From: Poppy Schward-Robertson, District 11, Pre-72nd Hunger Games

Four years ago, I was on the streets. I can't believe it. And now I'm here. We still have nothing to eat and we're still starving, but at least I have a roof over my head.

Is it cheesy to say I just want everyone else to get their Christmas wishes? I think that's cheesy, but it's what I truly want.

Rue and Skeeter, so small, so sweet… I want them to get whatever they want this year. I know it's an unreasonable wish to have, considering we're in District 11 of all places and there's nothing here…

Olive, so petite and little. So skinny… So broken from the 68th Games, when Blake died… Yeah, I suppose I'm still a little broken from it, too.

But that's really what I hope. I have nothing to give to them, but I wish I did. The problem is that anything I give to Olive will be given back to me, anything I give to Rue will be given to her siblings, and anything I give to Skeeter… Will be given to Rue. It's a cycle, sure, but I just want Rue to actually take a considerable bite to eat and Skeeter and Olive, too.

Even that's too much of me to ask, especially of them.

But that's what I really want for Christmas this year. That's what I'd love for every day… But I'm afraid that, when you're in a place as starving as District 11, you can't get the majority of the things you wish for. I'd love to have a wishing star or an extra bit of food or money to give, but I can barely get anything to eat, and when I do get something, Olive makes me eat it. I guess that's the problem with trying to be selfless when you're surrounded by people that are truly selfless. That's what you get when you love people. And I really do love people, but I feel bad that I always eat what's given to me as opposed to giving it away.

Oh, well. I guess that this year I can take tessera, right? Some for myself, some for my parents… maybe try to take some of the responsibility from Olive. After all, I'm only 12 right now… I only have my name in there once… Until I start getting food. But I can't work, so why not? It's just as dangerous as working with the wheelbarrows.

I just hope I don't get reaped my first year. And I hope Olive doesn't get reaped.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Love,

Poppy Schward-Robertson, District 11


From: Ben Hoffsteader, District 11

I hate this.

I HATE THIS.

This whole concept is nothing more than writing down all those wishes that you have and then all those dreams will die. We're in fucking District 11, people, WAKE UP! All Christmas means for me is my clients tying bows in suggestive areas and making me untie them with my mouth. I really hate having to deal with them, especially at this time of year. If they ask me one more time what I want for Christmas, I might have a panic attack or something. I seriously do not like the clients. They have so much extra money that could actually go towards something good, but no, they all use it on some shallow love-making with some person they barely even know. Even my regulars don't know anything about me… I bet a lot of them don't even know my last name.

But, hey, I get that extra money, and I can put it towards whatever I want, so who cares if I'm the joke of the whole District that everyone laughs at!? Well, yeah, I still do. So I become a bully. So I've grown addicted to drugs. So I need more money, so I go to more clients' houses.

This Christmas I want money. Money and drugs. I have the food that I need, but I need money so I can pay off my debts to this drug dealer. And drugs because… Drugs. I'm addicted. I need them… without them I get hyper… I need to just keep getting away from my problems and maybe they'll go away.

I need drugs, money, and all my problems to go away. There we go. But I'll never get them, especially now that the 81st Games is heating up. It's bound to be an event but I'm almost positive it's going to end with District 11 in ashes.

All my Chrsitmas is going to be is…

Ho.

Ho.

Ho.

Heh, I can be kind of funny when I'm bitterly angsting.

From,

Ben Hoffsteader, District 11