District 9 Reaping
Lennox Thorn, 16
"Fire!" I screamed, feigning terror, but inside I was laughing extremely hard.
It was about four in the morning, and the sky was as black as pitch. I was on the prowl with my handy box of matches, looking for a good, unsuspecting house to set on fire. At last, after and hour of searching, I found the perfect house. Any lights that were in the house were off, and the red paint was peeling off, exposing the wonderful, semi-rotten, extremely flammable wood underneath.
I stole across the street, making it to the other side without detection. I walked around the side of the house, if you could call it that, looking for a good place to start the fire. There was a wonderful little alcove underneath the front porch, which was attached to the squat little building.
I took out my box of matched, took one out, and expertly flicked it against the side of the box. A tiny flame grew from the tip of the match. I threw it into the pile of dry brown leaves that had collected under the porch. I repeated the process twice. After a minute, a flame blossomed out of the leaf pile. It reached the underside of the porch, lighting the rotted wood on fire. It quickly caught onto the rest of the porch.
The smoke was curling into the sky by now. I quickly hid myself inside of a hollow bush. The flame paused, as though it wasn't sure that it was a good idea. But I guess it made up its mind, for it started traveling up the side of the building. Wonderful. This was my new record. Only thirty minutes to get a good fire going. I quickly extricated myself out of the little hollow, and, walking into the middle of the street I yelled,"FIRE!"
And now I was ready for the reaping. I was in my usual black hoodie and pants, which I considered nice clothes. After spending my night out on the streets, I was ready for the reaping. I actually hoped I would get reaped. Then I would have an excuse to burn people alive.
"Good afternoon District Nine!" Vibia Cronin, the escort yelled,"We'll start with the male tribute! Lennox Thorn"
"I am going to burn the arena down!" I yelled.
Barley Kleid, 15
"Mornin' Mother, Grandmother, Father, and brothers," I said as I walked into the kitchen.
"Morning Barley!" they chorused.
"You have a good sleep?" Lucky, my oldest brother, aged nineteen, asked.
"It was pretty good I suppose," I said,"About as good a sleep as I can get before the reapin'"
Knock, knock.
"I'll get it!" I said as I walked towards the door.
I opened it to Mabel, Lucky's wife.
"Hello!" I said in greeting, and hugged her.
Lucky ran over and kissed her.
"Morning, Babe."
"Morning, Lucky," she replied, kissing him again.
"Ok, ok," I said,"Let's save the lovey stuff for after Mabel isn't reaped."
"You nervous, honey?" my grandmother called over from the table.
"Yeah, I'm pretty nervous. But I'm mostly excited. It's my last reaping!"
"That it is," Grandmother said.
"You two all ready?" Mother called from the kitchen.
"Yep!" I yelled back,"Be there in a minute!"
"You look beautiful!" Mabel squealed.
"Thanks," I said, grinning,"You look great too."
I was wearing a light yellow dress that was embroidered with barley.
We rushed out of the room and into the kitchen. Everybody was walking out.
It was a quick ten minute walk. Much too quick, if you ask me.
"Good afternoon District Nine!" Vibia Cronin, the escort yelled,"We'll start with the male tribute! Lennox Thorn"
"I am going to burn the arena down!" a boy, which I suppose was Lennox, yelled.
Oh, jeez. That dude is scary!
"And now for the female! Mabel Kleid!"
No, no. I couldn't let Lucky lose Mabel.
"I volunteer as tribute!" I yelled.
I walked up to the stage with as much confidence that I could muster.
"What's your name?"
"Barley Kleid."
"Ooh, a sister."
"No. A sister-in-law. That's my brother's wife that your stupid 'reaping' system was going to send to die!"
Vibia looked astonished.
"W-well, District Nine, I give you your tributes!"