p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"When I wake up, we're almost at the Capitol. I hear a faint pounding on the door. "Get up!" Shouts Kalli through the door. "It's a big, big day!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"The pounding fades. "I'm coming!" I yell back. I yawn and sit up. I stay like that for a while until Kalli comes back. "Come em style="box-sizing: border-box;"on!" /emShe yells. I sigh and get up. I ruffle through my closet and end up wearing a light blue shirt with jeans. I'm still wearing my worn-down shoes from home, and I hope no one notices. I really want to keep them. I head to the bathroom. I glance at myself in the mirror. I look very tough. Like myself. But I can't look tough. I need to look cowardly and sad. I open the drawers in the bathroom and find makeup. Perfect./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I use the makeup to make myself look terrified and scared, not fearless and tough. When I'm done I sit back and admire my work. Wow, it actually looks realistic. I've never used makeup in my life, so I'm very impressed with myself. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I head to breakfast. "Finally!" Kalli groans. "What took so long?" I shrug./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"Breakfast looks delicious. There is bacon and eggs, ham, toast, all kinds of sandwiches and plain bread with all different kinds of jam next to it. I take some bacon and toast. It's delicious, as always. Wayne is awake, too. Blight seems bent on ignoring me as if his only tribute is Wayne. I guess he has a point. If I was as scared as I looked, I would die in the Bloodbath for sure. Blight doesn't want to spend time and energy coaching a tribute who'll die anyway. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I listen to their conversation. "Don't show how strong you are to the rest of the Tributes," says Blight, "save your skills to the private lessons." Wayne nods. "Ok." He says. "Also, pick up a few skills. Tie a knot. Learn about edible plants. Make a fire. Learn new things." Says Blight. Wayne nods again. "Do you have any tips for when we're in the arena?" He asks. Blight laughs. "I'll tell you about that when we get up to it. In a few hours, your styling team is going to remake you. Do what they say, because they will make you beautiful."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I listen to their conversation with interest. Blight really is pretty useful./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"Then he mentions something about Tesera, about Wayne having a good idea to put in his name so many times, and I stop./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"My memories, the fights with my mom about Tesera, all come flooding back. I've been trying to forget about District 7 and focus on winning, but I can't stop the sudden flashback. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I remember, May 8, the day to book Tesera, to put in your name extra times, I remember the huge fight I had with my mom./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"It was the biggest fight I had ever had with her, we usually agreed on each other's motives./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I remember myself shouting, "You need the food more than you need me! If I win, we'll get more than we can eat! If I lose, the Tesera can keep you going for a long time! It's my choice!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"She said, calmly, "We need you, Johanna. We have enough food right now. We need you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I said, "No you don't! You have Jacob and Savannah who work, Dad who gambles, and friends and family! I'm going to win, don't underestimate me! I have a plan!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"She shook her head, "No. If you die, we all die. I won't let you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"And I, getting mad about how calm she was being, screamed, "Being my mom doesn't mean you control me! It's my decision to make! I won't die, you don't die, no one'll die, and we won't be starving anymore! How is that so hard to understand?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';""But you might! You might die! Those Careers don't train their whole lives to lose!" She said, her voice rising./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';""Don't underestimate me! I can win, I'll win, and I'm going to put in the Tesera! If you won't let me, then I'll volunteer! How about that?!" I shouted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"She just shook her head again. No one can argue with me and win, so I figured she had given up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I decided it was time to calm down, so I headed to the door. I wanted to go into the woods, but she stopped me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';""No," she said, "You can put in the Tesera if you want to die. But you'll die in the Arena, not in the hands of Peacekeepers. You aren't allowed to go into the woods anymore, Johanna. Or you can, and not go into the Arena. I won't allow you two open ways to die. I won't allow it, Johanna."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"And I snorted and said, "It's not what you'll allow, Mom. I've never been caught, anyway. What makes you think I will be now?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"She told me the Peacekeepers were more active in those areas during this time, and, I don't remember clearly what happened after that, but I think I still went into the forest anyway./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"Maybe I convinced her to let me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I don't know./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I might never know./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"We reach the Capitol, and I can't help myself. I run to the windows and gasp. The Capitol, the ruling city of Panem, is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. It has glistening buildings in a rainbow of hues that tower in the air, the shiny cars that roll down the paved streets, the weird people there. The Capitol people have gruesome fashion. The strange clothing, the painted faces, the tattoos, the dyed skins. They have shades of colors I have never seen before, like candy pink and the bright green. It could not be more different than the Districts, where the only people who can afford tattoos have to draw them on themselves./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I have mixed feelings about the Capitol. On one hand, it is a glamorous place and the food is undoubtedly delicious. On the other hand, everyone there dresses like carnival rejects. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"The Capitol people start pointing at us and shouting our names. Well, not my name. Just Wayne's. It's like I'm a shadow. No one knows that I exist, or at least acknowledges me. That's what I was hoping for, but it can be a little lonely./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I wave to the crowd, hoping that they'll see. But they keep on shouting, "Wayne! Wayne!" I sniff back tears, then start to cry. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"The pounding fades. "I'm coming!" I yell back. I yawn and sit up. I stay like that for a while until Kalli comes back. "Come em style="box-sizing: border-box;"on!" /emShe yells. I sigh and get up. I ruffle through my closet and end up wearing a light blue shirt with jeans. I'm still wearing my worn-down shoes from home, and I hope no one notices. I really want to keep them. I head to the bathroom. I glance at myself in the mirror. I look very tough. Like myself. But I can't look tough. I need to look cowardly and sad. I open the drawers in the bathroom and find makeup. Perfect./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I use the makeup to make myself look terrified and scared, not fearless and tough. When I'm done I sit back and admire my work. Wow, it actually looks realistic. I've never used makeup in my life, so I'm very impressed with myself. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I head to breakfast. "Finally!" Kalli groans. "What took so long?" I shrug./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"Breakfast looks delicious. There is bacon and eggs, ham, toast, all kinds of sandwiches and plain bread with all different kinds of jam next to it. I take some bacon and toast. It's delicious, as always. Wayne is awake, too. Blight seems bent on ignoring me as if his only tribute is Wayne. I guess he has a point. If I was as scared as I looked, I would die in the Bloodbath for sure. Blight doesn't want to spend time and energy coaching a tribute who'll die anyway. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I listen to their conversation. "Don't show how strong you are to the rest of the Tributes," says Blight, "save your skills to the private lessons." Wayne nods. "Ok." He says. "Also, pick up a few skills. Tie a knot. Learn about edible plants. Make a fire. Learn new things." Says Blight. Wayne nods again. "Do you have any tips for when we're in the arena?" He asks. Blight laughs. "I'll tell you about that when we get up to it. In a few hours, your styling team is going to remake you. Do what they say, because they will make you beautiful."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I listen to their conversation with interest. Blight really is pretty useful./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"Then he mentions something about Tesera, about Wayne having a good idea to put in his name so many times, and I stop./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"My memories, the fights with my mom about Tesera, all come flooding back. I've been trying to forget about District 7 and focus on winning, but I can't stop the sudden flashback. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I remember, May 8, the day to book Tesera, to put in your name extra times, I remember the huge fight I had with my mom./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"It was the biggest fight I had ever had with her, we usually agreed on each other's motives./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I remember myself shouting, "You need the food more than you need me! If I win, we'll get more than we can eat! If I lose, the Tesera can keep you going for a long time! It's my choice!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"She said, calmly, "We need you, Johanna. We have enough food right now. We need you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I said, "No you don't! You have Jacob and Savannah who work, Dad who gambles, and friends and family! I'm going to win, don't underestimate me! I have a plan!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"She shook her head, "No. If you die, we all die. I won't let you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"And I, getting mad about how calm she was being, screamed, "Being my mom doesn't mean you control me! It's my decision to make! I won't die, you don't die, no one'll die, and we won't be starving anymore! How is that so hard to understand?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';""But you might! You might die! Those Careers don't train their whole lives to lose!" She said, her voice rising./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';""Don't underestimate me! I can win, I'll win, and I'm going to put in the Tesera! If you won't let me, then I'll volunteer! How about that?!" I shouted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"She just shook her head again. No one can argue with me and win, so I figured she had given up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I decided it was time to calm down, so I headed to the door. I wanted to go into the woods, but she stopped me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';""No," she said, "You can put in the Tesera if you want to die. But you'll die in the Arena, not in the hands of Peacekeepers. You aren't allowed to go into the woods anymore, Johanna. Or you can, and not go into the Arena. I won't allow you two open ways to die. I won't allow it, Johanna."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"And I snorted and said, "It's not what you'll allow, Mom. I've never been caught, anyway. What makes you think I will be now?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"She told me the Peacekeepers were more active in those areas during this time, and, I don't remember clearly what happened after that, but I think I still went into the forest anyway./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"Maybe I convinced her to let me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I don't know./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I might never know./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"We reach the Capitol, and I can't help myself. I run to the windows and gasp. The Capitol, the ruling city of Panem, is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. It has glistening buildings in a rainbow of hues that tower in the air, the shiny cars that roll down the paved streets, the weird people there. The Capitol people have gruesome fashion. The strange clothing, the painted faces, the tattoos, the dyed skins. They have shades of colors I have never seen before, like candy pink and the bright green. It could not be more different than the Districts, where the only people who can afford tattoos have to draw them on themselves./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I have mixed feelings about the Capitol. On one hand, it is a glamorous place and the food is undoubtedly delicious. On the other hand, everyone there dresses like carnival rejects. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"The Capitol people start pointing at us and shouting our names. Well, not my name. Just Wayne's. It's like I'm a shadow. No one knows that I exist, or at least acknowledges me. That's what I was hoping for, but it can be a little lonely./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans';"I wave to the crowd, hoping that they'll see. But they keep on shouting, "Wayne! Wayne!" I sniff back tears, then start to cry. /p