Today's the day. The day of the Reaping, as everyone called it. Ever since the day that the announcement of this day came, every kid has been worried sick. Those of us who worked in the fields worked harder than ever, either trying to burn off stress or to get stronger so they have a chance of survival. Half of the adults had no idea why we were doing this.
After my breakdown and my talk with Jeremy, the two of us have been working together, running and working in the fields, now making sure that we can make it through. Throughout the time that we had, the two of us became friends. We would talk to some other kids at school, finding that a lot of the kids our age didn't tell their parents about the events that were to take place. I had woken up with the sunrise like I have been doing for months now. I jogged down the dirt street out to the fields, going to meet Jeremy one last time before the Reaping began. I was almost to the fields when I heard a voice almost like a crow's calling my name.
"Valiant!" it screeched. I looked around to find the same old lady that had always called my name when I passed by. For some reason, I stopped. I normally would just keep going, but something was nagging at me to go talk to her. I walked over to her, not sure what I would say when I got there. When I made it to her porch, the words that I've been meaning to ask for years finally came out.
"How do you know my name?" I asked. The lady sat in her rocking chair and gave a toothy grin. Her white hair was pulled up into a bun. Her shriveled hands clasped together with her elbows on the armrests.
"I knew your mother very well. She told me your name before she passed away." The lady sounded kinder, almost having a soothing quality to her voice when she wasn't yelling. "Now that I see you up close, you look a lot like her." I have always noticed that I have never looked like my father or brothers. My hair was wavy blonde. I had freckles that streaked across my nose and cheeks. I had dark green eyes instead of the brown that my dad and brothers had. Now I know where I get it from.
"Why did you always call me?"
"Why did you never come so I could tell you?" She had a point. I always thought she was crazy, but everyone has a reason for calling someone's name. "I have something that your mother gave me when she was your age. I thought you would like to have it." The lady reached into her dress pocket and pulled out a piece of braided, colored rope. It was brown and green and somewhat faded. A clasp on the end made me believe that it was a piece of jewelry.
"What is it?" I asked, not entirely sure what it's suppose to be. The lady motioned for me to come closer. I took a couple of steps forward. She reached out and pushed on my shoulders, making me go to my knees. She put the rope around my neck and clasped it in the back. The rope was half way up her neck and staid there when the lady let go. I put my hand up to touch the braided band.
"It looks perfect. It was like it was meant for you." I smiled in gratitude. Finally, something of my mother's that I now have. I looked at the lady in her soft gray eyes.
"What's your name?" I finally decided to ask.
"Elise More," she replied.
"Well, thank you, Elise." I looked out to the fields, remembering that I have Jeremy waiting for me to show up. "I have to go. I promise that I will come to see you again."
"If you survive, my dear. If you survive." I raised my eyebrows in suspicion. I quickly shook it off and ran off her porch, waving goodbye. I ran past the fields, not finding Jeremy anywhere. I quickly assumed that he went back home to get ready for the Reaping and started to run back home.
"What took you so long?" a voice called out to me. I turned back to see Jeremy standing behind some grain stocks. I quickly felt his eyes staring at the necklace. "What's that?"
"This lady who knew my mother gave it to me. She said my mother made it," I said, touching it.
"Well, since you took so long to get here, we need to get back so we can..." he quickly changed his accent to mock the Capital's. "Look presentable to be chosen for the greatest honor in our lives." I chuckled at his comment and quickly turned back to run.
The one line that has stuck in my head since the letter quickly popped out of my mouth. "May the odds be ever in your favor." The two of us quickly parted to get home.
When I made it back home, I quickly went to take a bath. I knew I would have to leave soon, so I was very fast. I quickly patted down my hair and body with a towel. I grabbed some clothes that I thought would work for the occasion and threw them on. Just as I was about to pull my hair up, my brother walked into my room.
"Leave it down. It looks prettier," he said. He was holding a white box. For what, I was not really sure. I turned to face him. He looked at my outfit and shook his head. "You're really going to the Reaping looking like that?" I looked down at myself. Faded blue skirt, white shirt with a stain on it, and a pair of brown sneakers.
"It's the best that I have," I mumbled to myself. Dimitri opened the box to reveal a tan dress and bright green flats.
"Not anymore." He pulled the dress and shoes out of the box and laid them on my bed. "Go on, try it on." He left the room, leaving me with new clothes that I new cost money that we couldn't have. A note was laying on top of the dress. I quickly unfolded the paper and read it. It said:
"Valiant,
We believe that you should look your best on your 17th birthday. We saved enough money to buy you the best that we could. We love you!
Dad and Dimitri"
I couldn't help but smile. I knew that Dimitri knew what kind of stress I would be in today, with the Reaping and all. He probably was the one who came up with the idea. I quickly put on my new dress, which I found that it flares out when you spin. My new shoes were not only pretty, but they were also comfortable. The two together matched my necklace that Elise gave me. I walked out of the room to show my father and brother my outfit. Dimitri had a smile from ear to ear at the sight of me. My father had tears welling up in his eyes. I twirled around, the first time I have ever felt girly enough to do so. "You look beautiful," my father choked. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Thank you," I said to them as I released the hug. I looked at the old, cracked clock on the wall. It was time for me to leave to go sign in. I kissed my father on his forehead and gave my brother a hug before rushing out the door and into the street.
The street was scattered with children heading to the square. I followed three boys to the sign in tables. The peacekeepers were there, directing children and taking their names. A peacekeeper directed me to a table that girls my age were lined up at. It finally came to be my turn. The peacekeeper looked at me.
"Name?" he asked.
"Valiant Rolin," I stated. Another peacekeeper pricked my finger and stuck the finger on the space with my name on it. He led me to a roped off section of the square specifically for those of us who were being put through this nightmare. I was told to stand in a spot next to a tall eighteen year old who looked like she could chew me up. I stood quietly as the square filled with all of the people in the district. The peacekeepers lined the ropes, showing that it was almost time to begin. A lady with bright orange hair and an outfit to match walked onto the stage. A smirk crossed my face, trying to keep from laughing at the ridiculous look of the lady that I assumed to be Capital. She walked over to the microphone, smiling the whole time.
"Welcome!" she sang. For a woman who probably new what was going to happen to us, she seemed far too happy for my taste. The talking of the crowd stopped. "Welcome! My name is Galaria Lotis. I am so happy to be here today! Today is a very special day as two of you will be chosen to be a part of the Hunger Games. Now, the reason these games have been put in place is to show how much the Capital cares about you. Since the Dark Days, we've been thinking of a way to make it up to you. So, here it is!" I felt my stomach turn in knots. "Now, ladies first!"
Galaria walked over to a clear glass bowl which had, what I assumed to be, the names of all the girls eligible. She snatched a piece of paper right from the top of the bowl. I watched her walk over to the microphone and unfolded the piece of paper.
"Valiant Rolin," she announced. I felt as if my heart dropped to the floor. Nothing could have prepared me for this. A peacekeeper came through the crowd and drug me out by my wrist. Four peacekeepers escorted me to the stage and forced me up the steps. Galaria reached her long orange nails towards me and grabbed my hand. I did my best not break down in tears, although I was in too much shock to realize what was going on.
"Now, for the boys." Galaria walked over to another bowl with the names of the boys in it. She dug her hand down to the bottom of the bowl and pulled out a slip of paper. She walked back to the microphone and opened the slip. "Jeremy Corr." I felt like I was going to throw up. I watched as a wide-eyed Jeremy walked to the stage. I could see his hands shaking. He got up on the stage and smiled, trying to look strong for the cameras. "These are your tributes!" The adults cheered, obviously not knowing what was going to take place. The kids inside the ropes raised three fingers in salute to us. They knew what was going to happen, and they knew we had a slim chance of returning home. The adults silenced their cheers to see their children salute us.
Galaria led the two of us into the Justice Building, the doors slamming behind us...
After my breakdown and my talk with Jeremy, the two of us have been working together, running and working in the fields, now making sure that we can make it through. Throughout the time that we had, the two of us became friends. We would talk to some other kids at school, finding that a lot of the kids our age didn't tell their parents about the events that were to take place. I had woken up with the sunrise like I have been doing for months now. I jogged down the dirt street out to the fields, going to meet Jeremy one last time before the Reaping began. I was almost to the fields when I heard a voice almost like a crow's calling my name.
"Valiant!" it screeched. I looked around to find the same old lady that had always called my name when I passed by. For some reason, I stopped. I normally would just keep going, but something was nagging at me to go talk to her. I walked over to her, not sure what I would say when I got there. When I made it to her porch, the words that I've been meaning to ask for years finally came out.
"How do you know my name?" I asked. The lady sat in her rocking chair and gave a toothy grin. Her white hair was pulled up into a bun. Her shriveled hands clasped together with her elbows on the armrests.
"I knew your mother very well. She told me your name before she passed away." The lady sounded kinder, almost having a soothing quality to her voice when she wasn't yelling. "Now that I see you up close, you look a lot like her." I have always noticed that I have never looked like my father or brothers. My hair was wavy blonde. I had freckles that streaked across my nose and cheeks. I had dark green eyes instead of the brown that my dad and brothers had. Now I know where I get it from.
"Why did you always call me?"
"Why did you never come so I could tell you?" She had a point. I always thought she was crazy, but everyone has a reason for calling someone's name. "I have something that your mother gave me when she was your age. I thought you would like to have it." The lady reached into her dress pocket and pulled out a piece of braided, colored rope. It was brown and green and somewhat faded. A clasp on the end made me believe that it was a piece of jewelry.
"What is it?" I asked, not entirely sure what it's suppose to be. The lady motioned for me to come closer. I took a couple of steps forward. She reached out and pushed on my shoulders, making me go to my knees. She put the rope around my neck and clasped it in the back. The rope was half way up her neck and staid there when the lady let go. I put my hand up to touch the braided band.
"It looks perfect. It was like it was meant for you." I smiled in gratitude. Finally, something of my mother's that I now have. I looked at the lady in her soft gray eyes.
"What's your name?" I finally decided to ask.
"Elise More," she replied.
"Well, thank you, Elise." I looked out to the fields, remembering that I have Jeremy waiting for me to show up. "I have to go. I promise that I will come to see you again."
"If you survive, my dear. If you survive." I raised my eyebrows in suspicion. I quickly shook it off and ran off her porch, waving goodbye. I ran past the fields, not finding Jeremy anywhere. I quickly assumed that he went back home to get ready for the Reaping and started to run back home.
"What took you so long?" a voice called out to me. I turned back to see Jeremy standing behind some grain stocks. I quickly felt his eyes staring at the necklace. "What's that?"
"This lady who knew my mother gave it to me. She said my mother made it," I said, touching it.
"Well, since you took so long to get here, we need to get back so we can..." he quickly changed his accent to mock the Capital's. "Look presentable to be chosen for the greatest honor in our lives." I chuckled at his comment and quickly turned back to run.
The one line that has stuck in my head since the letter quickly popped out of my mouth. "May the odds be ever in your favor." The two of us quickly parted to get home.
When I made it back home, I quickly went to take a bath. I knew I would have to leave soon, so I was very fast. I quickly patted down my hair and body with a towel. I grabbed some clothes that I thought would work for the occasion and threw them on. Just as I was about to pull my hair up, my brother walked into my room.
"Leave it down. It looks prettier," he said. He was holding a white box. For what, I was not really sure. I turned to face him. He looked at my outfit and shook his head. "You're really going to the Reaping looking like that?" I looked down at myself. Faded blue skirt, white shirt with a stain on it, and a pair of brown sneakers.
"It's the best that I have," I mumbled to myself. Dimitri opened the box to reveal a tan dress and bright green flats.
"Not anymore." He pulled the dress and shoes out of the box and laid them on my bed. "Go on, try it on." He left the room, leaving me with new clothes that I new cost money that we couldn't have. A note was laying on top of the dress. I quickly unfolded the paper and read it. It said:
"Valiant,
We believe that you should look your best on your 17th birthday. We saved enough money to buy you the best that we could. We love you!
Dad and Dimitri"
I couldn't help but smile. I knew that Dimitri knew what kind of stress I would be in today, with the Reaping and all. He probably was the one who came up with the idea. I quickly put on my new dress, which I found that it flares out when you spin. My new shoes were not only pretty, but they were also comfortable. The two together matched my necklace that Elise gave me. I walked out of the room to show my father and brother my outfit. Dimitri had a smile from ear to ear at the sight of me. My father had tears welling up in his eyes. I twirled around, the first time I have ever felt girly enough to do so. "You look beautiful," my father choked. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Thank you," I said to them as I released the hug. I looked at the old, cracked clock on the wall. It was time for me to leave to go sign in. I kissed my father on his forehead and gave my brother a hug before rushing out the door and into the street.
The street was scattered with children heading to the square. I followed three boys to the sign in tables. The peacekeepers were there, directing children and taking their names. A peacekeeper directed me to a table that girls my age were lined up at. It finally came to be my turn. The peacekeeper looked at me.
"Name?" he asked.
"Valiant Rolin," I stated. Another peacekeeper pricked my finger and stuck the finger on the space with my name on it. He led me to a roped off section of the square specifically for those of us who were being put through this nightmare. I was told to stand in a spot next to a tall eighteen year old who looked like she could chew me up. I stood quietly as the square filled with all of the people in the district. The peacekeepers lined the ropes, showing that it was almost time to begin. A lady with bright orange hair and an outfit to match walked onto the stage. A smirk crossed my face, trying to keep from laughing at the ridiculous look of the lady that I assumed to be Capital. She walked over to the microphone, smiling the whole time.
"Welcome!" she sang. For a woman who probably new what was going to happen to us, she seemed far too happy for my taste. The talking of the crowd stopped. "Welcome! My name is Galaria Lotis. I am so happy to be here today! Today is a very special day as two of you will be chosen to be a part of the Hunger Games. Now, the reason these games have been put in place is to show how much the Capital cares about you. Since the Dark Days, we've been thinking of a way to make it up to you. So, here it is!" I felt my stomach turn in knots. "Now, ladies first!"
Galaria walked over to a clear glass bowl which had, what I assumed to be, the names of all the girls eligible. She snatched a piece of paper right from the top of the bowl. I watched her walk over to the microphone and unfolded the piece of paper.
"Valiant Rolin," she announced. I felt as if my heart dropped to the floor. Nothing could have prepared me for this. A peacekeeper came through the crowd and drug me out by my wrist. Four peacekeepers escorted me to the stage and forced me up the steps. Galaria reached her long orange nails towards me and grabbed my hand. I did my best not break down in tears, although I was in too much shock to realize what was going on.
"Now, for the boys." Galaria walked over to another bowl with the names of the boys in it. She dug her hand down to the bottom of the bowl and pulled out a slip of paper. She walked back to the microphone and opened the slip. "Jeremy Corr." I felt like I was going to throw up. I watched as a wide-eyed Jeremy walked to the stage. I could see his hands shaking. He got up on the stage and smiled, trying to look strong for the cameras. "These are your tributes!" The adults cheered, obviously not knowing what was going to take place. The kids inside the ropes raised three fingers in salute to us. They knew what was going to happen, and they knew we had a slim chance of returning home. The adults silenced their cheers to see their children salute us.
Galaria led the two of us into the Justice Building, the doors slamming behind us...