The vacant lot felt a lot colder this morning. Maybe it was my fear that I was feeling. This was my first reaping after all. Stache was holding my hand like I was still a toddler. I could tell that by the way Stache was trembling he was worried for me. His other hand was tapping his thigh impatiently, the skin on his finger tips was still burned. His wavy blonde hair was a mess, and his eyes were puffy from crying. Stache had always worried me, but last night he had cried for me.
Today was the reaping. Last year had been a quarter quell, with forty-eight tributes leaving for the arena, and only one coming out alive. I think when Stache saw that little girl with the dark brown hair and the bright blue eyes that looked similar to me die it had broken his heart. Stache would still have to sit on the stage of our town square and represent our district, but he'd likely not have to speak, because he was obviously upset. Maybe Caruth Wiliker would talk - he was the outspoken, cocky winner of the thirty-sixth hunger games.
District eight wasn't bustling with seamstresses today. In fact, hardly anybody was taking the same route as we were to the town square. Stache had always gone past the factories on his way to the square because we lived on the far side of the district - near the large stone structure between our district and district six. Our district was more closely guarded - it was wild to the north and there were other districts to the south and west.
Mother had made me a new dress for the reaping. I had protested to wear it because I didn't find it a good reason to wear a beautiful dress, but she insisted. Stache was wearing pinstripe pants, far too short and cutting of at the ankle. They were the same pants he wore almost everyday, but mother didn't protest. She knew that he would never change. Never grow up. Never marry Loren, his love. Never have kids. He was too scared. Stache wouldn't have children because he didn't want them to be in the hunger games - the exact reason he had cried last night.
The dress was yellow and had small tulips sewed in - careful needlework that must have taken Ma ages. I had never seen a tulip in my life. Ma had seen one when she was very little, towards the end of the first rebellion. That was the last she saw of flowers.
We finally etched our way through the maze of factories and empty lots. We arrived at a tall gate with spikes at the top. Eight peacekeepers, all in new uniform, were guarding the entrance. This was my first year here for the reaping - and Stache could no longer particpate for he was nineteen. The peacekeeper let Stache in quickly, Stache's eyes glanced back at me. I gave him a nod and he walked onto the stage. I stayed behind and waited for a ovoid blonde lady to prick my finger. She was obviously from the capitol for she had been too well fed. She gave me a small smile when she realized I was Stache's sister. I noticed she had a golden tooth in the front. A sign of wealth.
The peacekeepers ushered me inside and I lined up next to the other girls that were twelve. Most I recognized from school. Finally I found Georgina and Alia, my friends.
"Oh you look gorgeous!" yelled Georgina. I said thank you but was embarrassed to find that when I turned around Kasu and Irika (my enemies) were scowling at me. Alia turned me back around and whispered quietly, "Are you nervous?"
I nodded my head quickly and then whispered, "But Stache is more." Alia bowed down her head and pointed across the square to the stage. Stache sat with his head in his hands, shaking. His mentor, Rastizia, was leaning down, her shirt unbuttoned far too much, and patting his leg. She was whispering something to him but with all the noise we couldn't hear.
My eyes burned with fear. Why did Stache act this way? He didn't have to worry to much now did he? My name was only in there once.
Finally, Rastizia stepped up to the podium and announced in her high pitched voice: "Welcome! Welcome to the district eight reaping for the fifty-first annual hunger games!" She continued on her ramble and showed that despicable video that Stache had talked about before he had been reaped. About how the hunger games began.
Then it was the time. Rastizia always began with the female tribute - believing it was the polite way to go about things.
