Things Change

For better or worse?

My name is Lilas, and I am 17 years old. I live in a place that use to be called Paris, France. But now we call it the Refuge of Europe. After many wars the whole world was practically blown apart! I have heard that there is a civilization in North America, called Panem, but we don't communicate with them often. As we heard they prosper at the moment. Paris is a poor area now, especially since all the people who are able to travel come here.

I am luckily for I am only child, the mayor's daughter, and very well known in Paris. So now I have basically told you the info you'll need for now I'll start the story. I was wandering around my house when I heard the phone ring. I picked it up and as usual, it wasn't for me. This man had an odd accent. At least it was not like mine. "Bonjour monsieur, je mon père n'est pas ici en ce moment, je peux prendre un message de votre?" I had told him my father was not here and would he like to leave a message.

"Girl, I have no clue of the language you speak, can you speak English?" he said

"Yes, sir. Where I am we speak both English and French."

"Is your father there?"

"No, leave a message?"

"Tell him that the Residence of Panem have changed their government so those of us who are in the other party are coming to you. We will create a stable government and help your population." He hung up. This message confused me, but when my father got home I passed it along. He seemed delighted! My father was always one for trying something new to help his people.

I went along to my friend's house. She is crazy I tell you! Always writing and reading! I still love her of course. "Francesca!" I called.

Leaning out her window she replied, "Oui Lilas?" Our people are starting to make our language mostly English. They are becoming lazier and most other languages now a day's speak it, so we can all communicate with it. Francesca's family is from former Italy. She has picked up on some French but prefers English and a small amount of Italian.

"Want to come hang out by the rivière? I got some stuff to tell you!"

"Sure! Un momento! I have to get my shoes." I waited by her front door and looked at the house two doors down. It was where Gervais lived. My boyfriend. But he has been off with his father for the past few days heading out to old countries looking for more refugees. That's what his dad does, and what he wants to do when he is older. It's not a bad job. Pays well, and makes you feel good for helping others, but it is also dangerous.

"I am here!" Francesca came out her door. I raced her to the rivière, and I won!

We went to the "club house" It isn't much, just and old shed we found in the woods by the rivière. It has the most amazing view. The coast off to the north of the river has sparkling light sand, made of marble and granite. The water runs so clear you can see each individual fish go by and nibble your feet. The water becomes a pink tint of color as the sun sets eah day, and the birds bathe and sing while finding worms for their babies far off in the trees.

You might be confused about such a strange sand content. The reason for it is that we didn't have a use for it after the wars. People didn't need pretty rocks for holding the food they didn't have. So they broke them down and deposited them here. There was enough to fill the river and make it this wondrous sight. It's my city's land mark. The sparkling river.

"So what did you want to tell me?" Francesca asked. The confusion came back to me from earlier. I had almost forgotten by my favorite sight.

"right. So there was a message to my father. He was from Panem!"

"No way!"

"WAY, so the weird thing is he said he was coming with others to help our government and population. It sounds kind of false but I hope this new help will work. Father seems so into it."

"Huh, I don't know Lilas." She had her thinking face. I tried to interrupt but she hushed me. I guess we would just have to find pout what was to come in the future. The future made me think. It made me think of my long wait till Gervais comes home. It just made me feel pas terrible.

Nicci T and I created an idea of international hungergames. She started one but I felt like changing it a bit and making my own version.

Thankx –CeCe12