Chapter 3
Everyone was looking at me. I couldn't believe it was me! I didn't want to move at first but the peacekeepers grabbed me by the shoulder so I can start walking through stage. "Well well, we have a little girl for a tribute, come here and introduce yourself!" Rosie said. I was now on stage and I was very nervous. Rosie grabs the microphone and faces it towards my mouth. "Well sweetheart, what's your name and how old are you?" "My name is Rue and I'm 12 years old" While speaking, I can see my family behind the children. My mother almost cried that she buried her face into father's shoulder and puts her arms around him. "Well its your first time on reaping isn't it? Now let's have an applaud!" but instead of an applause, people put their right hands up and do a three finger gesture. The gesture actually means good luck or farewell when someone dies. "And now for a male tribute!" She goes to the other bowl where there are names for the boys. She puts her hand in it and finally picked one. She came to the podium and said "And now for the male tribute, Thresh!" I look around and there he was. He was definitely older than me. He is 18 and dark skin like me. He is the type of boy who might win in the hunger games because he is very strong. He came on stage and introduce himself like I did. I knew him because father used to hang out with him. He is also nice that he would sometimes play and tell stories to the children and my siblings. "Well we finally picked the tributes from District 11! Thresh and Rue! The tributes from District 11!" We looked at each other and he smiled and raised his eyebrows."Well come on! shake hands!" Rosie said. I let my hand out and Thresh grabbed it and shakes.
After the reaping, Thresh and I went to the Justice Building but we are on different rooms. My family will come until Thresh, Rosie and I jump on board in a train. The door opens and it was Posie. She ran to me and hugged me. "Oh Rue! I'm sorry! If only if I was brave enough to volunteer." "It's okay, father told me if I was reap for the hunger games, I should be brave and think about life rather than death." Posie then started to cry. "Please! Don't die! Stay alive so you can win and come home. Then we'll play and look at the beautiful flowers in the fields like we always do!" The peacekeeper came, meaning it's time for Posie to get out. "Just don't die okay?!" Before I say okay the peacekeeper grabbed her by the arms and got her out. I can hear her yelling my name and crying. I'm almost in tears because I'm going to miss her. Later on my family came in. "Rue! Your here! Thank goodness!" My mother hugged me first, then my father and my siblings gave me a hug. My father then started to speak. "Remember what I told you okay? Think about life rather than death okay?" I nodded my head and said yes. " We'll see you in the arena and please just try to win." My little brother was in tears and I've never seen him cry before. I gave him a hug, told him don't cry because I'll be okay. Later on the peacekeeper told them its time to go and they did. Now I'm just here all alone, thinking about life rather than death. My thoughts are going crazy in my head. Will I stay alive or just die? Will I be strong or weak?