Shepherd is probably one of my favourite tributes. I may be biased and let him survive a little bit more. Jenny on the other hand was really hard to write about.
In other news, I just made a blog! Wow I know right? It's on my profile and it details the Victors as well as the current President and Head Gamemaker. Feel free to tell me what you think of them? I tell you it's hard to find face claims when you've already written about them. Nevertheless I found some, I think they're all cliche to be honest. Took me a good two weeks to figure things out.
Shepherd Baker, D10M, 18
I've been up since four in the morning. I'm always up this early though regardless of what day it is. There's nothing like a good early morning rise to loosen the body and get some fresh air. I take a deep breath and let it all out with a sigh.
It's my final year of the reapings yet I can't help but feel like what I have for the past six years of my life. Scared to death of the prospect of getting picked, it's true though. My chances are slightly higher than most of the eighteen year olds because of the tesserae I had to take out during the past two years.
Despite that though I feel no regrets because it ended up helping my family. My mother left when I was around the age of fifteen leaving my father to take care of the children. Meaning that he had to work so many hours. I was left, along with my eldest brother Matt, to take care of the little ones: Patrick who is twelve, Kevin who is thirteen and our only sister Morgan, who is ten.
Our family is a big one but that didn't stop our father from working. We hardly see him but we know that he brings home enough to make us live every week. Matt also began working after being deemed safe from the reapings. That's one Baker now four more to go.
I look over the horizon, at the sun as it begins to rise signalling that the day is starting. I can hear the rooster cry out and the animals starting to wake up. I smile, there's plenty of time left before it starts so I might as well feed the animals and get some work done within our tiny farm.
We own an animal farm but most of its produce goes towards the Capitol, we rarely get any of it to either sell or use for ourselves. I don't bother with that though because I like working with the animals. It's so nice and calm.
Making my way towards the barn I spot Matt sitting on a hay bale. He waves me over and I approach him. He has a sombre look about him.
"Hey."
"Reapings today." He just replies looking at the animals. "I feel nervous for Patrick."
I forgot that this is the first reaping for Patrick. Although his name is only there once there is still a chance for my brother to be reaped. I try not to think about Patrick in the arena. It's necessary for us to watch the games and I'm not particularly fond of it. I don't think anyone is to be honest.
"Yeah." I manage to say. "Don't worry. He'll be fine."
He raises an eyebrow at me. He knows that I will volunteer no matter what for my siblings so why does he look like he doubts me? He ignores my confused stare and goes into the barn to let the animals out.
"Well I suggest that you skip out on work today and prepare yourself." He says and now it's my turn to raise an eyebrow. "I know how many tesserae you've taken out. Your chances are really high."
It's true. It is high but I know that it all went to good use because our family isn't starving like most other people in this district. Ironic how it's the livestock district and people are starving. Matt blocks my way when I try to enter the barn.
"Fine." I say and walk back towards the house.
When I got in I see my father sleeping on the couch, he looks shattered. I didn't notice him when I went out this morning but then again it was pretty dark. I make my way to Patrick and Kevin's room, knocking before opening the door.
They are already awake sitting down and staring out the window. They turn to look at me both with a slight nervous expression on their faces. I just offer a supporting smile before ruffling both their hair.
"Look, it'll be fine." I say. "Now get changed so we can be there in time."
The boys nodded quickly scrambling to their respective drawers and pulling out their best clothes. I watch them as they talk about the reapings then deciding to get ready myself. I walk past Morgan's room, she's still asleep but Matt will take care of that later. She doesn't have to worry about the reapings for a while. I past her room going to mine and Matt's shared room.
I begin to change thinking of scenarios that could happen today. Most of them with me ending up volunteering for my brothers. I sigh as I fix my dress shirt and stare at it in the mirror. Blue eyes scan the white dress shirt accompanied by grey slacks.
Once finished, I walk back to the living room seeing that my father is now awake and embracing my two younger brothers. He has a smile on his face. He's trying to be supportive deep down I know he's in pain if he ever has to watch his boys die.
"Are you guys ready?"
They both nod, saying goodbye to our dad and standing beside me.
"Let's go to the square then."
Jenny Reeves, D10F, 17
The daughter of a butcher and breeder. Yes, my life looks pretty neat and it is. We live in the wealthy part of district ten and we don't starve like most of the citizens here. Yet I can't help but feel sad. It's all good, don't get me wrong, but seeing some of the people here thin and dying just makes me feel bad.
Drawing the curtains open on this bright morning I look out the window to see the people already starting to make their way to the square. My parents too have said that they are on their way. I wanted a bit more time to get ready and compose myself before leaving the house.
I get dressed first, just a normal pink blouse accompanied by a pencil skirt coloured a navy blue. I don't know why mother insists on me wearing this but I'll do what she says. Being the only child, I got all the attention, I didn't enjoy the attention. I like to think that they appreciate me and that's all. I can't bear to be the center of attention.
Deciding that I'm as ready as I'll ever be, I go down the stairs and out the door. I walk slowly towards the square. Passing by children and adults as they make their way to the same place.
When I got there, it seems that everything has all been set up. The mayor is standing up ready to speak about the Hunger Games. Peacekeepers litter the perimeter or the square and the children are all standing inside.
I can feel the tension after signing up and standing with the other seventeen year olds. There is quite a vast difference between the wealthy and the poor. You can see it in every section. The sickly looking children are bound to die straight away and there's the slightly healthier looking ones that may stand a chance. I'm somewhere in between of them, I may be healthy but I do have some unnecessary fat. It's not much but it's enough to give me an advantage.
"Welcome District Ten!"
I didn't even notice the mayor finishing her speech, too busy looking around. The escort this year is apparently called Porcia. She's very chubby and quite short. She has a very high pitched voice as she parades in her dress. It's a very nice dress too, like a sort of cow print dress.
"Shall we get this started then?"
Her attempts to hype up the audience doesn't work as she steps forwards to a glass bowl. She tries to reach into it, just barely reaching it actually. She takes the very top one; it's the only thing she could manage to reach inside the bowl.
"I have the male tribute's name." She waves the paper in the air. "This year's male tribute for District ten is…Shepherd Baker!"
I look around for the boy starting at the front, where the twelve year olds stood all the way to the eighteen year olds. There he is, straightening his clothes before walking up the aisle and up the stage. He looks to the boys section, offering a comforting smile to someone in the crowd of children.
I hear some crying at the front of the stage and I assume that they have some sort of relation together because he's trying to console him even though he's on the stage. Porcia is looking at them for a brief second and then immediately went forward to get another slip of paper on the opposite bowl.
"Let's move on." She says as she struggles to get a slip of paper.
She looks silly with her tongue sticking out at one side as she tries to grab one. It's like a cat trying to catch a fish in an aquarium. There is a massive squeal of joy when she finally got one. She goes back to the center of the stage and reads the name aloud.
"The female tribute this year is…Jenny Reeves!"
Oh no.
I look at the stage where Porcia frantically searches the crowd, wondering where I could be. I have to move now or I'll face the Peacekeepers dragging me to the stage. Taking a deep breath I walk out of the section and go down what seems like the longest walk towards the stage.
Once there I look for my parents and spot both of them looking devastated. Their only daughter, only child, reaped for the Hunger Games with a one in twenty-four chance of survival.
"Here are you tributes!" Porcia squeals again before taking mines and Shepherd's arm and dragging us inside the Justice Building.
Being led to different rooms I thank Porcia before going in. I don't know why I thanked her but it never hurts to be kind right?
I sit around the seats looking around the pristine white room. My eyes landing on the red roses on top of a coffee table. It looks so delicate yet deadly at the same time. I hear the door open and in comes my parents. They start to wrap me in their embrace trying not to cry, praising how brave I am to go into the games.
"Thank You for your kind words." I say pulling out from the embrace. "I feel happy with just us three, and I know you don't want to hear this but if I don't survive the games I want you to stay happy."
My mom shakes her head as tears begin to flow down her eyes. She doesn't seem to like that idea. Wiping the tears from her face she faces me and smiles.
"I'll try." She says.
"And remember Jenny…"
"I know." I smile. "I love you guys too!"
Shepherd Baker, D10M, 18
"Morgan we have to go." Matt says.
"No." She says holding on to me whilst she cries.
I pat her head and she looks up to me with her tear filled eyes. The Peacekeepers have been standing outside the open doors for a couple of minutes now waiting patiently as I try to console my sister.
"Hey." I say crouching to her level. "It's alright. You still have Matt and Patrick and Kevin to look after you."
Although that didn't help she sort of calmed down now. I tell her that they have to go or things can go bad. She nods sadly before leaving with Kevin and Patrick along with our dad. Matt stays behind and gives me one last hug.
"I want you to stay safe, just be yourself and try to win."
I hug him back nodding my head at his request. He hands me some string telling me to extend my hand. I did so and he ties it around my wrist.
"That's the best token Morgan can find for you." He smiles before leaving at the request of the Peacekeepers.
"You ready to go?" Asks Porcia when I reached the hallway.
"Yeah."
Jenny looks so happy to be reaped. She's probably too kind for the Games. Don't you think? What about Shepherd? Do you like him as much as I do too? Only two more reapings and then we're officially finished them. I can't believe that I'm still alive and not completely given up on this. The Train rides are next but that's going to be just one chapter filled with various POVs. Can't wait for that.
