Thaihele Moore, 12, D11F
"Come on Thai we're going to be late, hurry up! Move it!" My dad shouts as he grabs me by the arm and pulls me through the empty streets of District eleven. If we're late we'll be whipped and living in District eleven it's likely to be forty or so lashes until you pass out. My father and I were supposed to meet my mother and sister at the reaping. We get there, just barely; I am quickly registered and then taken with the other twelve year old girls. Our district escorts comes in. He's an old guy who is called 'Ziorak.' He has dark brown skin but still looks dressed for success. He's probably one of the only Capitol people who don't have surgically altered skin.
He speaks in his raspy and slow voice. "Settle down children. It is time to pick our tributes for the one hundred and twenty fourth annual Hunger games!" He then reaches into the girls bowl and reads the slip of paper. "Thaihele Moore!"
My mouth drops open, my legs wobble beneath my feet. No way, I actually was picked, my name is only in there once and it was just my luck I get picked for the games. Maybe someone will volunteer when they realize they have reaped a twelve year old? I walk out of the crowd and Ziorak looks pretty surprised he reaped a twelve year old. Yep. You just sentenced me to death buddy. I think to myself as I walk on the stage next to him. I try to put on a brave face and smile. Don't look weak Thai. Anything but that.
Griffin Taylor, 17, D11M
I smile as I finish brushing my hair. I'm mixed race, my mother is white and my father is black. We're a pretty happy family, I have one brother who's not reaping age yet, he'd still eight. He had another four years to go until he has to face the terror. I smile to myself in the mirror, all those days of carrying flour and bread in the sun paid off. I have some muscle now. I'm tall, I look pretty physically intimidating but I'm usually a pretty friendly guy.
The four of us walk to the reaping, I register and go stand with the other sixteen year old boys. Ziorak comes in and calls out "Thaihele Moore!" A small girl walks out. She's African American and pretty small, twelve years old by the looks of her. She doesn't look scared, she puts on a brave face. As if fear will never get to her. But I know on the inside she is worried and scared, she takes the stage. I sigh, now just for the boys.
He draws out the boy's name. "Griffin Taylor!"
I clench my fists. I had a feeling this would happen, all the Tesserae I had been taking out to help our family survive and not starve. It was difficult but I had to do it, even if it meant this had a possibility of happening. I sigh as walk out, not scared, but rather and peace. I just need to make sure I don't die. It can't possibly be that hard.
Although District eleven has had a victor recently I can't be cocky. I shake hands with the little girl, Thaihele and we walk into the justice building together.