Jack Spier finished tying his son's tie. He tried to suppress his tears. Today was the day of the reaping for the seventy-fourth annual Hunger Games. Today a male and female between the ages of eleven and eighteen from all of the twelve districts will be sent to the capital to train before being sent to fight to the death.
Simon rested his hands on his father's shoulders. "Dad, it's going to be ok," Simon said. "There's a one and hundred chance me or Nora are going to be reaped."
"I know, but I always get nervous on this day," Jack said, chocking in a sob. "I should be the one comforting you. You're the one whose name is going to be in the reaping bowl, not mine. I'm sorry."
"It's ok," Simon said. Emily Spier entered the room.
"We need to head to the town center," Emily said. They then leave the house and started to walk to the town center. Simon was seventeen, meaning his name was going to be in the bowl five times. As the tributes got older, their name was added into the bowl more. Since Nora was twelve, her name was only in there once, meaning it was extremely unlikely that her name was going to be pulled. Simon's older sister, Alice, was nineteen, meaning this was the first year she was safe from the reaping.
They arrived at the Townsquare, where Simon and Nora broke off from their family. They got in line to have their fingers pricked. This was so the peacekeepers would have proof that they attended the reaping. Every eligible person had to attend unless they were on their death bed. If they weren't in attendance, they would be punished by public execution or becoming a slave to the capital.
Once their blood was drawn, Simon joined the group of eligible boys and Nora joined the girls. As they waited for the opening video to begin, there was a silence amongst the audience. No one actually wanted to be there. They were paying for an uprising no one was old enough to be there for. Seventy-four years ago, the districts rebelled against the capital. It turned into a civil war that caused the thirteenth district to be destroyed. The districts eventually surrounded, and, as punishment, the Hunger Games became a thing.
When the video was over, Renee Albright, the representative from the capital, walked onto the stage. "Welcome everyone to the reaping for the seventy-fourth annual Hunger Games," Renee exclaimed. To her dismay, there was a silence amongst the audience. "As always, we are going to start with the female tribute."
She walked over to the clear bowl and picked up a slip of paper. She read unfold it and read the name on it. "Leah Burke," Renee said. There was a silence as a girl walked towards the stage. She had dark brown hair that was put in a fishtail braid. She stood on Renee's left. "Now for the boys."
Renee went over to the bowl that had the male names. She pulled out a name from the bowl and read it to herself before announcing it. "Simon Spier," Renee announced. Simon felt his world stop when she said that. He wasn't prepared to die. "Do we have a Simon Spier in the audience?"
Simon quietly walked to the stage. The other males looked at him with pity, but none of them would trade spots with him. Simon couldn't blame them for this. He walked onto the stage and stood on Renee's right.
"These are the tributes from district twelve for this year's Hunger Games," Renee announced. Simon and Leah did the obligatory shaking of hands that the tributes were expected to do. "May the odds be ever in their favor."