Mary Dalton

It's December now, time for the Ceramony Of Twelve.  We watch all the twelves, as they are lined up in neat rows.  I watch my brother as he fidgets in his seat.  We all know what he is going to be assigned, but he is still very nervous.  He is seated next to a small female, with big smile strung across her face. And a male, about his hight, with short, curly hair.  They start with number one.  She stumbles up on to the stage, nurvously clasping, and unclasping her hands.  When they announce her as a engineer, her unsure face, breaks into a smile.  Then they start going through the list.  Twos, threes, fours. Till they get to 14.  Thats my brothers number.  He slowly walks up on the stage.  His eyes flick nervously through the crowd, trying to find where we are seated.  Finally, as the long speech comes to an end, they announce his assignment.  "CARE TAKER". Thank you for your childhood.  He smiles, and steps off the stage.  The strangest thing happened, when they were calling the names, they skipped number 19!  The boys name was Jonas, a friend of  Ivan's.  He looked like he was sick.  The crowd hushed.  Had the speaker made a mistake?  Finally, at the end of the ceremony, the speaker made an apology.  Jonas had been selected to become the new Receiver.  I had no idea what that was.  The speaker said that the Receiver could see beyond. Jonas looked relived, but also a look of uncertainty, as he slowly stepped up on to the stage.