Ch 38: Top 10 Interviews
Leon Ridgeway, 26, Hunger Games commentator
"We're good to go, Leon," my cameraman Dax said to me. We were now in District 1 filming the top 10 interviews. We have to do it fast before any of the top 10 die.
"Hello Panem," I said to the camera. "You may be surprised that we're doing the interviews, but since we have more tributes this year, we decide to do a top 10 interview instead. We're here in District 1 at the home of Gaetano and Keri D'Agostino, the parents of Anthony D'Agostino.
I knocked on the door of their mansion and Gaetano and Keri opened the door together.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. D'Agostino," I said as I shook both their hands. The D'Agostinos led me and Dax through their mansion in their living room where their other sons Alex and Luca were sitting.
When we sat down, I started my question.
"So did the two of you know about Anthony volunteering?" I asked.
"No, he kept it a secret from us, we honestly thought he would volunteer next year when he would be 18," Gaetano replied.
"What do the two of you do for a living?" I asked.
"I own a jewelry store while my husband owns a clothing store," Keri said.
"Will you 2 other sons volunteer too?" I asked.
"While me and my brother are at the academy now, we won't volunteer if Anthony wins. If Anthony loses, then I would probably volunteer." Alex said.
"Interesting, our last question is how do you think Anthony is doing? I asked.
"He's doing great, we couldn't be more proud. We're confident that he will win and come back home," Gaetano said.
"Well thank you for you time, and good luck to Anthony," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the D'Agostinos and up next is District 2," I said to the camera.
Dax and I boarded the hovercraft and traveled to District 2. When we landed and were ready, Dax told me that we were good to go.
"We're now in District 2 at the home of Travis and Lydia Proch, the parents of Adam Proch," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door of their large home and Travis opened it.
"Hello Mr. Proch," I said.
"Mr. Ridgeway, please come in," Travis said.
Travis led me and Dax to their living room where Lydia was sitting. I started the interview when we sat down.
"So what do the two of you do?
"I work as a blacksmith while Lydia teaches at the school," Travis said.
"Great, so what do you think about Adam volunteering?" I asked.
"While he is our only son, we are proud of him for volunteering," Lydia said.
"How's life in District 2?" I asked.
"You can see that we live in a great house with good jobs," Travis said.
"And Adam is the best son we could ask for," Lydia added.
"Our last question is how do you think Adam is doing?" I asked.
"We think that he's doing great. He has shown why he's one of the strongest tributes in the arena, we're sure he will win," Travis said.
"Well, thank you for your time and good luck to Adam," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the Prochs and up next is District 3," I said to the camera.
Dax and I boarded the hovercraft and traveled to District 3. When we landed and were ready, Dax told me that we were good to go.
"We're now in District 3 at the home of Raymond and Gina Rizk, the parents of Ryan Rizk," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door and Raymond and Gina both answered the door.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Rizk," I said.
"Mr. Ridgeway, please come in," Raymond said.
The Rizks led me and Dax through to the kitchen where their other son RJ was. When we sat down at the table, I started the interview.
"What do the 2 of you do for jobs?" I asked.
"I'm a inventor while my wife stays at home to care for Ryan," Raymond said.
"So RJ, do you have a job too?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm a engineer," RJ said.
"Is RJ your real name?" I asked.
"No, it's actually short for Raymond Jr." RJ said.
"Interesting, so our last question is how do you think Ryan is doing?" I asked.
"We're proud of how far he came and we're certain that he can win," Gina said.
"Well thank you for your time and good luck to Ryan," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the Rizks and up next is District 4," I said to the camera.
Dax and I boarded the hovercraft and traveled to District 4. When we landed and were ready, Dax told me that we were good to go.
"We're now in District 4 at the home of Pascal and Kelly Liguori, the parents of Zony Liguori," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door and Pascal answered the door.
"Hello Mr. Liguori," I said.
"Mr. Ridgeway, it's nice to meet you," Pascal said as he shocked my hand.
Pascal led me and Dax to the family room where Kelly and their son Angelo were sitting. I started the interview.
"So Mr. and Mrs. Liguori, what do the 2 of you do?" I asked.
"Well, I owned a fishing company and since it brings in a lot of money, Kelly doesn't have to work.
"Angelo, do you work too?" I asked.
"Yeah, I help out in my father's business," Angelo said.
"That's great to hear. So Angelo, I heard that you were the top contender to volunteer for District 4 a couple of years ago. How come you didn't volunteer?" I asked.
"Well, I thought that I wanted to volunteer, but I realized that going into the Hunger Games isn't for me. I don't regret my decision because I'm living a happy life here," Angelo said.
"Well, I'm glad you're happy. So our last question is how do you think Zony is doing?"
"We all think that Zony is doing wonderful, I expect him to win in the next few days," Kelly said.
"Well, thank you for your time and good luck to Zony," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the Liguoris and up next is our other tribute from District 4," I said to the camera.
Dax and I walked a few miles to Tina Wayt's beach house and when we were ready, Dax told me that we're good to go.
"We're still in District 4 at the house of David and Donna Wayt, the parents of Tina Wayt," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door and Donna opened the door.
"Hello Mrs. Wayt," I said.
"Hello, Mr. Ridgeway," Donna said she shocked my hand.
Donna led me and Dax to the living room where David was sitting. When were all seated, I started my interview.
"So what do the 2 of you do for a living?" I asked.
"Well, my wife and I owned the top seafood restaurant in District 4," David said.
"Interesting, so I heard that Tina was adopted, is that true?" I asked.
"Yes, we adopted Tina when she was a baby when her biological parents died in a boating accident. We always wanted a daughter, so we adopted her," Donna said.
"My condolences to Tina, so how do you feel about her decision to volunteer?" I asked.
"When she asked to go to the academy, we knew that she wanted to volunteer. We're proud of her though, because she's going great," David said.
"Our last question is how do you think Tina is doing?" I asked.
"Like my husband said, we think that Tina is going great and we think she can win this year," Donna said.
"Well, thank you for your time and good luck to Tina," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the Wayts and up next is District 7," I said to the camera.
Dax and I boarded the hovercraft and traveled to District 7. When we landed and were ready. Dax told me that we were good to go.
"We're now in District 7 at the home of Ricardo and Rosario Reyes, the parents of Cristina Reyes," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door and Ricardo opened the door.
"Hello Mr. Reyes," I said as I shocked his hand.
Ricardo led me and Dax to their living room where Rosario and their son Alejandro were sitting. I started the interview when we all sat down.
"So what do the 2 of you do?" I asked.
"I own of the logging mills around here and my wife stays at home to care for Cristina," Ricardo said.
"Interesting, so Alejandro, do you work too?" I asked.
"Yes, while my father owns the logging mill, I manage it," Alejandro said.
"So how do the 3 of you feel about Cristina being reaped?" I asked.
"We were devastated about it, but we calmed down after seeing how well she has been doing," Rosario said.
"Our last question is how do you think Cristina is doing?" I asked.
"Cristina will win and come home, I'm sure of it," Ricardo said.
"Well thank you for your time and good luck to Cristina," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the Reyes and up next is District 8," I said to the camera.
Dax and I boarded the hovercraft and traveled to District 8. When we landed and were ready, Dax told me that we're good to go.
"We're now in District 8 at the home of James and Alice Hankey, the parents of Tommy Hankey," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door and James answered it.
"Hello, Mr. Hankey," I said.
"Hello, Mr. Ridgeway, it's nice to meet you," James said as he shook my hand.
James led me and Dax to the kitchen where Alice was sitting. The interview started when we all sat down.
"So Mr. and Mrs. Hankey, what do the 2 of you do for a living?" I asked.
"I worked in one of the textile factories while my wife works as a seamstress," James said.
"I'm sorry to ask, but I heard that Tommy's sister Emily was reaped a few years ago, is that true?" I asked.
"Unfortunately yes, she was reaped and she didn't make it home," Alice said as tears were coming down her eyes.
"We still miss her terribly," James said as he put a arm around his wife.
"So how do you feel about Tommy being reaped?" I asked.
"Well, it devastated us, we already lost our daughter and we didn't want to lose our son too," James said.
"Our last question is how do you think Tommy is doing?" I asked.
"He'll win, I know he will," Alice said.
"Well, thank you for your time and good luck to Tommy," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the Hankeys and up next is District 9," I said to the camera.
Dax and I boarded the hovercraft and traveled to District 9. When we landed and were ready, Dax told me that we're good to go.
"We're now in District 9 at the home of Laureen Battalin, the mother of Morgan Battalin," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door and Laureen answered it.
"Hello, Mrs. Battalin," I said.
"Hello, Mr. Ridgeway," Laureen said.
Laureen led me and Dax to the kitchen. When we all sat down, I started the interview.
"So Mrs. Battalin, what do you do for a living?" I asked.
"Well, I manage one of the offices in the grain fields. I keep track of the people in the fields," Laureen said.
"Interesting, so I noticed that Morgan doesn't have a father, how come?" I asked.
"Because my ex-husband is a deadbeat who didn't care about Morgan. He abandoned us years ago," Laureen said.
"I'm sorry to hear that. So how do you feel about Morgan being reaped?" I asked.
"It brought me to tears because Morgan didn't deserve to be reaped," Laureen said.
"Ok, so our last question is how do you Morgan is doing?" I asked.
"She's been doing great and I know she can win," Laureen said.
"Well, thanks you for your time and good luck to Morgan," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was Mrs. Battalin and up next is District 11," I said to the camera.
Dax and I board the hovercraft and traveled to District 11. When we landed and were ready, Dax told me that we're good to go.
"We're now in District 11 at the home of Russell and Jennifer Pepe, the parents of Nick Pepe," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door and Russell opened it.
"Hello, Mr. Pepe," I said.
"Hello, Mr. Ridgeway, please come in," Russell said as he shook my hand.
Russell led me and Dax to the kitchen where Jennifer was sitting. When were all seated, I started the interview.
"So Mr. and Mrs. Pepe, what do you do?" I asked.
"I worked in the fields as a harvester while my wife manages one of the offices on the field," Russell said.
"Does Nick work too?" I asked.
"Yes, Nick work with Russell in the fields before he was reaped," Jennifer said.
"Interesting, so how do you feel about Nick being reaped?" I asked.
"It was tough on us, but we slowly started to be better when we saw how he was doing," Russell said.
"So our last question is how do you think Nick is doing?" I asked.
"We think he's doing well and we're sure he'll win," Jennifer said.
"Well, thank you for your time and good luck to Nick," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the Pepes and up next is District 12," I said to the camera.
Dax and I boarded the hovercraft and traveled to District 12. When we landed and were ready, Dax told me that we're good to go.
"Our last stop is in District 12 at the home of Jim and Susanne Trotto, the parents of Brock Trotto," I said to the camera.
I knocked on the door and Jim answered it.
"Hello, Mr. Trotto," I said.
"Hello, Mr. Ridgeway," Jim said as he shook my hand.
Jim led me and Dax to the kitchen where Susanne was sitting. When we all sat down, the interview started.
"So Mr. Trotto, what do you for a job?" I asked.
"I work in the coal mines," Jim said.
"What about you, Mrs. Trotto?" I asked.
"I teach at the nearby school," Susanne said.
"How do you feel about Brock getting reaped?" I asked.
"It sadden us deeply because he's our only son," Susanne said.
"Our last question is how do you think Brock is doing?" I asked.
"He's going great, he has proved that he has what it takes to win. We're proud of him and we're confident that he will win," Jim said.
"Well, thank you for your time and good luck to Brock," I said as I walked out the door.
"That was the Trottos and that wraps up our top 10 interviews. Good night Panem," I said to the camera.
Dax and I boarded the hovercraft that will take us back to the Capitol. As we were traveling, I send the footage to John so it will air tonight. I relaxed in my seat, what a day, I just hope the interviews were good enough.
Ok guys, the top 10 interviews are up. The next chapter will go back to the game at day 12. Since this is a non games chapter, I'm not posting the stats this chapter.