District 2 Reapings

Maeve Calau, 17, District 2 Female

"Mom" I say. She doesn't respond. Always too busy for me. Sometimes I wonder why my parents bothered to have me. She's talking to my brother Basil. Maybe I shouldn't interrupt but this is what I have to resort to.

"I'm volunteering."

They all look up of course. Never about me, just how I can benefit them. My mom squeals, quite out of character for her.

"We're gonna be rich!"

My brother adds, "Don't be stupid. She isn't gonna win."

My dad says "She might. And if she does, we will get a lot of money!"

Of course, they talk like I'm not in the room, even though I started the subject.

"Actually," I smirk. "When I win, you aren't getting any of it. You never cared about me before. Why should I care about you?" A look of horror crosses my mother's face.

"How could you! I'm your mother, at least share with me!"

My brother rolls his eyes. My mom continues her fit.

"Hason, make her share it!" Really, she's acting like a toddler. And I don't even have it yet.

"Morana, I can't just-"

"Make her!"

I walk out of the room, still listening to my mom screaming. I walk to my Kira's house. Kira has been my friend since we first met at the academy. I reach into my pocket and pull out a silver coin. It's the family's lucky coin. It wasn't always my family, but it is now. Specifically mine. I reach Kira's house and knock on the door. Kira opens it.

"Hey Kira."

"What's up?" she asks.

"I told-" I'm cut off abruptly.

"Before you continue, come inside."

I sigh and step in.

"I told my family that I was volunteering and they started talking about how rich they would be. I can't deal with it anymore, can I stay here until the reaping?"

"Sure you can! I wish I could do more though."

"You do plenty," I say, smiling. "Now I just have to go back and get my stuff."

"Alright, would you like me to come with you?" Kira asks.

"Nah, I'm good. I don't have much stuff to get."

"That's not why I asked, but I bet you'll be fine," Kira says, before going to the kitchen for what I presume to be a microwave hot dog. I walk to my house and open the door. My mom immediately glares at me.

"I'm gonna stay with Kira 'til the reaping," I say, getting a 'hmph' from my mom. I walk up the stairs to my room and go in. It's completely bare.

"What the hell?" I shout. My mom comes up.

"If you die then you won't need it and if you win, you'll have a lot of money to buy stuff."
"But some of that stuff can't be replaced. Why would you do something like this? Tell me where it is." I say, my tone getting darker.
"Are you threatening me? How dare you! Besides, I am not afraid of you!" she yells.

I roll my eyes and walk towards her. She flinches.

"Just tell me where it is. Now." I demand.

"It's in your father's closet! He took it! Blame him!" she shrieks. I don't respond and walk to the closet. I can't wait for the games.

Oedipus Daddario, 18, District 2 Male (Younger at time of POV)

Gladius was on the swing. That wasn't right, it was my turn. The teacher didn't agree, so I had to make my point. I was kicking, screaming, wailing, anything to get what I wanted. I may have punched Gladius in the jaw. As a result, I was sent to time out. I sat there for an hour, and when the teacher said I could leave, I kept sitting for another half hour, thinking about what happened. It made sense to just listen to other people, because I clearly didn't know what was best. So, when the teacher repeated herself, for the tenth time, I got up. I went over to a group of kids. They were daring each other to do stuff. I asked to join and they let me. Soon, it was my turn. I was dared to do something. So I did it. I don't get why they were so shocked.

Hermia Daddario (35) District 2

The phone rang. It was the preschool. My face went pale. Oedipus. I answered.

"Hello? Is everything okay?"

"I'm afraid not. Your son needs to be picked up."

"What? Why? What happened?" I was becoming hysterical.

"We feel it would be easier to explain in person."

I ran to Jameson's office.

"We need to go to the preschool! Something happened!" I shouted. We rushed out the door to the preschool. When we got there, the teacher was waiting. She took us to the nurses office. I saw my darling boy. But, he had an eyepatch, blood was everywhere. The teacher said

"Apparently, another kid dared him to stab his own eye out." I gasped and wailed, collapsing to the floor.

Oedipus Daddario (18) District 2 Male

Mommy fell. I walked over and asked if she was okay. She didn't respond. I heard the nurse say the word fainted. What does that mean? Is she dead? Apparently not, as we went home. My parents talked to me about what I did. I didn't think it was a big deal. They took me to the doctor, and he looked at my eye. He did some stuff to it and it didn't hurt as much. I didn't realize I liked the pain until it was gone. I could find other ways though. Like the stuff that I see the big kids carrying around. That looks cool. My parents took me to a big building. I was gonna get to be like the big kids! I would get those cool shiny toys they had. And I could use them. This was turning out great. I was I told my parents, they looked funny.

Jameson Daddario (37) District 2

We took him to the training center to sign him up. It was supposed to be an outlet. We never imagined he would be so into it. We never dreamed he would be the chosen volunteer.