PART TWO: Geno Haggerman, District 3

Stereotype: EVERYBODY FROM DISTRICT 3 IS A GENIUS.

Guess what? We're not!

Sure, Beetee is brilliant, he's one of those upper class kind of people who can afford to mess with shiny objects.

But, guess what? Most everyone else in this District is in POVERTY.

Yeah, yeah, I get it. District 3 is the technology District, we make all the gizmos and stuff.

We PRODUCE them. We don't INVENT them, and that's where everybody seems to go wrong.

If there's a genius, everybody just automatically assumes they're from District 3, but that's not true all the time.

In fact, I'm just about the farthest from a genius you can get, and I'm from 3. And, guess what? That's perfectly normal here.

To the other Districts, 3 is just supposed to know everything, but we don't. We don't build robots… Well, not all of us do.

My good friend Francesca Cooper built robots all the time, but she was one of those upper class girls who had a lot of money to spend.

Also, something ELSE: Just because we're closer to the Capitol doesn't mean we get any special attention.

District 3 is still just as poor as anything else. Come on, people. We have all these factories that puff out smoke. The smoke fills your lungs and makes you wheeze. And being in those factories is worse.

I know everybody says that the smaller your number is, the richer your District, but I highly doubt that. We have next to nothing. Our factories are unsafe and we don't even have a big-screen to watch the Games with. The people in the slums all use this super-duper old crank TV, and take turns cranking it.

STEREOTYPE: All people in three wear glasses.

Freddy did, and so does Mason, but other than that, not a lot of people actually wear glasses. The smoke just fogs them up, anyways.

I mean, the glasses do help in the constant smoke when you're working, but those are goggles and we only ever wear them when we're inside.

Another thing about District Three is that we're not a very loving place. In fact, it seems everybody's always in some kind of competition. My best friend Theo Campbell is a really good example of that. He was brought up to be extremely competitive with EVERYONE.

District Three is INCREDIBLY divided based on a popularity scale. You never know what kind of people you'll find in Three, we're just a mixing pot of all different kinds of people.

On one end, you have Nathalia, a snooty, rich girl who is always laughing at some poor boys, and on the other, you have Francesca, who always had something nice to say to the slum kids.

On one end, you have Brad, the handsome and clean-cut military percussionist, and, on the other, you have little Tanner Cooper, who's only ten but rebellious and loud.

The people you'll find here are especially interesting.

STEREOTYPE: District 11 is the only District that ever uses music anymore.

I know some great musicians that live right here in Three. Do you really think we just grunt as we work? It's much more entertaining to sing a little song, even if you're the only one humming.

Theo's never had to work a day in his life, and is one of the most brilliant musicians I've ever heard.

Then you have Mason, who has a natural talent and can almost outplay Theo with no practice at all.

The schools here at 3 have a great music program, and it's one of the most competitive fields out there.

Me? Well… I don't play music that often.

STEREOTYPE: District 3 citizens all have gray eyes.

Some of us do. I know Brad does, and so does his little sister, Mallory, but that's really all I can think of.

Me? I have navy eyes. Francesca had bright blue eyes, and her brother still has those eyes today.

Nathalia's eyes are a very vibrant green, and Theo's are green, too.

What else?

STEREOTYPE: Everyone in Three hates the Capitol.

Ok, I know Nathalia and Theo probably don't count, but I do know a fairly large group of people who like the District system, and who support Peacekeepers in our district.

They believe that the Hunger Games serves us right, because the Districts were ignorant in attacking the Capitol. If you ask any one of them, they'll steal away about thirty minutes of your time telling you about it.

Something ELSE: People call me Clockwork because I look young.

I wish.

They call me Clockwork because I can't read a clock.

I'm dyslexic and they all know it, we all know it, and yet they still tease me.

It's just so confusing… Figuring out which way is clockwise and which way isn't.

At least Theo has the good grace to call me by my name.

Trying to use gears as an example that my brain works differently than theirs does: BAD IDEA.

STEREOTYPE: The fact that you're dyslexic makes you stupid.

I like to think I'm not an idiot. I'm certainly smarter than some; I just have trouble with writing it all down.

And reading everything.

And, yes, that part truly sucks, but if you ever had a conversation with me, you'd find that I'm actually fairly competent. You'd never be able to guess I'm dyslexic unless I came right out and told you so.

I'm still working on that part… It's no big deal, I guess…

I hate that people call me stupid.

They call me Clockwork because I'm stupid.

"You should be able to read a clock, Geno. It's simple!"

And maybe it is simple for you.

FATE

Geno goes on to win the 73rd Hunger Games, disproving all stereotypes about his District, and himself. Once he got home, the nickname Clockwork became more of a joke to Geno than an insult, and he and Theo laugh about it together. After the 81st Hunger Games, Geno goes on to provide a big help to the technology of the third revolution, and once it's over, he marries a Capolite named Santana, and they live happily forever after in his old home at 3, right next door to his best friend Theo.