Maysilee woke to sunlight streaming in through her bedroom window. The empty bed next to hers told her that her twin sister, Mavis, was already up. She wondered why she had been allowed to sleep this late - usually she and Mavis collected clothes that needed mending before breakfast. Their parents ran the District 12 tailor, and since no one in the impoverished District 12 could afford to buy new clothes, the Donners were constantly repairing rags that looked like they might desintigrate any minute. Then she remembered. Today is the day of the reaping.
Right. The reaping. The day of the year when the Capitol randomly chose two children from each district to compete in the Hunger Games. As punishment for the Rebellion, the government of Panem created the Hunger Games, a televised competition where twenty four children battle to the death, to prove their superiority over the twelve Districts. Only this year, since its the Second Quarter Quell, the 5oth anniversary of the rebellion, the Capitol is sending twice as many Tributes into the Arena. Forty eight children. Four from each District.
The reaping always scared Maysilee. She never wanted anyone to be reaped. It was the kind of thing you would never wish on anyone, even your worst enemy. And of course, Maysilee was always worried that her friend, the healers daughter, would be reaped. And her worst fear of all was that either she or Mavis would be reaped. Maysilee didnt know what she would do if Mavis was reaped. They were so close. And to be honest, Maysilee didnt think Mavis would stand much chance in the Hunger Games. Not that she would either. The Donners lived in the wealthier part of town (wealthy for District 12, although they were by no means extremely well off), and didnt have much practice hunting or surviving in the wilderness. The farthest Maysilee had ever been outside her district was a few feet under the electric fence to pick strawberries from a small bush right outside the district. Technically, she wasnt supposed to be there, but the electricity on the fence was hardly ever on, and the peacekeepers didnt care, since she wasnt doing anything bad.
Maysilee washed her face and combed her long blonde hair. She had to look presentable for the reaping, in the off-chance she was called. She tried not to think about the possibility. She knew the odds were in her favor. Their family, like most of the families in Town, had never needed tesserae, so her name was only the minimum amount of times for a sixteen year old. She knew there were some kids, especially in the Seam, whose names were in the reaping 20-40 times because of all the tesserae they needed to feed their families. Still, Maysilee always worried for her family on the reaping day. Especially this year, since there was double the chance of being reaped.
Maysilee tried to push the thought out of her mind, and went downstairs for breakfast. As she had guessed, her family was already there. Mavis and their mother had set out a breakfast of bread, goat cheese, and the strawberries Maysilee had collected the day before. They ate. No one talked much.
At one, Maysilee and Mavis made their way to the town square, where the reaping would take place. The Capitol workers had set up a stage in the middle for the District 12 escort, Rada Powell, to call the names from. Maysilee and Mavis joined the other sixteen year old girls and waited, hand in hand, for the reaping to begin.
Welcome, welcome, Rada began, her voice echoing through District 12s main square. It is time to decide the tributes for the 50th Annual Hunger Games - the Second Quarter Quell! she announced, almost giddily. As you know, in celebration of the Second Quarter Quell, we are having twice the amount of tributes! Rada continued. So, I will be drawing four names this year - two girls and two boys. May the odds be ever in your favor!
This was it. The moment she had been dreading all day, all week, and deep down, since the last reaping. She squeezed Maviss hand even more tightly, childishly hoping that maybe if she held on tight enough, neither of them would be reaped. Her other hand found the hand of her best friend, the healers daughter. Together, the three of them waited, holding their breath, too scared to do anything else.
The first tribute will be...Laurel Taylor! Rada called.
A scared, thirteen year old girl walked tentatively up to the stage. Maysilee recognized her from school. Shed seen her in the hallways before. Laurel was from the Seam. Maysilee knew she had two younger brothers, and had taken out tesserae in order to feed them. Laurel looked terrified, and Maysilee couldnt blame her. Being a District 12 tribute was essentially a death sentence, even for an eighteen year old tribute. Unfortunately, a small, underfed, thirteen year old girl barely had a chance. No one volunteered for her. Who would? There are no older siblings, and besides, no one ever volunteers to be a tribute in District 12.
Our next tribute is... Rada groped around in the bowl of names. Maysilee grabbed Maviss hand harder. Only one more tribute and then were safe, she thought. ...is Maysilee Donner!
What? No. This couldnt be happening. This must be wrong. The odds were supposed to have been in her favor. Maysilee pried her fingers free from Maviss iron grip and walked to the stage in silence. She was stunned. How did this happen? She was glad that she had taken the time to carefully arrange her hair this morning, because later this evening the entire country of Panem would be watching her pilgrimage to the stage, scouting her out. She had to appear calm, confident even, if she wanted any sponsors. Maysilee climbed up onto the stage and stood, face emotionless, looking out at the sky behind the crowd. She knew she had to avoid eye contact, especially with Mavis, to keep from breaking down crying.
Rada was ready to move on to the next tribute. Our first male tribute will be...Jacy Dunn! A tall, muscular boy from the Seam joined them on the stage. Maysilee knew Jacy. He was a year below her, although he was as tall as some of the eighteen year olds. He competed in the wrestling tournaments at school, and usually did pretty well. But although he was strong physically, he wasnt all that resourceful. Jacy looked stoic as he stood to face the audience. Hell probably get a bunch of sponsors, she thought, before turning her attention to Rada as she called the last tribute.
And our fourth and final tribute for the 50th Annual Hunger Games will be...Haymitch Abernathy!
Haymitch Abernathy. Maysilee actually knew Haymitch well. He was in the grade ahead of her, but their fathers knew each other before Haymitchs father died in a mining accident, and the Donners had sort of looked out for the Abernathys ever since. Nothing major, but a loaf of bread here, some extra goat cheese there. Haymitch was cynical and crass, but it worked for him. He wasnt bad looking, either, with his dark Seam hair and eyes, and his strong build. In fact, Maysilee had to admit that she had always been a little attracted to Haymitch. Not that that mattered now, she sighed. Out of all people, why did it have to be Haymitch. The odds really werent in her favor today.
Here are your District 12 tributes! Rada announced excitedly, gesturing at the tributes for added effect. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.