District 3

Alysha Kapler

I woke with a start. I ran to the bathroom before Carmella could spend an hour in there. I got in just in time. she charged for the door just as I slammed it and locked it. I looked into the mirror and put down my bundle of clothes that I would wear today. I got in the shower and scrubbed myself clean. I got out and dried off. I looked in the mirror. My electric blonde hair glistened and my dark, grey-blue anime eyes shimmered with excitement. Today was the reaping. I couldn't wait to cheer on the noble girl and boy that would fight to the death to win. My social outcast friends and I watched the Games and ate popcorn every year. It was so much fun! I pulled on my hand-me-down tide-dye tee shirt, jean shorts, rainbow knee highs and hiking boots. I emerged from the bathroom as I tightened the ponytail on one of my pigtails. Carmella pushed me out of her way and went into the bathroom. I went to the dining room where my mother Malinda, Father Neil and Brother Max were sitting and eating cold cereal. Both my parents were in their lab coats. I sat down to eat my bowl of cereal.

"So Alysha, when are Sofia and Cody coming to watch the games?" asked mother.

"I don't know! We want to see who's reaped first." I replied in between mouthfuls of cereal.

"All right then. I'll speak with their parents." Said mother as if she didn't hear me.

We loaded our dishes into the dishwasher and went to the reapings.

"Meet us in the square honey!" called my father up to Carmella.

"All right!" she replied.

We went down to the square. We arrived just after the mayor finished the story on why we have the games. The girl was called first. The woman reached her hand into the bowl and drew out a slip of paper, and then she called out,

"ALYSHA KAPLER!"

I was extremely surprised. My friends looked at me nervously. Everyone looked around. I heard murmurs of,

"Who's Alysha?"

All around. It was terrifying! I went gingerly up on stage. I hoped and prayed the boy would be Cody, but alas it was,

"SPARKY FORKS!"

It was Sparky, I cringed. I knew him; he hung out with some really cool kids! I wished I had been not as shy as I had been last time I talked to him. He hung out with Rollo, Graham, Decca and Chrissie! They were so cool, we were lead to the Justice building after no one volunteered for us. My brother, sister, mother, father and friends Sofia and Cody came to say goodbye.

"Well, Good luck. Hopefully you'll come home in a month." Said my father nonchalantly.

He hugged me and started to walk to work. I stared as he walked away, if I died, he would suffer and I'd be satisfied.

"Honey, Don't worry. Your father will miss you. I'll miss you. Come back in a month okay? I love you." Said my mother wistfully.

"Don't worry kid. Kill everyone and I'll see you soon. If not, I want you to have this." Said Carmella.

She handed me a crocheted bracelet that said: Little Sister I smiled. She did care. I put it on my wrist. I would never take it off. She put on her lab coat that she had been carrying and went back to the house. Max walked over to me. He smirked.

"Jealous that I'm getting all the attention Mr. Super genius?" I asked smugly.

"Heck no! You'll be back to being a loser when you come back. Please come back okay? I'd miss you too much." Said Max.

He pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back. We shook hands and I kissed his cheek. He didn't protest like he usually would. I looked over at Sofia and Cody.

"Well, we'll watch you and cheer you on. Look at the camera and wave every once in a while. We'll throw popcorn at the others. Be brave okay?" said Cody.

He leaned toward me and kissed me lightly. I blushed. He stepped back awkwardly. Sofia ran up to me and hugged me, we started crying. She wailed and hugged me.

"Please come back, please." She sobbed miserably.

"I will, don't worry." I sobbed as I pulled away.

She pulled out a small picture of Sofia, Cody and I in a decorated frame. I smiled.

"I'll carry it with me. I promise." I said as I wiped my tears.

I slid into the limo that pulled in front of the building. Sparky was on the other side of the seat.

We drove in silence to the train station, after a long period of no talking we arrived. I got out of the limo. Sofia ran to me. She hugged me right away, she almost knocked me over. Cody came over sheepishly.

"Um…..Uh….Err…..Uh…." he couldn't speak.

"Uh, hi." I said nervously.

"Look, I'm sorry I kissed you I didn't know what I was thinking, I….."

He rambled on and on until I kissed him to get him to shut up.

Sofia stood gaping at us. He had a puzzled look on her face.

"How long has this been going on?" asked Sofia.

"Well, today when she was reaped I realized I really like you." Said Cody.

I was called onto the train, I gave Sofia one last hug and whispered,

"I'll never let you go."

And I ran to the train, praying I'd be back to straighten out Cody's twisted brain.

Sparky Forks

I woke to the sound of a loud annoying beep, it was my alarm clock. I looked at my calendar; a big red circle was around today. It was the reaping. I quickly put on my blue jeans, reddish orange t-shirt, and greenish grey jacket. They all smelled of smoke. It hurt when I put on the jacket, the bandage on my left arm rubbed against my burn. It stung; I went to the dining room and ate some toast and a banana. I ran to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror. My big, round, lagoon blue eyes twinkled with anticipation. My long eyelashes fluttering along with my blinking. I ran a comb through my dirt blonde hair. I quickly threw on socks and shoes and ran out the door to the square not waiting for my mother Polly, Father Harry and sister Merilla. I arrived as the mayor finished the reasoning for the games. The girl was drew out of the large glass bowl and read:

"ALYSHA KAPLER!"

I knew her! She was kind of a dork, I looked around at her, and her socks weren't matching her shoes as usual. She looked petrified; she walked sheepishly to the stage. No one volunteered for her. She looked anxious when the boy was being drawn. They called out:

"SPARKY FORKS!"

Alysha looked disappointed and scared. The boy was me. I walked up to the stage. I looked around for Chrissy, Rollo, Decca and Graham. Chrissy looked worried. I was led to the Justice Building by a peacekeeper. Chrissy, Decca, Rollo and Graham were right behind us.

"Well, you'll do great! You'll definitely be the victor! Then we'll hang at your cool place at your house in the village." Said Decca.

I smiled. She was right, I'd be back. I was sure of it.

We group hugged and I was led into the limo that brought us to the train station. We got to the station. Rollo declared, "GROUP HUG!" And we all hugged. We didn't stop hugging until I was called onto the train. I ran to the train, I looked back at my friends. Chrissy was crying. I waved. I knew I'd be back. I promised.