We walked to the hob or the black market, which I say is another punch in the face to the Capitol, we are selling and trading behind the governments back and they have no clue. That's what I really like about the Hob, which I get to say I am a rebel against the Capitol and the government's laws.

Katniss walks up to some of the market ladies and men that pay fairly good for fish and greens but I decide to wonder elsewhere and told her I would be right back. I leave to go see the baker, when I get there Peeta's by the window of the back and opens the door for me. I hand him a fish, a small rag tied with some greens and several strawberries. He doesn't say anything but gives me four small loafs of bread. A good trade I say on my part especially for a friend.

As I'm walking to go meet Katniss back at the Hob to go to the mayor's house Peeta calls out to me and says, "Thanks and see you later."

I turn and say, "You too." Then I start to walk but I turn back and yell, "Oh, tell your father thanks again for this morning and the bread." He nods and goes inside. I like Peeta he's a good guy but I really despise him for the sake of Katniss. I know it's not fair on his part that he's in love with her but I really wish he wasn't so I wouldn't have to owe him for everything he has done for her, myself and our families.

I meet Katniss at Greasy Sae's place. Greasy Sae is a woman in the Hob that's known for her soups. She'd put anything and everything in to soups but the funny thing is they don't taste half bad and their cheap. Katniss sees me and flags me to come over.

When I get there she asks, "You done trading or need more time?"

I shake my head today's a day I don't really like to trade on not just because of the reaping but also because of the peacekeepers.

Katniss and I say bye to everyone and they wish us luck for today, then we leave to go visit the Mayor.
We use the back door, and I knock on it as Katniss gets the strawberries ready. We only sell to the Mayor because he gives really good prices and he loves strawberries. A girl answers, I've seen her around school she's Katniss's age and I'm taking a guess that she is the Mayor's daughter. She's wearing her reaping clothes and something in me goes off knowing that this girl in front of me only has her name in five times and has a slim chance to get picked unlike us poorer in the Seam.

I don't say anything about that but rather I say, "Pretty dress." Trying to be nice but it came out a little harsh so I know why she looks at me like I said it ironically.

She gives me a small fake smile and says, "Well, if I end up going to the Capitol, I want to look nice don't I?"

I don't want to blow up in her face about her slim chances. As casually as I can manage I say, "You won't be going to the Capitol," I'm starting to get mad not at her but at what she has and how unfair it is. "What can you have? Five entries? I had six when I was just twelve years old." I can feel myself getting denser as I try to keep everything in about the reaping, the government, the Capitol, the law and about how the odds are defiantly in this girl's favour, unlike mine or Katniss'.

Before I can say anything else Katniss steps in. "That's not her fault, Gale" She says to me looking me dead in the eyes with her striking grey eyes, knowing that I will listen.

I turn. "No it's no one's fault. Just the way it is." I say. They keep talking but I don't pay attention to them instead I think about how the laws for the Hunger Games are so unfair for the poorer people. In the reaping you put your name in every year and every year you add another name. So if you're starting out at the age of twelve, you have your name in once then the next year twice and so on until you are eighteen, after that you don't participate in the Hunger Games anymore. But this is where the government gets all us poorer who can't afford decent food. If you are poor and don't have a lot you can sign up for tesserae, which adds your name in more times in exchange for a year's supply of grain and oil, but only for one person. Therefore if you want a tessera for each of your family members you must add your name in for as many people in your family and another one in because you have to. When I was twelve, like I told the girl, my name was in six times, once because I had to and five for my mother, sister, two brothers and myself for tesserae.

It's unfair and everyone knows it even this girl standing in front of me knows it, but what does anyone do about it, nothing. They never do anything. We already have so much to worry about with food shortage we don't need another headache on the whole family.

I guess we left and started walking because when I come to my sense we are standing behind my house. Katniss' is separating our share, I help her and by the end each of us have two fish, some bread each, greens, what's left of the strawberries, salt (that Katniss got), paraffin and some money each.

"See you in the square." Katniss says to me before leaving.

"Wear something pretty," I tell her.

I wave bye but she doesn't see so I walk into our little shack that we call home.