Livia Bobble- Escort for District 11
"Welcome, welcome, welcome, citizens of District 11, on this most Glorious afternoon" I say, my eyes sweeping the crowd. "As you all know, the annual Hunger Games is a time to remember our… well… your uprising against the glorious Capitol" The crowd stands there, blankly. It annoys me that they're not really paying attention to my speech, it is rather marvelous, and I even wore one of my best wigs. Well, that's what you expect from an outlying District, they don't even pay attention to me. But, being a very professional escort, I quickly regain my composure.
"Before we begin the festivities, we have a special film from the Capitol, after which, we will begin with the reaping! Oh, how exciting!" I trill as the film springs into life. It's the same film every year, but the line "War… terrible war" Always gets me excited, It's like they've made the film in such a way so that it's interesting every time! When the film finishes, I bounce back up to the microphone. The citizens return their gaze to me, and I say "Ladies first" I place my very elegant hand into the reaping ball, and carefully pull out a slip of paper. This is my favourite part, the time just before the name-calling. It's full of anticipation as to who has the honour of competing. I cross back to the microphone, scan the square before speaking. "Rue Meadowsweet" I glance around for her, where is the little star? The square is so grubby that it's hard to distinguish people from the filthy buildings and stones. Then I spot her. She's a small, dark adorable little thing, like a little baby bird. "What a precious little thing you are!" I loose myself a little in the emotion of the moment, but obviously recover in time to ask for volunteers, I am very professional when it comes to the games. "Congratulations little one, I'm sure you'll make your District proud!" I wipe a small tear from my eyes, the fact that such a young thing is going to compete to honour and praise her district is too much for me.
This is why the games are so special, the moments like these, when you see that even the children want to join in and fight for their districts.
The crowd mumbles quietly, as if they thought that it was unfair that Rue wanted to compete. Really, it's an honour! This is why I find District 11 so… annoying.
"Now, after all that excitement, I believe we have to pick the boys!" The name I pull out is a strange one, so I hesitate a little before reading it out. "Thresh Solstice?" I see a tall, large boy with great hulking muscles step forwards. "Are there any volunteers? Although I hardly think that's necessary, look at this boy! He's so strong and tall, he'll win for sure!"
If I play things right, he could win, and I could be promoted to another district! To celebrate, I could buy myself a new hat! "Well, now that the reaping is over, you can all return to your homes, and celebrate your Districts tributes, they emphasise the very…" But I am very angry to see that the square is slowly emptying. Now really, I worked hard on my beautiful speech, and they don't even respect themselves enough to listen to it! Disgusting things… I turn to my tributes and usher them through the mouldy doors of the crumbling justice building.
"Come along dears, you'll have one hour to say goodbye to your families, and then you'll join me and your mentors, in the main foyer so that I can escort you to your car" The great big boy hunches forwards and doesn't say anything. "Don't slouch! It's very bad for your spine" The tribute rolls his eyes. "Attitude!" I say to him. "Now, go straight through those doors" I instruct, pointing to the large mahogany doors which both have peacekeepers guarding them. "Rue my dear, would you like me to come with you, so that you don't get nervous when saying goodbye?" I offer kindly. She politely shakes her head. "You see, Thrash, wasn't it? She knows her manners!" I huff away to find the tributes mentors.
The justice building is large but dilapidated, and I have to be careful not to get my shoes dusty, they're one of my more favorite shoes, light blue with little purple sequences sewn on, I ordered them especially from District 8. Now, District 8 would be a fun district to escort, the tributes are… decent as far as tributes go, with at least some sense of fashion, none of this "Dusty best-that-I-have clothing like in District 11. Still, 11 is better than District 12, filthy ugly place. Poor Effie, she's stuck with all the riff- raff.
The floor boards squeak as I trot down the hall, until I find the mentor's chamber. I am very disgruntled to find that only Chaff, Seeder and Hive have made it. "Where are the others?" I demand, wrinkling my nose at that funny Victor smell that the three have about them. Chaff stands up to talk, but as soon as he opens his mouth, he vomits all over my special shoes. "Oh! I cannot believe… How could you… Ordered them from District 8…" I have no words to describe the horrid Victor. "Chaff, I demand that you buy me new ones! No, as compensation, you will buy me two new shoes! And not just any District 11 shoe, special shoes from District 8. Do you hear me Chaff?" I am so furious at him that I storm out, and try to hold back my tears.
When I reach the foyer again, I call for Camilla, my personal assistant. "Camilla! Camilla! Get here at once!" My voice catches because of how upset I am, and I'm perfectly justified too, they were very expensive shoes.