What a lovely day I think to myself reveling in every bit of sarcasm my mind has to offer, which is quite a lot. The Quarter Quell is this year and I have to suffer through the agonizing reaping today. I don't know if I'll be chosen but to say the least the odds are not in my favor. I live in the Seam and have had to take the teserea since I was twelve. I'm seventeen now and since I've been taking teserea for both my mother and myself the counts up to thirty-three slips going into the ball that holds the names of the kids to be chosen. I'd consider myself lucky that I'm not like other kids in the Seam with fifty slips but this year in honor of the Quarter Quell twice as many children are going to the games.

I go through my regular morning routine of making breakfast for myself and cleaning up for the day. The food isn't much though and my father doesn't really care that much about what I do. As long as I don't die or disgrace him I'm good to go in his eyes.

I walk out into the morning sun and feel the heat of the sun's rays bore down on my face. A cool summer's breeze dances across the coal dusted seam. It would be a good day to wander around and find some reason to be happy but the reaping is at hand.

I head over to the square and walk to the other seventeens to wait for the show to start. The cameras beat down on us waiting to prey on the four kids that will be going into the arena.

As I wait I think of what kind of country Panem really is. It sends children to die each year. It lets many die of starvation, especially in yours truly's district, district twelve.

Finally, a small overly happy woman bounces up to the microphone. The ever so lovely Hania Jay, the escort for district twelve. Her peppy attitude annoys me as does everything about her from her voice to her puffy red hair and overly high high heels.

She and the mayor do their speeches about the history of Panem and introducing this year's games. I tune them out ignoring the people making this dreadful day seem like a holiday.

I tune back in just in time to hear Hania Jay say, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor."

Ah the classic introduction to the games used every year by Hania to make our day seem bright and cheery even though it is most likely no child from district twelve will win. We have only had one victor so far. His name is Archard Barke. He won with his wits. He's not very amazing in any way from what I see. He has black hair and olive skin, not very handsome. He's not amazingly strong though. He must be smart then. After all he won the games.

I watch Hania lean in to pick the first girl's name. She calls out, "Maysilee Donner."

I turn and see a sixteen year old girl, clearly from the Seam, judging from her olive toned skin and grey eyes. She is hugging two girls. Clinging to them actually. They merchant girls too, you can tell from their blonde hair and blue eyes. I feel bad for a second and then remember that I have myself to worry about.

She pulls herself away from her friends and walks to the stage putting on a brave face. Hania introduces her and asks if anyone is willing to take her place. It's no surprise when no one answers so she moves on for the second girl tribute.

Hania calls out the next name. The girl's name is Violet Hemlock, a merchant girl who walks up with a straight face and stands looking out into the distance. No one volunteers to take her place either.

As the ever so irritatingly happy escort pulls out the first male tribute's name I feel a burst of anxiety. It could by my name. She steps up and gives me the worst possible news by announcing my name, Haymitch Abernathy.

I walk up wearing a bored expression. No need to let them see how I really feel. I tune out the rest of the ceremony even missing the other male tribute's name. It doesn't matter anyway he'll die soon anyway as will the rest of us.

I shake hands with my fellow tributes. Then we are ushered into the justice building to say our final goodbyes.

I sit down on the plush velvet couch and wait for my first visitor. To no surprise it's my father. I see him walk in with a straight face and sit down across from me. I look him in the eyes and watch the man who raised me without a wife for help. We look alike. The same grey eyes and olive skin. Not very handsome but not ugly either. We have a kind of tuff gruffy look, but that works well with our attitudes.

He looks back into my eyes and says, "Boy, I knew it was gonna be you this year. I had a gut feeling. Now I know I'm not the best dad but at least I didn't just leave you to starve. Use that big head of yours and get back home, alright? I'm gonna be mighty mad if you don't come home."

As I listen to my father's words I'm comforted by them. It's nice to know he cares. His words also give me hope. I still have a chance. I'm not completely out of these games and I've got the smarts to have a good chance.

As the time runs down I say my goodbyes to my father. He gives me a quick, strong hug that I return instantly.

Soon after I'm being shuffled out the door and into the train destined to take me to the Capitol. The train takes off and I sit down with the entire party at the table and Archard Barke gives us the most genius advice I think I've ever heard in my entire life. "I've got two words for you guys. Stay alive."

We walk into the viewing room to watch the reaping. I see every person who steps us and their images are etched into my mind. I look for strengths and flaws because I know that if I'm going to win I have to be smarter than the rest. Districts one, two, and four have classic careers with strong muscles and eyes screaming for glory. They see nothing but victory and each of them believes with everything they've got that they'll win. None of them seem genius so if I can stay clear of their hunt I can just out smart them and deal with whoever makes it close to the end. Three has two wiry kids. The boy fidgets like he's scared of someone trying to kill him before the games even start. He makes me smirk. Kids like that won't last long, it's just a fact. The others seem normal though nothing to be afraid of. I'll just have to watch out for the traps they can set with technology. The only one in five that seems like a worthy adversary is a boy with long red hair. His body is always tense but in control. He seems like a fighter and smart enough to last. From there on the kids look average and will most likely die within the first two days until we get to district ten. There's a boy and a girl who are clearly twins. They look exactly the same with deep brown hair and peachy skin. They look well fed and strong, most likely from working with the livestock all their lives. There's something more though. It's like a spark. It's almost like they know everything that's going to happen and know they will not win but are going to try anyway. Their expressions are difficult to decipher but I'm pulled away from my thoughts to watch to watch district twelve's turn. I watch expressionless and decide not to analyze my competitors from my own district yet. I'll get to hear about what they can do later anyway.

The show ends, Archard dismisses us and Hania shows us to our rooms. They're fantastic and very fancy. It's like nothing I've ever seen. It's even more expensive looking than the justice building.

She tells me to be ready bright and early for a big day. I turn away and roll my eyes. Will that woman ever see sense I think to myself. I quickly push that from my mind and look around my new room. Hania told us that we could use anything we want. I spot the bathroom and decide to take a shower.

The warm water feels good on my skin as I step in. It's a new experience to have warm running water. Living in the seam we barely ever have electricity let alone a heating system. It makes me grind my teeth to think that the Capitol has everything and back in the districts we have nothing. It's no use thinking of these things but sometime I just can't help myself.

I step out of the warmth of the shower and dry my body with a towel. I look in the drawer and pull out undergarments and head to bed.

I lay down in the plush bed with a soft comforter and think through today. I think about how it's no use to be scared but I am I just can't show it. When my father hugged me I felt like I might miss the Seam. Even though it's covered in coal dust it's been my home for all my life. I slowly drift to sleep wondering what strategy to use.

I'm roused by Hania trilling about it being a "big big big day." Her joyful persona never ceases to annoy me.

I dress and go to the dining room to eat. The Capitol food is amazing and I don't even notice the other people at the table until I'm finished stuffing myself with all the delicacies that fill the plate in front of me. Sausage, eggs, bacon, stew, and fruits that I have never been able to eat being from the Seam.

When I'm finished I look up at my mentor and he begins to speak to us. I look around and it looks like my fellow tributes are just as in love with the food as I am stuffing themselves just as I did.

"We're arriving at the Capitol and you're going to meet your stylists. I don't want to hear any stories about how much it hurts I already know. It has to be done so there's no point in protesting. Now I need to get to know each of you so tell me what are your skills?" he says to us kindly and patiently.

I decide almost immediately that I hate his attitude. We're going to the games not a fancy party. The merchant girl speaks first tearing me from my thoughts.

"I'm skilled with knifes. I've been working with them all my life so I think I'll be fine because they're common in the arena," she says with a matter of fact tone. I remember that she's the butcher's daughter and slyly hope she doesn't decide to hack me up like the pig she probably gets to eat.

Maysilee speaks next. "I think it's unfair that our district doesn't even have a weapon to use until we're 18. It's not fair to us that the other districts get to use their skills from their trades when we have nothing to bring to the table unless you're lucky enough to be a butcher's daughter. So to be honest I don't have a talent I guess I'll figure it out as I go along."

I look into her blazing eyes and feel that she's very opinionated and strong mentally. I admire her nerve to say these things and clearly insult the butcher girl, Violet. Who is clearly giving her a dirty look which she simply raises her eyebrows as if to say what are you going to do about it? I almost start laughing until I remind myself that there is only one victor and I can't afford to like this girl one bit.

I decide to speak next, "I've got nothin'." I say frankly

The other boy whose name I never caught says, "I'm strong. I can lift over 100 pounds." I look at him finally seeing him now and decide that it doesn't matter how much he can lift. He has no chance. His kind eyes will get him nowhere.

The train goes into the mountains and when the light returns we see the Capitol. Violet and the boy go to the window to stare. I myself and impressed by the city but to be honest it's beautiful but not too interesting. The freaks who wander the streets with pierced eyebrows, pink skin, and full body tattoos don't interest me. They're just simple minded savages. I hope they enjoy the deaths in the arena because it will only make every district only hate them more.

Maysilee turns and smiles at me ruefully. "I wonder if we'll look as scary as they do when we're done being styled."

I smirk at this. She's truly likeable but not anyone but herself. If I was not going to have to kill her or watch her die I might have talked to her back home.

The train stops and we are shuffled into the building to meet our prep teams and stylists.