Once I get dressed, I tied curly my blonde hair with a green ribbon, same hair like my brother and mother have. My younger brother Kipper is ready. He tells us that don't have to try too hard to look good because we are soon coming back home.
Today is the Reaping day; the fear is bigger than ever, even worse when my father was executed after the rebellion last year because for each Capitol citizen killed two people were died. He was publicly executed with a hundred men and women, and we all were forced to watch, and even my little brother.
After that, they decided to make it even worse, like we are not punished enough. Rebels are games where each district selects one boy and girl between age twelve and eighteen throws them into the Arena, where they fight to the death, the last one standing is the winner. President Crudelius threatened if we re-rebel he will increase the number of children and reduce the age limit to participate in the games.
Today I'm in danger. And my brother and mother are very concerned. Kipper is only ten; we are still not worried for him. I am fourteen. I can be chosen. Also instead of three my name is added fifteen times. I had to take tessera for myself and my family.
"You look nice." Kipper said. He had already got dressed in a white shirt and black pants, but his hair was still ragged. He is not really concern. "But there is no reason for looking good, we are coming home soon." He does not believe that I can be chosen, but there is a tessera and four years for of danger.
"I know, but this must celebrate such ceremony." I said.
"This is a sickness, not a ceremony."
"I know, I know."
"Come on, kids." Our mother called us.
The time has come to join the other children. "Good luck my daughter" mother hugged me. I noticed that she was trying not to cry.
"See you in a few minutes, Mother." I said.
Kipper jumped into my arms. Although he was ten years old, has not weighed more than fifty pounds. Despite my fragile built, I could pick it up.
"See you later." I said and waved to them.
Soon I saw among the other children my friend Ann. Like all of us she has blonde hair and green eyes. I am worried for her most. Her mother was executed same day as my father and still has three little sisters and her alcoholic father. My mother works as a seamstress at least, and she trying to feed us. Ann also took tessera what makes her name be added twenty four times. Ann and I know each other from age of five, but last year we started to spend every day at school, at the mine when we are digging gold, and in the early morning and late evening when we leap over the fence which is then not live, and there is no a peacekeepers, and forest collect fruit and catch fish. We stood in the line where all fourteen year olds were.
"I hope that there won't be anyone close to us." Ann said.
"Whoever they select at least one will be not seen ever again."I said.
We held each other's hands. Most likely will be chosen someone from age seventeen or eighteen.
Mayor entered the first. he read a contract of betrayal about boring end of the world and how Panem rose from the ashes, and there appears Aura, host from the Capitol, with a blue hair and purple eyes. "Welcome!" she says. "Happy Hunger Games and May the odds be ever in your favor."
That sentence almost made me puke. Happy Hunger Games. Happy death for twenty-three children in the Arena. "Capitol trash." Murmured Ann and everyone close to us laughed.
"And now is the turn" begins Aura. "To choose one girl and boys to participate in the first year's Hunger Games." Then put your hand in a bowl with a note for the girls. "Ladies first." She said and pulled out a strip, and then unwrapped. Ann and I squeezed each other hand even harder. I was afraid for Ann, but at least I did not think she will be drawn out. Aura read the name "Pulchra Diamond." My name.