Chapter 2
My eyes open. Come on Rue don't be down. There is still hope. Seriously Rue? Your name is in there seven times other people my age are in there once. I get up and notice a grey dress lying next to me. My mother is siting on a chair next to me watching TV. "Dad went to get some food, Rue." my mom says without turning around. "The grey dress is for you." she says.
"Thank you." I say. I take the dress to the bathroom with me. I clean myself in the bucket as I think about what this day is like in other districts. In the first four districts the Reaping is exciting for them. People from these districts train there whole lives to be tributes in the Games. In fact, most of our Peacekeepers are from District Two. I wonder if in the districts like ten through twelve, the Reapings are sad and gloomy, like our Reapings.
I change into the grey dress and walk over to my Mom. "Oh! Rue, you look beautiful." my Mom tells me.
I smile. "Thank you." I say. I have a really big family and I'm the oldest child. So I, of course, don't get all the attention, so I really enjoy when I do. I mean I know my parents love me, they just have to many kinds who need their attention. And there is only two of them, so I can understand that they don't give me all the attention. My siblings wake up and get dressed. My dad comes home with a bag. He puts the food away and we walk to the Reaping.
When we get to the Reaping, I have to stand with the twelve year old girls. I hear heels clicking on the stage. I look up and there she is, Lola Peyton, District Elevens escort. This will be her first year as escort. The reason why I know her name is because she introduced herself last week. I heard our escorts don't introduce themselves until the Reaping.
Behind her are four chairs. One for the mayor and his wife. And one for each victor of the past games. There have only been two. Chaff and Seeder. If I were to be picked, Seeder would be my mentor, because she is District Elven's most resent victor.
"Welcome, welcome!" Lola interrupts my thoughts. I look up. "It's now time to pick one young man and woman to represent District Elven in the Seventy Fourth annual Hunger Games! Lady's first!" she says in her silly Capitol accent. She walks over to the glass bowl with the girls names in it. She puts her hand in and takes a piece of paper out, she walks back to the microphone and unfolds the paper. I close my eyes. "Rue Henderson!" My eyes open. That's me. Why me out of all those other possible names? I look around. "Well come on up sweety." she says gently. I take a deep breath and begin walking to the stage. People clear a path for me. I suddenly find myself at the top of the steps. "Would anyone like to volunteer to take Rue's place?" she asks the crowed. Hope sets in. Surely someone will. Right? Moments pace. I guess not. "Well, onto the boys!" Lola says.
All the hope has left me. It's gone a twelve year old in The Hunger Games? How could she win? She couldn't! Lola walks to the boys bowl and takes out a piece of paper. She walks to the microphone and says. "Thresh Wilton!"
I don't recognize the name. Probably better if I don't. I sigh as a tall man starts walking towards the stage.
Once he gets her I get a glimpse at his face. It's the man from yesterday! The one I saw on my way to drop my siblings off at school. "Would anyone like to volunteer to take Thresh's place?" Lola asks but no one does.
The mayor has us shake hands and Peacekeepers lead us to the Justice Building. The place I will say my final goodbyes to the people I love.