The Hunger Games: 76th

Chapter one: Harry

          "I thank you for waking me up once again. I am once again blessed to live amongst all your creations and hope to do this for many more days. As you know, today is not like any other. I know I have no right to ask for anything but... Please... Don't let it be me. I know that it has to be someone, but God... Please don't let it be me. Amen."

       I come off of my knees and sit on my bed in my underclothes wondering how many kids have said this prayer today. I don't want to get dressed but I know that I have no choice. Today is the district 5's reaping of the 76th hunger games. Every year the chances of my name getting picked grows, and so does my anxiety. I get dressed in my cleanest button down shirt with matching slacks, put on my glasses, and walk into the kitchen.

      "Morning Harry," my mom says. Her eyes are fixed on the grain she is cooking but she knows it's me. Who else could it be.

     "Good morning mom," I say with a lack of enthusiasm. She knows why. This day is always depressing for me no matter the turn out. Even if I don't get picked, someone that I know or have at least seen before will. Their faces will haunt me.

       My mother passes me a bowl of cooked grain. I have no appetite but food is a blessing and wasting it is not an option.

       We sit in silence as I eat the food before me. Before I know it, the bowl is empty and it is time for me to leave my mom and go to district 5's town square. I walk towards the front door slowly and see kids walking towards the square. Some look confident, some not so much. I feel my mom behind me and I turn around. She kisses me on my forehead.

       "See you soon," she says smiling. This is not another day of school and I almost hate that she acts like it. She must have prayed everyday for me to be freed from the hunger games. This is her source of confidence.

         I smile back unconvincingly and walk out into the streets of district 5 to the town's square where all of the biggest ceremonies happen. I flow into the river of kids. My steps are close. I begin allowing myself to think about getting picked. This would mean certain death for me because I could never kill a human. It's simply against my religion. I think to myself if there were ever a holy person to win the hunger games. Katniss Everdeen of district 12 was a decent girl who won both the 74th and 75th hunger games but even she had to kill a number of people. I'd hope to just outlive everyone else which means the chances of survival are slim.

      "Harry!" I hear someone call from behind me. I turn around and find that this sound comes from my best friend Theo. We've spent all of our 16 years together in this cell we call district 5. Immediately I am cheered by his presence. I stop as he walks to catch up to me, the square only a few blocks away. He finally catches up and we hug each other smiling.

       "I thought you would be there by now," I say smiling.

      "Without you bro!?" Says Theo. "You must be crazy." He is the only person who makes me feel special or needed in this world.

        I find that we are just standing in the middle of streets and people are beginning to stare.

        "We should go," I say chuckling.

        "Agreed," he says.

       We both continue the short walk to the square joking along the way. For a second I forget that I am walking to a place that determines who will face death.

     We are finally there and all jokes stop as we find our place in the boy's section of the square. I look around me and see at least thirty dozen familiar faces. Two of these faces will be gone forever. I look over at Theo. It could be him. I look at my own hands. It could be me. I look far away at Veronica Blue, my biggest crush who doesn't know who I am. It could be her too. I look up to the heavens once more and whisper, "God please protect the ones I love." And just at that moment Mona Eloise from the capitol walks onto the stage with her flowing purple hair. She hosts the reaping for district 5 every year. I see the professional cameras hanging from the surrounding posts. I see the seats of victors on the side. The event still brings a sadness to their faces.              

         "Good morning district 5 and welcome to the reaping of the 76th Hunger Games!" Says Mona Eloise. I hear nothing but the mechanical applause coming from the cameras. "May the odds be ever in your favor." She wastes no time getting started. "First the girls." For some reason my heart beats fast. I cry for everyone who ever steps onto that stage. I pray it isn't Veronica. Mona pulls the name from the girl's bracket and reads it out loud. "Shora Mills". I've seen this girl before but don't know her well. i can see her from a far. She looks as if she's seen a ghost. All eyes are on her including mine and Theo's. She doesn't move for a while. I hear Mona clear her throat very loudly and intentionally. Her legs begin to move through the square of girls and to the center isle.  As she gets closer she begins to cry. The more she walks the more tears fall. It breaks my heart. She is someone's daughter. She looks only about 14 or 15 with hair looking to be done especially for this day. Her prayers were not answered. Finally she is settled on stage sobbing next to Mona Eloise. For a second I rejoice the fact that Veronica is safe for another year. "Now for the boys." My heart is racing now more than before. This fear is fear for myself. She draws a name from the boys' bracket. I close my eyes tight as she reads the name out loud. "Harry Reed". I hear sighs of relief all around me. I know this name. I look over at Theo confused. His face shows devastation. Then I realize something I've dreaded for years. This name that has been called on the day of the reaping is my own. Suddenly it is hard to breath. To my surprise my legs move out of the boy's square and into the center isle toward Mona Eloise as I've seen people do for many years. None of which have returned to district 5. The thought of that makes my vision blurry and suddenly I am falling.