Life With No Games

Chapter 9: 7 days

I actually enjoy Beetee's day. He talks about the challenges in the arena, how he won. They show his games and thank the tributes for their lives. Cassia gives a speech about Beetee and his games. She makes it sound like they've been friends for years.

Haymitch's day is next and it's really interesting even though I've already watched his games. He talks about his time in the arena openly and I'm pretty sure he's never done that before. His speech really makes me feel like I'm in his glorious, but deadly arena. He talks about Maysilee Donner which makes me tear up because it reminds me of Madge, sweet Madge who didn't make it, sweet Maysliee that didn't make it.  Again Cassia talks about Haymitch and his games like they're best friends and his day is even more of a success than Beetee's whose day was so good I thought no one could top it.

Enobaria's day was the day after and she talked about her games. Her day wasn't as popular because she was from district 2 , which everyone still resents a bit for being the capital's sweetheart. But for me, I enjoyed learning about Enobaria's experiences even though she was a career. One person who seemed very interested in what Enobaria had to say was Rue. That night she came up to me and said.

     "Mommy, I really like learning about the history of Panem and stuff, I think it's really interesting." A normal mother would support her daughter on her passion, but I'm trying to forget my history, though normal isn't a word someone would call me.

The next day was Annie's and she barely said a word, but Blake made sure to do a speech for her. They aired Annie's games, but didn't make her watch it like they did to everyone else which is probably the best idea. What I've realized from the last couple of days is how much the people of Panem like Cassia. She's great and all, but she's still President Snow's granddaughter. I wonder what she said or did to make them like and trust her so much.

So far everyday was different from the others,but Johanna's speech was beyond different. She didn't talk about the hunger games or the rebellion, she talked about how unfair the capital was before the rebellion.  It was so powerful sometimes I felt I needed to plug Rue and Finnick's ears. I feel like everyone was shocked after Johanna's speech, even Cassia.

Today was Peeta's day and like every speech he gives it blows everyone else's right off the chart. He doesn't just talk about the hunger games and the rebellion, he talks about his life before and his life now. Most of all he talks about me, Rue and Finnick. They show my games and Rue and Finnick get to see me and Peeta on screen. We looked so young back then. Compared to us now, our fake love is obvious. I see Rue die, it's hard to believe that if she survived she would have been an adult probably with kids.

     "Is that who I'm named after?" Rue asks.

    "Yes." I reply. Rue looks down.

     "So that's your old friend." She mumbled sadly. I want to cry and that grows as the games go on. I see Clove, Thresh, Foxface and Cato all die and have to tell my kids to look away every five seconds. I can't believe every kid in Panem watched this. No wonder we're so messed up. I see my stunt with the berries that sets off a chain of cheers in the crowd. That one move basically caused the rebellion. Cassia goes up on stage and gives her daily speech, but today she added a small extra.

    "Remember, tomorrow is the last day of the victors week." A chain of awwws goes through the crowd. Me, I want to cheer and cry at the same time. I want to cheer because that means that it's over, but it's also my day and I'm really worried about my speech. "It's Katniss's day tomorrow, a very special day for the very special person who was the reason we are free today!" Cassia continues. Great she's reminding people, not like they would forget. "At 9:00 am there will be a meet and greet with Katniss at the president's mansion. Those who wake up early get to meet her! At 11:00 there will be a victors parade. In the afternoon we will be showing the quarter quell video and shots of the rebellion and a moment where we honour those who were lost. At 5:00 pm there will be a dinner party at the president's mansion for a couple of sophisticated guests and at 8:00 pm Katniss will give a speech and I will get a speech to finish it off."