Conflict Resolution Story

Conflict resolution story Austin Witthun

Author’s notes: this is a short story that is for conflict resolution that is taking place at the end of the Giver.

When Jonas rose from the accumulated snow that was piled around him, he was startled for two reasons. The first because, the sled that he had rode down the hill on had cracked in more than two pieces, and the second was that he had his arms wrapped tightly around Gabriel, who besides being cold, was sleeping and unharmed. He didn’t have to walk far before he found a house on the edge of a small village. He was a little frightened because the house, and the rest of the village for that matter, didn’t look anything like his community but, at this point he was more concerned about Gabriel getting hypothermia. He knocked on the door and waited for an answer. It wasn’t long until a man opened the door. Then something happened. The man said something but, in a different language. Jonas stood there wondering what the man had said when the man stepped back in an effort to communicate that they wanted him to come inside, so Jonas did. He set Gabriel down on the floor against the wall as the man continued to speak this strange language. After a while of just standing there, he noticed that Gabriel seemed like he was not warming up so he gave him yet another memory of sunshine which seemed to help. When Jonas did that the man stopped talking and stared in awe slowly realizing what had just happened. This gave Jonas an idea. Remembering what the Giver had once said: ”You do understand, don’t you, that this is my life? The memories?” and he walked up to the man and transferred a memory of the Giver to the man. The man stood there and slowly turned to Jonas. He put his hands on Jonas’ shoulders and transferred a memory that surprised Jonas. It was of the Giver himself. Jonas and the man looked at each other and nodded. Then Jonas proceeded to give the man memories of the trip away from the community. Using this form of communication, he had the man get help from the rest of the community for assistance with Gabriel and with housing for Jonas and Gabriel. Jonas was assigned several jobs in this community. Then all he had to do was wait for the Giver.