Lately I have been very thankful for all the senses I have had throughout my life. How thankful am I that sight, hearing, smells, touch, and even taste has been given to me at no cost? Picking apples, to me, is better than any other job in District Eleven because we all work as a team (The taller the branches, the taller the person working on that section is) and it doesn't take as much effort as planting or harvesting crops. I'm not saying it's a piece of cake, but we take what we can get around here. We also get to experience the beautiful and crisp look and feel of apples, which you can not receive from stuffing your hand in dirt. The smooth, oblong feel of an apple really makes me feel a little warmer towards my core. The only bad thing about the orchards are the fact I can't take any apples home to my family: My sick mother, three sisters, and brother. The thought of almost being able to help my family but can't just petrifies me.
In two days, it will be my first reaping. I am nervous. If I get chosen, it is almost inevitable i'll die. I'd look like a wounded deer in a hunters arena in there. At least I will get to help my family with tessarae. Deep breathes are what I need.
...
I don't have older siblings to show me how things work. Is that a finger prick? Does it hurt? Where am I supposed to sit? Where will the Peacekeepers be? I see a woman from the Capitol up front and I dread what will happen next. She shows us a short video that feels like it's an eternity long. I can feel the tension pervading throughout the area. I feel dizzy.
"Now, ladies first." She reaches into the bowl. I can see one smiling face in this crowd; It's from her. I look at the sea of gray and inhale deeply as she opens the slip. There is no way that could be me. My pieces of paper are outcasts in that ocean.
"Rue Stenberg." My heart fell off a building. It dragged my body down with it. About a dozen people turned around and looked at me as I stared at the back of the person in front of me in shock. I focused on the wrinkles of his t-shirt. I focused on his slick back hair that was obviously combed nicely for this "wondrous occasion." I looked at his socks, shoes, neck, pants, and hands. I looked at everything I could because how could I know then if that was the last person I would have time to look at in such detail.