I have made a VERY late New Year's resolution to put out the best chapters possible! I will be going to writing when I feel like writing, because when I don't want too, I end up with terrible chapters. This might mean less frequent chapters, but hopefully they are better written. I would have good chapters rather than multiple chapters. This chapter is going to start with the reaping for the 74th Hunger Games.
Today, I don't open up the bookstore. No one will come in anyway – today is the reaping. Most people stay home, savoring their last seconds with their children, and the people that don't have children let them. The streets are silent because everyone stays home. I stay at home and sleep in, which I haven't done since I opened the store. I don't get to sleep in for a long time, which I would like to, because District 4 is the 4th reaping, meaning we are pretty early in the day.
I decide to go against my normal blue shirt that I wear every year. Tabia says that I need to spice it up a bit because I am the Capitol's heartthrob. It took everything for me to stop from laughing. She was really serious. I go with an orange shirt which I think looks terrible against my tan skin. Tabia says it is the next big fashion trend, so I go with it.
I head downstairs and grab an orange from the counter. I have to leave right away because mentors have to be there earlier. I walk down the streets eating my orange for breakfast. I walk up the stairs of the stage and throw my orange peel in the garbage can. I duck behind the curtains and into the mess that is Tabia's makeup counter.
"What are you putting on your face?" I ask her. She is applying some kind of weird bronze colored powder that makes her looks tanner.
"Bronzer. I'm in District 4; I need to have a tan!" She exclaims, like I am stupid for not doing it either.
"Couldn't you walk outside? It happens to be sunny today." I ask. That would be the normal thing to do. No one here puts on that stuff; actually, I don't think any of us care about our tans. It is just natural.
"Then, when I got back to the Capitol, I would be so out of place. Everyone back home is pale!" She explains. I wonder about these Capitol people. I still don't understand why she wants to make herself tanner, but I go with it. I really don't feel like arguing.
They are still putting names in the bowl. Everything is done by hand; the folding, the writing, and the mixing. They normally do it until the very last second. I wander how long it takes the poorer districts with some kids names being entered forty or fifty times. That must take them weeks. We are lucky in that not many kids sign up for tessera.
The mayor enters from around the curtain. He normally doesn't get there as early as he should, so I know we must be close to time. This time is one of his earliest arrivals because he normally has to chase around Noah.
"Finnick, some reporters from the Capitol want to talk to you. I would suggest you head outside now. They are getting loud." The mayor tells me. I nod and leave the backstage area. I see the news reporters from the Capitol gathered around the steps. I wonder how the mayor even got in.
"Finnick! How are you going to win? What is your game plan? Finnick, over here! What the status on you and Annie?" A bunch of reporters shout at me. This doesn't bother me too much because this is normal. Johanna says this doesn't happen to her often, so I think they just want the upper districts.
"Well, I don't have a game plan yet, seeing how I don't have any strength to work with. I guess I will just have to see what happens in the Reaping. And for my relationship, all I will say is that we are doing very well. Now, I believe I have to go see the tributes and you should too." I turn around and head backstage again. I say the same things all the time; I don't know why they always come back.
Tabia is ready, even though she keeps checking the mirror to make sure everything is perfect. She keeps spraying more hairspray. I am thankful when the alarm buzzes meaning we are supposed to go onstage. I was worried I was going to pass out because of the smell of that hairspray.
The whole fancy production is new to this year. The mayor starts giving his speech while I sit next to Tabia. The best thing about the new setting is that they have more comfortable chairs. Then, Tabia gets up to pick the names of the reaping. She first goes over to the bowl of girl's names. I hope we get a victor.
"Zoey Hale!" Tabia announces. Like always, there is a whole bunch of nuttiness about who is the first one to volunteer. I feel bad for Zoey because she might have actually wanted to be in the Games.
"You, green dress, black hair! What is your name?" Tabia says. The girl smiles and runs up the stairs. I notice that she is tall and skinny, which is good for a tribute. She seems muscular, but not overly powerful.
"Kalani Alana." She says, confidently. She might have a chance; unless I figure out she has no idea what she is doing, which has happened before. Then, Tabia goes over to the name for the boys and pulls out another name.
"Paul Kahale!" She shouts. The boy comes out of the group and I see the other kids whispering about him. Nobody volunteers. He doesn't look like he could do much. The other kids don't seem to have much confidence in him either. I cry comes from one of the moms, probably his. He stumbles up the stairs, which worries me.
I think back to the question that the reporters asked me. I have no idea how I'm going to get either of these tributes out alive and I really don't think I am. But, nothing is impossible so I smile widely and join them at the front of the stage. I really hope there are some really weak tributes this year. To be honest, I'm not too happy with either of my tributes. I can't believe I'm going to think of a quote from one of my mother's pillows.
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
I think I might have to get lemonade when I'm on the train.