"Rosanna! Will you please get over here right now." I roll my eyes, I hate when my mother calls me by my real name. I prefer just Anna. That's what everyone calls me, except my mother. I get up from my vanity chair and walk in front of my full length mirror. I'm wearing a pretty white dress with a pink ribbon that raps around my waist and is tired in the back. I quickly grab a headband and push my long blond hair back. I don't feel the need to put on makeup. I don't feel like I need it. This is my mothers dress. One she had worn going to one of the reaping several years ago. She had to make it smaller. She had worn this on the last reaping she would ever be able to be chosen for. Unfortunately it's not mine. Im only 16. But there chances of my name getting picked are ridiculous. I will never get picked. So im not too worried about it.
I give myself a full glance over before I walk into my mothers room. She gasps. "Oh, honey. You look gorgeous!" She squeals. "You look just like I did when I was at my last reaping." I smile. Not just because she said I looked gorgeous but because I love the reaping. I don't need to worry about my name pulled. Plus, I don't need to sign up for tessare. Nor will I ever need to. I agree that the capitol needed to punish the districts for their rebellion. For 36 years now the capitol has been randomly picking one boy and one girl from each district of the 12 districts to fight till the death. I live in district 2 and nearly everyone in my district loves the capitol. Except of course the families who have had their children ripped from their arms, but we actually have had several victors already
I have never lost anyone I knew to the games. Everyone that's been a tribute is someone I don't know. But I know before I die I will know someone who goes into the games. Which I am not looking forward to at all, but those chances are quite low.
I'm snapped back to reality when my mother gives me a slight push. "Come on, we must not be late." She says and hurries me out of her room.
I sign and join my older brother, my mother, and my father in the living room. "Ah, another year of the Games." My father says. He particularly likes the games. He grew up in the capitol. And somehow stumbled upon my mother and moved to district 2. Why they would ever do that is beyond me. My father says its for the thrill. It keeps things interesting. But I would rather be in the company of all the capitol people.
My older brother, Renly, survived the reaping. He's 19 now and isn't able to have his name in the reaping ball. Unlike me. I have this year and two more until I'm safe. "I'm terribly excitied for the Games this year." My father says.
"Oh, me to." Gushes my mother, and we are off to the square where the reaping is held. In our district it's an honor to be picked for the games. Ever since we are little we are trained for this day. Yes, its illegal. But the Capitol doesn't seem to mind. Everyone has their own speciality. Renly was always a big fan of throwing knives. My best friend, Leonard is brilliant with swords, and me, well I don't really have a specialty as far as weapons go. I'm pretty good with axes. And I can throw knives pretty well. Mainly due to my brother teacher me since I was very little. I also know my fair share of plants and a lot about medicines. My aunt owns a medicine shop, so she gives me tips. She married but never had children, for fear of them getting picked for the games. I respect her for this.
Weve just about reached the square when its time for me to separate from the rest of my family. I follow the line of other girls my age and I find myself in quite a large pool of people. I look around. I see Leonard. He gives me a smile and I try to smile back. Leonard is my age. He's been a family friend of mine for years now. His sandy blonde hair always falling in his gorgeous green eyes. He's tall and lean. I suppose all the training really made him as fit as he is. Leonard loves practicing, although he doesn't need to. I don't enjoy practicing like he does. Id rather be out shopping or helping my mom cook food or pick out pretty flowers for our garden.
The stage looks grand. There are nine chairs behind a podium. One for the tributes, one for the escort, one for us mayor and the other seven for our past winning tributes. I see Mayor Pavicich in the corner of the stage. Behind him is Auriemma Redwood, the tributes escort. The mayor shuffles onto the stage with Auriemma right behind him. Auriemma taps the microphone several times and clears her throat.
"Lets have a big round of applause for our winning tributes!" She says and the crowd goes insane. Clapping, whistling, and yelling for the tributes. they all come out smiling and waving. Oh how lovely. When the crowd finally settles down and all the victors have been seated the mayor proceeds to tell the story of district 2 and how the hunger games came to be found. This takes a very long time. I sigh and shift the weight of my legs. The Mayor must have noticed us getting bored so he speeds it up.
Now Auriemma is at the microphone. She signals for two men to roll out the reaping bowls. Which are giant and filled with pieces of paper. The men place the bowls, one of each side next to her. She smiles and speaks. "Happy 37th Hunger Games!" She jeers. "And let the odds be ever in your favor." She walks over to one of the bowl and fishes out a piece of paper. "Ah, ladies first." She says with a wink. And what I am not prepared for is this as Auriemma yells out; "Rosanna Cravero!"