The Shepherd and The Seamstress

Chapter One: The Reaping

Chapter 1: District 10
Ginette (the shepherd) District 10
The bird songs and brays of donkey awake me on an almost perfect Thursday morning.
It would have been perfect except for the nagging fear that was written in blood red on the circled day of the calendar: Reaping Day. My clock buzzes announcing that it was five thirty and I jump from bed, fully dressed in my usual dirty jeans and sweater, to start with the chores in the field. First things first, head count. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! All accounted for!" I announce to the ten, bored boer, goats. I walk over to the feeding trough and dump a sixty pound bag of oats into it. The loud bahs of hunger turn happy at the sound of food. I pump some water from the rusty old pump into the water tray and then waltz out through the gate, padlocking it behind me.
I run back to the house and jump into the shower and wash myself quickly, so I could use some hot water, but leave some for Veve. I squeak open her door. "Rise and shine Veve!" I announce opening her blinds. She groans and I lean in to whisper in her ear, "There's still hot water." She bolts up and runs to the bathroom. I laugh and head to the kitchen to start making some wheat toast and bacon for the morning.
My father walks in as the bacon is just finishing. Veve sits at the table looking back at me every few seconds, awaiting toast and bacon. As soon as the toaster dings, I grab the sliced and butter them up. "How are you honey?" My mom asks from the doorway. I know what she means, she's asking about the reaping. "I'm fine Mom, I'm only in there six times out of a thousand names, it'll be fine." Six slips with my name on them. Three for the three years I've taken tesserae for myself, and three for the amount of times I should be in there without the grain and oil rations.
By the time I've finished cleaning up from breakfast it's nearly ten. I scruffle Veve's hair and laugh on my way to my room. I slide open the curtain to my closet and see the one dress I own hanging there. A pale gray dress that is about knee length with three quarter sleeves a matching pair of short, gray heels lay on the floor in the closet. I sigh and grab both items and lay them on my bed. I strip quickly and unbutton the three buttons near the top of the dress and pull it over my head, standing in the mirror to button them properly. I slip the heels on and click-clack down the hallway and into the bathroom where I brush my hair gently and then put it in a low ponytail and split the loose hair above the rubber band holding my hair together. I pull the end of my hair through the split and then tighten the band. I braid the hair that's now hanging loose on my neck and tuck it into a short knot under the twist. I sigh and rub a fleck of dirt off my face and put in the pair of grey gauges I've saved for the one day every year to wear with this dress. I tugged on the bottom of my dress and walked out of the bathroom, just in time for the loud sirens blaring, signaling that everyone should be in the square for the reaping. I hug my parents and Veve before going to stand in line to have my blood taken. I'm not very worried for myself at all, even though I still have that chance of being drawn, just like that poor little twelve year old last year who's name was only in once, yet she was still drawn. Veve stays with mom and dad, as she's only 9 as I go to stand with all the other girls my age. I block out everyone around me and just try to focus on my thoughts as our district escort walks on stage. "Well it's very nice to see you all here again." He pipes in a squeaky voice. Lycus Mier. That man was probably as weird as you get in the Capitol, with his bright pink skin and contrasting puke green hair, paired with golden stars on his face, pale blue eyes, cat ears in dark purple, and sharpened teeth. "Now it's time for our amazing video from the Capitol." I groan under my breath and the girl next to me hears. "I know, right?" She whispers in response. I nod. I block out the video by scanning the crowd of girls for the one girl I was looking for. Clarity Marie. I couldn't explain the fact of why she was always so attractive to me, even as my best friend. Her red hair catches my eye and I stare at her until the video ends.
The girl next to me grabs my hand. I grasped it back and Lycus walks to the bowl of names. "I think I'll start it will gentlemen first." He pulls a name. "Marcus Dunn." I sigh in quiet relief as it wasn't anyone I know. A burly seventeen year old walks into stage, crying. I giggle slightly at the sight. "Now for our lovely ladies." My breath catches in my throat as he opens the slip with a name on it. "Ginette Marie Kennedy." The way he says my name irks me. With the hard g and hard t at the end. "Actually sir, it's pronounced with a soft g and the ending noise is more like the ending of ballet." Everyone stares at me, horrified and Veve screams my name. Then it hits me in the chest like a sack of bricks. I've been reaped. I slowly make my way to the stage, doing a three finger salute to my district. "I love you Veve." I whisper when I kiss my fingers and take the final step onto the stage.
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VOTE FOR THIS CUTIE PLEASE KEEP HER ALIVE I LOVE MY LITTLE BAE PLEASE even though I love my real bae a bit more, I'm gonna spoil a little, her character is a bit of a cry baby >-•>
That's all for now, I'll post chapter two, (Aka crybaby pov tomorrow)