Training Day Three

-Job Markov, 17, District 3-

The sound of the alarm never sounded so sweet to me. After the dream I had, anything would sound like music.

Oh, music. How badly I missed playing music. I hadn't so much as seen a piano for a week. It was so painful to think that I could possibly never see one again.

I'm sure many of the other tributes were having bad dreams about the Hunger Games. I couldn't blame them. Surprisingly, my dream wasn't about the Arena, though. It was about fucking up my private session, which I would argue is worse. At least the Games didn't happen for another few days. There was no way I was going to avoid private sessions.

How badly I ached for some form of calm. Some calm of home… Some form of normalcy. If only I'd known when my last day of normalcy would be.

I pull on the training outfit that was set out for me. The nice thing about that is that at least it's the same for everyone. The same brand of ugly but sleek comfort while learning how to survive as best as you can. I wash my face and run a comb through my hair. I take a few deep breaths, looking at my gaunt, pale face in the mirror. Still alive, but barely.

I'm spooked by the sound of loud rapping at the door, which I know is my escort making sure I'm awake. Heaven forbid I make him look bad by being late. Little does he know that I don't plan to participate in these Games. To do so would surely be a sin. I'm not sure why I was sent here, what I did wrong to be damned to the Arena, but God has a plan and I guess I just need to keep holding on until I can realize what it is. I've spent plenty of time trying to discern what I'm supposed to be doing here, but it's hard to figure it out on my own. And it seems like the telephone line up to heaven was cut the moment they read my name. Which is truly the last thing I need right now.

Calm down, Job, I tell myself, taking a deep breath. I have to be in a good mindset today.

I feel much calmer as I step out into the common area. Heiko is already at the table, his plate piled high with bacon and sausage and fresh fruits of all sorts. I take a seat and take a crepe. I feel far too nervous to eat a good breakfast.

"Oh, good, you're here," Landon says, smoothing back his hair. "I was just telling Heiko how I get my teeth to be sooo white!"

"Oh goody," I say, taking another deep breath to try and slow my pounding heart and feel something other than the terrible feeling of dread.

"Not very many people have teeth the color of snow dear," he says, "Take a look at yourself!"

I look away from him, blushing in embarrassment.

"Oh, can it already, would you?" Heiko says, rolling his eyes.

"Excuse me!"

"Pontifex agrees," Gio says, spooning some oatmeal into his mouth. "He says you should can it. Hey there, watch that PDA you two! That doesn't even make sense! You hate each other!"

"Should we be worried?" I murmur to Heiko.

"I think this shit is normal for him," he says back, far louder than my whisper.

"I'm sorry, but I was saying something!" Landon says, crossing his arms. He gets back to talking about himself, and I try to tune him out as I try helplessly to plan what I'm going to do in my private session.

Job, why is this such a concern for you? You're not participating, you're just going to die! So what does it matter if you don't score well? The voice in my head tries to calm my anxiety, but I can't help but feel nervous. I want to at least make my friends proud of me… And a score doesn't mean I'm playing their game, right?! No, of course not! It's what happens in front of the cameras that actually matters! That's what really counts. I'm okay doing what I'm doing now. I'm okay. It'll just be once we get to the Arena that I show them who I'm really serving. I will never serve the Capitol, I only serve the one that saved me. Right. But a stupid number isn't going to matter one way or another. So I might as well make them proud back home. It's all for them.

When I look over, Heiko is making "blah blah blah" motions with his hands, impersonating every big dramatic motion Landon is doing as he talks about the rugged terrain of the Wild Wild West and its precious cowboys. It was almost interesting the first time, but now it's all the same. I would far rather be talking about something that actually matters.

Just then Gio starts cackling across from me. In all the years of seeing him on the television, I don't think I've ever heard the man laugh, let alone like this. I glance over at Heiko, who gives me a look. As soon as I make eye contact, I look away. So green. As much as I want to be making connections with people, I do want to give them each a chance. And I don't want to trick anyone into thinking that I'll actually be an asset to them when I'm not even playing.

"Oh stop pelvic thrusting Tia!" he cackles. "You're going to make me piss myself!" He keeps laughing.

"Speaking of crazies," Heiko says, over Landon's indignation that he's being laughed at and Gio's cackling and gasping air, "Have you been approached by the girl from District Seven?"

"No, I haven't. She seems like a good asset, though…"

"She's nuts. She came over yelling and then got all gruff. I think she was mocking me."

I feel some form of relief wash over me, right before a sea of confusion. Why am I relieved that Heiko is still travelling alone? After all, I can't ally with him, I would only slow him down. I don't want him to be hurt, so I should probably be happy if he finds someone else to ally with. Maybe it makes me feel secure to know that I'm not the only person that's going to be alone. I keep feeling like I'm doing something wrong because I don't have anyone to be with. I'm a communal person that likes to have others by their side. But this is the one place where I have to fight the fight by myself.

"Don't join in Tuesday! You're going to make me fall off my chair!" Gio howls. Wiress shifts uncomfortably in her seat at the outburst. Landon's face turns red at the laughing.

"I think we should get started down, don't you Job?" Heiko asks, giving a glance back at the others. "We wouldn't want to be late to our last day of training."

"Oh, um, yeah." I glance in his eyes again. Dammit. Why did God have to make him so fine?

"You don't sound so sure," he says, standing up and pushing in his chair. I do the same, not really sure how to put my feelings into words. "Come on Job, why the long face? Leave the horses to be ridden by the King of the Cowboys over there."

"Are you not nervous at all for private sessions?"

"Oh, I'm damn terrified," he says, ruffling my hair and giving me a crooked smile. "But who isn't? Besides, we have the morning."

"I wish I could be as positive as you."

Heiko quickly hits the close doors button before our escort and mentors can get on the elevator. We travel to the ground floor.

"So, you're still set on that whole dying thing, eh Job?"

I look down at the floor. "Mmhm. That's what I believe in."

"Mm. Damn shame. Well, that's your own initiative. Guess it'll make this shit one person easier."

I feel a surge of terror at the thought of becoming a number. A no-name. A faceless Bloodbath. I can barely force out the words. "Yeah. Yeah. It will."

"And I guess that means I'll be on my own."

"That doesn't sound very safe," I say quietly, a storm of feelings swirling around in my stomach.

The elevator doors open to the Training Center.

"Couldn't find anyone worth trusting. That doesn't have a death wish." He gives me a quick wink, his face falling slightly when I give him a sad smile, and heads to the ropes course to warm up.

I go to the bug eating station to learn all about how God created the most disgusting little survival snacks for His beloved people. Delicious.

I'm distracted from the excitement of picking which bugs won't kill you by a paper fluttering down in front of my face. I jump at the sight of a projectile, but sigh in relief when I realize what it is. This isn't going to kill me. I pick it up and am about to look for who lost it when I notice the top of a staff of music on the page. Music?! Music falling from the sky? Maybe this was a sign of some sort from God! I have to see what it is. I open it up and see piano chords! I can't help my excitement as I look at the notes, hearing the music in my head as my eyes scan the chords. Not a song I've ever heard of, though. But it seems like it would be pretty. If only I could actually sit and play it out, and actually hear what it sounds like, not just my shitty audiation… My fingers hit the screen of the bugs station as I desperately try to pretend that I'm playing a real instrument. I hum quietly as I draw the sound out of my imaginary keys.

I hear someone clear their throat beside me and jump.

"Hi," he says, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "Can I, um, have that back now?"

"Huh?" I look at him, wondering what he wants from me, until I realize- "Oh, is this yours?!"

"Yeeeah," he says slowly.

"Of course! Sorry." I quickly fold the music back up and hand it to him.

"Do you know the song?" he asks, looking hopeful.

"Oh, um, no, I don't actually."

"Wait, so you were just singing and playing that by sight?!"

I laugh a little. "Oh, um, yeah." I feel a flush spread across my face at his awe. "I'm a classically trained pianist and these are mostly just chords."

"Oh, I see." He laughs nervously and looks at the ground. "I'm just self-taught, so stuff like that takes practice."

"Right. I would imagine it would be hard to come across lessons in District…" I glance at the number on his chest. "Eleven."

"Yeah, as you can imagine, all I know are a few folk songs passed on from my family."

"That's pretty impressive though if you're self-taught! I could never have taught myself stuff like that. I just had an expert to tell me what to do."

"Was it good to have lessons?"

"Oh yeah, I miss it badly."

"You miss it?" he asks, sitting down next to me. "Why did you stop?"

"Not by choice," I say. I really shouldn't tell him much more…

"Oh…" He glances at my screen, which now reads 40% accuracy because I was playing it like a keyboard earlier. "Do you know if there's a piano in the building?"

"I haven't come across one. Have you?" I can't help the feeling of hopefulness that courses through me. Maybe if there is one I can open the communication back up to God and figure out what the hell I'm doing here!

"No," he sighed.

"That sucks," I sigh, glancing back at the screen. "I should probably get back to this now though."

"Wait, Job is it?"

"Yeah, that's my name."

"I'm Anders Bonilla Cruz. But I'm more commonly known as ABC."

"ABC. That's cute. Nice to meet you."

"Would you be interested in travelling together through the course of the Games?"

I glance over at his hopeful brown eyes and feel my spirits sink.

"Oh, um… I'm really sorry, but I can't."

"You can't…"

"I can't ally with anyone, I'm not an asset to have. I don't really plan to participate in these Games."

"But…"

"I know, it's a death wish. But I can't see any other way for myself."

"Alright… Well, if you change your mind…"

"You'll be there. I got you."

"Yeah." He gives me a small sad smile. "I should probably get back to the camouflage station now."

"Yeah…" He turns around, but I call after him. "ABC?"

He turns around quickly. "Yeah?"

I give him as big of a smile as I can muster feeling so heavy and scared inside. "Thanks for letting me look through your music. I needed that."

"Oh, um, you're welcome." He quickly turns around and hurries away from me, back to the camouflage station. I feel terrible for turning him down like that, but I just have to keep telling myself that it's for his own good. He would truly be better off without me, because I'm not going to make it past the first day anyways.

Right?

Right.

~.~.

-Twyla Frisk, 17, District 7-

It feels so good to sit down. I really think I did the best I could for my Private session, and after the showing from the Five and Six tributes, I'm sure that it was a welcome performance. Hopefully I could upstage Walden. Although I'm not sure what he has planned with that girl from Eight…

I feel good about using my training time wisely. I got the message across to all 23 other tributes and maybe even made some friends along the way! Plus, I got to do a little of everything as I followed people around. And I think that channeling my anger and pretending that dummy was the man himself was a great way to put on a good show for the judges. Now all that's left is to wait for the announcement of the scores.

"I can see it now," Katsuji says, putting his arm around Walden's shoulders and leading him to the living area, "District Seven's newest Victor, Walden Whitmore! You even have a catchy Victor's name and everything!"

Walden grinned in that smug annoying way of his. "Has quite a ring to it, don't you think?"

"You're gonna be a hit kid!" Katsuji says, as the two of them manage to man spread enough to take up an entire couch.

"I would drink to that if I wasn't so serious about taking out all these bitches and coming back to my adoring fans!"

"I'll buy you a beer when you get back," Katsuji says cheerfully.

"Hey, that better be a promise!" Walden said, both of them grinning and laughing.

"Shut up," I murmur, feeling a sense of relief when Jadea puts her hand softly on her back to reassure me. She's really not so bad.

"That one's going to look beautiful surrounded by stars up there," Walden said.

"The true beauty is that she won't be talking!" Katsuji adds, and they both laugh some more.

"I'll show you!" I shout, unable to control the anger.

"God, it's so easy to push your buttons Baby Doll. Calm down."

I'm about to unleash on Katsuji when the TV lights up with Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith. I'm seething so violently I can barely even hear their lively pre-Games banter as they discuss how exciting this year is going to be and whatever the hell else they usually say. I never paid attention to these stupid programs growing up. I never had to.

"I can't wait any longer! Let's get to the scores, eh Caesar?" Claudius asks in that posh voice.

"That sounds delightful, what do you think Capitol!?" Caesar asked, smiling at the screen. I could actually hear the screams and applause of the crowds outside our building.

"I think they're ready! Let's start with the District of luxury, District One!"

I take a deep breath. "Neapolitan Hightower, District One." The boy appeared on the screen, smirking at the camera with a maniacal smile. It had taken forever to get the perfect shot of him, by his own request. He kept redoing the poses until he got one he liked. It was vomit-worthy. He reminds me of Harry fucking Openshaw, with that charming personality and that smile that makes people stare. He is a total fake, though. It seems his allies haven't all figured this out yet. "With a score of.. Nine!"

Not a big surprise. He didn't seem too brutish, which will cause him to score lower than his fellow allies. But I know for sure that he's a total liar.

"Next, from District one, we have Lazuli Romano!" She was hard to talk to, probably the most apathetic Career I've ever met. She seemed so bored with what she was doing. The easiest thing about connecting with her was the fact that I caught her sitting against the wall and reading. If only she'd had a pencil, I would have written the name in her book. Her picture flashes on the screen. She smiles, but you can see the boredom in her face. I have to wonder why someone who isn't excited about being a deathmatch would be in one in the first place. "With a score of… Eight!" A respectable score, for a Career.

"You can easily outscore her!" Katsuji said cheerfully. "What the hell was District One even thinking, she's not even pretty!" he cackled and high-fived Walden.

"Shush, they're showing the boy from Two!" Snapped Jadea.

"Nebuchadnezzar Spiros, from District Two," Caesar said. He had the best picture so far. He actually looked scary. I actually talked to guy, he's not that scary. He's like a giant toasted marshmallow. I could see him constantly watching out for the little boy from Five. So much that his allies called him Daddy. Although maybe that was a joke. He looks strong in the training outfit, and even though the metal wings behind his ears were definitely not even, he looked proud in them. "With a score of… Ten!"

"No surprise there," Katsuji said, "Look at him."

"From District Two, Lorelei Nyima!" Caesar said. Even her picture looked crazy. She was trying to wear a fake tumbleweed as an accessory when I saw her. "Anything to spice up these boring outfits!" she said. She even painted a design on the outfits at the camouflage station, in the name of fashion. That made it easy to approach her, though. She was very outspoken and frank, which I can respect. "With a score of… Nine!"

I thought about the look on Neapolitan's face at the realization that he was matched by the crazy fashion bitch from District Two. That thought actually made me smile.

"From District Three, Heiko Spate!" The District Three boy was giving the camera a crazy smile in his picture. I thought he would be hard to talk to, but he seemed alright. Definitely loud and outspoken. A bit foul-mouthed. But I think he'll do well for me if I can't make it. "With a score of… Oh! Eight!"

"If that guy got an eight, I can't wait to see your score!" Katsuji said, clapping Walden on the back.

"From District Three, Job Markov!" The tribute appeared on the screen. She had a calm expression on her face in the picture. I had fun talking to her this morning, because she was pretty nice and kind of an open book as well. "With a score of… Mm, six!"

Six is pretty good for her, especially because I was expecting a way lower score from such a soft-spoken tribute.

"From District Four, Garrett Wylde!" He also took a while for his picture, just because nobody was sure what to have him do. They decided on a picture that looked calmer and more determined, which I think was the right way to be. He was polite when I talked to him, but curt. His District partner avoided him like the plague, I noticed that right away. He was super close to Nebuchadnezzar from District Two, but I think they are both in denial about that. Here isn't the place to actually make friends, I guess. "With a score of… Ten!" So he scored the same as his buddy. Not a big shock to me, after seeing him training.

"And, also from District Four, Ott Travers!" The young, mop-haired boy appeared on the screen. He looked overjoyed, elated to be there. You could see the carefree glint in his eyes as the picture was being taken. It was cute. He was pretty energetic and upbeat for my taste, but still a good person. "With a score of… Six!" The six floated around his name. Poor kid just lost a bunch of sponsors next to his District partner. I suppose I would expect nothing less.

"From District Five, Ezreal Valois!" The wide-eyed boy was doing his best to smile despite being gaunt and accepting his own death. It was sad, because he seemed to have a nice smile when it was real. To get him to like me, I had to be smiling ear to ear the whole time I talked to him. He promised that if he could he would help me, but he had no faith in himself. "With a score of…" Caesar frowned and creased his eyebrow. "Oh my. One." The one floated around the smiling, scared boy. I wonder what he did to earn that score. I guess he takes giving up to a new level.

"And his District partner, the lovely, um, Abigail Macbeth!" The girl was smiling largely and bouncing on her feet in the photo. She was cute, and I had to work hard to equal her energy. Also, apparently, a hard worker, who wants to survive. "And Miss Macbeth has earned a score of… Five! Not too bad there!"

"Next, District Six! Klaus Aerglo." The boy's face looked blank in the picture. They tried to get him to do something else, asking him if that was really what he wanted for the photo everyone would see of him. And he blankly said yes. Great delivery. He was fun to talk to because it was easy for me to match him, with his dry sarcastic attitude. The problem was that he gave no fucks, and I still have many fucks to give. "With a score of six!" Another halfway in between. That made me anxious to see our scores!

"And his District partner, Healy Hudson!" The girl looked angry and determined, straight ahead. She was gruff and unfriendly, but I think that she was just focused on winning, not a bad person. She was staring at the camera intensely with narrowed eyes in her picture. Like her District partner, she refused to budge when the photographer egged her to do something else. "With a score of five." Hm. Surprisingly low for someone I thought would actually have some fight in her.

"Halfway through and look at these scores! I hear we have some real ringers in our lower Districts this year, so let's see who they are!" Claudius says, smiling civilly.

"Oh, I just can't wait to see what's left in store! Let's see our next tribute!" Caesar says.

"From District Seven, Walden Whitmore!" the aforementioned boy straightens up on his seat, grinning. I hope he scores the lowest score, even lower than little District Five! "With a score of…" We're all holding our breath. "Hehe, seven! Appropriate, knowing the District!" Walden crosses his arms. "Only a seven!? That's not going to make sponsors look!"

Even Katsuji deflated. "I think you should have gotten at least an eight!"

"Well you didn't, so shut up," I say, as I see my face on the screen. My heart starts beating faster.

"Mr. Whitmore's District partner, Twyla Frisk. With a score of…" It feels like the pause is forever. It's at least twenty heartbeats, I swear. It's so much time- "Seven." I release the breath I've been holding. Seven. That's not bad at all. I feel a smile spread across my face.

"Wonderful work Twyla!" Jadea says, smiling brightly at me.

I turn around just to see Walden's face. He has a pouty scowl on his face, arms crossed.

"See that, Wall Floor Ceiling!? I got the same damn score as you!" I grin and put my hands on my hips. "How do you feel now!?"

"They're just being nice to you because you're not even talented, just pretty," Walden puffs air out of his mouth angrily and I just grin wider. I did it!

"You keep telling yourself that," I say smugly, as they show the small tribute from District Eight.

"From District Eight, Savile Kigour." The mousy little tribute looked happy in his photo, determined to look happy for the last image that will ever be seen of him, if it came to that. He seemed like a pretty nice and easygoing person and it would have been nice to get to know him somewhere that wasn't here. Hopefully he goes fast. "With a score of… Five!" He did well for himself. The photo of him has a glint in the eye, as if he was proud to get that score for being so young.

"And his District partner, Miss Serena Merlo!" The picture of the girl comes up. She is quite pretty, and is smiling shyly. The photographer tried to get her to do different poses, and she really tried to keep up, but the soft-spoken, shy girl couldn't quite do what they asked. She always looked sad, but seemed to trust Walden, heaven knows why. She must be a really dumb bitch if she chooses to trust this guy. "With a score of…" Caesar deflates a little bit. "Three."

I laugh at that. "There's your ally, Bear's Den! And you think you guys are going to win!"

Walden just gives me that smirk that makes me want to shove his fist up his own ass. "Underestimate as you wish," he says lightly.

"Now, District Nine. First, we have Triton Lanser the fifth!" The tribute from District Nine was pretty friendly, and I can see the gentleness in their face in the picture. They were smiling bravely, and I can admire the bravery in their expression. It was easy to keep up with them as they weren't nearly as energetic as some of the others and I could have a lot to learn from them, if only we weren't here. "With a score of…. Four." Four is to be expected from someone as young as they are.

"And, now we have Zuzanna Heeler!" The little twelve-year-old, my Zu Pal, was giving the camera a defiant look and not smiling. The cameraman asked her to try and be cute, but Zu was about to cooperate with someone telling her how to look. She had a little curl in her lip as she scowled at the camera, trying to appear scary. She didn't look intimidating, but I would know better than to cross her. "She really should've done the cute angle," Walden sighed.

"She can do whatever she wants," I say, crossing my arms.

Walden bursts out laughing. "You're funny!" he howls, as I turn back to the television to see her score of four. The score made him laugh harder.

"From District Ten, here's Kaiser Picasso!" The boy was hulking, and truly terrifying. What I would give to see that guy show Walden who the real alpha male was. He had a determined scowl on his face in his picture, staring upwards and looking like a statue he's so sculpted. "Kaiser has earned a score of… Wow! Eight!" The number looked just as intimidating as the man it was circling around. "Well done Kaiser!"

It was funny to see the picture switch from the hulking tower of a guy to his small, innocent-looking District partner with the colorful hair. "Next, our fashion-savvy moo cow Inari Fujioka!" The girl looked so cute. She was definitely shadowing her District partner, and he definitely knew it. I watched him help her make a fire. It was almost disgusting it was so sweet to watch. I'm sure this is a classic situation of Beauty and the Beast. Or, Moo Cow and the Sheriff. Oh, I'm so funny. "With a score of… Oh my! Seven!" Her smile suddenly looked incredibly confident. She did seem confident when I talked to her and was one of those that promised to help me if she got out. I could root for her! She scored the same as me after all.

"Moo moo, she scored the same as you!" I say to Walden, cracking myself up. I get a super dramatic eye roll but I could see Katsuji trying not to laugh.

"Next up, we have Anders Bonilla Cruz of District Eleven!" The boy was quite tall and skinny, his afro making his picture zoomed out more than the previous ones. He was giving a smile that was somewhat unsure. He seemed nervous around me, which I understand because talking about murder is quite intimidating. But also he needs to buck up because we're going into the Hunger Games! "Anders has earned a score of… Oh, another seven! Lovely!"

"Hm," Walden harrumphed. Color me curious.

"And of course, his District partner, Brialle Crescent!" The young girl looks ghostly on the screen, her pale skin and pale hair standing out, especially after her District partner. I remember how hollow she looked when I talked to her, but I think she was a good kid. She had that cool streak of white hair on her head, which was cool. She was interesting to talk to and seemed thoughtful. Smart. Sadly, that won't help her in the Arena. "With a score of… Three." Yeah, about average for someone her age. It's sad, but true.

"Alright, our last District! From District Twelve, Bean Agavoli!" The small boy was beaming in his photo. Ott said something funny to make him laugh right before the photographer hit the shutter. It was a really sweet picture, but made it sad thinking about what would happen to the weird but kind and happy kid. "With a score of… Four!" I smiled a little bit. At least it wasn't totally terrible. Maybe he would at least see a day in the Arena. I couldn't kill a kid that cute, I wonder who could. Maybe Neapolitan, that faker!

"And, last but certainly not least, Melanie Cethin!" The girl looked about as shy and quiet in her picture as she was in real life. She was so hard to talk to, though she's cute. I really had to tone it down to reach her. And though I don't think she'll be surviving, you never know, she is cute. And maybe her shyness is to hide some ability. The cameraman was trying to get her to look cuter and do something, but she stayed for two pictures and then scurried off to be with her allies as fast as she could. Sweet girl had a big storm coming for the interviews. "With a score of… Three." Three seems appropriate for someone like her. Seemed like a really lame note to end on, but I could still hear the crowd outside making noises and being loud.

"And there you have it Capitol, your 61st annual Training Score broadcast!" The crowd roared outside. "It's time to place your bets now folks! Who is going to be our Sixty First Victor?! Tune in tomorrow night to meet our tributes up close and personal for the 61st annual Interview Broadcast with me, Caesar Flickerman!" the crowd made more noise. "Good night Capitol, good night Districts, and good night Tributes! May the odds be ever in your favor!" Even more applause.

Walden left as soon as the broadcast ended, not even mumbling a good night. I grinned at Jadea, who grinned back as Katsuji went to the kitchen to get dessert before bed.

"Congratulations Twyla!" Jadea beamed. Blight mumbled a congratulations and patted my shoulder, on his way to the shower.

"Thanks Jadea. You've been a wonderful escort."

She smiled at me, her eyes slightly brimming with tears. "It's my honor Twyla," she said, taking both of my hands in hers. "You know, I think District Seven will have a Victor this year. But it won't be Walden."

"I'm going to do my best," I promise her. "But first, I'll give an interview that Panem will never forget. And I'm going to get justice for my sister."

A/N: Alright, here are private session recaps! And hopefully you can remember some things about some of the tributes!

CQ: Did any of the training scores surprise you and why? How do you think Ezreal got at 1?