A/n-the brain washing did not erase phobias.
Zim rode at a fast pace. He didn't do his volunteer hours often because Keef frequently fooled around and made serious work a little difficult. But now, with Twelve coming so soon and the volunteer hours ending, it didn't seem to matter. The freedom to choose where you spend those hours had always been a luxury to Zim. He rode past community structures, he passed the Childcare Center where robosister stayed after school, and the play area surrounding it. He rode through the Central Plaza and the large Auditoriums where public meetings were held. As Zim rode through the community he noticed Keef's bike parked at the House of the Old. What is Keef doing there he thought. Fiona's bike was there too.
"Hello, Zim," the attendant at the front desk. She handed him the sign-up sheet and stamped her own official seal besides his signature. Al of his volunteer hours would be carefully tabulated at the Open Hall of Records. Once, long ago, it was whispered among the children, an Eleven had arrived at the ceremony of the Twelve only to hear a public announcement that he had not completed the required number of volunteer hours and would not, therefore, be given his assignment. He had been permitted an additional month in which to complete the hours, and then given his assignment privately, with applause, no celebration: a disgrace that had clouded his future.
"It's good to have some volunteers here today," the attendant told him. "We celebrated a release this morning, and that always throws the schedule off a little, so things get backed up." she looked at a printed sheet. "Let's see. Keef and Fiona are helping in the bathing room." Zim shivered. For some reason the bathing room seemed to frighten him but he didn't know why. "Why don't you join them there? You know where it is, don't you?"
Zim nodded, thanked her, and walked down the long hallway. He glanced into the rooms on either side. The Old were sitting quietly, some visiting and talking with one another, others doing handwork and simple crafts. A few were asleep. Each room was comfortably furnished, the floors covered with thick carpeting. I was a serene and slow-paced place, unlike the busy centers of manufacture and distribution where the daily work of the community occurred...
Zim entered the bathing filled with a dangerous aroma, he tried to ignore it. Zim changed into the volunteer smock. "Hi, Zim!" Keef called from the corner where he was kneeling beside a tub. Zim went to the row of padded lounging chairs where others of the Old were waiting. He had worked here before; he knew what to do.
"Your turn, Larissa," he said reading the nametag on the woman's robe. "I'll just start the water and then help you up. He reached forward to press the button on a nearby empty tub with a shaky hand. Why is my hand shaking he thought. He watched the warm water flow down. Why am I so scared of water I don't remember being scared the last time I did it. Why now? He continued to think to himself. He turned to Larissa and helped into the tub. "Comfortable?" he asked. She nodded, her eyes closed. Zim squeezed cleansing lotion onto the clean sponge at the edge he reached forward to clean Larissa. He carefully cleaned her trying not to touch the water. It was hard. He did not know why he was suddenly so nervous around water but he took it as a sign to avoid it.