Chapter 2: The Reaping part 1
I take a walk down to the Hob to get a gift for my sister as it is our birthday today. It is not is not a very happy birthday because it is also the day of the reaping. Every person in the 12 districts of Panem aged between 12 and 18 has had their name entered into those awful reaping glass bowls. It is mandatory to put your name in once a year but you can put your name in more times in exchange for tesserae. Each tessera is worth a year's supply of grain and oil for one person.
There's no love lost between my sister and I so we certainly never got each other gifts before but I want to get Laurel something this year because I don't know how many more birthdays we will have left.
As I walk into the Hob, I spot the one of the only few people in the whole entire world whom I trust wholeheartedly. Luca Edenthaw. We have been best friends since we were little and we were made to work on a project at school together. I was a fairly quiet child at school and had only a few friends and even though Luca didn't have much more friends than me, he always intimidated me. But once we got to talking I found he was actually really friendly and funny. We started playing together at break times and Luca always shared his food with me. He is from the slightly better off (and I use the term lightly) part of District 12 and his father is a butcher so Luca has, to a certain extent has it a little better than I do living in the poorest part of District 12 which is now nicknamed the Seam.
As we got older Luca and I were inseparable at school and I could tell it made other girls jealous. I could see why. Emerald eyes, thick chestnut brown hair, only slightly taller than I am and cheeks hollow, like mine, from hunger.
Luca must've seen me through the crowd as he is making a bee line for the small doorway where I am standing.
"Happy Birthday Willow" Luca says smiling, awaking me from my daydream.
Then he hands me something, a gold pin. The pin is a small bird in flight with a circle around it connected only by the tip of its wing. I don't recognize the bird but it looks a bit like a mockingbird. I wonder how Luca even got this. I'm sure I've seen it before but where?
Suddenly I recognize it; I'm sure Mrs. Edenthaw is the person I've seen wearing it before. Luca has just given me his mother's pin. His dead mother's pin.
"Luca didn't this used to belong to your mother?" I ask.
"Yes" Luca replies, "But she won't be wearing it anymore"
I could tell he was holding back the tears, trying to be strong but he is still dreadfully upset about losing his mother as anyone would be. Luca loved his mother dearly and I don't think he will ever get over her death.
"She's in a better place now" I say to Luca trying to reassure him.
"Hopefully" he replies.
I not sure that Mrs. Edenthaw really is in a better place because even though it would be a nice thought, to have a better life after this one and go to Heaven but somehow I don't see it happening.
When I get home later that day, Laurel greets me with a hug. It's not uncommon for sisters to hug, I guess but Laurel and I just don't hug each other. Is it because today is the reaping and my sister of all people is suddenly feeling sentimental?
"Wow, what do we have here?" Laurel says, eying my pin. "It looks like it came all the way from the Capitol".
I should have hid the pin; I knew Laurel would have had something to say about it. Laurel has something to say about everything and everyone, that's how we have so many arguments but I didn't want to have a row with Laurel today of all days.
So instead of saying what I wanted to say, I say "No, of course it didn't come from the Capitol. Luca gave it to me".
"Wait, how did your boyfriend get a nice pin like that" Laurel asks me.
"Okay, firstly he isn't my boyfriend and secondly it was his mother's…" I start but I'm interrupted by my mother walking in the room, looking as pale as a ghost and saying:
"It's time"
Those two simple words strike terror in me like lighting strikes metal and all I can think is it's going to be me; I am going to be reaped.
The whole walk there my family is silent. I can't believe it! This could be one our last moments together and nobody has anything to say. Anything! As we walk towards the justice building I see cameras everywhere, more peacekeepers than I have ever seen since the dark days and possibly the worst sight of all. Rows and rows of anxious-looking children. I recognize some of them from school some of them I don't but the thought of two of them sent away to die makes me feel sick.
I stand in the line of fifteen years old with my sister Laurel, watching the large television that is situated in the town square. I not sure why but they are showing us the day President Snow announced The Hunger Games. The treaty of treason is constantly shown on Capitol TV but every time I see it, the flood of emotions I felt that awful day when the treaty of treason was announced come rushing back.
When the little clip is finished and the large television goes blank, a bizarre looking women trots onto stage. She is wearing a bright yellow suit and matching high heels. At first I thought she was wearing a pink flamingo hat but then I realize that's her actual hair!
"Hello, Hello District Twelve" she says in her bubbly Capitol accent. "My name is Theta Fairbanks and I will be one lucky boy and girl's escort to the Capitol…"
As we listen to Theta Fairbanks droning on about what honor it is to be here in District 12 when anyone could tell she was lying through her teeth, I hear Laurel snickering beside me and out of the corner of my eye I see Luca smiling reassuringly at me. I try to smile back but I can't conjure up smile not even for Luca.
"…but now," Theta continues in her irritating accent, "It's time to choose our tributes! Now, as the old saying goes, Ladies first"
She makes her hand hover over the large glass bowl on the left dramatically then finally dips her hand in and pull out one slip of paper. I hold my breath and wait for Theta to deliver the two words that would change my life forever.
"Willow Lockheart"
