Suzanne Collins is acknowledged as the creator of the Hunger Games characters and story
1-1. Preparations
"Stop fidgeting, Katniss," says Effie. "You need to look your best tonight."
It's a message my support team constantly repeat. Along with the twenty three other tributes for the 74th Hunger Games, I will be paraded in front of the television cameras tonight. What's worse, each of us must endure a five minute one-to-one interview with Caesar Flickerman. I can honestly say I am dreading it.
I sigh as Cinna and his team make the finishing touches to my dress. In fairness, Cinna has designed a beautiful dress which is every bit as special as he had promised. I'm grateful for his valiant efforts to make me look respectable even if I don't see the need for tonight's interviews.
"How do you feel?" asks Cinna when he is satisfied with his work.
"It's a beautiful dress. Thank you," I say with as much enthusiasm as I can muster … which isn't much, given almost certain death awaits me as soon as I enter the Hunger Games arena tomorrow.
"Yes, I know how you look in it, Katniss. But how do you feel?" persists Cinna.
"How should I feel?" I reply, slightly surprised by his question.
"Katniss! You ungrateful girl!" snaps Effie. "We are all trying to help you."
"I know, and despite what you think, I appreciate your efforts," I reply. "But I feel like a marionette; all dressed up to please an audience who simply want to be entertained. Isn't that what Haymitch called it? A television show. Aren't the tributes just twenty four puppets, each performing to our mentor's script?"
"Your image is important, Katniss," says Effie. "Haymitch will advise you what to say when you have you session with him this afternoon. There will be potential sponsors in tonight's audience. Impress them during your interview and they will help you. If you don't, then they will sponsor one of your rivals."
I've heard this speech from Effie at least six times in the last three days. I know she believes in what she is saying, but somehow I can't buy into the rotten arrangement. It's true that several previous Hunger Games victors owe their survival to the timely arrival of a sponsor's gift in the arena. But nothing in Panem comes for free. Some tributes may be naïve enough to believe sponsors give their generous help through the kindness of their hearts, but I'm not one of them. If a tribute is lucky, their sponsor is only interested in winning a high stakes bet. But lurking in the background are those sponsors whose help comes with unsavoury conditions that enslave a victor to their sponsor for life. The alternative is to die in the arena, of course, but you don't need a sponsor's help to do that.
"You asked me how I feel, and I gave you my answer," I snap. "Don't worry, I won't disgrace you tonight by picking my nose in front of the cameras. I'll read Haymitch's script as you command."
"You try talking some sense into her, Cinna," says Effie, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation.
"Sit down, Katniss," says Cinna quietly as soon as I've changed out of the dress and back into my training outfit. The delay while I changed at least means Effie and I have calmed down.
I think about refusing, but of all the people in my support team, Cinna is the only one who seems to understand me. I sit down with as much grace as I can summon in my present mood.
"I'm sorry, Cinna," I say when it becomes apparent he isn't about to launch into a lecture. "I really do like the dress. But there's nothing of the real me in this charade tonight."
"There's no need to be sorry. I should have realised what is missing before. Effie, this is something you can help with. Katniss needs some jewellery to complete her outfit. You have a good collection. Can Katniss borrow a few items?"
"Ah! Yes, of course. If that was all that was troubling you, Katniss, then it is a problem easily fixed. I'll go and pick out a few suitable things for you."
"No, Effie," interrupts Cinna before Effie can leave the room. "Katniss must be allowed to choose her own jewellery. At the moment she is merely the wearer of a dress created by me. We must let her transform it into an outfit of her own."
Effie and I look at Cinna in surprise. For my part, I'm again amazed by Cinna's understanding of my needs … even when I don't fully understand them myself. When I look at Effie I begin to worry in case she might object. It's one thing to lend me a ring or a necklace of her choice; it is something else entirely to let me rummage through her private collection.
"Yes, yes, OK," says Effie after a few moments hesitation. "I'm not certain many of my pieces are suitable for a young girl, but I will allow Katniss to look through what I have. We shall be back in an hour, Cinna."
I follow Effie to her private quarters in the Training Centre annex. Although there is a spare bedroom in our apartment, Effie has chosen to stay in one of the small but comfortable rooms assigned to the tributes' administration and support staff. Unlike the tributes' apartments, the rooms in the annex aren't segregated by district. I'm just thankful Effie hasn't decided to stay in her own apartment on the other side of the Capitol.
"Make yourself comfortable, Katniss, while I fetch my collection," says Effie as she goes to the safe located inside the wardrobe.
I sit in one of the two easy chairs and look around Effie's room while I wait. Her few personal effects tell me very little about the real Effie. Until now I have always labelled her as one of the many Capitol oddballs. Someone who means well but lives in a completely different world to me. When I see the small chest full of jewellery I realise there is an aspect to Effie I never knew existed.
"I've not had much chance to sort them out," says Effie when I peer into the chest. "Everything is a bit jumbled up."
The contents of the chest resemble a pirate's treasure trove in miniature. Some items are inside small boxes, while others are simply left loose. Several necklaces have become tangled around each other.
"Oh, ignore those," says Effie. "They're just cheap trinkets. The items we are interested in are in the boxes at the bottom."
I delve deeper into the chest. Sure enough, below the tangled necklaces and bangles I find a dozen or so different sized boxes. I carefully lift them out and spread them on the table. I lift the lid on each box and my mouth drops in amazement. Most boxes contain a matching set of ring, necklace and earrings. A few contain broaches and other types of jewellery. I return to the chest and remove the two larger boxes at the very bottom. I place them next to the other boxes on the table.
"Ah! I wouldn't bother with those," says Effie before I can open the lids to the last two boxes. "They aren't suitable for a young girl."
Her comment raises my interest, but I do as she asks and focus my attention on the boxes I have opened. I've no idea whether I'm looking at priceless jewels or glass imitations. After studying each box in turn I realise I have subconsciously made my choice.
"May I try this one on?" I ask picking out a ring with a beautiful green gemstone. Effie nods in response.
The ring with the green gem seems to draw me to it in a way none of the other items do. I slip the ring on my finger; it's a snug fit, but not too tight. I try on the necklace and earrings as well and walk over to the mirror. I think they are the most beautiful pieces of jewellery I've ever seen. In the corner of my eye I can see Effie watching me with a strange expression on her face.
"I like these the most," I say to Effie. "May I borrow them this evening? I promise to take good care of them."
"Hmmm. Yet again you surprise me, Katniss. I had expected you to go for the diamond cluster or the rubies. What made you choose the emerald ring and necklace?"
"I don't know. I like several of the other sets, but this ring somehow calls to me. If you think it inappropriate, I'll happily change my choice."
"No, that won't be necessary. As Cinna said, choosing your jewellery is a very personal act. You like what you like. But you said it called to you. What did it say?"
I could be trite and say 'pick me, pick me', but that isn't what I sense. It's more like an energy flowing into me through the ring. It's as though a former wearer of the ring has left her imprint in the ring and she is communicating with me. I try explaining what I sense to Effie.
"I'm sorry, I know I'm being foolish," I say when I finish my lame explanation.
"Interesting," says Effie in reply. "The ring is very old. I've never sensed what you describe, but my great-aunt always claimed the ring was special."
"So the ring and necklace have a history then?"
"The necklace is a more recent piece my great-aunt had made to go with the ring. The ring, however, is hundreds of years old. It is reputed to have been made for the daughter of a great ruler. Legend says that she was a warrior princess who rode into battle at the side of her father. When her father died, and her brother became ruler, the princess devoted the rest of her life and her considerable wealth to helping the poorer people of her lands. It is a perfect match for you Katniss."
I try my best to stifle a laugh. Effie must be joking with me. Warrior, princess and wealth are three words which have never been associated with me, nor are they ever likely to be. Effie doesn't pay my reaction any mind and begins placing the lids back on the other jewellery boxes. A knock at the door stops Effie before she can finish. She leaves me alone while she answers the door.
