Lou Ellen Blackstone, 13, District 4 Female

I wake up and feel a pit in my stomach. I wonder why I feel like this. Then it hits me: today is reaping day. I'm especially nervous because there are not many older girls in our district because of a disease that caused infertility that spread for a few years. Usually there would be a line up of volunteers, but not this year. I also had to take out tesserae because my family doesn't have much money. It's just me, my moms, who I call Mom and Ma, and my little sister, Lilah, but Ma can't work because of an injury she got many years ago.

Mom struggles to balance her work and caring for Ma. I'm still young, so I can't have a job yet but I only have to go to school half day and I catch fish in an apprenticeship the other half of the day. Today is reaping day, so I don't have school or my apprenticeship, but I'm going to go and catch some fish and trade some so we can have a nice dinner after the reaping.

One thing I am very happy about is the Lilah isn't old enough to be reaped. She's only 11, and I would be so sad if she was sent away to the hunger games.

Everyone else is still sleeping, so I get dressed and head out to the seashore. The fisherman who let me be his apprentice is very nice and loaned me his boat for the morning.

It's still early as I set up the boat, and I get everything ready. I grab my nets for catching the fish, and push my boat into the water. The sun is just rising as I begin floating out into the ocean. For as long as I can remember, I've known how to swim, as the fishermen would pay kids to untangle their nets if they got stuck. I always wanted to be the one to do these tasks for them, because my family could always use some extra money.

A few hours later, there are many more boats out, and I have caught some fish for my family. I walk to the market and sell one of my better fishes for a loaf of bread. I'm not sure what else we need, so I just bring the rest of the fish home. By the time I am home, my moms have gotten breakfast ready, and we all sit down to eat.

"I caught some fish this morning, and I sold one of them for a loaf of bread so we can have a nice dinner after the reaping!", I tell my moms.

"Thanks, Lou! That's great!", responds Mom.

"It will be nice to spend time together with a nice meal in our bellies.", says Ma.

Soon, we finish eating and I get dressed for the reaping.

"Lou, come here and let me do your hair.", calls Ma.

"Coming!", I yell back and I scurry down the stairs.

Once we are all ready, we head to the reaping.

Percy Jackson, 17, District 4 Male

Today is reaping day. One year until I am going to volunteer for the hunger games! I can't wait. Since I'm so hyped up for the games and I have the day off, I decide to practice at the training centre.

I climb out of bed and put on my clothes. I head downstairs and say bye to my mom before I head to the training centre. Once I arrive, I decide to see who will be volunteering this year. I didn't participate in the volunteer competition because my mom will only allow me to volunteer when I'm 18. When I look at the board, it seems like no one is volunteering. That's odd. I wonder why.

My favourite weapon to use is a trident, but I'm also pretty good at sword fighting. I'm also quite skilled at swimming and holding my breath underwater, although this is normal for the citizens of District 4. I stab all the dummies in the room in their vital areas, and then I decide to head home.

As I'm walking, I hear someone say my name from across the street.

"Hey Percy!"

It's my friend, Grover!

"Oh, hi Grover! I didn't expect to see you here!"

"Yeah, I was hoping to catch you on your way home from the reaping. Can we walk together for a bit?"

"Yeah, of course!"

We walk to my house and talk about what we are going to do later today. Grover isn't very skilled in the water area, which is kind of a problem when you live in District 4. I've been giving him swimming lessons recently, and we are planning what I will teach him this afternoon when we arrive back at my house.

"See you at the reaping, Percy!"

"See you later, Grover!"

We are the same age, so we will be standing in the same group during the reaping.

I enter my house, and my mom immediately accosts me and forces me to have a shower. She makes me wear "nice clothes" and even brushes my hair! I know as soon as I get out of her sight I will mess up my hair. I hate when it looks like this.

When she finally deems me ready, we start to walk to the square.

"You know Percy, I'm really glad you're not volunteering this year. A year can make a huge difference, and I want you to be as prepared as possible if you're determined to go.", remarks my mom.

"Yeah, I guess.", I say half-heartedly.

"I am happy to be able to spend time with Grover this afternoon!"

"There you go! Think of the positives!"

We walk up to the line of kids waiting to get their finger pricked, and my mom says, "See you in a few minutes, Percy!"

"Bye, Mom!" I call as I walk away.

As I stand in line I try to find Grover, but I just can't see him. Eventually I make it to the front of the line, my finger is pricked, and I am sent on my way to my section. Maybe I'll be able to find Grover there.

Sadly, I don't see Grover anywhere. Maybe he is running late. By the time I am finished looking for Grover the escort from the Capitol starts the reaping ceremony. He introduces our past victors and plays the video that is played every year. I find it quite boring.

Near the end of the video, I hear rustling on my right, and when I see Grover making his way to me.

"Hi!" Grover says while smiling sheepishly.

"Hi," I respond. "Why are you so late?"

"I'll explain later." he says quickly, with a nervous glance towards a peacekeeper who is glaring angrily at us.

Suddenly, I hear a name ringing throughout the square.

"Lou Ellen Blackstone!"

I recognize that name. It's the name of a young girl who just got an apprenticeship recently. I see her around sometimes, and I noticed that she's pretty skilled at swimming. She's quite young though, isn't anyone going to volunteer for her? I guess not. Lou Ellen walks up to the stage. She looks kind of nervous, but also confident at the same time.

Then the escort draws the name from the boy's bowl.

"And your male tribute is… Grover Underwood!"

Wait, what? Grover? No! Grover can't go to the hunger games, he won't survive! I have to volunteer, I can't let him die! I quickly swallow and loudly say, "I volunteer as tribute!".

"All right, we've got us a volunteer! Come on up young man!"

I walk up to stage and try to look confident as our escort asks me what my name is.

I respond, "I'm Percy Jackson."

"Well Percy, shake hands with Lou Ellen! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you your male tribute, Percy Jackson, and your female tribute, Lou Ellen Blackstone!"

Lou Ellen has calloused, weathered hands, which is not unusual for a citizen of District 4, but rather unusual for such a young child. Almost as soon as we let go of each other's hands we are rushed away to the Justice Building before we will be taken to the Capitol.