Part 2- The Reaping

I wake with a start, drenched in sweat. My dream was really very strange but I push it out of my head. Today is The Reaping.

I pull on a dressing gown and trudge downstairs. On the kitchen table is a breakfast of freshly smocked salmon, our districts bread, tinged green and fish shaped. There is also a mug of tea, hot and steaming, ready to be drunk. I sit down and tuck in. The salmon melts in my mouth and the bread is cooked to perfection. Obviously bakery bread. The tea is not too hot and not too cold. Just to my liking. The whole meal is delicious.

My Mother comes in, wearing a blue dress and white pumps, all ready for the reaping this afternoon.

"Good Morning," she says

"Morning Mum," I reply

"Did you enjoy your breakfast?" she asks

"Yes, it was delicious. Where's Dad?"

"He's gone fishing. Do you want to join him after you've got dressed?"

"Sure," I say

"great." She says simply.

I go upstairs and put my swimming costume on and slip on a pair of leggings over it. I leave the house and run down to the beach. My Father is out past the buoys, in his boat, fishing. I slip off my leggings and swim past the buoys, it's not illegal but it's not a good idea. I climb up onto the boat and join my Father.

"Hello Laura," He says

"Hey Dad," I reply

"Come to join me fishing?" he asks

"Yep, do you mind if I use the trident today?" I ask

"no, I don't mind at all, go ahead," he says.

I pick up my trident and net from the boat's hold and wait for some fish to come by. Me and my father sit in silence, waiting, watching the water, not moving a muscle. I see a ripple in the water. I need to be in it to spear the fish. I slip in soundlessly, hoping not to disturb them. I stay afloat easily, not having to tread water, not having to disturb the fish. A whole shoal comes by, small but there are a lot. I draw back my trident and go in for the kill, spearing every fish I see. They soon realise that they are being slaughtered but it is too late, only a few manage to escape.

"Good job!" My father exclaims.

"thanks," I reply.

I pull the fish off the trident and put them into a rusty bucket. I take a glance at the sky. Judging by the position of the sun and the heat I would say it's midday.

"I'm going to go back now," I tell my father

"OK, I have to moor the boat so I'll be a few minutes behind you," he tells me.

I swim back to shore, and pick up my leggings. No-one is at the beach today, they are all getting ready for the reaping or having a lie in. I walk slowly, regretting having a go at Kate yesterday. I hope she forgives me.

When I get to the house I go to my room, where my Mother has put out a steaming tub of water for me to bathe in. I take off my swimming costume and climb in. I wash the salt out of my hair and wash my body. I climb out and see that my Mother has also lain out a green dress for me to wear to the reaping. I dry my hair and put on new underwear. I slide the dress over my head and put on some make-up. I slip on a pair of white pumps and go downstairs.

"You look beautiful honey," My Mother says.

We walk to the square and I catch Kate walking with her family. She looks stunningly cute in a white satin dress and blue pumps. "Hey Kate, Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I was all over the place."

"It's all right. You are my best friend after all. I've got to forgive you."

"Thanks," I say

We walk together, in silence until we reach the square, where I have to sign in. I line up and wait my turn. The lady ask for my name. "Laura Fox, Fifteen years old." I say, I save her breath and say my name and age in one go. She doesn't need to point me in the direction I need to go, I know. I join the other fifteen year old's. Some are looking confident, having trained for this their whole lives and others look scared.

Cecilia Soft, The woman who does the reaping in our district steps on-stage. She starts speaking. "Citizens of District 4, welcome to the Quarter Quell reaping. As you may already know, there will be only tribute girls in the games." She walks towards the reaping ball, her heels clicking on the stage. My heart beats faster. She pulls two names from the reaping ball. She unfolds the first. "Laura Fox." I feel every pair of eyes in the square look at me. I keep my composure and try to look more career-like. I step on stage. Cecilia opens the second slip of paper. "Kate Trojan." she says.

Kate looks on the brink of tears. This can't be happening. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the tributes of district four!" she says.

She makes us shake hands. The crowd is clapping mildly.