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Remember to check out XtremeLoungingChamp's story. The link is in the last chapter. Thanks :D
Emersa Jansten. Age 16. District 6.
There is nothing better, in my opinion, then a good book and a stemming cup of coffee. I like my coffee black as night and I can drink it like water. My mom always puts sugar cubes in her coffee, I think that ruins the flavor. On our front porch we have a swing. The swing is pretty ancient; it creaks whenever it moves but I like it just the same. I find the noise to be soothing. It is my favorite place. I can typically be found around sunrise on our porch drinking coffee and reading. About an hour after sunrise my Mom will join me. We do puzzles and talk until Aubee, my best friend, comes by to walk with me to school.
This morning I am reading a research paper about curing morphling addiction. Addiction is a huge problem in District 6. My life goal is to work as a medical researcher and help cure addiction. My teacher always calls Aubee and I the ambitious duo. Unlike most students we enjoy school and learning. Unfortunately, today there is no school. The fact that school is canceled is one of the numerous reasons I hate Reaping days. To be honest I despise the games in general. Fighting is one of my least favorite things; it is pointless. I also loath how we are supposed to celebrate the death of children. It is cruel. I refuse to celebrate Reaping days as does my Mother. Besides not celebrating there is not much we can do to protest; anything else could be considered severe rebellion. The consequence for that is death. My Mom and I may hate the games but we are not stupid. I think Aubee hates the games too but we have never been able to discuss the matter. Talking negatively about the Games is considered inciting a rebellion, which is another offense punishable by death.
We have some extremely strict rules here in District 6, but from what I have read in books numerous people have it much worse. I try to take each day as it comes and remember to be grateful. I am thankful for my Mom, Aubee, and the fact that learning is encouraged.
I do not know where I would be without books and school. They keep me from making rash decisions plus they provide entertainment that isn't just Capital propaganda.
Hillary Mack Hover. Age 7. District 6.
"One, two, three, four, fifty! Ready or not here I come!" I shout as loud as I can.
"Hey, that's cheatin!" my best friend Quella responds as she steps out from behind a tree.
I run towards her as fast as I can. "Tag you're it! I winnnnn!"
I am the best at hide-in-seek. I always win. Quella pitches a fit every time she loses though. My brother calls her a sore loser. I'm not quite sure what that means but Alias is always right, so I try not to ask him too many questions. He hates when I ask questions; Alias calls me a Nosey Nancy. I'm not sure what that means either but there is a girl in my class named Nancy. She is very pretty and sweet so being called a Nosey Nancy must be a complement.
"You cheated!" Quella says as she begins to pout.
"Did not! Stop being a sore loser! Let's do something else?" I've known Quella since I was the size of a tomato and she is usually very easily distracted. My brother says she has ADHD. I wish I knew what that was.
It only takes me a little while to convince her to go find frogs with me. We have a pond near our house. Quella and I spend lots of time there catching frogs. We don't let anyone come with us to the pond because I can talk to animals. It's one of my biggest secrets and I don't want to show anyone but Quella. My brother caught us out there once. He said I have a gift with animals. My gift doesn't work super great with frogs but I can always catch 'em better then Quella. It works much better with cats and dogs. We had a litter of puppies under our porch once. They didn't have a Mommy. I don't have a Mom either so I understood why they were so sad. Alias kept telling me to let them be. He said nature needed to take it's course.
I disagreed with nature; I nursed those pups back to health!
Emersa Jansten. Age 16. District 6.
As much as I hate the Reapings, I find them to be mildly interesting. Every year I am shocked by the number of people that reside in District 6 and the differences between us. I could spend hours watching the screens that display the crowds. Occasionally I catch a glimpse of Aubee and I. My tall gangly pale body is the polar opposite to Aubee's tan athletic figure. We are quite the odd looking pair. I settled on a simple bun that keeps my long blonde hair off my back for the Reaping and one of my favorite simple dresses. The grey matches my eyes and it has a loose silhouette that takes attention away from my boney figure. I am not the type of girl that cares much about my looks but I think it is important to look mildly acceptable on Reaping days just incase the unthinkable happens.
Aubee on the other hand is quite the fashion-ista. Her tight red dress gives her curves in all the right places and the way she curled her chocolate brown hair looks effortless, but I know it took hours. Besides both being considered the brainiacs in our year we are about as opposite as the come. Aubee is popular and outgoing. I am more shy and reserved. Aubee thinks I do not give myself enough credit. She claims I am one of the sweetest girls she knows and that I am great at making friends. I disagree but there is no point arguing with Aubee!
"Looks like we got a new escort this year," Aubee says with a laugh. I pry my eyes off the screen long enough to take a good look at her. I cannot believe I did not notice her before. She looks like she is on drugs. She has the fakest smile on her face and is literally jumping up and down with excitement.
"Good afternoon everyone! Today is going to be a fantastic day! Aren't you all super dooper excited? Because I know I am! Ooops, I almost forgot to introduce myself! I'm Pepilia and I get the honor of being District 6's Escort this year!" she says through a series of obnoxious laughs.
"She is a doozy," I cannot help but say to Aubee, "how did we end up with such a quacker?"
"Ladies first!" I finally let my anxiety get the best of me as I feel my body begin to shake. I stare anxiously at the stage as she spends ages digging around in that stupid glass ball. "Congratulations to our lucky female tribute Emersa Jansten!"
This cannot be happening. I was one in thousands of names. No, no, no; anyone but me!
"It's okay Emersa, you're the smartest girl I know." I let Aubee grab my hand and lead me towards the stage. This cannot be happening to me.
Joshua Morphos Isha. Age 15. District 6.
"Ready to see who the new pigs are going to be?" my brother says with a laugh. His humor is always so brutal around the games.
"Not funny Ryan." I say while shaking my head.
"Well, it's going to be me. So I can make as much fun of it as I want to and it's true. We are all just pigs waiting for slaughter." He doesn't sound quite so happy this time.
I want to think of some retort to calm him but nothing ever seems to work with him but then I see it.
"Ryan. Look a daisy. If something like that can survive surrounded my the cold cement then the Reaping is … ," I shrug my shoulders at a loss for words. Words aren't really my thing.
I stare with awe at the daisy for a few minutes. In the middle of town square is the last place I'd ever imagine a daisy to be. Its leaves are poking through a slight crack in the cement. It is not the biggest daisy nor the most beautiful but it's a survivor. For whatever reason the daisy reminds me of myself. I'm kind of a weedy kid. Some kids in my grade tease me for being short but I am still growing! I also never seem to fit in. I prefer studying instead of sports. Someday I am going to be a medical researcher. I already know all about a large variety of plants and their uses. I am going to change the world just like this daisy changed mine. It gave me something to smile about on a day when nothing is good.
"Joshua Morphos Isha, congrats, congrats, congrats! You are District 6's male tribute! Come up to the stage." Our escort's words snap me to attention.
Like I said on Reaping Days nothing is good but I am ready for a new adventure. This could be a learning experience. As for death, well… I will worry about it when it happens.
Hillary Mack Hover. Age 7. District 6.
I have another secret. I'm very scared of the Reapings. I'm especially scared this year because I could get picked. Alias says I am a worrywart and that I should calm down. How can I calm down at a time like this? Alias let me bring my puppy Patches with me to the Reaping though. I thought that was very nice of him because Patches helps me calm down. He was one of the puppies in the litter under our porch. We had to give the rest away but Alias let me keep Patches. Patches was the baby of the litter and he still fits in the palm of my hand. He has lots of spots. He is a very special puppy.
I've been training Patches to do tricks. He can sit, roll-over, and stand. We are working on hoop jumping right now. He can only jump over the hoop occasionally; Alias says once he is bigger he'll jump better. I brought his hoop with us to the Reaping. I figured we could fit in some practice time before they has managed to gather a mini crowd. A lot of the kids in my grade think he is the best thing ever. He is doing extra great today. He has jumped through the hoop twice!
"Can I see him roll over? Pwease?" a little girl asks.
"Sure!" I say in response.
I love little kids. After I get Patches to roll over, I let the little girl hold him. She looks very poor and dirty. I wonder if she is an orphan? I can't help but smile at Patches and the little girl, she looks so happy! I think I'll be extra nice and let her hold him for the rest of the Reaping.
As the Reapings start I make small talk with the little girl. It turns out her name is Sicila and she is 4. I was right about her being an orphan. I feel so bad for her. I wonder if Alias would let her come over for lunch? Alias always says I am way too skinny, what until he sees poor Sicila!
"Congratulations Sicila Delie Mon our little tribute for the 175th Hunger Games!"
I watch in shock as little Sicila starts bawling and holding Patches tight. She is so little; she is going to die for sure. Before I even realize what I am doing my hand is in the air waving like crazy.
"I volunteer! Me! Me! Me!" I scream while running towards the stage like a mad woman. I can't let them take that little girl.
Joshua Morphos Isha. Age 15. District 6.
As we were walking off the stage the girl fainted. I cannot believe it. For her sake I'm glad the camera's did not catch it. She'd be good as dead if they did which I guess would be better for me. This whole thing is ridiculous. My chances aren't too great but I guess I was going to die someday. At least it'll be exciting now.
Right now my worries are the goodbyes; I'd just rather not go through them. I do not think my Dad can handle it. My Mom just died a few months ago and ever since then he has been… different.
I was right; the moment my Dad enters my room he looks like he hasn't slept in days. I've never seen him look so exhausted. Ryan on the other hand looks oddly cheery.
"Hey little bro, how does it feel to be the pig?" he says with a laugh that sounds completely and utterly forced. Ackros, my closest friend glares at him in response.
"What, just trying to lighten the mood?" Ryan retorts.
Oh my crazy brother. I am just ready to get this over with. I cannot even imagine all the people I'm going to meet and things I now have the opportunity to see.
In the end the only one who comes through for me is Ackros. He gives me more advice then I'll ever have any use for but I appreciate it. Then it's time for them all to leave.
"Bye Morphos, I'm going to miss you. You were like a brother to me. Come back, you hear me?"
Yes Ackros. I hear you loud and clear. Maybe I'll come back, maybe I won't but I better have the time of my life.
Hillary Mack Hover. Age 7. District 6.
By the time I make it to the justice building I am in tears. The little bit of courage I felt earlier is completely gone. Why oh why did I volunteer? I am dead meat. I am way to small and not at all prepared for the games.
The only thing making me feel kinda better is saving that little girl's life. But how much better can that really make me feel when I know I'm going to die?
Within a few seconds of sitting down Alias comes running in. He is bawling. I've never seen him cry before. I watch in shock us he runs up to me, hugs me, and then begins to twirl me around.
"I love you so much. Come back, ya hear? You may be small but you are so smart and brave. I couldn't have asked for a better little sister," he manages to say in-between kissing me a billion times. He's never kissed me before but boy are his tears salty!
I spend the next fifteen minutes listening to him tell me at least five different strategies while nodding my head in response. I am thankful to him for giving me ideas but I just cannot listen to anyone right now.
By the time Quella comes in I am no longer crying. I am just sitting on my chair staring at the wall. Quella is being her usual dramatic self.
"You cannot die, you will not die. You are the bestest best friend ever!" she says in the baby voice she uses when upset.
I hug her in response. I am too tired to cry more. She spends the remainder of her time blabbering on about all the fun things we've done while I once again just nod along. I just want today to end.
My last visit is unexpected; it's the little girl. Sicila is still carrying Patches who is fast asleep in her arms. Out of everyone who has come to say goodbye I am happiest to see my Patches. I could spend forever just cuddling him. Sicila doesn't say anything so I just spend the visit hugging Patches with all my might. Towards the end she finally breaks her silence. Out of her pocket she brings out a diamond ring.
"It was my Mama's, pwease take it. She'd wants you to have it," she says so quietly I can barely hear her as she slips it into my hand. Before I can say anything to her she runs out of the room leaving me alone once again.