Calico Jersey, District 8,12
My eyes flutter open and I nearly fall out of the bed when I see what time it is. The Reaping is in 30 minutes!
I throw on the first pair of clothes I see and dash into the rooms of my grandma, Velvet.
"Gram, You forgot to wake me up. Again." She snaps awake and looks at me.
"Whaaat?" she says.
"Never Mind Just get up!" I pull her out of bed and she goes into the bathroom to change into her robe. I run into the kitchen and I rip a loaf of bread out of the pantry and hastily pull out a piece and throw one into my grandma's hand. I run out of the house, with her trailing behind. I don't have to help her along though, because she is in pretty good shape. She looked just like mother. I also look like my mother. Same chocolate skin, curly black hair, brown eyes, small stature. I have a different personality then my mom. My mother was always so brave, even when her and my father where at death's door. After she and my dad passed, I became a scared, shy, nervous little boy who worked in a textile factory. My grandma doesnt have a job, so I have to provide for us both.
We finally arrive and I sign in. I am one of the last people in, but I'm able to dash to the 12 year old section just in time for Mayor Cotton's speech. I catch my breath while he talks about the games, and then my heart starts beating very fast when he inrtoduces Pluto, our escort. My name was in the bowl multiple times do to us being very poor. We needed the extra food though. I try to calm down as he marches toward the female bowl and pulls out a slip.
"Daysha Sanders." A girl skips out of the 16 year old section and bounds up the steps.
"Hi District Eight!" she says with a huge grin. She is happy about this?
I have no time to think about her motives because Pluto is pulling out the male slip.
"Calico Jersey." He says. My eyes flood with tears and I walk slowly toward the stage and keep my head lowered. I dont want anyone to see me like this. I shake Daysha's hand and she says something I wasnt expecting.
"Why so sad?" she says. Um, Maybe because I'm going to a death competition. I think. I decide to be nice, because there is no reason to get an opponent mad at you.
"Um, No reason." I say. I scold myself for such a dumb response, but she can't say anything because the peacekeepers are dragging us to the goodbye rooms. My first and only visitor is my grandmother.
She embraces me in a hug and hands me my token. A piece of Velvet and Calico sewn together.
"Just 'cause your going into the arena doesn't mean I will forget about you." She says. I savor every second of our hug because this will most likely be the last one I get. My heart sinks when she leaves and the peacekeepers bring us to the train.
Daysha Sanders, District 8,16
"Today is the reaping!" I say, skipping toward the closet.
My 17 year old brother, Poly, walks into the room.
"Your so obnoxious!" he says.
"Im just optimistic."
"Your OVERLY optimistic." He snaps back. It was kinda true. I was always very happy and enthusiastic, and some people thought it was annoying. I even was optmistic about the games, but I don't have time to watch them because my family owns a HUGE textile factory and I'm always busy there. I was a pretty sheltered kid, and my parents would never let me watch anything with blood and gore. The only exception was the required viewing from the hunger games, but that is only certain parts of the games. I don't really even know the main point of the games, beside the fact that people are dying.
After picking out a purple dress, I put it on and go into the kitchen. My mother is making pancakes, my favorite. When mine is ready, I eat slowly. I like to appreciate lifes gifts, even if they are small. I aprreciate my family, wealth, and good looks. I had long, curly black hair and blue eyes and most people thought I was very attractive. I also am very thankful for my best friends, Weave and Sew. Just as I finish thinking about them, they arrive at my house and we walk to the reaping. We sign in and walk to the 17 year old section. The Mayor gives his boring speech and introduces Pluto. Pluto goes and pulls out a slip from the female bowl.
"Daysha Sanders." He announces. I skip to the stage and of course, I'm optimistic.
"Hi District Eight!" I say.
Pluto pulls out a male slip and announces the name.
"Calico Jersey." A boy walks out from the 12 year old section with his head down low and he looks sad. We shake hands and I ask him a question.
"Why so sad?"
He thinks about it for a second before replying. "Um,no Reason."
Before I can respond, the peacekeepers bring us to the goodbye rooms and my family swarms me. They ask a billion questions that I can't answer, so I just hug them. They all start crying, which literally brings me physical pain. I hate it when people cry. They leave and Weave and Sew walk in, crying as well.
"It is ok..." I say. Although I hate when people cry, I have no clue how to make them stop. So I just let them cry it out and Weave hands me a purple locket. I open up the jewel on it and I see a picture of the three of us in it.
"Um, Thanks you..." I say before they walk out of the room.
Sorry if this chapter is a bit rushed, I just havent had alot of time to right lately but I felt that it was time for another chapter. Thanks for reading!
-THG19