Sorry I lied. Actually it's the Seven female. I don't have the male form yet (Or I might and just didn't see it...) I just titled it this to mess with my little sister. I wanted to make sure to get this out before I leave for Latvia on Friday. I probably won't be able to write tomorrow and quite likely in Latvia, so stay cool until early March. The return date isn't ironclad, since military.
Laurel Pine- District Seven female
There has to be a better way, I thought as I filed along in a line with the other workers, each of us carrying a heavy log across our shoulders. I know the caterpillar can't get this far into the woods, since the branches are so thick, but this is so heavy and cumbersome. There has to be a better way.
The next day, I came in to work early. Since work already started before the sun rose, it was almost closer to me just working late. In either case, I dragged my sleep-deprived butt out into the woods in the middle of the night and plopped myself down with a headlamp, some paper and pencils, and my noggin.
I'm going to do it. I'm going to fix this. They'd be so happy when they say my marvelous invention. It would make work so much easier for all of us. They'd put their logs down on my invention, lean over, and take a long break while my invention did all the work. Instead of carrying logs, they'd carry me on their shoulders. "Laurel!" they'd cheer. "We were totally wrong! You weren't dumb! You were the smartest and sweetest girl in Seven!"
It didn't take long for inspiration to strike. All at once, I thought of the best idea. It was a simple platform I could make by nailing together a few leftover planks from the pile of wood too knotty or ugly for Capitol use. Then I would lay down logs and use them as wheels, sliding the platform over them to the caterpillar. It would be much easier to slide the slab with the logs over the mostly smooth, round logs. Genius!
I ran to the supply lean-to and got to work. The tools were always left out at the end of the night, since if you stole one, they beat you to death with it. I grabbed a hammer and some bent nails and got to work. The peaceful forest abounded with the sound of thwacking and pounding.
As the sun grew nearer to starting to rise, the first few workers started meandering closer, evident by the sounds of cursing, complaining, and tripping. I tried to contain myself and keep a cool front, but when they came within sight, I couldn't resist.
"Hey everyone, come see what I invented!" I yelled, jumping up proudly.
"Is that Laurel?" Mr. Verde said.
"Oh saints help us," Ms. Salsify said.
"No, it's good this time!" I insisted. "I made something so we don't have to carry those heavy logs anymore!"
"What is it?" Harriet, one of my friends, asked as she came to the front of the group. More people clustered in behind her as the rest of the workers arrived.
"I invented this wooden platform," I started.
"You invented a slab of wood?" Mr. Verde said.
"I mean… not just any slab of wood," I said. "It slides along a row of round logs, making it easier to move them." I pointed out each feature as I told how it worked.
"How do we get a row of logs?" Mr. Verde asked.
"We carry them," I said.
"We carry the logs all the way to the caterpillar so we don't have to carry logs to the caterpillar?" Mr. Verde said.
As he stopped talking, I took in a breath and held up a finger to continue showing my handiwork. Then I heard what he said. Slowly, I curled my finger back up.
Ohhhhhh...
Laurel is a white female. She's of a normal height, and she has long brown hair that she intends to pixie cut someday. She's more leg than torso, and she has average sized b*** and an average butt. Her eyes are big and blue.
