As an old story ends, a new story begins. District 12 has really changed from what my father has told me. As I stare out the
window from the kitchen, I see beautiful views of landscaping, meadows, and houses. Of course we are still known as
the mining district, but there are no mines in sight, or even miles from where I live. My family and I sit around the kitchen
table while my parents share their "hopes" on what they thought it would be like without the hunger games. My mother
has always told me not to take anything for granted, because it will one day be taken away and the tables will turn on
us. Of course I know they will never occur again, these horrific events my mother and father talk about. But they tell
these talesso often I eventually tune them out. While they talk, all I can really think about is my birthday. Two weeks
away. I'm turning 16, and even though there are no more hunger games, my parents still get frightened at the thought of
that age being considered to be in the hunger games. I like to think of my parents as role models though. Not just
because they're my parents, but because of all the obstacles they have overcome and managed to end up alive. Even
though I have everything I have ever wanted, I would have loved to be in this world my parents speak of. It seems so
dangerous, yet adventurous. People actually fighting. For a reason. People giving up their lives for the people they love
and their motives. A reason to live. I know I'm way too young to be even thinking about this subject, but I feel like
everything is too good to be true. At times my life is as boring as the game in the woods. Maybe I'll catch two, three
rabbits a week. My mom taught me how to hunt as soon as I turned 9. Of course no one can live up to the famous rebel
'Katniss Everdeen Mellark' in hunting, as my father says. But they'll all see, because Vanessa Mellark will be a hero soon
enough. I will be a mockingjay.