District 10 Reapings

Hey, so we're nearly done with the reapings and then we go VIVA LE CAPITOL! I don't even know what that really means; I just thought I'd say it. Any of you guys got snow? If you wanna lend me some my address is 1234 Street Road, Narnia. I can't say anything other than sorry. I've had an English essay to get done and plus this has been a hard chapter to write. Enjoy the Chapter and May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favour!

Reedman Phelps POV

"Is the truck filled yet?" I call to my girlfriend Mali, whose sitting on top of the bonnet.

"Your last one makes" Mali scans her list "22."

"Ok, just 8 more to go."

"Hon, don't you think that's pushing it just a little? The truck's pretty much full."

"Are you kidding me? I once got 40 on this truck."

"Ok doll, your funeral."

"You're really talking about funerals today of all days?"

"Well sorry Mr Sensitive" she does a small jump off of the bonnet "I don't know why you worry; we won't get picked. Who would package the eggs? I mean a monkey could do a better job than you but still."

"Happy Hunger Games to you too!" I retort.

"And may the odds be ever in your favour!"

We both laugh at her horrible Capitol accent. I love Mali; that sound cliché but I really do. I would marry her if I wasn't smart. Marriage leads to kids and I never wanna put someone through what I'm going to go through for another 2 reapings; fear and a lot of it. I don't blame my family of course, since before the Hunger Games begun again, everyone thought they were gone for good. The games are disgusting but I'm smart enough not to say anything even remotely like that. It would just end in pain and not just for me. Despite the issues, my family live ok. We own the largest chicken farm in district 10 so we don't get tesserae a lot. I met Mali through the business. She needed a job and we needed an extra pair of hands.

"Hey Reedman!" someone calls in a whiney voice "Yolk's on you."

Suddenly my vision is blurred and all I can hear is laughing and Mali's screaming. When I get a second to look I see my sister Cassidy and her twin brother Dandy lobbing the eggs we've spent all morning collecting. I grab Mali's arm.

"Let's get out of here. I've got something I need to show you anyway" we make a run for it getting pelted with more eggs as we go.

When we get out of range, we stop to catch our breath.

"Jeez, I feel like the chick before it hatches out of the egg" Mali laughs, trying to shake egg off of her hand "What did you wanna show me?"

"Just look" I gesture to the wall.

"You wanted to show me a wall?"

"No, look you remember last year some kid carved the two tributes names into the wall; check out what I added."

Mali looks at the wall and then gasps at what she sees. I haven't exactly done much; I just carved "VICTORS" next to the names, so we could record anyone who survived. After all, they deserve recognition too.

"Oh Reed; that's so sweet" she smiles.

She takes my hand and we just sit down on the grass, hoping we never have to let go.

Ruby Rodriguez POV

"Ruby! Come put on the dress mommy got you!" I don't even breathe from under the bed.

She's gonna come up here soon; I'm not putting on that stupid dress. Don't get me wrong, if you wanna put me in one for some special occasion or whatever, I'll do it. But the reaping doesn't mean anything to me, not even fear. I'm scared of being reaped, but the process itself means nothing to me. Unlike my mom, who in typical district 1 style, treats the whole event like it's the most exciting day of the year.

"Ruby? It's me, Rosie" my twin sister calls.

"Down here" I mutter.

Me and Rosie are literally like chalk and cheese. You see, our mom has always been the typical district 1 Career; the type who wants to kill and look good doing it. Apparently, she was next in line to volunteer after the 74th Hunger Games. Rosie is the vainest girl you'll ever meet, but she can cower until the cows came home. I don't want to kill, but I guess my mom's aggression. I can throw knives pretty well and before we moved to district 10, my mom made me and Rosie train daily. Well, I trained. Rosie hung around with our friend Aqua while me and Aqua's twin Azure trained. It was never about going into the games; it was just something we had to do. Rosie kneels down and peers under the bed.

"You're gonna mess your hair up" she scowls.

"It looks stupid anyway; we look like twin pineapples" I crawl out from under the bed.

Rosie looks at me disgustedly, like I'm caked in mud instead of just a little dusty.

"Oh just look at you!" she brushes the "dirt" off with her hands "Mommy's gonna be so mad at you."

"That'll be a laugh" I scoff.

"Ruby Rachel Rodriguez, you're not the least bit funny!"

"Whatever; seeya later Rose."

"Stop calling me that! Where do you think you're going?"

I don't say anything; I look at the window and whistle as loud as I can. My friend Penny looks up from her book and puts it in her bag. She climbs onto her horse's back and yanks it's reins; a loud whine fills my ears.

"Sorry Rose, gotta ride on out!" I laugh.

I climb out of the window and jump down (my room is on the first floor but the house itself is quite small; my room is more of a loft) where Penny is waiting for me. Penny's my best friend in district 10, even though she's 14 and I'm only 12. She's one of the best cattle herders in the business, even better than her parents, plus she's the sweetest girl I know.

"What are you waiting for dummy? Get on!" she holds her hand out to help me up.

"RUBY!" screams Rosie from my room.

"Later Rose; cover me will ya?" I nod at Penny and she yanks her reins again.

Reedman Phelps POV

"Good morning and velcome to zee 77th Hunger Games District 10 Reaping!" Maralina Killaroma drones in her heavy accent "Now ve have a special video from zee Capitol!"

The video plays and Maralina's loud muttering of "I do not care if you have to skeen zee goat alive; just get reed of zee smell yes?" The video is the same as last year; a stupid propaganda based video about how great the games are. Once it's finally over, Maralina returns to the stands.

"My apologees for zee delay. Now for zee boys" her hand lingers over the bowl and then she whips out a reaping paper so fast she should win an award "And zee lucky young gentleman is… REEDMAN PHELPS."

Oh crap; I look around for Mali so I can somehow comfort her. As I reach the stage, I see Mali looking at me and mouthing something.

The List

She points in the direction of the school building; the victor list? I point to myself and she nods. I don't know how I'm gonna win, but I will, for Mali's sake at least.

Ruby Rodriguez POV

Maralina Killaroma is disgusting. What did those poor rabbits ever do to her? That said, I don't feel as bad for them as I do for the guy on stage. I never felt I'd feel this awful if I didn't know the person but I still do; I haven't seen Rosie. I hope she isn't reaped. She's not that popular at school; I can't bare the fault of her not having any friends to comfort her, even if she is annoying.

"Let us be moving on yes?" Maralina strides over to the girls reaping bowl and picks out the first reaping slip she sees "RUBY RODRIGUEZ!"

"No" I say to myself as peacekeepers begin to pull me towards the stage "This isn't right! I was only in there once. Please. Please!"

"Well that concludes our reaping. See you all next year!"

I look at the boy opposite me; he doesn't look too dangerous but that can all change in the arena. Anything can happen.

I know my chapters are pretty bad lately; I am just so tired and so fed up of the reapings now. I really should have made them shorter. Sorry about that. I am determined to get up the district 11 reaping this weekend though so just wait. If you have a problem and feel I am not writing well, please tell me and give some advice and how I could improve. God knows I need it.