District 9 reapings

Cassia Howie Norman, 15

"Cassia, wake up!" My uncle Keith pulls the covers off my bed and I open one eye and look at him. Then I close it again. "Cassia!"

"Okay, Okay." I smile at him and get out of bed. He leaves the room and I walk to mirror and brush out my long strawberry blonde hair and French braid it down to my waist. Today is reaping day. If I still lived in district one with mother and father, today would be an exciting day, with everyone chattering about volunteers. I probably would've volunteered, maybe next year, or the mext. After all, I did train for eight years, starting when I was four and until I was eleven. But then mother tried to leave And she and father were killed. Me and my 9 year old twin siblings, Mistletoe and Bluebell, we're sent here. The reapings aren't as exciting here, although sometimes I wish I were still in district nine training. I'm very skilled though, and could probably still win the games if I went in. I live district nine though. I have so many friends, and Uncle Keith is amazing. I'm very happy here, although I guess I'm happy everywhere. I wonder if any of my old friends from district one are volunteering today. I dress in a blue dress, the colour if my eyes, and I tie the end of my braid with a blue bow. I even put on blue heels. I walk downstairs, where Mistletoe is reading on the couch and Bluebell is eating a piece of wild turkey that I caught yesterday. I hate violence and killing, but we need food so I really have to hunt. Even though uncle Keith isn't very poor by district nine standards, he's living in poverty compared to district one. Still, I adore it here. I eat a piece if the meat too. It's funny that I trained when I was younger, because I don't actually like the hunger games at all. I'm just not afraid of them. I figure that if I'm meant to die, I'm going to die and that's that,and if I'm meant to live, then I'm going to live. I guess I'm just a big believer in fate. In my time at the academy, I succeeded greatly in running, snares, survival skills, makes, and harpoon guns, but I never really figured out swords or swimming or anything like that. I finish my breakfast and put on a bit of eyeliner to bring out my big blue eyes. Then I sit downstairs and wait for the rest of my family to be ready. Once were all dressed and ready, We head to the town square. While the rest of my family goes to the main section, I sign in and go to the fifteen year old girl section, where I talk with my friends Raina and Randy.

"I wonder what the arena is going to be this year."

"Probably something really terrifying." Raina shudders. "I hope it isn't me. Unlike you, Cassia, I haven't trained for eight years."

"The president executed last year's gamemakers fir being to hiring, so you just kniw this year is going to be crazy." Randy says quietly. "I overheard the mayor saying something about islands."

"That's bad for basically everyone but the kids from district four!" I say.

"Well I don't know FOR SURE or anything, I just overheard it."

"Welcome, Welcome, to the reapings for the 80th annual hunger games!" We go silent. "As you know, district nine is the last district to have the reapings. All the other districts are finished." I've never heard about this before... "so I have been selected to announce the arena for this year's hunger games." I can sense the entire crowd listening closely now. "The area will consist of one main island. This will also serve as the cornucopia island, and is very large. It will be covered completely in small stone houses, all identical. In the center of this lays a volcano. On the far side if the island are the docks. There are three boats there. Surrounding the main island are 5 small islands, each a different theme. The first is a jungle, the second a winter island, the third a forest, the fourth a series if caverns and caves, and the fifth... a suprise." She pauses to let it sink in. It really is going to be a crazy year, I can tell. I wonder what's on the fifth island. "And now, for what you all want to know." She walks to the girls reapings bowl. "Our female tribute for district nine will be Cassia Howie Norman." I stand frozen in shock. I cannot believe that I've been reaped. But I trained for eight Yeats. I'm a career really.

I bet I can win.

Yes, I'm going to win. I smile and walk up to the stage.

Okay guys, for this next character to sound right, you need to read it with a snobby accent in your head. You'll see why in a second.

Thomas Cox, 15

I sit in front of my mirror and make sure that everything is perfect on my crisp, white shirt. My black slacks are smooth and clean. Check. The shirt doesn't have a wrinkle and is well starched. Check. My shirt black hair is combed neatly to the side. Check. Perfect. I stand up straight and walk out of my bedroom. Now you may be wondering my I am so... dignified. First of all, I am the face of a clinic here in district nine. After all, I am the one who convinced that nurse to stay in the area, and was the one who searched for a suitable place for the clinic and I was the one who found a supply chain. Really? You don't believe me? Fine. Maybe that was all really dine by adults. But guess what? By playing the 'cute little kid' thing, I worked my way into my districts political scene ages ago, and it doesn't matter if I really started that clinic or not. I am Thomas Cox. And about why I need to look so good tiday? Today is the reapings, and that means a public appearance. Obviously I HAVE to look perfect. Oh yes, and you may be wondering why I haven't been, uh, tagged down by officials for my "meddling in public affairs' or whatever. I am also on the side of the officials of course. I help the peacekeepers... find people. I kniw you're thinking 'snitch' right now. Snitch is a nasty term. No, I simply speed up the process of finding crimes among the people. I strut downstairs to our formal dining room next to my father. I definately take after my father, as we are very similar in our habits. I sit down next to him at the table and lay a starched white napkin over my lap. My mother and sister, Maria come in. Mother is nice, but she isn't... the brightest person you've ever met, if I may say so myself (which I may, obviously.) And Maria has some silly thing against me for liking attention. Of course I like attention. I certainly deserve it.

"Hello... Maria." I say, raising my eyebrows at her.

"Hi...?" She looks at me oddly. I look down at my breakfast and begin to eat. When I'm finished, I go upstairs and find another, crisper shirt. This one has a tiny wrinkly on the left corner of the right pocket. Right... there. Yes, I certainly can't wear this. I find a better shirt and completely redress. Then I hold up my chin and walk downstairs.

"We had better go." I say. "We don't want to miss the ceremony." I guess it's not quite a ceremony, but whatever. We all leave And walk to the town square. Once I am signed in (I had to wait in line with a bunch if random children. Me! What is this world coming to?) I walk briskly to my section and wait until our escort comes in and talks all about what the arena looks like and a bunch if other useless information. Come ON lady, tell that to the kids who get reaped after. Some if us have BETTER things to do than listen to you blabber on.

"Our female tribute fir district nine will be Cassia Howie Norman." An unimportant girl walks to the podium. "And our male... Thomas Cox." Wait, what? WHAT? Nooooooooooo! Not me. No, Thomas, keep your cool. They don't have to know you're terrified. I strut up to the stage and glare at the girl, my district partner. She certainly doesn't deserve to share the spotlight with me! I have to shake her hand- ewww- and then we are taken to some primitive little waiting rooms.

I'm not looking forward to this.

Cassia Howie Norman

Even though I'm feeling sort of nervous I can't help but laugh about my district partner. He was acting like he was so great and everything, yet I doubt he even has any muscle in there. The truth is, he doesn't have a chance. I am confident that I'm going to win, though I know there is always that chance that something will go wrong... but I'll be fine, I'm sure if it. After a few minutes, uncle Keith, Mistletoe, and Bluebell come into the room. They all hug me.

"So, you think you can win this?" Keith asks.

"Yeah. I trained for eight years, I'm sure I'll win. I'm sure." Mistletoe and Bluebell hug me.

"See you in a few weeks." They say. I'm lucky that I originally trained as a c as reed. It'll save me a lot if trouble. After I'm dine saying goodbye, my family leaves and I get on the train.

Thomas Cox

Mother, father, and Marie walk into the room. Mother hugs me.

"Thomas, do you think you can win?"

"Of course I can win. After all, I'm the face of that clinic." Marie shakes her head.

"Don't you get it? You actually have to kill people here. Not just smile and act cute. I frown.

"Same difference. Goodbye mother, father. Marie." They all hug me and walk out the door. Hmph. I don't want to share a train with that girl, but I suppose I'll have to.

WE'RE DONE WITH THE REAPINGS! Finally! You have no idea how happy I am. Alright, so, it's time to preorder items. But first, make sure to REVIEW!