers. Fiona scuttled nervously back to her seat, then sat down with a sigh of relief.
"Good luck," she whispered to Jonas, waiting to hear his number.
"Twenty-one," the Chief Elder called, "Pierre," and carried on, skipping Jonas completely. Fiona looked at him with fear in her eyes. He looked petrified with confusion. Maybe the Chief Elder just forgot him, Fiona thought hopefully. In a moment she will call him up and apologize and everything will be okay. But the Chief Elder did nothing of the sort, merely carried on with the Ceremony. Glancing fearfully into the audience, Fiona saw everyone stealing glances at Jonas, murmuring quietly. Jonas shivered with dread as the Chief Elder finished with the Twelves. "I apologize." She said to the audience. "I have caused you anxiety." Fiona remembered thinking that Jonas was different. She remembered her dream of disgrace and release. "Jonas. I apologize to you in particular. I have caused you great anguish."
"I accept your apology," Jonas' words were barely audible.
"Please come to the stage now," the Chief Elder said, gently. She beckoned. Jonas got up and stumbled to the stage. Fiona watched closely, worried still, especially at the Chief Elder's next words. "Jonas has not been Assigned." She stated. There was a collective gasp from the assembled audience. Fiona almost jumped up in her chair. "Jonas has been Selected." The Chief Elder stressed the last word. Confused, Fiona sat back down. "The Receiver of Memory, with the approval of the Council, has selected Jonas to be the next Receiver. This is a position of great honor, and the previous candidate failed in the quest to acquire all of the memories. Jonas has been chosen for his qualities and virtues. First of all, Intelligence. As we all know, Jonas has always been at the top of his class. Integrity. Jonas, like all of us, has committed minor transgressions. As we would have hoped, he has always shown up promptly for chastisement. Courage. Jonas, the job expected of you involves great pain. Physical pain. Yes, you have scraped your knees and cut your finger by slamming it into the door, but you have never experienced real pain. Wisdom. You do not have this yet, Jonas, but will acquire it through training. Finally, a quality I can only name, not describe. Our current Receiver –" She nodded at an Elder with a long, grizzled beard. "Has told me only that it is the Capacity to See Beyond, which you must have, Jonas." Jonas looked puzzled, and then blinked rapidly.
"Yes, I think I do have that, what ever it is." Jonas said.
"We thank you for your childhood." she finished. The audience began to chant his name, to give their new Receiver strength. Amid the chanting, Jonas slunk back to his seat with his own folder of rules and responsibilities – a single sheet of paper. Fiona looked down at the piles of paper in her own hands and sighed.