It is almost two o'clock when the reaping begins. I take my place on the podium next to the mayor, Mayor Undersee. An empty chair on my left. Haymitch Abernathy, the only living victor of District 12. I shake my head to myself. That drunk man is barely ever sober. What a shame, this district. I hope I'll get promoted to a better one, like District 4 at least. I don't deserve this district, but I've only been an escort for 3 years, so they placed me at 12 first.
I fidget with my bright pink hair, wig I should say. Underneath is my plain old washed out-coloured hair that never stays the way I want it to. Plus, it's so not in the Capitol right now. I must be the only lively-looking person here in this whole district right now. Everyone here is so dull and plain. But to be honest, if the bright hair wasn't popular, I would've envied their hair—long, slightly tangled, but such pure colours. No. What am I thinking?
The mayor begins talking just as the town clock strikes two. He talks about the story of Panem, the Dark Days, and how we, I mean they, must pay: by the Hunger Games. It's always the same story every year, but I find myself intrigued. He reads the list of past victors from District 12. Unsurprisingly, there has only been two and one is still alive. Speaking of which, is now staggering onto the stage. Haymitch comes to me and gives me a big—and quite frightening—hug. Which during he messes up my wig, making it look slightly off-center.
The mayor looks distressed and embarrassed, because this reaping is being aired right now. He gets everyone back to the reaping by finally introducing me. I walk happily up to the podium and say brightly, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
After I'm done my little speech about my honor being here and such (completely untrue), I say, "Ladies first!" and walk over to the glass ball. I reach in and pull up a piece of paper.
The name on this tiny piece of paper is of the young girl who will be one of the tributes of District 12. The name of the girl that is most likely going to end up dead in about a week. This girl was chosen by me.
I walk back to the podium, unfold and smooth the piece of crumpled paper and announce her name to District 12.
This girl is Primrose Everdeen.