Sorry for the long time whitout updating. I would like to thank everyone that reviewed so far:

SafeEyesOpen

15

didgeridoomen

anyway, here's chapter six!

My mother drops her head in her hands. 'Oh no. Twice as much chance of getting reaped. Kyle is sitting with a shocked expression on his face, just like my dad. Twice the amount of tributes...twice as much chance of getting reaped.

My dad sits next to my mom and tries to comfort her. Kyle walks to his room, head shaking. I stand up, too and grab my jacket. I must tell this to Adeo, he doesn't have a television. 'Where are you going?' Dad asks when I open the door. 'To Adeo.' He just nods. I walk in our street, then I start running.

Am I afraid? Pretty much. I can't do anything. My only strength is that I'm strong. Not like Adeo, he can shoot with bow and arrow perfectly. And he can throw knives. He can recognize plants and make food from the leaves and the game he would probably catch.

I am still in thoughts when I'm at Adeo's front door. Before I knock the door swings open. 'What happened to you, man? You're all white. Come in!' I step inside. His dad waves to me from their little kitchen, while Adeo and I walk to the living room. When we sit down, he asks again. 'Now tell me what happened.'

'The...the announcement of the quell.' 'Ah, you're right. I forgot to ask. Well, what is it?' 'The 50th hunger games will have twice the amount of tributes.' I mumble. His face becomes white. I have a pretty small chance of getting reaped. My name is in there only five times, but Adeo. Five times because he's sixteen, but also five times two tesserae, for him and his dad. Fifteen times in total.

Then his dad comes in with tea. He is smiling, he obviously didn't hear what we said here. He puts the tea in three cups. Then he notices our worried faces. 'What's going on? Why are you so sad?' He asks. Adeo tells him. 'The announcement of the quell was tonight.' 'Well, what was it?' 'Twice the amount of tributes must enter this year.'

His dad is shocked, just like Adeo. When he recovers a bit, he says: 'Well, there are still thousands of names.' We nod. I look at the clock. Half past ten. 'Adeo, I must go home now, or my parents will get worried. He nods and leads me to the door. 'Thanks for the tea, mister Everdeen.' I yell at him. 'You're welcome!' He yells back. I say bye to Adeo and the door closes.

I run back to my own house. My mom is still sitting in the same spot as when I left. I hear my dad walking in the kitchen. I sit down next to my mother and think. I still have a small chance of getting reaped. But if I got reaped, I will most certainly die.

Then my dad comes in with tea and cookies. 'Kyle! Come down!' He shouts upstairs. And Kyle is down in a minute. My dad puts some tea in the cups. My mom, still a bit shocked, takes one too. We sit in silence, drinking our tea and eating our cookies.

After a while my dad starts talking. 'Well, I think we should make it a fun week anyway. But Desley, don't forget your shift in the store tomorrow. People need the bread.' I nod. 'And Kyle, your shift is in the bakery tomorrow.' He nods too. 'Then off to bed, you two!' Kyle and I walk upstairs. 'Goodnight.' I say before I go to my room. I hear him mumble back when the door is already closed. I put on my pajama's and go to bed.

The next morning I'm awake at seven O'clock. I brush my teeth and put on some clothes again. I just grab my bag as I realize it's saturday. I put my bag down and go downstairs. My mom is already in the store, and my dad in the bakery.

I walk to the kitchen and eat a slice of bread. When I'm finished, I go to the store. My mom looks pretty pleased I'm already awake. I help her a bit with the preparations for today and open the store. Then I stand behind the counter, waiting for customers to come. I sit down, it's a quiet day today. I start whistling.

I'm already standing an hour and there has been no customers. Then the bell rings. A small girl and an other woman coming in. They're merchants, you can see that. She puts a few small coins on the counter and says: 'One pink cupcake for the little girl please.' I check the money. I walk trough the store and take a pink cupcake. I put it in a small bag and give it to the woman. 'Have a nice day!' I say when she's leaving. 'You too.' She says back. I smile at the little girl. She's so cute. She smiles back and them they're gone.

In the next four hours I help around five customers. Then my mom comes in, telling me to eat something before I have to work again. In the kitchen sits Kyle, eating. I grab a slice of bread, too, and start eating. Kyle is starting a conversation. 'How is it going in the shop?' 'Not very much customers, but fine. How is it going in the bakery?' 'Good enough. Dad just burnt a tray of cookies.' 'He did?' Kyle nods and we start laughing. When we're done we clean up our plates and go our separate ways again. Kyle to the bakery and I to the shop. Mom is already waiting for me to return.

There still aren't much customers, but more than this morning. I help everyone as fast as I can. When the clock strikes four most of the customers are gone. After helping an old man, I notice Florence in the shop, looking at the cupcakes. 'The usual?' I ask when she stands behind the counter. She nods. I grab two breads from behind me and add one of my home-made cookies. She smiles and hands the money. I don't even check it. 'See you at school monday!' I say when she's leaving. 'See you at school too!' She yells back and then she's gone.

I help in the clock for almost two hours next. And when the last customers are gone, around six, I close the shop. In the kitchen my mom is already preparing dinner. Kyle and dad are sitting at the table. They're covered in a thin layer of flour. I sit next to them. My mom comes in with a pan of soup.

When we're all finished, Kyle already wants to sneak out the kitchen, but mom says: 'Oh no, Kyle. Today we are going to play games.' In the week before the reaping my mom wants us to spent more 'family time', which means playing games and talk every evening. My mom gets her old board games and the conversation is about school. 'How are you doing in school?' Dad asks. 'Fine, the usual.' He nods. My dad wins the game, and we are all dismissed.

Tomorrow it's sunday, which means the shop is closed and we can do whatever we want then. But for now, I grab my book and start reading. I'm reading till then. After that my eyes start to become heavy so I go upstairs. It doesn't take long for me to fall asleep...

liked it? I hope so! Anyway, if you review your name I will try to put it in the story!

bye for now,

Lieke