March 23rd, the day of the reaping. I woke up that morning with a mixture of fear and enthusiasm. I was enthusiastic to see certain people enter. There's a kid who goes to my school named Kylie. She always acts sassy and gets in my way of everything. There was time where we had to dissect cardinals in biology. When I left to get a drink, I came back to find she used my scalpel as a razor for her nails. Though she was bleeding because of her stupidity, I was still upset because my scalpel was bent and I couldn't dissect the bird. Even though I find the Hunger Games to be incredibly stupid, there are, admittedly, certain people who I want to see die. I left my room to go down and have breakfast. I found my Dad sitting down watching the T.V. They had a pre-reaping ceremony down at the Capitol. Yeah, they call down talented musicians to celebrate kids dying, never thought you'd see that would you? My Dad has always been intrigued by the Hunger Games. He believes it's a unique sport that's destined to branch out into even more future events. My Dad is practically the REASON Zane is the way he is today. Dad was there sitting with his carrots next to the T.V.

"Hey Dad, after I finish my breakfast will you stop watching that gruesome trash and help me train?", I asked.

"This isn't trash, this is the next step forward in technology, and survival. Conditions are getting tighter. This helps provide skill in survival." replied Dad.

"Dad the only reason you look at that stupid game without hesitation is because nobody in our family has been reaped."

"Well if they're not my kids, why should I care?", he replied.

"Just help me train, I might have to join those wasteful events today."

After Breakfast, me and my Dad went outside. Practicing isn't something that's particularly allowed by the Capitol, but that doesn't stop us from doing it anyway. We just practice in the barn. We practiced not-tying, arrow shooting, sword fighting, and fist-fighting. And fist-fighting is where I fall short. I'm almost never able to block any punches. I always aim my arm right below or above where my opponents gonna strike. After a long while of practice, we sat down under the tree and ate lunch. We saw Zane walk out of the house, he looked out at the town center in fear. I looked at him in worry. I knew he was anxious.

"Hey Dad, do you think if Zane gets reaped, that he'll be able to survive?", I asked.

"Well, you I have good feelings about. Him, not so much. He twitches like an animal whenever I talk about anything, he's illiterate, he barely eats, and he's overall not very skillful. I doubt he would survive anywhere."

"Dad he's your son! How could you say that! He has just as big a chance as anyone else does!"

"Son, not everybody's great at everything, some people die doing what they wish to achieve."

"YOU THINK HE WANTS TO DIE IN THE HUNGER GAMES!? NO! NO!"

I walked off madly into the house. My Dad never believed in Zane. He always turned him down and treated like he wasn't part of the family. Seeing that rips me apart. Though Zane was never the most relaxed, he was always there to support me. We would play out in the fields together and pretend like we would be with each other for eternity. I would always go to comfort him before reaping and he would comfort me after a friend of mine died in the games. Though I have had many other friends, Zane is what keeps me alive. I walked over to comfort him before the reaping, but before I could, the 5-minute cannon for the reaping sounded. I haven't gotten ready yet. I ran to my room to get ready. it took longer than expected. I ended up running late because by the time I was ready, the reaping had started. Dad and Zane were already there. I ran down. I entered the center of town gasping over who I saw with Effie. Next to her was Kylie and Zane...