SYOT is still open as of 2/22/14!
District 1 is next, and hopefully District 2 will be filled by then, and I'll be able to go in order.
And I wasn't expecting this chapter to get so long but it did! I'm falling in love with all these tributes, and I don't know how I'm going to be able to kill any of them. I'll probably be crying at my laptop.
District 9 Reaping
Hayseed Knox – District 9 Male
Today's the one day a year I get to sleep in, but Rye seems to want to wake me up anyway.
"Hayseed," he says, nudging me awake. "I can't sleep. I'm so nervous about the Reaping. I'll die if they pick me. I can't be picked."
"Ugh," says my older brother, Agro, "will you two shut up? I'm trying to sleep over here."
I punch him lightly in the shoulder. "Have a heart," I tell him, "it's Rye's first Reaping, and he's nervous. You woke up with me when it was my first Reaping, remember."
Agro rolls over and slowly sits up. "Alright my little bros, let's have a good old fashion heart-to-heart before the sun is up. Might be our last time together in this bed."
Rye literally looks like he's going to cry.
"Agro!" I scold him. "Why would you ever say that?"
He just shrugs."It might be true," he says, "you never know."
But I have a feeling the three of us will be having this same conversation next year but with Agro joking at our misfortune and bragging about all nineteen birthdays he'd had. There are enough kids in District 9 that we all had small odds, but still, any odds at all is still bad.
Rye pulls the covers up his chin and pulls the two of us closer on the mattress we share. "This can't be our last night together. I can't be reaped. The pretty girls will cut me up, and I'll never see you guys again. I can't be taken away."
He obviously thinking of last year's Victor, some beautiful terror from District 1. There's sure to be another one like her this year; there always is from District 1.
"The only beautiful girls who will be around you will be the ones from District 9 when you're older," says Argo, giving Rye a wink that is supposed to make him laugh but only makes him more nervous.
"But what if I never make it to nineteen?" he asks. "What if I get picked this year or in the next seven years? I'll never grow up!"
"Relax," I tell him, bringing him closer to my side. "I've made it through four Reapings already, and Agro has made it through six. We've got ten Reapings between the two of us."
"Yeah," says Agro, obviously getting the message I'm trying to convey to Rye. "If the Capital wanted a Knox brother, they've had their shot ten times. They don't want us."
"But still," whines Rye, "my name – and your names – are in the bowl. There's still a chance."
"Your name's only in the bowl twice," Agro tells him. "You just have tessera for yourself. I've got my name in their 28 times, and Hayseed is in there 20 times. Our neighbors have five kids; imagine how much tessera they've taken. Your odds are so small, they're in your favor. You don't need to worry."
"But what if they pick me anyway," he says, doing his best not to start crying. "Every year there's some twelve year old who get reaped. What if this year it's me?"
"Then we'll beat up the Peacekeepers who are trying to take you away, and we'll run past all the fields into the great beyond," says Agro. I wince a little at the slight jab towards me.
A couple years ago Agro had been caught stealing, and I had unknowingly turned him with some comment I made after work. He was beaten in the town square, and his leg had never fully healed. Agro wouldn't be running anytime soon. If for some reason he was reaped, he'd never make it past the bloodbath, and he knows it.
And I'm sure Rye knows we couldn't run away either, but I think pretending we can is better than nothing, and I'm not about to ruin any kind of comfort we can give him.
"So how about we get our extra hour of sleep?" suggests Agro, laying back down.
"You guys promise I won't get reaped," asked Rye, snuggling down beside Agro.
I let him pull me down next to him. "I promise, little brother," I tell him. "I promise."
Barley Rogan – District 9 Female
"Barley," shouts my oldest brother, "you'd better get down here this instant! I've seen that candle burning, so I know you're up."
Quickly, I toss the book Miss Greenly let me borrow under my bed. No one in my family likes me reading. 'What use have farmers for books,?' they always tell me, 'when all we've got to know is in our fields?'
And I'm to be a farmer like my parents and their parents before them. The Rogan's family have all been farmers since before the Dark Days and probably since the sun first started rising in the east. They don't get that I don't want to be a farmer; I want to be a teacher. Even Daddy who tells me he loves me doesn't get it. I'd be the best teacher ever. I'd read kids stories, and I wouldn't give them too much homework so they'd still be able to do their chores. They'd call me Miss Rogan, and they'd all love me and love school.
"Barley!" he shouts again. "Quit your day dreamin'. Do ye want breakfast or not?"
Darn it, I must have zoned out again. I quickly run my fingers through my hair and take the steps two at a time. I'm almost downstairs when I find myself falling. I brace myself for impact but a pair of strong arms scoops me up.
"I seem to have caught myself a wee little girlie," says my daddy, picking me up in my arms. "What shall I do with her? Tickle her?"
He blows lightly on the slice of my stomach that's been exposed by my shirt sliding up. I try to keep a straight face, but it's so hard.
"No, no," I shout between the giggles that escape. "Put me down, put me down. I'm not your little girl anymore."
Daddy puts me down – in my chair at the table. He ruffles my hair that I had just unruffled, and kisses me on the head.
"You'll always be my little girlie," he tells me, moving to sit at the head of the table.
"But Daddy," I tell him, "I'm almost fourteen, and I'm taller than Wheaton who's the tallest boy in my class."
"You're still shorter than me," says Reven, my youngest brother who's sixteen.
"And me," adds Maizer.
My oldest brother just scowls and leaves the table to check on our breakfast. He's not tall at all, and no one quite knows why. It's probably why he's such a big jerk – and the fact that since Mommy died, he's had to do the "womanly" tasks instead of me at Daddy's command.
He comes back with a bowl of oatmeal for each of us and basically throws mine at me.
"Harver," scolds Daddy, "what have I told you about being careful with the dishes?"
Harver is practically seething, but he can't stand up to Daddy. "To be very careful with them," he growls at Daddy.
"That's right," says Daddy, either not noticing his tone or just ignoring it. If I had to guess, and I do, I'd say the first.
"Now everyone join hands for Grace," he announces. He reaches and joins hands with me, and I do the same with Reven. We all bow our heads and close our eyes and wait for Daddy to begin.
"Blessed Father," he starts, "I thank you for this meal we're about to enjoy. Let the Reaping spare my children as you chose to spare Isaac. Let us all be able to meet again here tomorrow to offer our never ending thanks to your kindness and forgiveness. Amen."
"Amen," I repeat as do my brothers. Usually the prayer in the calming voice of Daddy calms my nerves, but instead, they begin to go haywire. I forgot today was the Reaping.
Hayseed Knox – District 9 Male
There's a honking outside, and I quickly grab three slices of toast and smear them with a thin layer of marmalade. I shove both Agro and Rye a slice and jam mine in my mouth as the three of us run out the door.
"We'll get a ride to town later," calls my mother behind us.
"Good luck, boys," shouts my father. The doors slams closed then and if they said anything else, we didn't hear them.
"Ready for the Reaping, boys," says Mr. Cane who owns the only pick-up truck in our little cluster of houses. He's got a sixteen year old daughter, and he drives me and my brothers and the four neighbors of Reaping age.
"As ready as we'll ever be," I tell him.
"Well, I've yet to come back with less kids than I took," he tells us. "So hope on in the back, and we'll get going."
I toss Rye up in the bed, and the oldest neighbor boy helps him as he stumbles a little. I climb up and put a hand down for Agro to pull himself up. It's a pretty high step and a little to big for his bad leg to handle.
As soon as Agro up, Mr. Cane starts up the truck, and we're rolling towards town. Meryl Cane is in the front with her father, so it's us seven boys in the back. The truck's making a racket, and none of us really feel the need to talk.
The youngest neighbor boy is Rye's age, and he's pale white and shaking. One of his brothers puts an arm around him, and I instinctively do the same to Rye. I feel Agro's arm hit mine, and I give a weak smile as I realize we just did the same thing.
I see Meryl look back at us, and I can't help but thinking of Eve. Her father collects our harvest, so he owns his own truck. I'd bet Eve is at the square already, and I'm quite nervous to see her – more nervous than I am for the Reaping actually.
Me and Eve have been dating for the last couple years, and I know both our parents are expecting us to get married when we turn nineteen. But she's changed the last couple times I've seen her, and I don't like it. She's more pristine and ladylike now, and I liked the Eve who would climb up our silos to be closer to the stars and go swimming in the small creek with barely any clothes. I liked her wild and natural, but she's not anymore. I've got to tell her this, but it'll break her heart.
I watch the fields that speed by and think about how we used to run in them. She'd have dried stalks sticking of her hair, and she wouldn't let me pull them out until I distracted her with kisses.
Those were real kisses, but they aren't anymore, and I can't keep faking them. I'd tell her after the Reaping and maybe still being alive would override whatever hatred she'd have for me.
Soon the wheat fields are gone, and Mr. Crane slows the truck down as we reach the place that acts as our central town. There are people milling about, and you can see children covered with dust who had to walk the several miles into town today.
"Out you go, kidos," he shouts to us in the back. "I'll be expecting all of you back here an hour after the Reaping is finished. Celebrate being alive and enjoy your time in town."
"We will," says the oldest neighbor boy, " and thanks for the ride again, Mr. Crane."
"Thanks for the ride," we all repeat as we jump out the back. Meryl gives her father a quick kiss on the cheek, and she jumps out of the truck and is soon lost in the crowd. I look around for Eve, but I can't see her let alone anyone else I know.
"Let's get Rye to the Reaping area," I suggest to Agro, and he nods in response.
Together we push through the crowds until we're in front of the Peacekeepers. Agro pushes Rye forward, but he refuses to take a step closer. I'm pretty sure I can see the Peacekeeper rolling their eyes under that white helmet.
"Well, little bro," says Agro, "just follow what I do. Hayseed will be right behind you."
Agro marches up to the Peacekeeper – who could be the same one who crippled him for all we know – and sticks out his finger from them to collect blood.
"Agro Knox," he says, and the Peacekeeper motions him forward. He goes just behind them and waits.
"Go," I whisper to Rye, "it doesn't hurt anymore than getting a splinter."
"Next," shouts the Peacekeeper, obviously getting a little impatient.
"Go on, Rye," I say, pushing him forward. I'm a little proud how he doesn't wince when they take his blood and his voice doesn't shake when he says his name.
"Next," shouts the Peacekeeper again, and I let him take my blood.
"Hayseed Knox," I tell him and get motioned forward. I go join Agro where he's now standing with Rye. I scan the area once more for Eve, but I still don't see her.
"Agro's going to be in the front," I tell Rye, "and I'll be somewhere in the middle with the sixteen year olds. You're going to be in the back. No one's going to be able to see you back there, and you'll be safe. When they dismiss us, stay here, and we'll come and get you. Okay?"
Rye nods quickly and throws himself in my arms. Agro wraps his arms around the two of us and for a second, everything in the world is beautiful. But too soon, Agro pulls away. He ruffles Rye's hair, and then walks to join the eighteen year olds. I give Rye a kiss on the forehead and leave him too. I just hope he follows what I said, so I don't have to go looking for him afterward.
Barley Rogan – District 9 Female
My brothers are all on the other side of the square, and I try to find a friendly face among the girls. I crane my head, but I don't see anyone.
"Barley!" I hear someone shout. Looking around, I finally see Cilia standing in the thirteen year old section. I quickly jog over to her and give her a small hug.
"How are you doing?" I ask when we break apart. Cilia lives in town, and she helps me with my schoolwork cause I miss so many days working on the farm. As a result, we've kinda became best friends.
"Oh wonderfully," says Cilia, "I love waiting to see if this is finally my year to die. I'm so excited."
I give her a little shove. "That's not even funny to joke about right now. Two people from our District are really going to be sent to their deaths. And it might be us!"
She gives me her wicked smile, and I'm afraid what she's going to say next. I must visibly wince because she laughs.
All the kids around us give the two of us worried stares, and I shove Cilia for bringing all that attention to us.
"I'll try to keep my comments more quiet," she says, still laughing a little. "I forgot I was with the serious Rogan-who-doesn't-like-farming."
"Oh, shut it," I tell her.
And so does the Escort lady who is taping the microphone and demanding attention.
"Welcome, welcome," she says in her comical accident.
"I can't wait to see which one of you gets to die," whispers Cilia in my ear, perfectly mimicking the Capital accident. I laugh despite myself, so I punch her in the side again.
The Escort is now saying something about the video, and it starts playing.
"I hope you all enjoy this video we've been playing for the last twenty-eight years. We at the Capital are too lazy to make a new one," whispers Cilia, and I can't help but laugh again. Cilia can't help but be funny. A couple of the girls around us tell us to be quiet; not because they want to hear the video but because they're afraid of the Peacekeepers.
And somehow, Cilia actually stays quiet – well, as quiet as Cilia can be – through the rest of the video and the Mayor's speech. When the Escort retakes the stage, Cilia mimickes her walk. She flicks her arms at her side, fake falls over, and flashes me the funniest horrified face I've ever seen.
I'm not even nervous as she approaches the girl's Reaping bowl; I'm trying not to laugh. As she puts her hand in the bowl, Cilia whispers that she hopes her nail polish is dry, and a couple more laughs escape me.
"Will Barley Rogan please come to the stage?" says the Escort, and I'm still laughing.
I see the color drain from Cilia's face and the girls around me slowly step away. I stop laughing.
"Barley Rogan," repeats the Escort, "you are our female tribute for District 9. Can I please see your face?"
The blood then drains from my face. That's my name. The Escort called me. I force myself to move to the aisle.
Step. I shouldn't have been laughing. Step. I was going to die. Step. I would never grow up. Step. I would never get to be a teacher. Step. I would never know how my book ended.
Hayseed Knox – District 9 Male
It's not Eve; she's safe for another year.
But I feel guilty as the girl Barley Rogan finally appears from the thirteen year old section. She's tall for her age and quite skinny, and her face turns pale so quickly I think she's going to pass out. She makes it up on the stage, but she's not going to make it past the bloodbath. She's just a year older than Rye.
"Well aren't you a beautiful young lady," says the Escort, and the girl doesn't say anything. It looks likes she's crying, and I just want the Escort to leave her alone. She's already in a terrible position and drawing anymore attention to her will just make it worse.
"Now it's time to select our brave male tribute to accompany young Barley."
As she sticks her hand into the boy's bowl, and I'm just praying it's not us or the neighbors. Please don't be Rye.
"Hayseed Knox," she calls. And it's not Rye, it's me. "Will Hayseed Knox please come up here?"
The boys slowly part as I make my way towards the stage. I've watched previous Hunger Games, and this is important. I've got to make my steps even and keep my head up; I'm strong.
And then I hear Rye screaming my name behind me. He runs out of the twelve year old section and runs into me. I bend down and give him a hug.
"You promised," he screams, beating me on the back. "You promised, you liar. You're nothing but a lair."
His words hurt, but I'm sure he doesn't realize what he's saying. I see Peacekeepers coming, so I need to get him off me.
I pull him off me and look him in the eyes. "I wasn't lying," I tell him. "We'll all be together again, but it'll just take a little longer. Listen to everything Agro, and Mother, and Father say. Now go back," I say, pushing him away from me and turning back towards the stage.
When I mount the stage and face the crowd again, Rye's still sitting the the center aisle, and it looks like the Peacekeepers will let him sit there.
"Is that your brother?" asks the Escort, probably thinking of all the Capital people glued to their TVs at such a sad, public goodbye.
"Yes," I tell her and refuse to say anything else.
"Do I have any volunteers?" she asks as she is required to do. I find Agro in the front, and he refuses to meet my eye. Not that I expected him to take my place but just maybe he would. Out of the three Knox brothers, I do have the best odds of winning.
"Well then," says the Escort like she was actually expecting someone to volunteer. "Here are your District 9 tributes for the 28th Annual Hunger Games, Barley Rogan and Hayseed Knox."
She pushes us together to shake hands, and I realize Barley had been crying. I feel protective over her already like she could be my younger sister. I'll help her as long as I can, but it'll always be me over her. I have to get back to Rye and Agro and Mother and Father.
Barley Rogan – District 9 Female
I'm marched into the Justice Building and led to a small room off the main hallway. There's a large couch and a painting on the wall but otherwise it's pretty plain. This was the last time 26 girls from District 9 saw their families; I can't stop the tears that come. We've only ever had one Victor, and I know I'm not going to be the second.
I shouldn't have been laughing at Cilia. The Capital probably saw that I wasn't afraid as I should be, and somehow quickly rigged the Reaping.
So when Cilia is let into the room by two Peacekeepers, I'm so mad at her.
"Why were you making me laugh?" I yell at her as soon as the Peacekeepers leave. "Now the Capital is deciding to punish me, and it's all your fault."
Cilia, who always knows what to say, doesn't have anything. "I – we – um," she stutters. Finally she manages to spit out, "I just hate being so afraid, and I didn't want you to be. Please don't be mad at me. This might be the last time I see you."
And she is so unlike her normal self that I can't help but forgive her. Just the thought of not seeing her again is heartbreaking.
"I'm so sorry," I tell her, running into her arms. "I know it's not your fault; I'm just, I don't know. I can't handle this. I love you so much. You're my best friend ever."
I didn't realize I started crying again, but I feel tears rolling down my cheeks. She's crying too, and we're both a mess.
"You're the best friend anyone could ask for," she tells me. "I'll name my first daughter after you and tell her what an amazing person you were."
I just nod and start crying even more as I realize my best friend doesn't even expect me to come home. I'm going to die.
The two of us are still holding each other crying when the Peacekeepers come in.
"Time's up," they announce in that monotone voice they all seem to have.
Cilia slowly pulls away. "I'll always remember you," she says. I get one last hug, and the Peacekeepers escort her away.
And as soon as she's gone, Daddy walks in with Harver, Reven, and Maizer. He instantly scoops me up and kisses my forehead.
"No need to cry, girlie," he tells me, setting me down on the couch. "Ye can get back home to us. Remember, you're not a little girlie no more but a big one."
"No, Daddy," I sob into his chest, "I'm going to die, and this is the last time you're going to see me."
I feel the couch move beside me, and one of my brothers wraps his arm around me.
"You're not going to die," says Reven. "You've gone on all those adventures with them strange book characters. And you're so smart. The other tributes will never see ye coming, and that'll be your advantage."
"But I can't kill somebody," I scream at him. For some reason, I want him to except that I'm going to die. They can't ask me to fight."
"You've got to fight," says Maizer – and I guess they can. "Maybe you don't have to kill anyone, but you have to outlast them. You have to be stronger than they are."
But I'm not stronger, so I keep crying. And I think all four of them give up because they just hold me close and let me cry.
When the Peacekeepers come to kick them out, they each give me a kiss on the forehead and a quick hug. Surprisingly, Harver is the last one in the room with me.
He gives me a kiss like the rest, but he also whispers in my ear:
"Be strong, Barley. I couldn't bear to loose my baby sister."
And then he's gone too. But he had more effect on me than anyone else. Maybe because I though he hated me, but he still wants me back.
I wipe my eyes dry on my sleeve. I guess I should at least try a little for my family.
Hayseed Knox – District 9 Male
My family enters the room first. Rye immediately runs towards me and latches right on. I put him on my lap and just let his head rest on my chest.
"I'm sorry I didn't-" starts Agro, and I wave him off. He has no reason to apologize; it was his last Reaping, and he'd have little chance of surviving.
"You can do it," says my mother, sitting beside me. "You're strong from working all day, and I know you're smart. You can come home to us."
I gulp because I do have a chance, but it's going to require 23 dead kids.
"Hayseed already promised me he was coming home," says Rye, choosing that moment to pick his head up. "He promised me."
"I'd guess he'd better keep that promise," says my father solemnly.
"He will," shouts Rye. "I already told you. He promised me he'd come back home."
Agro just looks at me, and he's knows the odds are not in my favor. "He'll do everything he can to keep that promise," Agro tells Rye, but he's looking directly at me. "Won't you, Hayseed?"
"You know I would, Agro," I tell him. Then I turn to speak directly to Rye. "You can't be scared by anything you see on the TV," I tell him. "I might not look like myself, but I'm doing everything so I can return to you."
Rye nods, and I give him a quick kiss on the forehead.
"I'll try to learn as much as I can," I tell my mother. "You have to know I'll try my best."
She gives me an awkward hug with Rye still on my lap. "That's all we'll ever expect from you," she says, and I understand the double meaning of her words.
"I know you will, son," says my father. "Come back for your family. You know we need you."
Mother picks Rye off my lap, so I can stand and give Father a hug. When Agro moves to give me a hug, I have to will myself not to cry though a couple tears still leak through.
When the Peacekeepers come back, my family is done with goodbyes. I know Mother, Father, and Agro don't want to break down in front of Rye, and I'm sure they're awfully close. Mother gives me a final hug, and Father slaps me on the back – I can see tears forming in his eyes as he tries to blink them away. I have to promise Rye one more time that I'll be back home before he's willing to leave me.
I take a deep breath when the door closes. These next couple weeks are going to be terrible.
When the door opens again, Eve runs in. I can see fresh tears running down her face. She looks devastated, and I'm ashamed to admit that I completely forgot about her since my Reaping.
"I can't believe you got Reaped," she says as she wraps her arms around me.
"Me neither," I say, feeling awkward about thinking of breaking up with her earlier. I can't do that now.
"I wanted to marry you," she tells me, kissing me on the nose. "We'd have beautiful kids with your blue eyes and my honey hair. But now," and she can't finish as she starts crying again.
I kiss her, and it's sloppy with her tears. She kisses me back with such desperation, and I run my fingers through her hair. When we pull apart, we're both breathing heavy, but at least she's stopped crying.
"I've promised my family I'd do my best to come home," I tell her, leaning my forehead against hers, "and I'll make you the same promise."
"I'll try to collect money from sponsors," she tells me. "I'll do anything to help you get back to me."
"Will you help Rye?" I ask her. "He'll need someone to hold when things get -"
And I can't seem to finish because I don't what will happen. I don't even know if I'll be alive after the first day.
But Eve just kisses me. "I'll try my best to help him," she says.
"Thank you," I tell her and kiss her again. I press her against me as I try to remember how exactly this moment feels. Right now she's my old Eve, and I love her all over again. I don't want to say it and I hate even thinking it, but this could be the last time I ever see her.
When we break apart, she reaches to unclasp her necklace. She's having trouble, so I spin her around and unclasp it myself.
"I want you to have it," she says, pressing it into my palm. "Bring it as your token and let it remind you of everything you have at home."
I look at the tiny corn doll on the golden chain, and I can't stop the tears that escape the corners of my eyes. It's the doll I made her the first time we meet. I told her I could make the smallest corn dolls in District 9, and she didn't believe me. The one I made that day I gave to her, and I guess she kept it.
I let her put it around my neck, and it's comforting feeling it rest on my chest. I wrap her in a tight hug as more tears fall down my face.
When the Peacekeeper finally comes to pull us apart, my face is red and puffy. She's blows me as kiss as the door closes, and I hold the corn doll tightly in my fist.
I might never see any of them again. But maybe I can, so I have to try.
Let me know what you think of our District 9 tributes. How do you think Hayseed and Barley are going to do or how do you want them to do?
REVIEW and let me know!
