This is it. Almost a week later and the day of the reaping. Everyday since I started at the bakery, I have gone there and earned my £9 and a little treat that always got iced wrong or slightly burnt. I know there fine. Except from burning a tray of cookies and undercooking a batch of cupcakes, I've been quite successful in my job and the baker has even offered me a job if I'm not reaped! It's quite exciting.
I climb out of bed and find a bath of hot water. I let it run over my body and try to not think that these could be some of my last hours here, in this house. I can't afford to think like that or jinx it or something. I scrub at my body, removing all traces of flour and dirt and then rinse my hair of grease and oil. I step out and dry off, tiptoeing downstairs to find mother. She sits, waiting, with Clara.
"Clara, you need to go wash now. You need to look nice for the cameras." She nods and hops off of the couch, rushing up the stairs to the promise of warm water. She brings a smile, though it be small, to my face despite myself. Mother smiles at me.
"Are you ready?" I nod and sit down on the chair. She begins her work. Straightening my hair so it travels, slightly longer than usual, to the bottom of my ribcage. She works on my make up next, foundation, blusher, a light eye shadow, pink lipstick and mascara. I look beautiful and so little like myself. Then mother tells me to shut my eyes and she dresses me. I'm told to open and my mouth could probably touch the floor. The girl in the mirror is beautiful. She's dressed in a mid-thigh length black dress and mini black heels, maybe an inch tall. She looks like a princess. The girl in the mirror is me. I cover my mouth with my hands and then turn to my Mum.
"Thank you." I murmur. "I look...nothing like myself."
"You'll look even better with a smile." Mum says, dipping her head to look at me. I roll my eyes but a small smile lights up my face. "That's better. You look beautiful. Got to have you looking your best, just in case. Besides, the cameras set up in the square are shown all over Panem. Got to look pretty now, don't we?" I nod and Clara clambers downstairs, dressed in a pale green dress. She has her hair in adorable little bunches.
"You look so sweet." I coo and she smiles.
"You look gorgeous Clove!" She smiles back and hugs me tightly.
"You need to go now, sweetheart." I look at Mum and then nod.
"We can eat the cookies from last night after the reaping. To celebrate." I tell Clara and she nods solemnly. I'd brought back some treats yesterday, these perfect for sale but the bakers reaping present to me, but we hadn't felt in the mood. I wave goodbye and once again join the mass of teens walking to the Justice Building. Da va ju much? When I arrive we are sorted into groups of age and gender and then told to sign in. My fingers pricked and I'm told to verify myself as Clove Fuhrman. yep, that's me. And I'm kind of wishing that I could be anywhere else other than here right now. I'm sorted into a pen of other girls my year and wish for someone to turn to for comfort. After my Father's death, I guess I grew up to fast and didn't have time for friends. Girls and boys alike, all around and squished together. Clutching hands, whispering, crying. Begging for their names to not be picked. It takes time but after what seems like years, parents, siblings and those to old or young to be reaped join the crowds, around the edge of our pens, though separated from us by peacekeepers. And then, a good half an hour later, at least, a brightly dressed man takes the stage. He's dressed in a bright orange suit, with a neon orange afro and orange birds tattooed across every inch of visible light orange skin. He's basically just orange.
"Welcome, welcome, to the 74th reaping! I'm Abadiscritto and I will be the lucky 4's escort! Now the time has come to choose the 4 tributes for the honour of representing district 2 in the 74th selection! We will choose female, male, female and then male. You have a slip for each year you are compatible by. 12 year olds 1 and 18 year olds 6." Good. that means I won't have too many. "Now let's choose our first female tribute!" Abadiscritto struts across the stage in these ridiculous 7 inch heels! He slips his hand into a large goldfish bowl and pulls out a slip of paper. Then he struts back to the microphone. The mentors, 4 tributes from the last reaping and the mayor all lean forward, eager to hear the name of the first reaping victim.
"Clove Fuhrman." My heart stops. Screaming! I hear it and turn around. Clara is screaming and sobbing, now being broadcast on live TV. These people are sick. The screen at the front is split in 3. One on my mother, who looks shell-shocked and on a hysterical Clara, one of a picture of me from last week. I look beautiful. In my new red dress and my dazzling smile. I wish I'd told myself to grimace. The last part of the screen is focused on me. I swallow. My freedom and my future is gone. All because of that stupid orange man! I feel my feet slowly move forward and 6 peacekeepers escort me to the stage. I hesitantly board and join Abadiscritto on the stage. He comes over and leads me to the microphone.
"So, are you excited?" She asks. I open my mouth to speak but no words come out. "Look! She's so thrilled she's speechless!" I'm speechless alright. Then Abadiscritto speaks again. "And now for the fist male tribute!" He struts over to another, identical goldfish bowl and picks up a slip before strutting back.
"Alfie Addams!" It focuses on 3 places again. The first on a mother and 4 children. 2 identical boys and 2 girls. One around Clara's age and the other maybe 3. The middle screen shows a pale 18 year old, with amazingly dark eyes, matching hair and muscle. He seems quite tall, though it's hard to tell from a picture. Then the last is on the 16 year old section. The same boy from the letter giving walks out.
Flashback ; "Welcome, welcome, citizens of District 2. I will now present the letters to those lucky enough to be eligible. The Addams Family." A tall boy, muscular and handsome takes to the stage and is given his letter. He walks back down to a sobbing mother and 4 other children.
So it's him. He walks confidently up to the stage, flashing his family a reassuring smile. Peacekeepers walk him down as he bounds up the stage. He comes over to Abadiscritto and I, flashing the crowd a wave and smile. I think I see several girls swoon. He's probably one of the village sweethearts. I suppose I never had time for gossip so I never found out.
"And how do you feel to be a tribute?" Abadiscritto gushes.
"Honoured. Whichever lucky lady gets paired with me is defiantly a lucky one." He beams at the cameras and it flashes up on the screen behind us. Did he really have to be reaped? He is so cocky, it's irritating. This is why I tend to avoid boys...and girls. And sometimes people in general. I am not a trusting person.
"And now for our final female tribute!" Abadiscritto squeals. He struts over to the female bowl again and picks up another slip.
"Enobaria Longly." 18 year old. Older than me and Archie or Alfie or whatever it was. The first screen shows an old man, possibly nearing 80 or 90. His mouth is in a straight line but is his head is held strong in determination. The seconds shows a fierce girl, snarling at the camera. Her teeth look scarily sharp. I make a note to avoid her as much as possible. The final screen shows the strong, tall girl, with dark brown hair and eyes marching forwards. Her face shows she's angry. She doesn't want to be here and she isn't bothering to hide it. She doesn't wait for the peacekeepers and ignores Abadiscritto as if she is nothing but an annoying fly that needs to be squashed. I suppose he is. "And our last tribute!" Abadiscritto says. He picks up the final slip. Only one more life to ruin. "Brutus Merebery." Another 18 year old. Why do I have to be the youngest!? The first split shows a strong looking couple. So he's an only child. The middle is a strong, not to be messed with boy. He didn't bother to do anything but glare at the cameraman. The final is the boy stalking forward. He has light brown stubble on his head and is built for battle. I also look so weak compared to all these. He follows Enobaria's lead and ignores our escort.
"Happy selection! And may the odds be ever in your favour!" Abadiscritto smiles and we all have to shake hands before being led off stage. Well, that was a nightmare!