The 122nd Annual Hunger Games: The Anti-Careers

District 7 Reaping

VII - Rebekah Taylor

Evan gently set down his cup of water, looking to me as he adjusted the collar on his dull, white shirt; his attire for the reaping had been passed down a generation from his father to him, not because it was a symbol or anything but because it was simply what he had. Evan's parents were too good at not spending money, remaining frugal to every second of their lives. Why buy something when you already have it?

My clothing was of nearly the same standard, faded and aged. I ran my fingers across the left strap of my dress, rubbing my thumb on the rough, frayed fabric that held together my dress. After we tampered with our clothing while looking to each other for nods of approval, both our sets of parents walked in. Those who didn't know our family very well usually guessed that Evan and I were siblings, but the fact was that his parents and my parents had been lifelong friends, thus setting Evan and I up for childhood friendship.

"Evan, Rebekah, it's time," Evan's father said stern. We nodded and he added, "let's get moving."

It was our fourth reaping, both of us being fifteen but we were lucky to have the parents we had; we never needed a tessera. Both our names were in four times each. It was Evan's parents' frugality and my parents' jobs that kept us away from that dangerous deal.

After leaving Evan's house, we were soon standing in our sections at the reaping ceremonies dreading the names to be read; it was hard to hear anybody we knew be chosen for the awful games. When we were fourteen, an old friend, Helen, was chosen and died quickly in the bloodbath, an awful bloody death at the hand of a District 2 Career. Our escort, a brand new escort, introduced herself upon arriving.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome District 7 to your annual reaping for the 122nd Annual Hunger Games! I'm your new escort, Erexia Barhouse, and I'll be here from now on! As always, ladies first!"

I let my palms sweat too much so I had to rub them on my dress to dry myself. I glanced over to Evan who looked back to me and nodded; he meant good luck.

"And now, for our first tribute, our female tribute!" she bellowed as she gradually revealed the name on the slip of paper to herself. Suddenly, her escort smile flushed to a frown, not good in this case. "Wait a minute-this isn't a girl! Some wingnut has misplaced the reaping bowls, switching the boys and girls!" she cried it, an unnecessary fit.

I could imagine everyone in their head screaming at her to just read out the boys first then because then the problem will be solved. After a moment of frustration, she seemed to arrive to the easy fix solution.

"Well I guess it isn't fair to the boy I already drew if I draw another one later, they'd hate me for it!"

No, they'd be begging you to redraw after you draw a girl instead.

My heart pounded, racing faster and lumping stronger beats against my chest. This little mishap actually caused me a disturbance; I'd have just preferred if everything went normal, as in pick the girl's first.

"Our district 7 male tribute, is Evan Ashe!"

What. The. Heck.

I jabbed my head towards him, my chestnut hair getting in my face for a moment. He glanced back to me and nodded good luck again after leaving his spot, confident and ready to be forced to take a spot in The Hunger Games. Upon reaching the stage, he saved Erexia the trouble of asking for his age and walked up to the microphone to do it himself, fifteen; we knew the drill.

"And now, to select an actual female tribute!" she echoed through the microphone as she waltzed over to where the boys' bowl should have been. She selected the one she wanted and tore through the paper, checking to make sure a girl's name was printed onto it. "Aha!" she exclaimed to let us know she found a girl. Erexia, in a fake fashion of honor, read the name loud and clear to everyone, looking for that lucky girl who got chosen for The Hunger Games.

"Rebekah Taylor," she announced, throwing a large break in between my two names.

I had to repeat Evan. We had to be strong together. Without being prompted by anybody other than the escort, I moved myself up to the stage announced my age the same way as Evan.

Erexia gave a good look to both of us, admiring our confidence and seeming quite pleased with the tributes her district pulled on her first year as an escort. "District 7, your tributes, Evan Ashe and Rebekah Taylor!"

Both of us took good looks at our parents who we would see in the justice building for only a minute momentarily.