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I wake up at 6:30 in the morning to find Lily leaning over me. "Go away." I mutter.
"No thank you! We're hear to prepare you for the Selection." A disgustingly cheery voice chirps.
I open my eyes in surprise and scream. That is most definitely not Lily. "Honestly, its not like I'm going to eat you." The lady who woke me up says. "But you need to get up and get ready. We have much to do today."
With that she walks out of the room.
I stumble out of bed and walk to the bathroom where I wash my face, my teeth, and brush my hair before changing into my favorite over sized t-shirt and shorts. "Good morning!" Mom exclaims, standing in front of the stove.
"What are you doing?" I ask. "Making breakfast!"
"What is going on with everyone?" I mumble. "Mumbling's not good for you." Mom says. "Anyway, their waiting for you in the dining room." "They?" I ask.
"The people." Mom answers.
"The people?" I repeat. Mom turns to look at me and rolls her eyes. "Yes, the people. The ones who prepare you for the Selection. Go on now." With that Mom turns back around.
I walk into the dining room and have to take a step back.
There are video cameras in the room and the lady who woke me up is sitting at the head of the table and there are three other people sitting at the table, and tons of papers and fabric (why is there fabric on the table?).
"Good morning!" The lady at the head of the table exclaims. "My name is Sharon, and this is James," She point at the guy on her right, "Ben," The second guy on her right, "and Lisa." This time she points at the lady on her left.
"Anyway, why don't you take a seat so that we can go over a few things with you. This year we are doing a special interview with all of the Selected and it will be aired in a week from now as a special interview for the Report."
"Ok?" I ask, sitting down.
"Lets get started. We already gave you our names and we know your names. You are Iris Aria Campbell, a Three, from the province of Angeles, you were born on May 14th, 2087, you are currently 17." James recites.
"You got that all just from looking at me?" I ask, awe struck. "No, your file." Ben states. "Oh." Why didn't I think of that.
I glance at the video cameras and see a red light blinking. So they were recording me. As I said that.
Way to go Iris!
"Moving on, for the next week, we have a schedule put aside for you. Today we do the fittings so that the seamstresses in the palace have time to make your dresses, and then we have the talk with you about . . ."
The rest of her voice is lost to me as my mind drifts. " . . . . And that's all for this week." Sharon finishes.
"Got it great! Thank you!" I say, putting on a fake smile.
"Of course." Sharon says, and starts asking me way to many questions. My brain goes on autopilot. She asks a question, I answer. Bob asks a question, I answer. Lisa remains quiet.
Finally, Sharon says, "Alright, Lisa, its your turn. Everyone, move out." Sharon stands up and walks out followed by the cameras, the camera men, and Bob and Joe.
"Overwhelming, isn't it?" Lisa asks. I nod, sinking into my chair.
Lisa opens a bag I didn't notice before and takes out papers with color sheets, a measuring tape, and sewing supplies. "You have all of that in that tiny bag?" I ask. "Yes. There's more outside, in the truck, where the seamstresses are waiting." Lisa replies, unfazed.
"There are more people?" I ask.
"Well of course, you'll probably meet more people in the next week than you entire life."
My eyes bulge and Lisa continues. "Please take off your shirt and shorts." I stare at her like she has two heads. "Um, sorry, can you repeat that?"
"Please take off your shirt and shorts?" Lisa repeats. "I obviously can't measure you through your shirt and shorts."
"Honey, just do it." Mom calls through the door.
I hold back a groan and strip until I'm left in my panties and bra.
"This won't take long." Lisa reassures me as she does whatever she has to do with her measuring tape around my waist, stomach, shoulders, and the grossest part, my boobs.
"Great thank you. I'll be right back." Lisa walks out of the room and the minute the door closes I'm already dressed.
The camera's film me walking out of the dining room and to the kitchen, where Mom has a plate of waffles and eggs set aside for me. I sit down at the counter and start to eat when Lisa walks back into the house with two other ladies.
"Iris, this is Hope, and this is Clarissa. We're going back into the office space, you can bring your food with you."
"Lisa, dear, would you like some waffles? I always make extra. Same with Hope and you, Clarissa." Mom says from the kitchen.
"Yes, they'd love that Mom." I quickly say, walking into the kitchen where Mom has three plates set aside with three waffles. I grab them, balancing them all on my arm, as well as my own and follow Lisa and the camera men into the dining room. Or the 'office space' as she calls it.
Hope and Clarissa take seats and open their black duffel bags and bring out identical clip boards. Lisa slides the two pages of colors over to me, and hands me a black Sharpie. "Please circle the colors that you like."
"Ok . . . That's all you want me to do with this?" She wants me to circle colors. Ok. I can totally do that.
Lisa nods, and I uncap the Sharpie and look at the first page.
Its in rainbow order.
Why am I not surprised?
I go through the reds, yellows, and oranges, where I circle my first color, a pretty orange that reminds me of the sun. A page and a half later and several circles later, I slide the sheets over to Lisa, who goes over them and shows them to Hope and Clarissa.
"Moving on-" Lisa starts but I interrupt her. "There's more?"
