Guardians by Susan Kim

stones. When she held it up, colorful little beams danced across the wall and ceiling. In the large central room on the top floor, the dozens who surrounded her exclaimed with admiration.
    â€œYou like it?” An Insurgent girl named Naomi leaned forward with an eager smile.
    â€œYes. Thank you.” Esther began to set the object back into its container, but Naomi took it from her and draped it around her throat. Esther had to sit still while it was fastened in place.Then the ones closest to her clustered around, murmuring their envy and approval. One even thrust a mirror close, so that she could see and admire herself.
    The trinket was indeed beautiful , Esther had to admit. Yet she felt awkward, not only because of the lavishness of the present, but because of the very public way in which it was presented.
    Partnering was usually a simple and private affair. A boy and a girl, or two people of the same sex, made a personal vow to love and take care of each other, using a strip of cloth to bind their hands together. The partnering fabric would then be torn in two and worn by both partners at the wrist from that day onward. The idea that partnering might entail onlookers, finery, or any sort of celebration struck Esther as unnatural and deeply embarrassing.
    When Esther had agreed to become partners with Gideon, she’d assumed they would perform the basic ritual right away or perhaps later that evening. Yet from the beginning, the boy had had different ideas.
    Gideon wanted a more elaborate ceremony, one that would be held in public, in front of everyone who lived in the District. Joseph had looked through his books and magazines and found out that such things were indeed once common. What’s more, people used to hold smaller ceremonies that led up to the main event. In one, guests were expected to present lavish gifts—clothing, jewelry, and other adornments—to the girl.
    A shower , it was called.
    At first, Esther had refused. In such harsh times, she shrank from the idea of special treatment or useless gifts. Furthermore,she didn’t really care for such things. She had always worn the same things every day: a T-shirt or hoodie, jeans, tattered sneakers. Her only ornament was a braided leather necklace that Skar had given her back in Prin.
    But Gideon had proven to be stubborn. “You the leader,” he said again and again. “You special. People should treat you special. They want to.”
    In the end, Esther had decided to trust him, though, in truth, she simply didn’t care enough to keep arguing. Gideon had promised to take care of everything. And so now she found herself surrounded by piles of presents that contained far more finery than she had ever owned in her life: necklaces, earrings, sweaters made of a creamy material, wristwatches, colorful gloves that felt softer than Sarah’s skin.
    As she opened each gift, Esther tried to have a good time. The items, after all, were undeniably beautiful and sleek, and since each one was hidden in a box or plastic bag or wrapped in cloth or paper, they were fun to open, as well. Throughout, Michal sat by her side, her eyes sparkling as she selected which one to open next. “This one,” she would say as she handed Esther a new item. Then she would watch, enchanted, as Esther took out yet another bracelet or scarf or pair of shoes. “That one.”
    Esther was aware that all of her guests were taking in the ritual with greedy eyes; other than Skar, there was no one present who would not have traded places with her. And because her reactions were also being observed closely, Esther tried to look enthusiastic about receiving each gift. Yet after the seventh oreighth one, her cheeks began to feel strained from smiling so much and her words of thanks started to sound insincere to her own ears. The only present she liked outright came from Silas: a pair of tapered drinking glasses, elegant and light green.
    â€œThese are