"The Giver Quartet" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lowry, Lois)

Jonas, nearing his home now, smiled at the recollection. Thinking, still, as he wheeled his bike into its narrow port beside the door, he realized that frightened was the wrong word to describe his feelings, now that December was al-most here. It was too strong an adjective.



He had waited a long time for this special December. Now that it was almost upon him, he wasnтАЩt frightened, but he was . . . eager, he decided. He was eager for it to come. And he was excited, certainly. All of the Elevens were excited about the event that would be coming so soon.



But there was a little shudder of nervousness when he



thought about it, about what might happen.



Apprehensive, Jonas decided. ThatтАЩs what I am.



тАЬWho wants to be the first tonight, for feelings?тАЭ JonasтАЩs father asked, at the conclusion of their evening meal.



It was one of the rituals, the evening telling of feelings.



Sometimes Jonas and his sister, Lily, argued over turns, over who would get to go first. Their parents, of course, were part of the ritual; they, too, told their feelings each evening. But like all parents тАФ all adults тАФ they didnтАЩt fight and wheedle for their turn.



Nor did Jonas, tonight. His feelings were too complicated this evening. He wanted to share them, but he wasnтАЩt eager to begin the process of sifting through his own complicated emotions, even with the help that he knew his parents could give.



тАЬYou go, Lily,тАЭ he said, seeing his sister, who was much younger тАФ only a Seven тАФ wiggling with impatience in her chair.



тАЬI felt very angry this afternoon,тАЭ Lily announced. тАЬMy Childcare group was at the play area, and we had a visiting group of Sevens, and they didnтАЩt obey the rules at all. One of them тАФ a male; I donтАЩt know his name тАФ kept going right to the front of the line for the slide, even though the rest of us were all waiting. I felt so angry at him. I made my hand into a fist, like this.тАЭ She held up a clenched fist and the rest of the family smiled at her small defiant gesture.



тАЬWhy do you think the visitors didnтАЩt obey the rules?тАЭ Mother asked.