Alright, another chapter. I'm so excited to get into the Capitol. But until then, PLEASE read and review. I know, it's annoying to see me beg but... I wanna know how you feel about this. And again, share with your friends!

District 10 Reaping

Sasha Fierce, 12

"Sweetie, wake up. We have to get your brother and sister ready for the Reaping. We have to leave in 20 minutes."

I sleepily wipe eye boogers from my eyes. It's too early to be up. The sun isn't even up, why should I be? But I know why I'm up. It's Reaping Day, and we have a long walk to the Town Square. From our house, it's gonna be at least a 3 hour walk. Our family doesn't have enough money for food, let alone a different way to get to the square.

I get out of bed and help Sissy and Brobo get ready. Now their names aren't really Sissy and Brobo. But that was the nicknames I gave them when I was little, and that's all I've ever called them.

"Come on Sissy. Gotta get dressed," I say as I pull back the covers on the bed she and Brobo share.

"Sleepy still. I don't wanna." Sissy is only 4 years old. My mom died giving birth to her. Since then, it's just been my daddy and my Sissy and my Brobo and me.

"Shh. Daddy will carry you, then you can go back to sleep."

My dad walked back into our room with our clothes. I guess it isn't really a room. More like a big closet. I sleep here with my siblings, while my dad's room as all of our clothes and such. We don't even have a bathroom. This part of the Pen, there is a communal bathroom just down the street.

"Come on kids, we need to get to the bathroom and wash up."

"No breakfast?" Brobo asked. Brobo is 7 and hungry ALL the time.

"No… no breakfast today," my dad whispers. We hardly have any food. It sucks. My dad works almost all day everyday, but it doesn't mean anything. On my twelfth birthday, my dad came home crying as took me outside. He asked me to sign up for tessera. I know he didn't want to ask me but we had no choice. I had to take out enough for 3 people; my dad wouldn't let me take out an extra one for him. I would have done it though. I love him.

~v~

"Uhhh, sheep!" Brobo exclaims.

"Correcto!" my dad smiles. We're playing the game we always play on the way to the Town Square. One person thinks of an animal, and the others have to try to guess which one they are thinking of. My mom made the game up.

Sissy whines and starts to wake up in my dad's arms.

"Shhhhush go back to sleep honey. Shuuush."

It works. Sissy falls right back asleep. We've had to be walking for almost an hour so far. I don't know how my dad's been able to carry Sissy for so long. It's incredible.

"OK my turn! Uhhhhh your first hint is that this animal DOESN'T live on a farm," I say.

"Hmmm. Alright is it a monkey?" my dad asks.

"Nope."

"Is it a bear?" Brobo asks.

"Nope."

"Alright another hint please," my father asks.

"Uhhhh…. It doesn't have 4 legs."

"OH I KNOW A SNAKE!" shouts Brobo.

"Wrong again," I smile. He just looks confused.

"But… but what else doesn't have 4 legs?"

"A spider," my dad says. "A spider has 8 legs."

"You got it!"

"Hey," Brobo whined. "Spiders DO live on a farm. They live in the houses and barns and-"

"Oh shut up Brobo. You know what I meant."

This is my first year eligible for the Reaping. I am really scared. I don't want to let go of my daddy's hand when we get to the Town Square, but I have to.

"Sweetie, I will be right back here. Don't worry. I can see you the entire time."

That makes me feel a little better.

Harrish Smith, 14

I love my life. I really do. Even though District 10 is pretty poor, I'm lucky enough that my dad is manager of the largest ranch in the district. I've been brought up my entire life on horseback, herding cattle and such. There is no better life.

"HEEYAW!" I shout as I gallop off on Rayna. I love riding her across the ranch. I feel so free. Like nothing could ever stop me. We're off to bring the herd closer to the farm side of the ranch. The cows will be milked tomorrow, so we need them close by for when the workers come.

It only takes about 15 minutes to find the herd, but it almost takes an hour to get them all back. I have to constantly run Rayna in circles, cracking my whip to keep the cows moving. I know it sounds cheesy, but I feel so powerful on horseback and with a whip. Like I'm in control, in charge. It's the only time I ever feel this way. Even with my dad managing the ranch, we still don't get to choose what goes on here. Technically, I'm not even allowed to be riding a horse and using a whip. But since our family has money, the Peacekeepers turn a blind eye. I'm thankful. I couldn't imagine a fulfilling life without riding.

~v~

By the time I get home, my mother is already clearing breakfast from the table.

"Oh my Harrish you REEK. Go shower NOW. Breakfast will be in the fridge. No arguments. GO."

I wasn't planning on arguing with her anyways. My mom can be a little hectic and overdramatic at times. But she's my mom so I love her anyways.

After I shower I head down for food. By this time, I am starving. Riding really takes it out of me. My mom left a huge plate for me. Toast, ham, sausage, eggs, potatoes, everything. It looked like it could easily feed 3 people, but it only took me 15 minutes to scarf down. I can't help it. I like to eat. A lot.

As I'm finishing up breakfast, my dad waddles into the kitchen. That sounds really mean, but it's true. My dad is so big; his walk is more like a waddle. I take after him. I am only 14 years old, and I am already 6 feet tall and weight 235 pounds. It's gotta be genetic. Or my mom's cooking.

"Son, you won't believe what I just found out. They are sending a herd from the other side of the district here on Tuesday. It seems there was a fire on a different ranch."

"Are they sending anyone else to help?"

"No. That mean's you, me, Randy, and Zarek have are gonna have to work overtime. I don't know how long the herd is gonna be here for."

"If the extra herd is still here by the time school starts, does that mean I can drop out and stay and help?"

My father just snorts at the question. I hate going to school. I'm always trying to convince my parents to just let me stay and help full time, but they won't allow it. I don't see why not. It's not like I'm learning anything useful in school anyways.

"You know how your mother and I feel. You're finishing school."

"But da-"

"No buts," he snaps. "I'm tired of having this conversation. If you ask one more time, so help me I WILL kick your ass straight to the Pens."

The Pens is where all the poor people live. You know, the people who work the low rungs on the farm. Milkers, shit shovelers, egg collectors, and such. It's an awful place. I've only been there once, but it's disgusting. It's no wonder why they call it the Pens. The people live like animals. I feel bad for them. I know it's not their fault. There aren't a lot of opportunities for them to get better jobs. But just hearing a mentioning of the Pens shuts me up until it's time for the Reaping.

~v~

District 10 is huge. Since it's all about livestock here, everything is spread out. We actually have to take a cart pulled by a couple of horses to get to the Town Square where the Reapings happen. It's almost a two-hour trip. And we spend most of it in silence.

No one likes to think or talk about the Reaping. I mean, it's almost always kids from the Pens who get Reaped since so many apply for tessera. But it's still scary to think about. I don't wanna go in the arena. The Hunger Games makes dealing with an angry bull like a piece of cake.

By the time we get to the Town Square, it is almost completely full. I kiss my parents goodbye, and I head over the 14-year-old section. I look to the stage and see that our Escort Terra is just as… Colorful as usual. Terra dressed up like a farm animal each year for the Reaping. I guess she thinks it's a way to relate to the people of District 10. Most people think she just looks like an idiot. This year she is dressed as a peacock. There are so many things wrong with this. One, I've never seen the place in District Ten that has peacocks. It's just a rumor that people joke about. Second, she's dressed up as a male peacock, all colorful and flaunting a huge fan of feathers. It's ridiculous, but better than some of those other Escorts.

Instead of listening to the spiel about the Dark Days, I count how many feathers Terra has on. 67. She has 67 feathers on. Then all of a sudden, she steps up to the large glass bowls. She reaches into the girls bowl and-

"SASHA FIRECE!"

A small, dirty girl walks up to the stage. You can see the tears building in her eyes, threatening to fall in a matter of seconds. Poor kid. She's gotta be only 12, and is obviously from the Pens. It's sad, seeing someone so small and feeble picked.

"HARRISH SMITH!"

My heart stops. That's me. I've just been Reaped.

Sasha Fierce, 12

I watch the boy walk up on the stage. He is HUGE. He has got to be a good couple of inches taller than Daddy, and he's fat. He is trying not to look scared, but I can tell. I see it in his eyes. He is just as scared as I am.

We turn to each other and shake hands. I try to squeeze his hand as hard as possible, but he doesn't even notice.

"Now why don't we give out Tributes a big District 10 cheer!" shouts the Escort. I've never heard of a District 10 cheer. There is nothing cheery about District 10.

~v~

Brobo and my dad are crying really hard. Sissy is crying too, but I don't think she really understands what is going one. She's to little to get it. She doesn't realize I am being sentenced to death.

"Honey, you have to come back. I can't lose you. I can't lose you and your mother. Please promise," my dad sobs.

"Ok Daddy… I promise. I promise to come back," I cry. I know I can't promise that. I know I will be lucky to live through the bloodbath on the first day. But I can't tell him that. He already looks so…. Broken.

No one else comes to see me. I know it's not my friend's fault. They have a really long walk back. But I really wanted to see a few of them. Especially Elle. I'm gonna miss her the most, after my dad and sister and brother. I just wanted to say goodbye.

Harrish Smith, 14

As we walk over to the train station, I can tell that the little girl is trying so hard not to cry.

"You know it's OK if you cry. You're a little girl. I don't think anyone cares, really."

She just glares at me, and tears start rolling down her cheeks. I think I could have worded that a little better.

Once the train comes into sight, I see Sasha's eyes widen and her lips start to curve into a smile for just a second. Like she almost forgot where this train was taking us. To be honest, I was really impressed too. I have never seen a train like this. The only ones I've seen are used to transport livestock. This was clearly made for humans. The insides were full of paintings and mirrors. There were couches and tables and chairs. This was way nice than where I lived. I can't even imagine the difference for Sasha.

I decide to head straight to my room to take a nap. We would reach the Capitol before nightfall, so I wasn't worried too much about eating. The Chariot Rides aren't til tomorrow anyways. I'm surprised to realize I fall asleep fine. I guess working this morning really took it out of me. This morning…. It seems so long ago. It's like I've started a whole new life, and nothing before the Reaping even matters anymore.

When I wake up, I see Sasha sitting on the floor of my compartment. Staring at me.

"Whoa, what are you doing?"

"Just waiting for you to wake up."

"Uh… that's kinda creepy ya know."

It's silent between us for a whole 15 minutes.

"So how soon do you think we are gonna die?" she finally asks me.

"I don't plan on dying. Neither should you. You can't think like that."

"Oh come one. Look at me. I'm twelve! I can't do anything!" She starts to bawl. "And look at you! You're fat! And what could you possibly do? Face it. We're gonna die."

"Hey now. I'm not fat. I'm husky. And I CAN do stuff. I know how to ride horses."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure there will be tons of horses for you to ride to victory out there."

"You never know. And I know how to use a whip."

"But do you know how to kill a person?" she snidely asks. I'm just silent. "Well do you?"

"No," I murmur.

"Well, I guess we're gonna have to learn."

We just sit there in silence until we reach the Capitol. Neither of us knows what to say.