When we arrived at the town square there were thousands of people. There were 7 roped off areas
of kids in district 10. The kids are dispersed by age. There is the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and
18 section. I am not very nervous yet but I am neither excited as I take my seat in the 14 section. I see
Zane take his seat in the 16 section while my mother and Piper stand to the side of the roped off areas.
After I settle down in my seat I look around the 14 section and make out a few of my friend's
faces. "Schuyler!" I yell down the row of kids. A long, brown haired figure with deep blue eyes turns
her head and smiles at me. "Aspen!" Schuyler screams. My name isn't used very often, especially
for females but my mother said that my father named me, and it was one of the only things left of
him so I don't complain anymore. Just as I am about to respond to Schuyler she turns her head to
the sound of the speakers, as everyone does. A loud screeching sound comes through the speakers and
then the sound of Ginger Caraway.
Her hair, bright red and straightened, falls just below the shoulders. She is wearing a bright
purple dress with sequins. Her whole figure seems to scream the Capitol. The expression she wears
on her face isn't happy, anxious, nervous or excited but but seems tired. She seems to want to leave this
dump and go back to her luxurious home in the capitol, but when she speaks she does a very
well job of covering it up. "Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, welcome to the reaping of the 23rd
Hunger Games! Now let's stand for the National Anthem!" she squeaks in that annoying voice of hers.
Everyone stands for the anthem and when it's over and everyone is seated once again, she repeats the
story of how the 13 districts rebelled the capitol and lost. "So that is why the remaining 12 districts
must be punished with the Hunger Games. This year we are proud to celebrate the 23rd Hunger
Games!" Ginger walks across the stage to the two glass balls.
"So, who went first last year? The boys or the girls?" she asks.
Most of the crowd screams girls. Ginger shakes her head.
"That would be correct! Okay so boys go first this year! Who will be the lucky gentleman to be
picked as our tribute from district 10?" The suspense is killing the crowd and finally she pulls
a small white slip from the glass ball. I look around and see almost everyone is on the edge of their
seat, even me. "And the lucky winner is..." I close my eyes and pray it's not anyone in my
class, "Zane Trillium!"
