I had no idea what district 5 did so just gave them graphite mining.
PRELUDE
As an only child, orphaned when I was four, life in District 5 has been hard. I have lived in the Home for the past nine years of my life. I have always taken things; it is second nature to me. I have never been caught, but I have seen the consequences for those who are. At the Home they beat the children over a stale bread crust, or lock them in the cellar over an extra spoonful of stew. Outside, the penalty for stealing is death.
I am sitting in the cellar of the Home, starting on the first of the three rolls I managed to steal from the evening meal. The cellar is the only place i can go to get away from the rest of the kids at the Home. We are allowed one roll and a small serving of stew at each meal, but I have always had more, taken it. Even tonight my spoils are rather small, usually I manage to take more.
I hear footsteps, the sound of the cellar door opening. I sink deeper into my dark corner. The door shuts and I hear the lock click.
"Well, now look what you've done," I say irritably, "You've gotten me stuck down here."
The kid jumps at the sound of my voice. He is a boy I've never seen before, only a year or two older than I am, maybe fifteen.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he says, rather nervously.
"Its fine," I say, "nothing that hasn't happened before. I'm Brenna."
"James." He holds out his hand and I shake it.
"So, why'd they throw you down here?" I ask him.
"Asked if I could have a bit to eat."
"Oh," I say. I can see his ribs through his thin t-shirt. "How long has it been since you've eaten?"
"Couple of days."
"Here," I offer him my remaining two rolls. "This is all I have right now."
"Thanks. So why did they throw you down here?" He asks, taking a bite of the roll.
"Oh, they didn't throw me down here. I doubt they could catch me if they wanted to. I just come down here to think some times. It's too hard up there with all of the little kids." I gesture to the ceiling.
"How'd you get the bread?"
"Promise not to tell?"
He nods.
"I took it." I surprise myself when I actually tell him. I've never told anyone my secret before, and now I just go blurting it out to some guy I don't know in the cellar of the Home?
"You didn't. If they caught you-" He starts, but I interrupt him.
"Well they didn't catch me, did they? So no harm done, right?" He's just so easy to talk to.
"Could you teach me?" He asks.
"Teach you what?"
"How not to get caught." He says. The look in his eyes is determined. Perhaps that is what makes me say yes. Perhaps not. But in any case, against my better judgment, I agree.
Review, tell me what you think, even if it is just a "Hey, I read you story, love it." Or "Hey, I read your story, it sucks an you should give up right now." Be honest, I love advice too, so if you have any, I appreciate it.