******THe Hunger Games In Prim's Point of View******
I looked around self-conciously as I awake from another one of my reacurring nightmares.
Father was there, which was strange, because he died, but he was with Mother and Katniss. They were all smiling, but something was wrong, their smiles were forced.
And then I saw it, behind them on the TV, was an image of me. Being brutally killed by a girl with a knife. I had awoken as soon as the hovercraft had appeared. I didn't need signs, or words to figure out what that place was.
It was the Hunger Games. And I was a tribute.
I shuddered, and slipped out of the bed I shared with my sister, and into my mother's.
I tried to sleep again, but it was no use, everytime I closed my eyes, I saw those horrid images. Finally I just stroked Buttercup's fur, and stared into space.
A few hours -or was it minutes?- later, Katniss got up. I watched as she got ready for her hunting trip. Last night, I had put some goat cheese on the table, and hopefully she would find that, and share it with Gale.
Gale is her friend. I have this dream that they'll get married some day, and then I'll marry Rory. I secretly like him.
He's not like the other boys in my grade. He's...different. Softer, maybe.
I hope we'll get married, and have kids, who'll never get reaped, and then I'll open an apothecary shop, and we'll live happily ever after. That's what happened to my Mother's parents.
Speaking of Mother, she is stirring, I should wake her.
"Mother, It's time to wake up. Mother, today is the reaping. We must get ready." I say softly. I wouldn't want to disturb her.
"Hmmm, of course Prim. Has Katniss left yet?" She answers her own question by looking over at her bed. Seeing it empty, she rolls out of bed, her worn-down hands reaching out to embrace me.
I go into them without hesitation. I am always delighted when she wants to hug me. It makes me feel worth something.
I think Katniss is worth more than I, after all, she can provide food, is older, and is the prettiest person I've ever seen. She doesn't think she's pretty. If only she could see that she is pretty.
I shrug my shoulders, and walk into the bathroom where Father's shaving mirror sits, mocking me with it's layer of coal that settles over everything in the district. I pick up the rag, which is from my old clothes I replace every two months, and wipe away the hurtful black dust.
"Prim, what do we have that is avaliable for breakfast?" I blink, and walk over to the cupboard, and look inside. There's some tessarae-made bread, and a few greens.
I tell Mother what I found, and she cuts us both a big piece, and divides the greens into two, since we both know that she probably got something to eat with Gale.
Once we've finished eating, Mother gets out Katniss' very first reaping outfit, and holds it up to me saying, "It might be a bit big, but it'll do once I put some pins on it," and goes to work combing my hair and washing all the grime off my body.
Once finished, I try on the blouse, and skirt. Katniss looked so pretty in this dress. I hope I'll look at least half as pretty.
I feel my lower lip tremble, and tears threaten to fall as soon as I remember my dream from last night. I take a deep breath, and will myself to be strong for Katniss, and Mother.
I hear our front door slam and I feel my face flush in delight. Katniss was back!
I look at Mother, who just finished filling a tub with warm water. Then she lays out one of her old outfits from her apothecary days. It's blue, and it has the prettiest shoes to match.
When Katniss comes into view, she looks surprised, "are you sure?" She ask Mother. There's more than surprising in her face, something else too. Maybe...happiness. Mother is very wary of her clothes from her past. This itself was rather surprising, but it makes sense, she would look so pretty in that dress.
Mother walks over to her, and says, "Of course. Let's put your hair up too. Mother dries it and then braids it in a complicated pattern. Usually Katniss looks pretty, but this, she looks stunning. Mother walks into our small kitchen and starts cooking.
"You look beautiful," I say in a hushed voice.
"And nothing like myself," She responds, and then hugs me. She pulls back and gives me a once-over.
"Tuck your tail in little duck, " she says as she smooths down my blouse.
I giggle, I really like ducks, more like animals in general. All living beings really. I could never hate anyone. That's just mean. "Quack."
"Quack yourself," Katniss says, along with a light laugh, which is very rare for her. "Come on, let's eat." Then she kisses me on the top of my head. My face glows in pleasure. A hug, a laugh and a kiss. Katniss must be in a good mood today.
All the yummy food Katniss brought home with her is going to be saved for dinner, so we eat the rest of rough tessarae bread, and the fresh milk from Lady, my goat.
At one o'clock, my dream is about to become reality as we arrive at the square, even thought the square is big and our population is small, not everyone fits into it.
I could feel butterflies in my stomach, but I tried to remain calm, and I walked over to where the other twelve-year olds are. I say hi to Rory, and we start talking about school.
We look to the stage, and see that our mentor is missing, Haymitch Abernathy, but Mayor Undersee, and our escort, Effie Trinket are present, and whispering to each other worriedly.
Mayor Undersee starts talking, and the crowd quiets down, but I'm not listening, I'm staring at Katniss, trying not to cry. What if my sister gets picked as a tribute? She has even more slips in the reaping ball than me.
Haymitch finally arrives, and makes a fool out of himself. He is always drunk. I'll never touch alcohol. It's awful for your health.
All the sudden, Effie Trinket's ever bubbly voice catches my attention, "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
As she walks towards the glass ball filled with girls' names, the butterflies multiply. She says, "Ladies first!"
Everyone's silent. I whisper very quietly, "Please don't be Katniss, please don't be Katniss." Repeating it, and then the name's called. And it's not Katniss.
It's Primrose Everdeen.