Chapter 4
I really was concerned that everyone would think we were are joke tonight. Walking down the hallway toward the backstage area, all I was thinking about was how ridiculous are costumes were. I was a corn stalk. Nothing more.

"These things itch." Victoria announces "Ariel was a lunatic for picking these things out for us!" Assuming that was her stylist, I keep the conversation going.
"You don't like your stylist?"

"Not really, she just talks about how glamorous she was years back, she claims she was a model."
We turn the last corner and open the door to the backstage area. Wow. The tributes look much more intimidating in person. Much taller and more bulky I think. Glancing around the room I see a group of about 6 tributes all together talking and laughing. Great, I think, the career pack has already formed. Eyeing them more closely, I see a tall and muscular teenager with jewels all around his body, and a crown around his black hair. Next to him I see a girl with blonde hair down to her shoulders, with bright green eyes and a very toned body. She seems to be the one in control.

"There the are!" A woman yells behind me. I turn to see Alice rushing toward us with Bryan, and I presume Ariel, following close behind. "Good, you seem to ready, the ceremony starts in 5 minutes!" She squeals.

"My design is perfect." declares Ariel.

"It itches." Victoria says.

"Oh well! The audience won't know!"

I am about to cut in and tell Ariel that her design just happens to be the one they have used the past 20 years, and that her design was anything BUT perfect, but I was pulled aside by Bryan.

"When you load on the vehicle, hit the switch on your lower right arm, tell Victoria to do the same." Turning my arm to see that there was and indeed a switch, I nod. Just a moment later someone comes on the intercom. "Tributes, please load the vehicles, take off is in 2 minutes."

"Good luck, you will do fine." Bryan assures. He escorts me and Victoria over to our vehicle. The vehicle is an escalade with a platform attached to the back of it. The platform is decorated with many flowers, shovels, and of course, corn. Flowers stick out of the brown carpet making it look like they were seeded. I even notice a couple little neon colored bird statues around the edge of the platform. Good call. Everyone loves animals. I start thinking about how all the nice designs and gimmicks will go waste, as the big truck in front of us will block the view. Seconds, after that thought, something very unexpected happened. The platform rose. It rose well higher than the truck and was very ostentatious compared to the little floats made for the other Districts. I even notice green spiral ribbons dangling below the platform, making it look like a very beautiful jungle. Clever.

Up ahead I see several of the floats move forward and into the parade ceremony. One by one, they disappear into the darkness of the night. Each one getting a louder cheer from the last. I then see District 10 enter the ceremony. Knowing that we are next, I turn to Victoria.

"There is a switch under your right arm, switch it on."

"Uh why?"

"I don't really know why."

She doesn't argue any further, we both hit our switches.

You know that moment, when you have just woken up in your dark bedroom? Then you get up and open the door, and you are swallowed by so much light, your eyes can't take it. Thats the feeling I am experiencing right now. I am absolutely flabbergasted by this moment. The corn, which was an ugly yellow, now is a very bright and pretty neon green illuminated tremendously by the dark sky. Our green corn skin begins to spin rapidly. Like the green ribbons below us, my mind informs me. All this happened in so little time that I was totally and utterly unprepared for the loud cheers that ambushed my ears. But only when we got totally outside is when I could fully appreciate this wonderful moment.

Everywhere across the streets and terraces people are cheering for us. All the capitol residents with their peculiar wigs and tattoos screaming as if nothings else in the world mattered. Camera flashes sweep my vision as if they were strobe lights. The evening stars shine bright as if to match are costumes. The scary thing is at one point I find myself smiling and waving. I tell myself, these are the same people who are going to be cheering for your death next week. Suddenly, the glory of the night seems to diminish.

I am aware the floats are beginning to gather information in front of the capitol building for President Snow to properly address us. I have hated that man since birth. We have just come to a halt when the trumpets signal the President's Arrival. A very plump man, with a white hair and beard, with a pair of snake eyes, comes out onto the balcony.

"Welcome tributes! You have been reaped by the appropriate standards and now will begin training. I wish you the best of luck." President Snow's eyes briefly skim across the tributes below him, and then his and my eyes meet.

"I have only one more thing to say!" He gives a cruel smile as if saying, I will enjoy watching you die.

"Let the 72nd Hunger Games begin!"