From: Finch (Foxface), District 5, pre-74th Games
Dear Santa:
Ryder. Will. Not. Shut. Up. About. This.
The boy's been delusional or something ever since he lost his brother Chive in the Games.
Well, he was close to me, too.
Anyways, I can't think of that. Not now.
He wants to try out this holiday. He's even believing in this whole Santa thing, and I don't want to break it to him that none of this is real. There is no such thing as friendship. There is no such thing as love here. He can try to believe that there is, but there never will be. This is District 5. We survive.
Nobody here is able to love. And when they can't find anything to love, they don't open up to loving anything: or anyone. So when they realize they should reproduce, they marry the guy with the most money because who wouldn't?
I guess I'm going to become a desperate woman someday that's starving and has nothing and will have to find someone to marry so I don't starve to death. Either that or I'll die in the Games. I'm not sure which one is worse. Or, oh God, even WORSE, winning the Games. But the odds of that happening… Yeah, not very in my favor.
Since I'm a little bit smarter than to believe in some magical, gift-bearing old man, I'm not getting my hopes up for anything.
Even so, Ryder's forcing me to make a list of what I want, so here it is.
-Food
-Good drinking water
-An actually functioning gas mask to live with that awful smell in the factory
Three things. Those three things are all I really need, and all that Ryder needs, too.
This is stupid. I already don't like this holiday.
From,
Finch, District 5
From: Glimmer, District 1, post-68th Games (she's 12)
Oh, Christmas!
I love Christmas! We get to reflect on the wonder of District 1's victory! And the feeling is so sweet! Well, when we win, I mean.
This year, I've decided that I definitely want to volunteer for the Games.
I want to be beautiful, I want to be sexy and glamorous, but, most of all, deadly. I want to throw them off with my beauty and innocence and bubbly disposition, and then destroy all of them! I'll be 18 for the 74th Games. 74 is a good number for me to win.
I'll then be famous and holidays like Christmas will become irrelevant to me because I'll already be able to buy for myself whatever I want! Won't that be a great day!?
But, for now, while I'm still 12 and training and not nearly as big-boobed as I want to be, I still need to ask some things of you, if I've been a good girl this year. Which I totally have, by the way.
I need some pretty ribbons, ties, and clips for my long, blonde hair. And colored streak hairpieces and feathers that will match my eyes. My eyes can be so beautiful, if you put the right make-up on.
Along with pretty things, I also need deadly things. I think a bow and arrows of my very own sounds good, don't you? But, really, I'm alright with anything. BUT, if it's a sword, at least make it a nice one. A pretty shiny blade with a gemstone handle. With pink on it somewhere. Yeah…
Also, I need some make-up to practice my pretty-person status. Flirtatious, beautiful, confident, spunky, fun… Yes, that's who I want to be. Then malicious, deadly, wicked… Yeah, sounds beautiful. That's what the Capitol will know me to be and they'll LOVE it. They'll LOVE me. Someday.
And a dummy to practice on, right? One of those nifty ones that squirts blood at you if you do something right! Wonderful!
That's all I want this year! Merry Christmas!
Love,
Glimmer, District 1
From: Marvel, District 1, pre-74th Games
Dear Santa-
Life's been pretty empty without Dad, as it always has been and always will be.
God, I have to win the Games. We could use the extra money, and, honestly, who would reject the opportunity to bring District-wide pride?
Every time I even think about chickening out, Gloss always reminds me of the stupid promise we made with Jasper when Jasper and I were just little kids: that we would all go into the Games and win and live next door to each other and stay up till one every night playing video games and never have to go to school again and have parties and get girls.
Looking back on it now, it just reflects the ignorance of us as kids. I'm really apprehensive about volunteering. But every year, Gloss rubs it in my face and reminds me: yet AGAIN: that not only did he keep the promise, but Jasper died trying to uphold his part of the promise.
Gloss really wants me to volunteer. I wish I had the same passion, but maybe it's because I've seen what it's done to him. (He won't admit it, but it ruined him as a person. I should know.)
When I was just a child I thought Gloss going into the Games was the best thing ever. I really thought that he should be honored, celebrated. I'm pretty sure he thought the same thing, and Jasper was never quiet in his praise and admiration. But now I can see it in his eyes that he's haunted by his Arena. I can't blame him. I'll probably be haunted by my Arena, too.
Because I'm friends with a Victor, the whole Capitol is eagerly waiting for me to go into the Games. And they're waiting for me to win.
I don't know if I can do it. Gloss tells me I can, that I should, that it should be my goal in life, but something about the way he talks to me is very unlike Gloss. In fact, sometimes he gets paranoid about his own house in the Victor's Village. I wouldn't doubt a second that the Capitol's constantly "checking in" on him and all the Victors.
Neither would he. I guess he got smarter in that respect.
Going into the Games is something I don't look forward to, but it's also something I have to do: and soon.
So I guess I need to train even harder until that day, and keep Gloss away from alcohol like he tries to keep me away from it. So, I'll need some gym shorts and T-shirts for those long nights at the Academy. Maybe a gym-bag to keep them all in. Weapons, too, of course. I want to get used to them all so I'll be ready for whatever the Capitol may throw at us.
Thanks again, Santa.
Merry Christmas,
Marvel, District 1
From: Gloss, District 1, Pre-74th Games
They're spying on me. Help. I need away from the constant spying.
I LOVE THE CAPITOL!
I'm dying.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR MARVEL'S GAMES!
He had better not.
I LOVE MY SISTER!
I hate the bitch.
THE GAMES THIS YEAR ARE GOING TO BE GREAT, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I'M A MENTOR!
This year is going to be hell.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK TO THE CAPITOL!
I am such a fucking lie.
JASPER TOTALLY HAD IT COMING TO HIM!
I miss him more than anything I've ever lost. Besides maybe the people in my Arena, most of who died because of me.
ARENA!? WHAT ARENA!?
There's not a second that goes by that I don't think about it. Not a second goes by that I don't want to rewind and stop myself from volunteering.
ALL VICTORS FROM THE OTHER DISTRICTS BESIDES TWO ARE BELOW ME! I'M FROM DISTRICT 1!
Poor Geno. God, I feel so bad for him. And, as much as I don't like to think of Crayton (especially because of his stupid District partner who killed Jasper) I still have to sympathize with him. We're Victors.
ARROGANCE IS GREAT WITH ME BECAUSE IT'S ALL TRUE. I'M GREAT.
I don't deserve to be alive.
THIS YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS I WANT TRAINING GEAR FOR MARVEL. AND WEIGHT MACHINES TO KEEP UP THIS BEAUTIFUL FIGURE.
I want Marvel and his family to be safe. I want to retire and get rid of the Capitol paparazzi.
I'D ALSO LIKE A TICKET TO VISIT THE CAPITOL. I LOVE THE CAPITOL.
I want to give up the act. But there is no giving up the act. Not now. I'm that guy I hate for the rest of my life, no matter how long or short it is.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Go die.
FROM,
GLOSS, DISTRICT 1