This is my story, the story of a girl who was underestimated by all those around her, who was accused of being shallow, materialistic, and ignorant, but who observed everyone and everything. This is the story of my love and passion which I burned and fought for against all odds. This is MY story.
The monotonous gravelly voice of the Head Peacekeeper sitting opposite me and the sharp nudge which I received on my back from Nora, my housemaid quickly brought me back to my senses. ''The guy with the funny hair just asked you a question!'' she fiercely whispered into my ear. I looked up just in time to see my father giving me an angry exasperated look. It was as if he were telling me,'' Really Madge at least manage to keep your eyes and ears open during important social gatherings!'' It was the week before the reaping and the Capitol had sent extra troops to every district in order to ensure 'decorum' which basically meant bludger anyone who didn't listen to them to death. It was customary that on their first night in the district they must be welcomed properly by the mayor, which was basically where my dad came into the picture. My dad considered these meetings important and treated them as a chance to make friends and 'mingle with the crowds' as they call it. I on the the other hand considered it a complete and utter waste of 2 completely good hours of my precious time which was wasted playing babysitter to these baboons. "Soooo what are your hobbies huh Madge?" asked the Head Peacekeeper again, thinking I had not heard him the first time. "Nothing much really but I do prefer spending time in the company of people who deserve it, unlike you lot." my heart burned to say but instead I demurely supplied, "Oh! I sure do love playing the piano." Out of the corner of my eye I saw my father and the help all heave a collective sigh of relief at my prim and proper reply. Perhaps they had been certain this was the point at which I was going to mess it all up. However I had decided to keep up the pretence. I was once more distracted by the empty space at the other end of the table at which we were dining. My mother was once again down with another one of her headaches and had been put down to sleep with some morphine. Initially I had always been sad that I had not had a mother figure while growing up. However I had then met Peeta's mother after which I had gotten over that notion in a hurry. Now that I thought about it I was kind of maliciously glad that my mom was sick all the time, it meant I didn't have another controlling figure in my life. I know, I know, I am a horrendous daughter and all that jazz, but really you should see the way some of the kids around town talk of their mums, you would be happy I am not that way. It was finally time for the Peacekeepers to leave. While my father was outside chatting to the head, one of them a tall man with a shock of red hair, who had also been rubbing his leg against mine the whole dinner came up to me and said, "Hey pretty, say what next week lets go have fun somewhere shall we?" "Assuming you stay that is." He gave me a greasy smile and left. I turned to see Josiah, our butler behind the pillar. One could assume by his balled up fists and tense posture that he had heard and seen everything. I gave him a small gesture meaning don't do anything and left for my room. I mean what could one hope to do in such a situation without the threat of being bound, gagged and thrown into jail. It was this helplessness of mine combined with my urge to lash out was what compelled me to run away the same night.