The Hunger Games: Day 1
I wake up drenched in sweat on my mattress. I open my eyes so suddenly everything is blurry. My cat meows and jumps up on to my bed. I stroke his hair softly and whisper "you don't have to go to the reaping your names not in the bowl". My brother wakes up and rubs his eyes "Good morning" I say to him. He grunts and lies back down "would be better if my name wasn't in the bowl 37 times" he said. "Don't complain I have 58 names in the bowl" I replied. I pull back my covers and walk up to the kitchen. I Take out some grain from the cupboard and grind it up. I mix it with the water from the jar. I fiercely stir it until it's a nice thick sludge. I dump it into 3 bowls. I hand one to my brother who crawls out of bead at sits at the table. I put another bowl in front of myself and eat it. My dad's bowl will be ready when he comes back. I finish my food and scrape the leftover grain flakes into the trash bin. I wipe the bowl off with a wet rag and put it away. I wipe my face off with the rag. Suddenly my dad comes through the door. Same damaged look as always with the thick scar running down his chin. He has dirt all over his clothes. He places his hat on the counter and flops down on the couch. "Can't fall asleep all day today papa it's the reaping" my brother says. I shoot him a bad look from the counter. My dad has bad memories of the reaping. His brother was reaped and didn't come back. His girlfriend was reaped and never returned. My dad looked up at us with his sad damaged eyes and turned back to the couch. I handed my dad the bowl of grains and a spoon. I went to the other room and looked in our broken mirror. I went to my dresser. I pulled out a gray dress with a white band around the waist. It was a little dusty so I shook it out. I put it on and walked into the kitchen. My dad was eating his grains and my brother was licking his bowl clean. "Guys reaping's in 30 minutes you need to get ready Dylan and dad you have to come to "I said. My brother left his bowl on the counter and raced into the other room. I Put on my shoes and sat down at the table. My dad had finished his grains and the bowl was on the floor I took it and cleaned it out. In a few moments my brother was hopping on one foot trying to put his shoe on. He had a white button down shirt on with suspenders connecting half of his gray slacks to his shirt. He put on his shoe and connected the other side of the suspender. I shook my dad awake and handed him his hat "dad we have to walk to town square then you can come back and take a nap we won't bug you" I said. He grabbed the hat and mumbled something under his breath. I walked out the door followed by my brother and dad. We walked along with others to the town square. It was about 2 miles from our house not nearly as far as everything else in district 11 which was miles away. We passed the grain field where I would work next year I was 17 and yay me got to start working. When we arrived at the town square they were just about to start. I zoned out it was always the same thing they talked about the hunger games then showed a video. After the video was over my heart raced. The woman looked out at the crowd "ladies first". She stuck her pale hand into a large glass ball and pulled out one from the bottom "Laurel Oaken". I was shocked at first that was me I was laurel. No one volunteered. I slowly weaved through the crown and shakily took a step on the stage. I walked up the stairs heavily breathing. On the 2nd stair I tripped and skinned my knee. I rubbed it and moved on. I would have to get used to pain. Then they called the boy when things took a turn for the worst. "Chris Withers" the woman said. A boy with greasy black hair walked up when I heard my brother scream "I VOLLENTEER AS TRIBUTE". At first I'm relived I will be with my brother then I remember there can only be one victor. At least one of us will die. I scream out in frustration and try and tackle my brother. Two peacekeepers grab my arms holding me back as I kick and scream, hot tears running down my face. My brother stands there confused until he realizes we can't both live then a tear of anger runs sown his face and he attempts to attack the mentor. Two more peace keepers hold him back. I'm crying being held back where he is attempting to bite the people holding him back. The last thing I remember is a hot tear splashing to the ground before the knocked me unconscious.