The Hunger Games- Madges's POV

Chapter 2

It seems that I fell asleep. Surprisingly, I had no dreams. My dad is telling me we need to get to the square early, so we leave at 1. I hang around in a corner until people file in, then check in with the rest of the 16-year-olds. I see Katniss, but I don't really acknowledge her.

Haymitch, the only alive victor of District 12, along with Effie trinket and my dad, are on the stage. Haymitch is drunk, as usual. My dad, the mayor, starts talking about the history of panem, as he always has to, every year, about the Hunger games, and how they remind us to be thankful to the president. Effie looks disgruntled because Haymitch tried to hug her, and her bright pink hair -probably a wig- looks slightly off.

Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for. Effie skips to the podium and says, as always, "May the odds be ever in your favor!" She acts preppy about it all, and tells us it's such an honor to be here, but EVERYONE knows she wants to be promoted to a better district. Suddenly I think, again, of how it's not fair, how there are thousands of slips, how some have 5, how some have over 20. But, there's nothing I can do.

It's reaping time, and it's "ladies first!" Effie reaches into the glass ball with the girls' names, reaches down, and finds a slip she likes. I am hoping its someone who has a chance, someone who could get sponsors, someone who can just show the Capitol. It gets really quiet, the crowd in anticipation, and in a clear voice, she reads the name.

Primrose Everdeen, who only had one entry, who's only 12, who doesn't deserve to go.

District 12 is unhappy, they always are when somone so small and innocent gets chosen. I hear a small shout in the crowd, and realize it's Katniss. Again, she shouts, "Prim!" almost desperately, and we make way for her. And then she's pushing Prim behind her, she's saying"I volunteer!...I volunteer as tribute!"

And It's amazing, how I knew she'd end up going, even though I wouldn't admit it. No one has volunteered in District 12, at least in a long time, and there's confusion. They get the boys done with quickly, and there's Peeta Mellark, the baker's son, in my year at school.

I subtly take my pin in my hands, and I realize Katniss is my friend. I can go visit her in the Justice building, and I will give this to her as her district's token. I know she's great at singing, has a voice that mockingjays would probably return. Of course, I have no firsthand experience with them, but I need Katniss to know that I'm supporting her, that she has a chance.