Alana Kenny, 18, D2F
Today's the day. The day to shine. To prove my worth. Today I can prove my parents wrong. They think I'm too weak. That I can't do this. I'm not scared. I'm not afraid. Today's the day I can show them how great I really am. I walk over to my mother. "Hello." I say shyly. Shyly? Say it like you mean it! "Um, hello there mother." I say more sternly. "Hello." she says without even giving me a glance. I stand there for a while until she finally gives me a look. She looks irritated. "What do you want?" She growls at me. Uh oh… she's in one of her moods. "I just wanted to say that you look lovely today." I say laying it on a little too thick. "Oh don't give me that. Go to your room and get dressed. The reaping's soon and you better think smart." I sigh on the inside and turn towards my bedroom. Today's going to be a long day.
When I eat my breakfast and get close to the Justice Building, I notice the time. Oh crap! It's four minutes until they start! I half walk-half run towards the building. I hear my mother yelling at me behind me. I don't care about her. No one does. She's why dad left us. No one can stand her bitching and prissy moaning. I arrive at the Justice Building and let the woman prick my finger. I swiftly walk over to where I'm supposed to stand and wait for the reaping to start. I don't have to wait that long until the Escort walks out onto the stage. Her name is Isra Mao. She is such a slut. Her bubblegum pink hair is tied in two buns on the side of her head that make her look like a mouse. Her dress is a little too showy and her boobs are basically hanging out! She makes me sick. Her make up coated face starts to speak in her usual squeaky Capitol accent and she announces that she's going to call out the girls. Some girl named Cami gets called but before she can slyly announce her last name I yell out, "I volunteer! I'm volunteering as tribute!" I look over to my mother and her mouth is a agape and her eyes are a mile wide. She's not upset, no. She's just surprised that I had the nerve to do it. Of course I do, she just doesn't ever pay any attention to me. I swiftly walk up to the stage.
Barney Rigos, 12, D2M
The sun shines on my face as I begin to wake up. This is it! My first reaping and I can't wait! I jump out of bed and hurry and get changed. I'm a little early but Momma always says that the early bird gets the worm. I don't know why anyone would want to a worm but I don't really care what you want. All I know is what I want and what I want is to be a Victor. I run out of my bedroom and accidentally knock into my dad. He calls to me, "Hey, sport, you're up real early. You want to go back to bed a bit?" "No I'm okay." I call back and rush down the stairs. I grab a box of rice cereal and pour myself a little bowl. My family is real rich so we get the good stuff. I eat my cereal and wipe off the milk that dribbled down my chin with the back of my hand. I wait until it's time to leave and pass the time by playing Tic-Tac-Toe with my brother Mandel. He's 14 and really funny. He likes to make jokes a lot and sometimes plays pranks on me. We both get our shoes on and head out the the Justice Building.
When we get there I can feel my heart pounding and little butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I let the lady prick my finger and it kind of hurts. I flinch a little and see my own blood on the paper. It scares me a little but I'm okay. I walk over to the other 12-year-old boys and see Mandel with the 14-year-old boys he's fooling around with his friends and doesn't notice me waving my arms at him. After a few moments I give up trying to get his attention and instead turn my head towards the woman walking out on stage. Momma says that she's inappropriate but I think the looks kind of pretty. She bats her eyelashes at the crowd and call the girl tribute. Some other girl who looks kind of scary volunteers and she says her name into the microphone. "I'm Alana Kenny, I'm 18 years old and I'm gonna win." She says it in a calm, crisp voice and then steps back to let the pretty lady call the boys. She says the boys name but I don't catch it because I shout, "I volunteer as tribute, please!" I strut up the the stairs and stand next to the other girl. I look out in the crowd and find Mandel. He looks horrified and mouths to me "What are you doing!" I look over to my parents and Momma is crying into Dad's shoulder while Dad is comforting her. His big moustache is quivering. I don't get it, I'm 12, right? I'm allowed to be in the Games. Lots of people volunteer. The pretty lady stutters and asks me my name. "Um, I'm Rigos." I say into the microphone. The other girl looks at me like I'm crazy. She almost looks like she's about to eat me alive. She's kind of scary. We shake hands and her grip crushes my hand. "Ouch." I mumble under my breath and we get escorted into the Justice Building.