p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""So, Spaark, can you give us some insight into just how, exactly, you won?" The capitol interviewer asks. It's a stupid question. The blinding interview lights heat my face. My victor's pet, and albino mouse named Snow, squirms uncomfortably in my lap. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well, you all saw it." I mumble. He laughs. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well, yes, but how did you remember everything? I'm sure if any of us tried to navigate our way around complex underground passages, we'd get lost." He explains. "Am I right?" This time he addresses the crowd, who murmur their assent. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well," I begin, unsure of how exactly to respond. "You'd be surprised what you can do when you've been crawling through sewers your entire life, and then get chucked into an arena full of them, and people are hunting you, and if you fail you die." I say quietly. The crowd is silent. "Of course," I continue, "such things do help." I hope I have rectified the situation. The interviewer awkwardly laughs. I smile to show that it was a joke, or that I find it humorous, or anything other than possible rebellion or dissent from the capitol way. That will only get you or your family killed. I glance to Ferfeln, who sits in a special presidential box away from everyone else. He gives me disapproving look. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well, now that you're no longer stuck in a sewer, how are you finding the capitol?" He asks. Yes. Thank you. Now is my chance to redeem myself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""I think it's awesome. The architecture is amazing, the food is divine, and it doesn't stink like the sewers." The crowd laughs. I again glance at Ferfeln, who nods. The buzzer goes off. The ten minutes are up. I am free. I rise, as does the interviewer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well folks, that's all for tonight!" The crowd cheers. As I remove myself from the stage and walk away, I begin to feel safe again. The darkness of backstage is welcoming. Now I can be alone. With Snow, of course. He loves me. I did save him from that mean girl from district nine. The wriggles in my pocket now. I gently pat him, to let him know that it will all be fine. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Everything will be alright." I whisper to him, but more to myself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well, you all saw it." I mumble. He laughs. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well, yes, but how did you remember everything? I'm sure if any of us tried to navigate our way around complex underground passages, we'd get lost." He explains. "Am I right?" This time he addresses the crowd, who murmur their assent. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well," I begin, unsure of how exactly to respond. "You'd be surprised what you can do when you've been crawling through sewers your entire life, and then get chucked into an arena full of them, and people are hunting you, and if you fail you die." I say quietly. The crowd is silent. "Of course," I continue, "such things do help." I hope I have rectified the situation. The interviewer awkwardly laughs. I smile to show that it was a joke, or that I find it humorous, or anything other than possible rebellion or dissent from the capitol way. That will only get you or your family killed. I glance to Ferfeln, who sits in a special presidential box away from everyone else. He gives me disapproving look. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well, now that you're no longer stuck in a sewer, how are you finding the capitol?" He asks. Yes. Thank you. Now is my chance to redeem myself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""I think it's awesome. The architecture is amazing, the food is divine, and it doesn't stink like the sewers." The crowd laughs. I again glance at Ferfeln, who nods. The buzzer goes off. The ten minutes are up. I am free. I rise, as does the interviewer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Well folks, that's all for tonight!" The crowd cheers. As I remove myself from the stage and walk away, I begin to feel safe again. The darkness of backstage is welcoming. Now I can be alone. With Snow, of course. He loves me. I did save him from that mean girl from district nine. The wriggles in my pocket now. I gently pat him, to let him know that it will all be fine. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Helvetica',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;""Everything will be alright." I whisper to him, but more to myself. /span/p
