The Hunger Games: Retold

Chapter 6

The Tribute Training Center is where we'll be spending the next few days before we're delivered to the arena. Effie Trinket is conducting us there like a proud mother hen. She ushers us onto an elevator that has as much in common with the elevator back home as a coal miner has with President Snow. We shoot upward to floor 12 and Katniss tries to hide a delighted smile as she stares out the clear walls at the tiny people below. Effie is in a state of delusional pride over our introduction to the Capitol. She chatters nonstop about how well we did, how amazing we looked, and, surprisingly, how much of it was to her credit.

"I was in the city today and I told everyone who would listen about you volunteering for your sister, Katniss," she trills. "They were all so surprised that District 12 would have a volunteer, because you people never step forward like that, you know. I suppose it's your culture. You are so used to keeping your head down, to working in the dirt, to getting by with your quaint homemade clothes and rough manners. I told everyone that's the kind of thing that's going to be a great strength for you. You're so unused to having nice things, you will be more able to adapt in the arena than the other, more well-bred tributes." I'm imagining letting my mother have tea with Effie Trinket and wondering just how long she would last before emptying a teapot over that ridiculous wig when Effie lowers her voice conspiratorially. "I've been very mysterious though. Because, of course, Haymitch hasn't bothered to tell me your strategies. But I've done my best with what I had to work with. How Katniss sacrificed herself for her sister. How you've both successfully struggled to overcome the barbarism of your district." I smother a laugh at Katniss' expression, but Effie tops it with, "Everyone has their reservations, naturally. You being from the coal district. But I said, and this was very clever of me, I said, 'Well, if you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls!'" and smiles so broadly at her own genius I can only grin and applaud lightly.

"That'll do it," I tell her. "You pretty much wrapped it up for us and put a bow on top."

She shakes her head in false modesty, but is so obviously pleased with herself that I'm actually grateful to her for being out there and trying, however factually disastrously, to help us. Unlike Haymitch, whom we haven't even seen since he coldcocked me on the train.

"Unfortunately," Effie continues, echoing my thoughts, "I can't seal the sponsor deals for you. Only Haymitch can do that. But don't worry," and I'm touched by her determination, "I'll get him to the table at gunpoint if necessary."

Alone in my room I stand quietly for a minute and just take in how excessive everything is. I can't get over how much the Capitol has, while the in the districts every day is a struggle to survive at all. I'm going to use it to my advantage, though. The nutritious food, the high-tech training, the public perception, all of it. Our reception at the opening ceremonies has given me an idea of how to play it. The crowd went insane for us. I knew the outfits and novelty of the fire were going to strike a chord, but Cinna and Portia planned beyond that. They sold us as a duo, united instead of pitted against each other. These jaded, overindulged audience members have seen all this before. But this year, they will be screaming for more of the pair who came into this together, and will eventually have to turn on each other. With any luck they'll empty their pockets for us, wanting the poor coal miners to make it as far as they can so it's even more tragic when they finally have to succumb. This may be the best chance we have. I make a mental note to thank Cinna and Portia for such a rich gift. Just as I'm thinking this, a knock at the door announces Cinna, here to call me to dinner.

It seems counterintuitive to like someone who has taken the job of dressing me nicely so I look good when I'm forced to fight to my death, but I'm glad to see him. He has undoubtedly helped us, and he is kind and gentle and seems genuinely to care about us. And tonight he has a surprise for me.