Noah
It had been almost a week since I'd entered my name into the selection and it was less than an hour until they announced the lucky thirty-five. I'm not going to try and deny it I was a nervous wreck. My palms were slick with sweat and I could hardly bear to sit still for a moment. I had got to our dingy little living-room a little early so I was able to nab a place on the mouldy sofa. I know it sounds lame but I'd take moth eaten cloth over festering floorboards any day. I watched the clock on the wall tick slowly round. Fifteen minutes to go- now ten- now five. The room slowly began to fill up. There wasn't that many of us, all things considered we were quite a small orphanage only twenty or so of us but it was still a great squash to get us all into the room as it was not much larger than a match box. Technically, because we're such a small orphanage, Mr Harrington- the orphanage owner- said we were not allowed to enter but the official came anyway and I obviously put my name down. Fat lot of damage Mr Harrington could do when one of us was drawn. Two minutes before The Illéa capital report came on, a boy by the name of Joseph Peebles shoved his way through the grown sweeping a couple of well-meaning seven year olds to the floor and plonking himself next to me. I suppose you might say that he was my friend but I wouldn't quite go as far as to say that. In a place like the orphanage, you didn't want to make enemies with a kid like Joseph Peebles.
"Did you…?" I asked him quietly. He glanced at me with a look of annoyance,
"Obviously! I'm not going to let some empty promises to Mr Harrington get in the way of me becoming prince. What about you." I just nodded. I could tell the fact that he had competition bothered him immensely but one glance around the room at the orphans' faces would tell you that we were not the only two who'd defied Harrington. A moment later, almost as if he knew we'd been talking about him, Harrington appeared looking as miserable as ever. He turned the dial on the side of the TV so it wailed earsplittingly he left the screech on for just a moment longer than necessary the flicked the dial again so it showed the national crest. The kings face burst into colour on the screen, I had to bite my lip and sit on my hands to stop myself form shaking. Of course, we had to sit through the boring announcements first, but before a moment was up the king stepped down from his podium, and walked, with the queen, over to Gavril Fadaye, a reasonably old man with slick white hair, shaking his hand.
"Good evening your majesties."
"Good evening Gavril." The king and queen chorused.
"My, another selection already!" He said, "it doesn't feel like any time at all since your selection King Maxon." The king chuckled
"It Isn't. If we're anywhere near as lucky in this selection as I was in my last, I will be the happiest man alive."
"Aw, that's just so sweet! Queen America,"
"Gavril," She smiled.
"How does it feel to know that your future child's name is in one of those boxes." He asked pointing to the row of thirty-five black boxes filled with names, all with a hand shaped whole in the top.
"If im completely honest with you Gavril it's nerve wracking. But all I've ever wanted is a child and this way we can find the perfect one although if I could I'd keep all thirty-five!"
"What lovely sentiment!" Gavril smiled "Well I can tell that you are excited as I am to find out the lucky orphans who'll be coming here in less than a week's time to join our wonderful royal family. Without further a due, shall we get to the selecting?" and Excited rush of air escaped my lips as the king and queen got up and walked over to the boxes. They took turs to reach into a box and pull out a name and before long they were making their way through the provinces. Allens, Angeles, Atlin. Domenica, Fennly, Hanport. The names were slowly coming not long now! Hudson, Kent and then finally Labrador.
"And from Labrador," Called the king reading the card, I sucked in a breath "Noah Pewter, 14!" I leapt to me feet with an excited yelp although I could muster no words. Other orphans patted me on the back and yelled their congratulations. I could feel Joseph and Mr Harrington staring daggers at me but I didn't care, I'd be leaving the next day and with any luck, I'd never see them again. I was going to the palace! I'd never be hungry again! I could be prince! I could find a family.
