Chapter 3- Terra Coppersmith
"Iry. Iry you have to get up; you'll be late for school." I shake my sister a little until she opens her eyes and smiles at me.
"Morning Terra."
"Come on, we have to get going. We both have school, and don't forget that this afternoon you have your first shift at the factory."
"I know, I know," Iry says, pushing the blankets off her and getting out of her bed by the window. There's only two windows in our little house, which is more than a lot of houses in District 8. My father put the second window in when I was ten, and got the glass through a trade. I still can't believe he's gone.
Iry hands me her hairbrush; an old ragged thing that used to belong to our mother, years back. I gently comb her dark curls back into a braid down her back. I wrap a piece of twine around the end to tie it, and give her a gentle pat.
"All ready?" I ask her. She nods. "I can't believe how big you're getting!" I say, looking at my sister properly. I still think of her as a toddler in my head, but here she is, eight years old already.
"You'll be taller than me soon," I say and she giggles. "Okay, let's go."
I take a piece of the bread I made last night for my lunch, grab my satchel, and head out the door behind Iry, being sure to lock the door. Not that anyone would break in; we have nothing to steal.
Iry runs ahead of me down the street, waving to everyone she meets. I'm glad to see that she is clean, presentable, and mostly happy. I can't risk losing her, not now.
My mother died when she had Iry, so for years it was just Father, Iry, and me. He worked in one of the textile factories and I took care of things at home, after school and my own shifts at the factories. Almost six months ago now, there was an accident; I never was told what happened. But my father died.
Since then it's just been Iry and me. I have to keep her looking well, and can't let anyone know how much we're struggling. If anyone did find out, they would take Iry away from me and put her in the community home. I can't lose her, I just can't.
I leave Iry at her door for her classroom and go around to join my own class on the other side of the school. She waves goodbye then turns to her friends to chat. I smile to see her happy and carefree.
I'll be done school in two years; then I can work full time and take care of Iry better. Since I'm only sixteen I can only work part time after school. With the money I make from that, it's barely enough to get by. Once I'm eighteen, that's when our luck will turn around. I've had to take tessera this year for the first time ever; my father never allowed it. And if I can help it, Iry will never have to.
Those eight slips of paper in the reaping bowl make me nervous, though.
"Terra!" My best friend Deecey waves me over to her in the schoolyard. We've been friends for years, ever since we started school. We look so similar, with the same dark skin, dark eyes, and curly hair, that most everyone thinks we're sisters at some point or another.
"How goes it?" she asks, leaning against the building.
"Busy as always," I say. She's the only one who knows the full story of Iry and me being alone. "Iry starts at the factory today."
"How does that feel?"
"Well, I don't have to really worry about her at home anymore while I'm at work. And we can walk home together. It'll simplify things, I think."
"My mother said to invite you over after work tonight for supper. You and Iry, of course."
"Oh, thanks!"
"I'll join you after my shift; we should end at the same time, and then we can walk over to my house," Deecey says, grinning. I nod and grin back.
Then the bell rings and we all go inside to learn about how District 8 helps the Capitol. Such dull stuff; I'd leave school now if they' let me.
After school, Deecey and I walk with a bunch of other students, our age and older, to the factories where we work our four hour shifts. I can see Iry in a group of eight year olds, animatedly chatting about something. Deecey nudges my arm and points surreptitiously at one of the boys in the grade above us.
"You see him, Terra?"
"Tall boy? Yeah."
"Know who he is?"
"No clue."
"Fletcher Wellrock, and I'm going to marry him."
I laugh a little under my breath. "Does he know?" I ask.
"Not yet, but he will soon!"
"Deecey!" I say, and we both laugh. "Invite me to your wedding if it happens."
"When it happens, you mean. And you'll be the first one I invite."
"Come on, Mrs. Wellrock, we're going to be late," I tease, and we go into the textile factory.
Four hours later, I emerge into the quick approaching twilight, thoroughly exhausted. I watch for Iry and Deecey while I sit on a low rock wall; the first time I've been able to sit down since my shift started.
"Terra!" Iry comes running through the crowd of workers who are pouring out of the doors. Days done, time to go home.
"Are you ready to go?" she asks. She looks tired too.
"We're going to Deecey's for supper. How was your first shift?"
Iry's face grows a bit more troubled. "It was okay. It's really hard work, and some of the people aren't very nice."
"I'm sure they'll get nicer as they get used to you. How could anyone not like you? Oh, here's Deecey now," I say, standing up. Deecey joins us, waving a hello to Iry. Then we all set off for her house.
I've always liked Deecey's house; it's warm and cozy compared to mine. Her mother is one of the kindest people I've ever met too; whenever I leave she gives me some food to take home.
"Hello Terra, hello Iry," she says, smiling at us. She works an earlier shift at the factory, I know.
"Hello Mrs. Underfall," I say, giving her a hug. She's been like a mother to me all these years. To Iry too, even though in some ways I think of myself as Iry's mother as well as her sister.
"How were your days?" Mrs. Underfall asks as we sit down at the table. Deecey stuffs some food in her mouth right away.
"Mine was fine," she says, muffled through a full mouth.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Mrs. Underfall says fondly. "How were yours, Terra and Iry?"
"I started at the factory today!" Iry says, getting some of her pep back. Mrs. Underfall smiles at her too.
"Terra?"
"Oh, the day was as usual," I say, taking a bite. The rest of the meal progresses with kind words and engaging conversation. When night begins to fall, I stand up to go. It's too dangerous to be wandering the streets after dark. Still, I'm always sad to leave Deecey's house. Mrs. Underfall gives Iry and me hugs before we leave.
"Take care," she whispers, and lets us go.
The breeze is cold as I walk home, holding Iry's hand in mine. The dark could be hiding anything, and it makes me nervous. As we walk in the silence, I can't help but think about the reapings. Four weeks to go. It'll be someone else, I know it. But those eight slips of paper still nag at me anyway.
Iry squeezes my hand, and I can feel her smile through the dark. "Everything's fine, Terra," she says, as though she can read my thoughts.
"Everything is fine. Don't worry. We'll be okay," I say. I say it as much for my benefit as Iry's.
We'll be okay. We always have been. But I can't help but worry.
Four weeks.
Eight slips.