VIOLET GRANDIN, 15

A few days earlier…

"Dammit Barbara!" I yell at one of my sheep. "Come here so I can shear you already. It never hurts, so stop causing such a fuss!"

Barbara, one of my family's sheep, baas in my face and runs to the other side of the sheep pen. She's forcing me to run after her, which I do. Every time I get close, she scurries away from me. We face off for far too long until I finally catch up and grab her by her leg.

She baas again and moves her head to try and bite me, but I maneuver my hand away to avoid any bloodshed. This isn't my first rodeo with Barbara. I don't want her to panic, though, so I stroke her head and give her a few hugs to calm her down. When I gather all of her wool, I shove it into my bag and head inside to my family, piling it all in front of my mother, who is working on a wool scarf.

My sister Ivy is also supposedly working on knitting something, except looking at her design, it looks like a disaster in the making. I'm honestly shocked she hasn't stabbed herself with the knitting needle yet. The only thing she's been able to make successfully is a small wool friendship bracelet. She gave it to me when I turned 13, and I've worn it every day since.

"That looks nice," I say to my mom.

She scoffs. "Don't be ridiculous. It needs a lot of work before I can sell it." She starts to cuss under her breath and panic.

"Mom..." I put a hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be okay. It always is. You always do a great job."
"Do you mean that?" She asks me.

"I wouldn't lie to my own mother, now would I?"
The day of the reaping…

Rantee just said my name. MINE? How? My name is only in there four times! I look back to Ivy, hoping she'll volunteer for me.

"IVY?" I scream. "IVY! HELP ME!"

She doesn't help me, instead talking to one of the other 17-year-old girls as I have to walk up to the stage all on my own. It's like she has no idea what's going on. At all.

What happened to being sisters? Does her bracelet not mean anything anymore?

JEREMIAH CRACKADAWN, 16

A few weeks earlier…

"And the best pig in the district is…" The announced began… "Francis of Crackadawn farms!"

I had been raising Francis ever since he was born, training him to be the prize pig in the district. It doesn't mean that they'll kill him, thankfully, but winning the competition means more money for my family. Which could help my dad pay for his leg injury after his tractor accident. In the process, I became attached to him. He follows me pretty much everywhere, sometimes even school.

I wish that he could help me with my classes. Knowing things about animals come naturally to me, whereas remembering dates throughout history doesn't. I never understood why I would need to know anything about prepositions after I finished school. What good would they do me on the farm? Or ever? Anytime I try to do math in my head, I fall flat.

Everyone around me yells congratulations as the announcer hands me the blue ribbon that says first place and the trophy. I hold it above my hand, and my family, including all six of my siblings, rush to my side.

"You did it!" My mom says, kissing my cheek. "We are so proud of you! Let's go home and celebrate!"

With my winnings, I buy some extra food for the family, a nice dress for my mom, hair pins for my sisters, ties for my brothers, and some medications to help my dad's pain management. Anything I can do to help my family, I will. After celebrating with them, I go back to the pig pen and spend some time with Francis, giving him a long bath and praising him for his accomplishment.

Day of the reaping…

I try to leave Francis back at home, but he starts oinking and running frantically around his pen, so I know I'll need to take him with me. We probably look ridiculous as I walk him to town on a leash, and people definitely laugh, but it doesn't faze me. I couldn't possibly leave him all alone.

After watching the Capital-mandated presentation, Rantee selects the two names, beginning with Violet Grandin. Most people know her family, and everyone knows that Ivy Grandin isn't the smartest person in the district. Oh, and she doesn't believe in getting the Rabies shot because it "doesn't exist." We live in District 10. It exists.

Finally, Rantee selects a boy. He clears his throat and screams. "JEREMIAH CRACKADAWN!"

Francis must know what's going on, because he starts to squeal. I ask the person next to me to hold onto him, and I lean down to kiss Francis on the head before walking up to the podium.

Will he be okay without me?