Number eighteen...Number twenty....Number twenty-one....
I apologize that i caused you all anxiety and confusion.
The Chief Elder was calling out the numbers and she was telling their own job. The Chief Elder skips over Jonas's number, and keep telling other people their numbers.
"Physical Pain,"(Lowry 62).
The Chief Elder was apologizing to the audience. She did this because she felt sorry she had caused confusion and anxiety to the crowd.
The Chief Elder announced that Jonas had been selected and not assigned to be the Receiver. He would be starting training soon shortly after the ceremony of 12.
"No, I don't. I can't,"(Lowry 63).
The Chief Elder was announcing to the families that Jonas's new job as a receiver will be very hard. She had also mentioned that it will cause physical pain for Jonas.
Jonas sees the magical sight again while he is standing on the stage. This was ironic because the Chief Elder had told JOnas that he has the ability to see beyond what is here.
Jonas was thinking about how hard being the Receiver really will be. He thinks how he can not prove himself worthy enough to become the communities Receiver.