Under the Willow

Chapter 8

A loud pop exploded from the living room.
" Well, I guess this dusty old tv is going to do, " Mom said and walked into the kitchen.
" How's the medicine coming sweetie?"
I looked down at my plate where I was grinding the different herbs. " Good," I said and smiled.
My relationship with mom has been getting better everyday. She does everything now, besides hunting. Gale does that for us because mother and I can't even hold a bow without doing something wrong. Mom said she would probably be good with knives, but any time of weapon that could be used against the peacekeepers are prohibited. She leaned over to kiss my forehead and then sat down in the oak wood chair to grind up some more herbs. We both knew that we were trying to stale, trying to forget that one of the most dreaded moment of our lives was approaching.

The Hunger Games.

It's hard to think that the week went by so fast.
Katniss is now known as the Girl on Fire, and of course with her fierce personality, could do the job well. Madge, the mayor's daughter, stopped by to give us a batch of chocolate chip cookies the day before.  " This is a gift, for both of you. Katniss and I aren't very good friends, but I still have feelings like the rest of you." Madge had said, obviously giving us her condolences. She didn't think Katniss would survive. Most people never believe in the tributes from our district, since we're so poor.
I hope Katniss proves them wrong.

  Hours past, and finally the moment came.
Slowly, we crept toward the living room. I picked up Buttercup and sat in a rocking chair. Mother showed no emotion, but I knew that she was screaming on her insides. I felt bad that I didn't cry, but there was no reason to.
Katniss was going to get out. Alive.
It's also hard to think that I could've been there too. There was a small girl named Rue that I would've had to fight against. I looked on the television to see Katniss's face, scared but determined. And then when the last second, the announcer stopped, and rang a cannon that only we could hear on tv, signaling the Hunger Games have begun. In those moments, I saw so many young children, drop down dead by Careers. One threw a knife at Katniss, a fierce little brown headed girl, but Katniss blocked it with her backpack. I noticed a smile crept on my face. Katniss had survived.

For now.