The Simpson's Hunger Games

Chapter 1

Lisa:

I woke up to the sound of my mom yelling at me to get up. Sighing, I rolled over and remembered that this was the most worst day of my year. Reaping Day. I dragged my tired limbs out of the bed and walked towards the bathroom. As usual, as I passed my brother's room, I could hear loud snores coming from it, almost shaking the whole house. He definitely inherited this from Dad.

I took a shower and dressed quickly in a simple orange dress. I may have had it for years, but it's still my favourite. I brush my hair and put on my pearl necklace. Mom gave it to me when I was only a baby, and I've always worn it as long as I can remember. On days like this, it makes me feel better, in some weird way. I walk down the stairs, carefully avoiding Bart's trip wire he kindly placed at the bottom. As if I would fall for that trick again! Walking into the kitchen, I know what Mom's cooking, as the sweet smell of freshly cooked pancakes wafts up my nose. My favourite, as she knows. She makes sure to cook this every Reaping to calm my nerves. Getting chosen to fight to the death with other kids my age is, unsurprisingly, my worst nightmare. I can't even watch the games on TV, I always go somewhere else or cower away. This is exactly the reason I became a vegetarian.

Hearing some stomping coming down the stairs, I predict instantly that it's either Bart or Dad. They are beginning to look and sound the same; it can be very unsettling. It's Bart, and he flops down in his chair and grumbles that he wants some pancakes. He wolfs them down, and as soon as he's eaten about four batches, he picks up his skateboard from the hall and leaves the house. That's all he ever does all day; take his skateboard out and cause trouble with his unwilling friend- Millhouse? I think that's his name. I haven't really spoken to Millhouse since I was in Elementary school, really. Now I'm sixteen, I need to help my mom with the chores a lot, and keep an eye on Maggie, who had her seventh birthday two weeks ago. Maggie's very quiet and never says anything much. She still hasn't got rid of her pacifier yet, no matter how many times Mom and I try to make her throw it away.

Mom washes up the dishes, and I help clean up the beer stain on the couch that Dad left last night. He's been drinking again, so he won't get up until ten minutes before the Reaping, making us all late, as usual. I roll my eyes and vow never to have a husband. Poor Mom, she's had to put up with Dad for ages, but she never seems to complain, probably because she loves him. The phrase 'Love is blind' has never been more true. Yelling goodbye to Mom, I set out with my backpack and go off to my hiding place.

Outside Springfield, and District 5, there is a fence separating us from the other districts. There's rumours that the fence isn't electric, but it is. Since District 5 is the district where we make electricity and power, we always have it in good supply, and have more power than other districts. In this book I read, I learnt that District 12, for example, only has power for 1 hour everyday. We have power most of the day, even at night. But, it's a well known fact that the Capitol will supply good power to all districts throughout the Games. I shudder. The Games. The reason why I go to my hiding place is to forget about the whole idea of the Games; even Simpnem.

Avoiding the fence completely, I walk over to the tree next to it. I've been coming here ever since I was 10 years old, running away from Bart and a stink bomb he was threatening me with. I was scared about climbing this tree at first, but I was more scared of the stink bomb, which Bart claimed that a crow corpse was added to the mixture. I wouldn't of believed that now, but when I was 10 I was so naïve. So, when I first climbed the tree, I soon saw it was a lot easier than it looked. Anyone could climb it, but no one will because of the wild animals and the country between districts isn't considered to be part of Simpnem. Some people are afraid of that, I guess. I stop daydreaming when I reach the top of the tree, looking down on the ground. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and jump. Bending my knees, I make a surprisingly good one, landing my feet a few metres away from the fence. Opening my eyes again, I look down on Springfield, District 5's main town, and where I live, turn towards the woods.