I apologize for the wait. I have been very busy for the pass few weeks. I will try to update about once every week from now on. It might change to twice a week if I can manage it.

Sparkus Snair (17) District 3

The light shines through my bedroom window and I groan. I pull the covers over my head, and I fall back asleep. A little while later, I heard my bedroom door open and footsteps come near my bed. The covers are yanked off my bed. I quickly put my pillow on top of my head. I hear someone groan, and the next thing I know, I am on the floor.

"Sparkus, don't do this. Come on get up, the reaping is going to begin in an hour and you still have to get ready," I hear my father say as he walks out of my room.

The worst part about the reaping is having to wake up and get ready for it. Ugh, why can't it be in the afternoon so that people sleep in. People need to be able to fall asleep, and then wake up whenever they want. Oh well, and I quickly pick myself up off the floor and I grab my clothes out of my dresser drawers and start pulling them on. It is just jeans and a nice coat covering the shirt. My father is waiting for me outside my bedroom door.

"Took you long enough, your breakfast is waiting on the table, now hurry up," he says.

"Whatever Dad," I say as I walk towards the kitchen table.

I sit down and look out the window. The sun is still shining and it is really bright. A beautiful day, but I think that days like this are pointless. I turn back to my breakfast, and I quickly start eating it. Soon, my father walks in.

"Slow down there Sparky. You'll make yourself sick eating like that," He tells me.

I glare at him," Dad, I'm not a little kid any more, don't call me Sparky," I say as I turn towards him.

I can see a hint of sadness in his eyes, but he turns away quickly. I finish eating, and I get up from the table and start heading towards the door.

"See ya later," I say on my way out.

My dad says something, but I don't hear him. I walk down the street, and wave to everyone I know. I hear someone talking on a microphone, and soon I broke into a run and made it to the square just as the video that they play every year is over. A young woman is standing on the stage.

"Now that is over, let us begin with the reaping," she says as she starts reaching into the bowl.

I kind of tune out her voice. Her voice is kind of high pitched for how old she is. I start messing with my blonde hair. I start squinting up at the woman. I was in the back of the crowd. I hear her say someone's name, but I can't believe it.

"Our male tribute is Sparkus Snair!" she calls out above the crowd, and I can feel my jaw drop.

Denzi Nutrient (13) District 3

I am lying in my bed, trying to pretend that I am sleeping. I lie there for about 5 minutes, and then I finally decide to get up. I walk over to my mirror that is on my wall and look at myself. My long black hair in a tangle since I hadn't brushed it yet, I walked over to my dresser drawers. I was just starting to pull clothes out when there was a knock on my door.

"Denzi honey, are you up?" my mother called through the door.

"Yeah, I'm up,' I called through the door.

"Breakfast is almost ready, come to the table when you're ready," she said.

"Ok," I say as I hear her walk down the hall.

I pull out my plain, dark green dress with black shoes, and start getting ready for the reaping. Once dressed, I pick up my hairbrush and start fixing the tangles in my hair. 10 minutes later, I walk out of my room and down to the kitchen.

"What took you so long Denzi?" my father asks me.

"Sorry that it took me so long," I replied as I sat down at the table.

I look at the clock and I saw that the reaping began in 15 minutes. This caused me to eat my food a lot more quickly. When I had finished, I looked at the clock again. I had about 5 minutes to get down to the square. I got up from the table, and along with my parents, walked out the door.

Once we get to the square, I say bye to my parents, and I walk over to where my friends are. A young woman, she looks to be in his mid-twenties, walks up to the mic on the stage.

"Hello! It is that time of year once again. It is time for the reaping, but first it is time for the history of Panem," she says as the video starts to play on the screen behind him.

The video begins with a message from President Scott. Once it starts playing, I sort of tune it out. It is the same video every year, and it gets a bit repetitive after the first 3 years. The video goes on for about 20 minutes, and then finally, the woman steps up and there are two jars next to her.

"Now that is over, let us begin with the reaping," she says as she starts reaching into the first jar.

"Our male tribute is Sparkus Snair!" she calls out above the crowd.

I look over and see a boy walk up on stage, he looks to be a few years older than me.

"Now, let us go on with the girls," she says, pulling out another name," Our female tribute, is Denzi Nutrient!" she calls out.

I just stand there, frozen in place. After a minute though, I walk up to the stage.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you our tributes for the 25th Hunger Games!"

Sparkus Snair (17) District 3

They quickly lead Denzi and I into separate rooms and they told me to wait there. I wait for what seems to be forever, and my father walks into the room. We just stand there for a few minutes, not even looking at each other. Finally, he walks over and gives me a hug. I just sit there for a minute, but I finally return his hug.

"Well Sparkus, you better win for me," he says to me.

"I will Dad, you can count on me, I won't let you down," I reply.

All too soon, it is time for the final good bye. My father gives one final pat on the shoulder, and he walks out the door. I will win the games, no one can beat me, I will be victorious.

Denzi Nutrient (13) District 3

I wait around in the room by myself for a few minutes, when finally my parents walk into the room. My mom rushes up to me and gives me a hug. My dad comes up to hug me as well.

"Win for us Denzi," he says to me.

"I will, I promise.," I reply in a quiet voice.

"Be sure to come back to us Denzi," my mom says to me.

A few minutes later, they usher my parents out of the room. I am not alone for long, they soon came to lead me to the train. I see Sparkus again. I think for a minute to try to be his friend, but I know that once we are in the arena, nothing matters anymore. I will not hold back, no matter what it takes, I will make it back home.