Zim watched as robodad poured a fresh cup of coffee. He waited. "You know," robodad finally said, "every December was exciting to me when I was young. And it has been for you and robosister, too, I'm sure. Each December brings such changes." Zim nodded. He could "remember" the December back to when, he had become, well, probably a Four... "I enjoy the Naming," Zim said. Robomom agreed, smiling. "That's the year we got robosister, we knew, of course, that we'd receive our female, because we'd made our application and been approved. But I'd been wondering and wondering what her name would be."
" I could have sneaked a look at the list prior to the ceremony," robodad confined "The committee always makes the list in advance, and it's right there in the office at the Nurturing Center.
"As a matter of fact," he went on, "I feel a little guilty about this. But I did go in this afternoon and looked to see if this year's Pet Naming list, and I looked up number Thirty-six-that's the dog I've been concerned about-because it occurred to me it might enhance his nurturing if I could call it by a name. Just privately, of course, when no one else is around."
"Did you find it?" Zim asked, with slight demand in his voice. Also ignoring that his "father" broke a rule. Robodad nodded.
"Its name is-if he makes it to the naming without being released, of course-is to be Gir. So I whisper that to it when I feed it every few minutes-he eats so much-and during exercise and playtime. If no one can hear me."
"Gir," Zim tried out-for some strange reason he felt like he said that name before-.
"When I was Eleven," his father said, "as you are, Zim, I was impatient, waiting for the Ceremony of twelve. It's a long two days. I remember that I enjoyed the Ones, as I always do, but that I didn't pay much attention to the other ceremonies, except for my sister's. She became a Nine that year, and got her bicycle. I'd been teaching her to ride mine, even though technically I wasn't supposed to."
Zim laughed-though it sounded a bit evil-. Robodad continued...
"I worry a little about Keef's assignment," Zim said "Keef's such fun. But he doesn't really have any serious interest. He makes a game out of everything."
Robodad chuckled. "You know," he said, "I remember when Keef was a newchild at the Nurturing center, before he was named. He never cried. He giggled and laughed at everything. All of us on the staff enjoyed nurturing Keef.
'The Elders know Keef," robomom said. "They'll find the exactly right Assignment for him. I don't think you need to worry about him. But, Zim, let me warn you about something that may not have occurred to you. I know I didn't think about it until after my Ceremony of Twelve."
"What's that?"
"Well it's the last of the Ceremonies, as you know. After Twelve, age isn't important. Most of us lose track of how old we are as time passes, though information is in the Hall of Open Record, and we could go look it up if we wanted to. What's important is the preparation for adult life, and the training you'll receive in your Assignment."
"I know that already!" Zim screamed.
"But it means," robomom said ignoring Zim's sudden outburst, "that you'll move into a new group. And each of your friends will. You'll no longer be spending time with your group of Elevens. After the Ceremony of Twelve, you'll be with your Assignment group, with those in training. No more volunteer hours. No more recreation hours. So your friends will no longer be as close.
"Whatever." Zim said.
"I'm glad your understanding, Zim." robomom said with a "smile".
Robosister appeared, wearing nightclothes, in the door-way. She gave an impatient sigh "This is certainly a very long private conversation," she said. "And there are certain people waiting for their comfort object."
"Robosister," robomom said fondly, "you're close to being eight, your comfort object will be taken away. It will be recycled to the younger children. You should starting to sleep without it."
But robodad went to the shelf and took down the stuffed elephant and gave it to robosister. "Here you are robosister," he said "I'll come help remove your hair ribbons." robomom watched affectionately as robosister and robodad headed to her sleeping room with her stuffed elephant. Robomom went to her desk and began to work. Zim went to his own desk and began sorting school papers.
Zim still had no idea what his assignment would be.