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From the distance, Jonas could hear the thud of cannons Overwhelmed by pain, he lay there in the fearsome stench for hours, listened to the men and animals die, and learned arfare meant

Finally, when he knew that he could bear it no longer and would welcoain on the bed

The Giver looked away, as if he could not bear to see what he had done to Jonas "Forgive me," he said

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Jonas did not want to go back He didn't want the memories, didn't want the honor, didn't want the wisdoain, his scraped knees and ball gah the , seeing children at play, citizens bicycling houish because he had been selected, as others before him had, to bear their burden

But the choice was not his He returned each day to the Annex rooentle with hi the terrible shared ood memories," The Giver reminded Jonas And it was true By now Jonas had experienced countless bits of happiness, things he had never known of before

He had seen a birthday party, with one child singled out and celebrated on his day, so that now he understood the joy of being an individual, special and unique and proud

He had visited s filled with all the colors he could now recognize and nalearass, and had dismounted beside a small stream from which both he and the horse drank cold, clear water Now he understood about animals; and in the ed Jonas's shoulder affectionately with its head, he perceived the bonds between anih woods, and sat at night beside a cah the meained, too, an understanding of solitude and its joy

"What is your favorite?" Jonas asked The Giver "You don't have to give it away yet," he added quickly "Just tell me about it, so I can look forward to it, because I'll have to receive it when your job is done"

The Giver sive it to you"

Jonas felt the joy of it as soon as the et his bearings, to find his place But this tiht in and felt the happiness that pervaded the memory

He was in a roo on a hearth He could see through athat outside it was night, and snowing There were colored lights: red and green and yelloinkling frohted candles stood in a polished golden holder and cast a soft, flickering glow He could solden-haired dog lay sleeping on the floor

On the floor there were packages wrapped in brightly colored paper and tied with gleaan to pick up the packages and pass them around the room: to other children, to adults ere obviously parents, and to an older, quiet couple, ether on a couch

While Jonas watched, the people began one by one to untie the ribbons on the packages, to unwrap the bright papers, open the boxes and reveal toys and clothing and books There were cries of delight They hugged one another

The small child went and sat on the lap of the old woainst his

Jonas opened his eyes and lay contentedly on the bed, still luxuriating in the wars he had learned to treasure

"What did you perceive?" The Giver asked

"Warmth," Jonas replied, "and happiness And--let me think Family That it was a celebration of soet the word for it"

"It will come to you"

"Who were the old people? Why were they there?" It had puzzled Jonas, seeing them in the room The Old of the community did not ever leave their special place, the House of the Old, where they were so well cared for and respected

"They were called Grandparents"

"Grand parents?"

"Grandparents It o"

"Back and back and back?" Jonas began to laugh "So actually, there could be parents-of-the-parents-of-the-parents-of-the parents?"

The Giver laughed, too "That's right It's a little like looking at yourself looking in ain a mirror"

Jonas frowned "But ht about it before Who are my parents-of-the-parents? Where are they?"