The freedom to choose where to spend those hours had always seemed a wonderful luxury to Jonas; other hours of the day were so carefully regulated.
He remembered when he had become an Eight, as Lily would do shortly, and had been faced with that freedom of choice. The Eights always set out on their first volunteer hour a little nervously2, giggling3 and staying in groups of friends. They almost invariably did their hours on Recreation Duty first, helping4 with the younger ones in a place where they still felt comfortable. But with guidance, as they developed self-confidence and maturity5, they moved on to other jobs, gravitating toward those that would suit their own interests and skills.
A male Eleven named Benjamin had done his entire nearly-Four years in the Rehabilitation6 Center, working with citizens who had been injured. It was rumored7 that he was as skilled now as the Rehabilitation Directors themselves, and that he had even developed some machines and methods to hasten rehabilitation. There was no doubt that Benjamin would receive his Assignment to that field and would probably be permitted to bypass most of the training.
Jonas was impressed by the things Benjamin had achieved. He knew him, of course, since they had always been group mates but they had never talked about the boy's accomplishments8 because such a conversation would have been awkward for Benjamin. There was never any comfortable way to mention or discuss one's successes without breaking the rule against bragging9, even if one didn't mean to. It was a minor10 rule, rather like rudeness, punishable only by gentle chastisement11. But still. Better to steer12 clear of an occasion governed by a rule which would be so easy to break.
The area of dwellings13 behind him, Jonas rode past the community structures, hoping to spot Asher's bicycle parked beside one of the small factories or office buildings. He passed the Childcare Center where Lily stayed after school, and the play areas surrounding it. He rode through the Central Plaza14 and the large Auditorium15 where public meetings were held.
Jonas slowed and looked at the nametags on the bicycles lined up outside the Nurturing16 Center. Then he checked those outside Food Distribution; it was always fun to help with the deliveries, and he hoped he would find his friend there so that they could go together on the daily rounds, carrying the cartons of supplies into the dwellings of the community. But he finally found Asher's bicycle — leaning, as usual, instead of upright in its port, as it should have been — at the House of the Old.
There was only one other child's bicycle there, that of a female Eleven named Fiona. Jonas liked Fiona. She was a good student, quiet and polite, but she had a sense of fun as well, and it didn't surprise him that she was working with Asher today. He parked his bicycle neatly17 in the port beside theirs and entered the building.
"Hello, Jonas," the attendant at the front desk said. She handed him the sign-up sheet and stamped her own official seal beside his signature. All of his volunteer hours would be carefully tabulated18 at the Hall of Open Records. Once, long ago, it was whispered among the children, an Eleven had arrived at the Ceremony of 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 privately19, with no applause, no celebration: a disgrace that had clouded his entire future.
"It's good to have some volunteers here today," the attendant told him. "We celebrated20 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. Asher and Fiona are helping in the bathing room. Why don't you join them there? You know where it is, don't you?"
Jonas 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. It was a serene21 and slow-paced place, unlike the busy centers of manufacture and distribution where the daily work of the community occurred.
Jonas was glad that he had, over the years, chosen to do his hours in a variety of places so that he could experience the differences. He realized, though, that not focusing on one area meant he was left with not the slightest idea — not even a guess — of what his Assignment would be.
He laughed softly. Thinking about the Ceremony again, Jonas? he teased himself. But he suspected that with the date so near, probably all of his friends were, too.
He passed a Caretaker walking slowly with one of the Old in the hall. "Hello, Jonas," the young uniformed man said, smiling pleasantly. The woman beside him, whose arm he held, was hunched22 over as she shuffled23 along in her soft slippers24. She looked toward Jonas and smiled, but her dark eyes were clouded and blank. He realized she was blind.
He entered the bathing room with its warm moist air and scent25 of cleansing26 lotions27. He removed his tunic29, hung it carefully on a wall hook, and put on the volunteer's smock that was folded on a shelf.
"Hi, Jonas!" Asher called from the corner where he was kneeling beside a tub. Jonas saw Fiona nearby, at a different tub. She looked up and smiled at him, but she was busy, gently washing a man who lay in the warm water.
Jonas greeted them and the caretaking attendants at work nearby. Then he 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 pressed the button on a nearby empty tub and watched as the warm water flowed in through the many small openings on the sides. The tub would be filled in a minute and the water flow would stop automatically.
He helped the woman from the chair, led her to the tub, removed her robe, and steadied her with his hand on her arm as she stepped in and lowered herself. She leaned back and sighed with pleasure, her head on a soft cushioned headrest.
"Comfortable?" he asked, and she nodded, her eyes closed. Jonas squeezed cleansing lotion28 onto the clean sponge at the edge of the tub and began to wash her frail30 body.
Last night he had watched as his father bathed the new-child. This was much the same: the fragile skin, the soothing31 water, the gentle motion of his hand, slippery with soap. The relaxed, peaceful smile on the woman's face reminded him of Gabriel being bathed.
And the nakedness, too. It was against the rules for children or adults to look at another's nakedness; but the rule did not apply to new children or the Old. Jonas was glad. It was a nuisance to keep oneself covered while changing for games, and the required apology if one had by mistake glimpsed another's body was always awkward. He couldn't see why it was necessary. He liked the feeling of safety here in this warm and quiet room; he liked the expression of trust on the woman's face as she lay in the water unprotected, exposed, and free.
From the corner of his eye he could see his friend Fiona help the old man from the tub and tenderly pat his thin, naked body dry with an absorbant cloth. She helped him into his robe.
Jonas thought Larissa had drifted into sleep, as the Old often did, and he was careful to keep his motions steady and gentle so he wouldn't wake her. He was surprised when she spoke32, her eyes still closed.
"This morning we celebrated the release of Roberto," she told him. "It was wonderful."
"I knew Roberto!" Jonas said. "I helped with his feeding the last time I was here, just a few weeks ago. He was a very interesting man."
Larissa opened her eyes happily. "They told his whole life before they released him," she said. "They always do. But to be honest," she whispered with a mischievous33 look, "some of the tellings are a little boring. I've even seen some of the Old fall asleep during tellings — when they released Edna recently. Did you know Edna?"
Jonas shook his head. He couldn't recall anyone named Edna.
"Well, they tried to make her life sound meaningful. And of course," she added primly34, "all lives are meaningful, I don't mean that they aren't. But Edna. My goodness. She was a Birthmother, and then she worked in Food Production for years, until she came here. She never even had a family unit."
Larissa lifted her head and looked around to make sure no one else was listening. Then she confided35, "I don't think Edna was very smart."
Jonas laughed. He rinsed36 her left arm, laid it back into the water, and began to wash her feet. She murmured with pleasure as he massaged37 her feet with the sponge.
"But Roberto's life was wonderful," Larissa went on, after a moment. "He had been an Instructor38 of Elevens — you know how important that is — and he'd been on the Planning Committee. And — goodness, I don't know how he found the time — he also raised two very successful children, and he was also the one who did the landscaping design for the Central Plaza. He didn't do the actual labor39, of course."
"Now your back. Lean forward and I'll help you sit up." Jonas put his arm around her and supported her as she sat. He squeezed the sponge against her back and began to rub her sharp-boned shoulders. "Tell me about the celebration."
"Well, there was the telling of his life. That is always first. Then the toast. We all raised our glasses and cheered. We chanted the anthem40. He made a lovely good-bye speech. And several of us made little speeches wishing him well. I didn't, though. I've never been fond of public speaking.
"He was thrilled. You should have seen the look on his face when they let him go."
Jonas slowed the strokes of his hand on her back thoughtfully. "Larissa," he asked, "what happens when they make the actual release? Where exactly did Roberto go?"
She lifted her bare wet shoulders in a small shrug41. "I don't know. I don't think anybody does, except the committee. He just bowed to all of us and then walked, like they all do, through the special door in the Releasing Room. But you should have seen his look. Pure happiness, I'd call it."
Jonas grinned. "I wish I'd been there to see it."
Larissa frowned. "I don't know why they don't let children come. Not enough room, I guess. They should enlarge the Releasing Room."
"We'll have to suggest that to the committee. Maybe they'd study it," Jonas said slyly, and Larissa chortled with laughter.
"Right!" she hooted42, and Jonas helped her from the tub.
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1
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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rehabilitation
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| n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位 | |
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7
rumored
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| adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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9
bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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auditorium
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| n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂 | |
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16
nurturing
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| 养育( nurture的现在分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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tabulated
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| 把（数字、事实）列成表( tabulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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23
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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cleansing
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| n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词 | |
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lotions
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| n.洗液，洗剂，护肤液( lotion的名词复数 ) | |
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lotion
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| n.洗剂 | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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30
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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32
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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primly
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| adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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35
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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36
rinsed
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| v.漂洗( rinse的过去式和过去分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
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massaged
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| 按摩，推拿( massage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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39
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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40
anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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41
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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42
hooted
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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