Hehe... She should throw those of you who hate careers off a little...
--x
I was woken by the sea. My bedroom was built on the side of our house closest to the ocean, and I go to sleep every night, and wake up every morning to its music. I wanted to lie in bed a bit longer, but the gentle notes roused me.
Quickly, I skipped out of bed. My closet was close by, so I opened it, and pulled out my best net. It was spun steel, interwoven with nylon from District Eight. Heavy enough to build the right muscles every time I throw it. Versatile enough to catch fish, but easily cleanable.
After holding it for a bit, I stuck it back in the closet, on its rack. It would be there when I got back from the reaping.
My parents were in the living room, halfway through the District Three reaping. A skinny girl had just been chosen. Pfft. She wouldn't last a day without someone to help her. I hate reapings anyway, though I suppose it would be smart to watch the recap if I end up in the games. Average likelihood, I guess. Only seven slips have my name. It'll probably be some tiny kid with twelve tessarae picked, and someone might volunteer.
The reaping was boring to watch. The girl just shivered, and I headed over to the kitchen for some breakfast. Fried clams, like we've always had on the mornings of the reaping. They were delicious. I caught them just outside our house yesterday.
I ate slowly, savoring the golden batter, as I always do. Food is something I absolutely love. The one reason I don't volunteer for the Hunger Games. I see too many tributes starve.
Mom joined me eventually, though dad continued watching a feature on past Hunger Games. She ate a few clams too, then turned to me.
"Real nutcase from District Two. You could take her, though. Remember Finnick? We could get a good net sent in..."
I rolled my eyes. She has this fantasy about me in the Hunger Games, like her father. He won the second games ever, as she tells anyone we meet.
"You know why I don't volunteer. None of those Capitol cooks make fried clams as good as you do."
She smiled at the flattery, though I think she knew I wanted to get off the subject. I trained this year, at her insistence, and the instructor thought I could win. Her enthusiasm has reached fever pitch since then.
From the living room, my dad called us in. They were showing some old footage of Grandpa. Poor guy, he looks half-starved as he goes after the last other tribute, an Eighteen year old boy, with a spear. Eventually, there's an opening, and he jabs the spear through the boy's neck. It's pretty gross, but nothing like the hundreds of fish I kill every day. I'm pretty used to coughed-up blood, gasping, and flailing in the throes of death.
It was soon time to leave for the square. The program was over.
The Hunger Games were beginning.
In the square, which is already semi-full, I found a seat in the Sixteens quickly, and sat with Nerine. She has some gossip about the girl who was planning to volunteer. Her hip was broken in a boating accident.
What was she doing on a boat the day before the reaping? Insanity. I let Nerine know it. She agrees. I wondered if anyone wanted to volunteer this year, from the girls.
The mayor, a relatively young man in a suit, walked up to the podium. By then, the square was completely full. I was jostled a lot, and I kicked a few shins to keep my spot next to Nerine.
He gave his speech in a monotone, only pausing to breathe. The air was balmy, and I almost drifted off half way through, but I didn't. Peacekeepers hate it when you do that.
"And so, Panem's glorious Capitol rose out of the ashes of the rebellion..."
How long was he going to talk? He probably was criticized for the short speech he gave last year. Well, I sure liked that one better.
Eventually, FINALLY, the gasbag stopped talking. He gestures at this lady barely older than I am, and she took the stage. She dyed her hair blue. Blue. Hair. Nerine and I both giggled.
She had this chirpy little voice, like a bird being sat on, an she made the short speech that all escorts do.
"I just know that this will be another great year for District Four! We won the Hunger Games last year, and golly, we can do it again!"
Golly? What fresh hell is this?
She walked to a big fish bowel with hundreds of little slips of paper floating around in it, and she yanks out one from the top.
"The lucky female tribute is... Maren Ericsson!"
I nodded, and flashed a smile, before I walked up on stage. Her hair was practically glowing, and I couldn't look straight at it for more than a few seconds.
"You look so proud! I sure do hope no one volunteers for you. Does anyone present wish to take Maren's place?"
I waited smugly for Calypso to volunteer, but I remembered jarringly; She broke her hip! I suddenly felt very thankful to my mother for that training course.
"Then I guess you're in! We just have to pick the boy to stand beside you, and this will be all wrapped up!"
Lord, could she talk any more? She shut up for a few seconds to draw the boy's name. Actassi Peixoto.
The name is way too long for the Fifteen who stands up. He's crying... what the hell? Crying? At the reaping?
'Actassi' has darkly tanned skin like mine, and heavy black hair, similar to the creepy District Two girl I saw on TV.
It takes him several minutes to stop crying, even on stage. Blue-hair looks awkward.
"Happy... Hunger Games."
She disappears into the Justice Building, leaving me onstage with the weakling from my district, who will be my partner to the most dangerous game in all of Panem.
I may survive the next month, but let me tell you.
He's screwed.
In the Justice Building, my mom and dad came to visit me. Actassi went back to sniffling when I left the room.
I got a huge hug from both of them.
"We're so proud of you, Mar. You're going to win, we know it," said my mom.
My dad has more careful advice. "Stick with Districts One and Two, and anyone else who looks capable. If you are offered information from a District Six or Ten, take it. Those are the brainiest. You hear me? Stay alive," he said, gruffly.
I let two tears slide out as the Peacekeepers waved them out. They let in Nerine, who sat by me, and gave me a hug.
"If anyone but Calypso could win, it'd gonna be you, Maren. Stay on the District Two girl's good side. Don't get into fights. And mention my name to any cute guys."
She winked. I'm sure she's trying to keep me calm, but I'm a little stunned. I never expected to be picked.
Nerine has to leave too, and I go back to Actassi. I'd yell at the guy to stop blubbering, if I wasn't so close to tears myself.
--x
We have to have a nice Career, right? She'll play her part well, and hopefully make it pretty far. Let's hope she finds some friends in the game who have some heart.
Wow! Over a third of the way to the games themselves.
