Lawrence Spark POV:
It's 4:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. All I can think about is the reaping. I'm only 14, my names only in there once, I think to myself. It's no use. My mind is made up and it's telling me no more sleep for today. I get up and go over to my little wooden desk. Papers are cluttered all over the top and my pencils are all over the floor. I like to make detailed drawings of little bombs that you put in the ground. They are called land mines. My older brother, Norman, got killed by one 3 years ago. Ever since his death the only thing I can do to not think about it all the time is think up different ways of how to draw land mines. It's a little weird, but it works for me.
Norman was like my body guard. I'm one of those people that think in terms of numbers and sequences. Because of that, I would get bullied a lot at school but when they found out Norman was my brother they all backed off. Norman was a real big guy, about 6'5. But when people got to know him they found out he was a big softy. He had a girlfriend, Liza, and they were going to get married and start a family on their own, but they never got that chance. Norman was a tester for bombs, at the operating facility in the middle of 3. One day he was in a testing room with a bomb gathering up his things to leave early because it was the day he was going to buy an engagement ring for Liza. Another tester went in the back room and set the bomb off. The guy, of course, didn't know he was in there when it went off, but after it happened there was nothing left of my brother.
I was at my desk when my mom came in to tell me that it was time for me to get ready. I glanced over at the clock and I didn't realize that it was 7:30. Everyone had to be there by 8:00. I run to my dresser and find a black pair of dress pants and a green polo shirt. I throw them on and slip on my black loafers. I run to my bathroom to brush my teeth and fix my hair. My hair is pretty long for boys in District 3. It's to the point where it starts to flip out on the ends. I have to get it cut soon, I think to myself.
I run to my parents study to tell them that it is time to go. My father barely leaves that room because work comes before his family in his eyes. My mother looks up from her paper and says, "Ok, let's go." We go to the kitchen and I grab a bowl and get some oatmeal that's sitting on the stove. "You can eat that on the way, we are going to be late", my mother says while I take my first bite. I nod my head and we go out the door and onto the old path that leads to the town square. On the way Liza comes out of her small cottage and joins us. It was the cottage Norman bought for them. Liza never really comes out much because she is still very depressed by the death. She only comes out when she sees my family because we remind her of him and we make her happy.
"Hi Mrs. Spark, and hi Lawrence", she says with her quiet voice. "Hi Liza, how are you feeling today?" my mother asks her. My mother really does love Liza and she treats her like her daughter. "I'm ok today, feeling a little better than normal", she replies. "That is wonderful!" my mother says while clasping her hands together. "How are you Lawrence?" Liza says to me while looking down at me with her big blue eyes. "I'm very nervous", I admit. "Don't be, lots of other kids have way more names in there than you", she says. "That is very true", I reply.
In a matter of 5 minutes we are in the town square and I get in line to get my finger pricked. "Ok Lawrence, we will by right by that power line, ok?' my mother says pointing to the left. "Ok", I reply. Ever since I have been going to the reapings my mother always makes sure to tell me where she will be standing just in case I get picked. You won't get picked, you won't get picked, I repeat in my head until District 3's victors, mayor and escort arrive on stage. Our escort taps the microphone to get everyone's attention. I think her name starts with an L but I can't remember. I've always been bad with names.
"Welcome District 3 citizens to the 112th Hunger Games reaping!" she announces with a big grin. Then our mayor says a few words to announce the video that they play every year to make it look like it is an honor to be in the Hunger Games. I know for certain that it is not an honor. After the video is done, our escort taps the microphone again and says, "well, it's time to get the show on the road, ladies first!" She walks over and reaches her surprisingly large hand into the bowl and pulls out one small strip of paper. She walks back to the microphone and calls out "Terene Light!" The name sounds vaguely familiar but when the girl walks onto the stage trembling, I recognize her. She goes to the same school as me and is a year older. Poor girl, she's trembling so much that she started to cry. "Next, the lads!" our escort says. "Lawrence Spark!" "No! This can't be right!" I hear my mother scream back in the crowd. The boys make a line so I can walk through. I walk up the stage and I've become so numb that I can't fell or hear anything. I think our escort said something but I can't hear her and I really don't care what she has to say at this moment. All I can think about is how my mother is not going to have any more children. I tear rolls down my cheek as our escort puts the girl and my hands together. Then, two peacekeepers put us in separate rooms as we wait for our parents.
The door flies open and my mom and Liza rush in. Liza comes right over to hug me where as my mom just sits on the bench and strokes my back. My mom tries to say something but no words come out. "Mom, I love you", I say which just makes her cry harder. She pulls me onto her lap like she used to do when I was little, and rocks me back and forth. I didn't realize I was crying until she started to sing my favorite childhood song. "Here, this is for you", Liza says while holding out a silver band. I recognize that it is her engagement ring from my brother. "No, that is yours, I can't take it", I say while folding her arm back to her. "No, I insist. It is mine and I am giving it to you for your token. You have to take it, I know your brother wants you to have it", she says. I start to cry harder from those last words as I take the engagement ring out of her hand and place it in mine. My mother pulls my head to her chest and says very seriously "now you can win this. I see your drawings in your room. You have your father's smarts, and my witty mind. Now go out and try to win". With those last words the door flies open once again only to reveal a peacekeeper that's telling us we are out of time. "No, it can't be time yet", my mother whispers. "Now", the peacekeeper says sternly. My mother and Liza walk out of the room crying so loud that when the door closes I can still hear them. I have no more visitors.
Terene Light POV:
I wake up to the sound of my baby brother, Warrick, crying. I turn over to look at my alarm clock and it reads 3:14. Great, I think to myself sarcastically. I get out of bed and walk to Warrick's room. I pick him up and cradle him until he stops crying. Warrick was an unexpected baby, so my parents don't really take care of him. When he was born all they did was buy a crib and place him in it. Don't get me wrong, they love me but they couldn't care less about my baby brother.
Warrick always cries around this time in the morning. I set a blanket on the ground and walk over to his dresser and grab a fresh cloth diaper. I set him down on the blanket and take off his dirty diaper. Yep, that's what he wanted, I think to myself. I put the fresh diaper on and he immediately starts to fall asleep. I pick him back up and set him down in his crib. Once he is in there, he falls asleep. "Good boy", I whisper to him. I give him a kiss on the forehead and then leave. He won't wake up again until he hears my mother and father wake up. I walk back to my room and sit on my bed. Once I'm up, I can't go back to sleep. I grab the book I am reading about electricity and open to the page I marked last time I read. I read for what seems like only a little, but when I look over at my clock I realize it says 7:00. Crap, I think to myself, the reaping is at 8:00! I run out of my room and into my parents. I go over to the window and open the curtains. I hear my dad huff loudly and my mother roll onto the opposite side. "Fine, if you two don't want to get up I guess I'm going to have to jump on the bed!" I say. With that they both shoot up and jump out of bed. "Oh, Terene, what time is it?" my mother asks me. "7:00", I reply. With that my mother makes a beeline for the bathroom. My father just shakes his head and walks to his closet. Now that they are up, I walk to my room to see what I am going to wear to the reaping.
I am not nervous at all for the reaping. My name is only in there once. A lot of girls my age have their names in there about 20 to 30 times. I decide on a nice brown dress that has short sleeves, and a black pair of flats with flowers on the tips. I don't need to take a shower since I took one yesterday. I slip my clothes on and then I walk to my small mirror that is above my dresser. I start to comb through my thin short straight hair. Once I'm done with that I decide to put a thin black headband in my hair. I then put on small black earrings and then decide that I am ready.
I walk downstairs and see my dad sitting at the table reading and my mom at the stove. My dad looks up and smiles. "Terene that is a beautiful outfit you have made", my dad says. My mother then turns around and nods her head in agreement. "Thank you", I say with a smile. "I am making eggs and toast for breakfast", my mother says. "Yum, I sure am hungry", I reply. My mother comes over with three plates and sets one down in front of all of us.
When we are finished my mother gets up and puts the plates in the sink. "I'm going to go check on Warrick and then we can go", I say. "Don't bother, he's fine up there", my father says. I ignore him and walk up to the stairs to Warrick's room. I walk in and sure enough Warrick is awake but he isn't crying he is just looking at me. I smile at him and say "you must be hungry, here". I get the bottle from the dresser and start to feed him. When he is done I give him a little squeeze and tell him I will be back later. I wish I could take him, I hate to leave him alone, but my parents wouldn't dare be seen holding him. I just don't understand them.
I walk back downstairs and I tell my parents that I am ready. We walk out the door and onto the path to the Town Square. Once we arrive I hug my parents and tell them I will see them in a little. I get my finger pricked then head to the 15 year old female tribute section. My friends, Sarnie and Brendelle, see me and they run over and hug me. "Hey!" I say to them! "Hi!" they say back. "How is Warrick?" Sarnie asks. They love my baby brother, unlike my parents. "He is good; I wish I could have taken him here though. I don't like him being alone in the house", I reply. "I know, I don't either, he could get hurt", Brendelle says. I nod and then I hear the microphone being banged. I look up and see that is our escort, Loreece. She's sporting a midnight blue hair color that seems to be in some kind of up do. She is wearing a black shirt that has wires all over it and silver pants. Ever year she tries to tie in the District 3 industry, which is technology. "Welcome District 3 citizens to the 112th Hunger Games reaping!" she announces with a big smile. I stop paying attention because they start to play the video about the Hunger Games and I hate the video. They try to make the Hunger Games look like it's a fun and amazing thing, but it's not. Loreece walks over to the ladies bowl and pulls out a slip.
"Terene Light!" she says. I can't move, my legs turned into jell-o and I start to shake. I slowly move out of the section and up the steps. I start to shake even more and that just causes me to cry. Loreece then picks a male tribute but I can't make out the name because I am sobbing so hard. I look over when Loreece places our hands together and he looks recognizable from school. Peacekeepers then put us into rooms where we wait for visitors.
First, my parents come in. They rush over to me and wrap me in a hug. "Terene this is not fair, you were only in that bowl once!" my father says. I try to speak but nothing comes out of mouth, I just start to cry harder. "Poor baby, come here", my mother says. When my mother says baby it makes me think of Warrick. I pull out of the hug and look at them with a very stern expression. "You have to take care of Warrick. He is your child and he needs to be cared for. I probably will not come back alive and he will then be your only child. He needs you", I say to them. They look at each other and start to cry harder. They pull me back into a hug and don't say anything. We stand like that for the rest of the time until the peacekeeper tells us that it's time for my parents to leave. They give me a kiss and one final squeeze and then leave.
Next, my friends come in. They run over to me and give me tight hugs just like my parents did. Sarnie pulls back and holds out a pair baby shoes. "Oh my gosh, how did you get those?" I ask her. "Well, when my parents thought they were expecting I snatched a pair of Warrick's shoes that were too small for him. Turns out my mother miscarried and I've just had these shoes sitting in my room since. I brought them today just in case one of us was reaped because we all love Warrick so much." She puts the shoes in my hand and I close my fingers around the tiny pieces of fabric. "Thank you", is all I can muster until I start crying again. We all start talking about the goods times until the peacekeeper says it's time for them to go. They both give me a final hug and then they are gone. I look at the shoes and all I can think about is how Warrick is going to survive with me gone, forever.