Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own thoughts and words. Suzanne Collins has all the credit for HG and the wonderful characters she created.
Chapter 2
Time escapes me and I think I may have nodded off as my mind swirled circles around the Reaping because the next thing I know I'm being jolted back to reality by the sound of my name being called from a distance. It's darker inside the shed and I know the sun must be setting which means I'm about to be late for dinner. I quickly stand, smoothing out my dress with my hands which doesn't seem to help matters much. Cracking open the door of the shed, I peek out to see Mabel, our housekeeper, rounding the side of the house in obvious search for me. Seeing she is alone, I allow myself to exit the shed and make my way back up the hill to my house.
"I'm here Mabel." I call out as I approach her.
"Oh good gracious Miss Madge, if your father were to see you looking so unkempt he'd have a conniption!" She gasps, pressing the palm of her hand to her chest.
"I'm sorry. I am going to clean up and change for dinner now. I won't be long, I promise."
She simply nods and goes back to her duties in the kitchen. I quickly slip up the back staircase and down the hallway to my room, cringing just a little as I entered. Though it's my own room and it should be my own little haven it's anything but that. It's professionally decorated, by a Captiol designer no less. Beautiful yes. But it always made me feel like I was a guest when it should be the place I feel most comfortable.
As I enter my bathroom and catch a glance of myself in the mirror I suddenly see why Mabel was so taken aback at the mere sight of me. Hair matted and messy. My face tearstained and eyes bloodshot. Dirt and grass stains smudge my dress, legs and feet. It's as if my outer appearance has decided to mirror what I feel like on the inside. I look as miserable as I feel. I peel away my clothing, depositing it straight into the wastebasket and climb into the cool shower.
I'm washed up, dressed and have made myself presentable in record time, sliding into my assigned seat at the dining table just before Mabel enters to serve the first course. Tonight's dinner is the final dinner before the remaining Capitol officials board the last train out of the district that evening. There is a lot of talk about the upcoming games and fuss over how "exciting" this time of year is for all those in the Capitol. It's almost silly for me to even be here. It isn't as if anyone really holds a conversation with me. Most of them barely even speak to me. But that doesn't bother me, especially today. Pretending to love the Capitola and all they stand for is the last thing I feel like doing. So instead of engaging in the frivolous and mindless chatter I simply plaster a phony, pleasant smile across my face and nod politely as if I'm enjoying myself. I've been faking it for years so I can surely get through one more night. Just get through this final dinner and then you can retreat to your room until tomorrow, I tell myself. Just get through dinner, Madge, that's all you have to do.