I wake up, screaming. It happened again. I had dreamt that my name had been called. That I would be taken to the capitol to train, and to fight for my life in the 74th anual hunger games. Katniss comes in and wraps her arms around me.
"Shh. it's only a dream. Go back to sleep." She kisses my head, and I lay back down. I watch her walk out the door. She's so brave. I wish I were more like her.
I try not to conentrate on the horors of my nightmare. It was only a dream, but it felt so real. I close my eyes and drift back to sleep. The air around me is cold and, and musty as I wake up. It must be at least six in the morning. Katniss isn't here. She probably left to go hunt with Gale. He's older than her by two years, but I believe that he fancies her. To the right of me, mama still sleeps. She does that alot, when there isn't anyone needing healing. She changed after papa died. She simply stopped caring. I crawl out from under my thin blanket, careful not to wake her. I rinse my face with water in the wash room. I begin my morning chores. First my hardest task, locating my cat, Buttercup. I find him snoozing in the fireplace, covered in ashes from last night's fire.
" Buttercup, you filthy cat!" grab him with both hands just under his forearms. I hold him an arms length away from me, not wanting to dirty myself. I carry him outsid, and drop him in front of the door. I pick up a pail that had been left outside last night during the rain, I pour it atop his mangy head. He hisses and takes off tworad the woods. He'll find something to eat out there so I shouldn't have to worry about feeding him this morning. I move on to locating my goat. Katniss bought her for me on my birthday. I make cheese from the goat and sell it to the the more noble folk in town. That reminds me to check for the cheese that I made for Katniss today. I see that she has taken it. I hope she and Gale enjoy it I made it speacial for today.
This is the day of the reaping; The capitol will pick a name of a boy and girl from each district. Mom plans to spend a long time getting me ready for the reaping. This is my first year. My name has only been entered once. Katniss promissed that I would not be chosen. But what if I am? I wouldn't stand a chance, and no one would want to sponsor such weak little girl from an outlying district. My only chance would be if some kind hearted tribute took pitty on me. My chances are so slim that they seem nonexistant. But like Katniss said, my name has only been entered once.
I move on to sweeping the house. I finnish quickly, so I take the time to scrub myself down before mama wakes up to do my hair fancy. The water is cold, and pricks my skin. If I wasn't awake before, I deffinately am now. I hear the floor boards creak. Mama walks in. I pat my self dry, and go meet her in the kithcen to accompany her for breakfast. I already ate, but I sit with her anyways as she eats her share of my cheese. We don't speak for a long time.
"Mama, I'm scared," Tears fill my eyes. They soon occupy her eye's as well.
"Oh, Prim! Don't cry! you make me cry when you cry! And Thats the last thing I need today! They won't pick you! Your name isn't in there nearly as many times as the other girls! You won't be picked!" Tears stream down my cheaks. I burry my face in her arms. we cry togeather. For once, I feel like she cares.
The time has come. I have spent all day tugging on my hair, and scrubbing my filthy hands. My dress clothes aren't much, just an oversized dress shirt tucked into a worn blue skirt. Katniss comes home just an hour before the reaping. Seeing her walk through the door, so proud, and brave makes me cry some more. She tackles me in a big bear hug. She tucks in the tail of my shirt. "you look like a duck! Quack! Quack!" I smile through my tears and hug her back. She reminds me one more time that my chances of getting picked are extremely slim. I nod, and she gets up to go get ready.
Katniss is so very lucky to be allowed to where mama's fancy dress and jewels. Mama used to live in the more noble part of district 12, her family owned a shop, so they could afford things like nice clothes, and pretty jewelry. She left a life of luxary, just to marry my papa.
Before the names are called, we watch a brief history of panem, and why the Hunger games are hosted. A battle took place nearly a hundred years ago, and the people of panem lost. the hunger games are the capitols way of reminding us how we brought this on ourselves. It feels like torture, having to wait even longer before finding out which of us will be chosen to die in an arena. I cry some more, worrying. Effie Trinket walks on stage, Gold high heeled boots clicking. Her hair was pulled up and coverd by a powder pink wig- one of the capitols many strange trends.
"Happy Hungergames! We will now pick the female tribute for district 12. May the odds be ever in your favor!"
She reaches her manicured hand into the large glass bowel full of names. My heart pounds out of my chest. My stomach flips, I am filled with a feeling of nausea. She draws her hand out of the bowl, along with the name. She smiles widely. Her delicate fingers unfold the paper. I freeze.
"Primrose Everdeen!"