Tough Orphan: Kizzy Ericssen, District 6 Female Tribute
I learned a few things on that fateful Reaping Day. The first was that sleeping in a tree was a bad idea, which was proved when I woke up by nearly falling out of it. Just as I thought that my fingertips were going to slide off of the branch, I swung myself back on to it steadily. Not the best way to wake up. Since I was already awake, I just grabbed my backpack and climbed down-a little more gracefully this time. Once I hit the ground, I discovered that it wasn't quite yet dawn, which was fine with me, don't get me wrong; all it meant was that navigating the district would be a bit harder than usual. But I was used to that, as I had been ever since that epidemic a few years ago that left me where I am now.
The next thing that I was aware of, as usual, was that I was hungry. Really hungry. Again, this I was used to, but it was annoying more than anything, just the same. Alright, I thought. Food. Where can you find it? Think! There was always food around-if you could find it, that was. I started walking, aiming myself a bit more towards the center of town, where the shops were. As I walked, I dug through my backpack, looking for a bit of money that I might have saved up. Occasionally, I'd do odd jobs just long enough to earn enough money to stay alive. I'd had some of the basics on me for years, but things like food ran out quickly.
In the center of town, just a few people were starting to open up their shops. I spotted the open door to the bakery and walked inside, if for no other reason than to just get out of the cold for a minute or two. Sure enough, the baker, or whatever his "official" title was, was there at the counter, waiting for potential costumers. I got ready to use my best acting skills, and put on my most convincing, sweet smile. "Good morning, sir," I greeted cheerfully. In my head, I was thinking something more like: Wow I sound so stupid. I hate people that are actually like this. Good thing I'm acting...
The baker, however, bought it and even genuinely smiled back. "Good morning. What can I help you with today?" I couldn't believe that he was actually a. buying this and b. not completely annoyed with people who were like who I was pretending to be. Oh, well.
"What do you have that I could buy for..." I trailed off, checking my stock of cash. "Two dollars?" That sounded pathetic, I tell myself mentally. Just pathetic.
"Hmm, well, let me see, now..." He walked in to the back of the bakery and came back, holding a small, brown paper bag. "This'd be your best deal. Three biscuits for exactly those two dollars. And, tell you what, sweetie, I'll throw in an extra one, just for you." Okay, the calling me "sweetie" was annoying and kind of creepy, but I ignored it.
"Oh, thank you," I said, handing over the money already and taking the food. "Have a nice day, now!"
"You too," he said as I walked out.
I sighed in relief as I walk out, just relieved that I didn't have to keep up that dumb act anymore. One of the biscuits was already half gone before I was off of the sidewalk again. No, I scolded myself, one now, one for after the reaping, one for tonight, and one for breakfast tomorrow. I finished it off, forcing myself to bite, chew, and swallow each bit, so I could at least pretend that I had some self-control.
Hey, they'd be stale by tomorrow, but at least I'd have some food, and it had to be better than nothing at all. I wasn't complaining. On my way to the Reaping, I stopped and picked some berries that were growing in a small patch of shrubs near the square. They seemed alright to me, and I threw them in a little compartment of my bag.
I reached the Reaping in plenty of time and signed in before heading over to the seventeen-year-old section. I didn't talk to anyone, just waited for the Reaping to start, which it did soon enough.
The mayor read the history of Panem, her voice flat and monotonous. Then she read the list of past victors, along with the announcement that Nate and Antara were the mentors for this year. I almost felt bad for Nate. Almost. He'd just won last year, and he was still seventeen, and terrified to death of the Games, especially now.
Our escort, a woman who's quite full of herself, named Hesperide Twine, (though everyone just calls her "Mrs. Twine", for whatever reason), was introduced just then, and she gave a speech about how District Six was almost as wonderful as she was. I scowled.
Then she said, "I have a very, very, very special announcement! It's time for this year's reading of the card!"
Oh, you had to be kidding me, now.
"On the four-hundred-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that false preparation was their downfall in the war, this Quarter Quell will be twenty years early, and, to be released from the arena, the final tribute must be in possession of five special objects that will be hidden throughout the arena. These objects will be made obvious once the Games begin."
Before I was even conscious of what she was doing, she was already calling out:
"Kizzy Ericssen!"
Oh, great. Just excellent. Wonderful. That was me.
I walked up to the stage, and she called out the name of the next tribute, as there were no volunteers.
"Tod Barringer!"
Whoever he was, he made his way to the stage, positively glaring at all of the cameras. His glare only deepened when nobody volunteered for him, either.
The mayor read the Treaty of Treason, and then I shook Tod's hand, and the anthem played.
We were escorted to the Justice Building.
I didn't have any visitors.
I didn't expect any.
At the train station, Tod just glares even more. I put on the same act that I had just that morning, smiling and waving for everyone. But on the inside, I was deeply annoyed.
The train ride went by quickly. The only thing that I really paid attention to was the food. I was used to providing for myself, and I hated it when the Capitol tried to do everything for me, so I just ate the food that I'd brought with me. I was out of it by the time we pulled in to the train station, though; so I didn't know what I was going to do then.
But it didn't matter, because we were already at our destination.
And I knew that I was ready.
Ready for all of this.
Ready to let the Games begin.
