Mima Fossey, 16, D3F
I get up this morning. Do I want to, no, do I have to, yes. I never want to get up. The warm softness of my fluffy pillow lulls me back to sleep. My mother comes into my bedroom shaking me up. "Get up. Mima you have to get up! We're late!" My mother hisses into my ear. She lightly slaps my shoulder and I spring up, my red hair in a tangled bundle. "What time is it?" "It's late. You slept in again. It's already 1:00." "1:00?" Crap. Crap. Crap. I jolt up out of bed and pushed my mother out. I slipped the closest thing to me on on shoved my shoes onto my feet. I grabbed a snack and rushed out the door. A granola bar was hanging out of my mouth while my hands were brushing my tangled red hair down. My brush got stuck in a messed up clump of hair and I had to rip it out. It takes a long time to get to the Justice Building because my family lives on the other side of District 3. By the time I got there it was 10 minutes until they started reaping. I swallowed the last of my granola bar down hard and let the man prick my finger. I wait with the other girls while my parents sat with the other nervous parents hoping their kids won't get reaped. But two of their kids will. It happened last year and the years before so it'll happen again. Like now.
A man walks out dressed in the silliest costume. He's dressed like a neon purple peacock! His large feathers are sticking out in every direction and spread out like a big fan on his back. He even put orange make up on his nose to make it look like a beak. His shoes looked like big claws and his hands were covered in feathers. I don't know if he's trying to mock us or he actually thinks that's sensible. "Let's dive right in with the ladies." He stuck a feathered hand deep into the bowl and pulled out a name. He walked up to the microphone, unfolded the slip of paper, and read it aloud. "The female tribute this year is… Mima Fossey." It took me a second before I realized that that was me. I'm Mima Fossey. I heard a small scream come out from behind me. It was Mother. "No, not my baby! Not my baby, please!" I'm her only child. If I die she has nothing. I don't want to go. Some girl pushes me out into the crowd and I begin to slowly walk towards the Escort. He's waving his hand, beckoning me to come up to the stage. I don't want to go. Don't make me go!
Merlin Brunner, 14, D3M
I see her little tiny feet running across the floor. her pink sock covered in lace. White mary jane flats cover her feet. Her long billowy dress covered in pink decorated with white flowers. She begins to kneel down and tucks her head my her knees. Her eyes look in my direction and a smile plasters across her face. "Got 'choo!" She taps me on the nose and helps me out from under the bed. Me and Ginny were playing Hide-and-Seek while we waited for our parents to finish up getting ready. "Yup, you got me! Uh oh, I can't control my arm! It's the tickle monster!" My hands fly at her and start tickling her sides. She lets out a cry of laughter and giggles until her eyes start tearing up. "Okay, tickle monster. You win.", she squeaks. She gets up and brushes her dress off and goes to check up on our parents. She's only 8 so she doesn't have to participate in the reaping. I, on the other hand, have to. My name's already in there three times but it's three times too many. I don't want to leave Ginny but I especially don't want Ginny to leave me. I'd die for her anyday but I can't imagine watching her die in front of me. Weak and helpless. I brush the thought away and make sure everything is okay and in order. My parents come out with Ginny from the back of the house and ask me if I want them to hold my hand. "N- no! Of course not! I'm 14 and I don't need my mommy holding my hand."
We walk out of the door and head for the Justice Building. We live rather close so it doesn't take too long. A man pricks my finger but I don't really pay attention. I'm more concerned at how Ginny is doing. She looks okay as she sits with my parents. She's giggling as my dad talks to her. I don't know what he's saying but it must be something funny. I loosen my trance and realize that I'm already standing with the other boys. My friend is talking to me but I'm paying no attention to him. Instead I'm paying attention to the turkey that just walked out on stage. I know the District Escort, Primo Fine, had some silly costumes but a giant chicken? Or was it a peacock? I don't really know but he calls out a girl's name, Mima Fossey, and then walks over to the boys. "Alright, alright, now it's time for the funky boys." He dips his hand into the bowl with his turkey claw and pulls out a slip of paper that her then reads. "This year's male tribute for the lovely District 3 is… Merlin Brunner. I look of pain and shock spread across my face and… and I start crying. No, I don't want to leave Ginny! I don't even care if I'm crying on television in front of everyone. I just don't care. All I care about is Ginny. Some buff Peacekeepers come and basically drag me onto the stage. I shake hands with Mima but she doesn't look pleased to have my tears all on her hand. "Ginny!" I yell just before I get pushed into the Justice Building. Her shocked face is the last thing I see before I'm hauled away.