The Hunger Games: A new point of view

chapter 5

It's been 5 days since the reaping. Today, training scores are announced and the tribute interviews are held with Caesar Flickerman. One good thing about tonight is that we got to come home from the orchards early. The bad thing is the fact that Arrow will be going to the arena tomorrow. Even with five days of training, in the arena she'll be dealing with kids who have been wielding knives since they were two. The thought of my sister dying unfairly at the hands of another tribute sickens me.

Caesar charms the audience. Finally the moment comes: “LET'S GET STARTED” Caesar exclaims. The audience goes crazy. The first tribute, the girl from one with blonde hair and a dark blue gown struts onto the stage. I guess her angle was easy for her mentor to figure out. With her curvy silhouette and beautiful face, sexy is her obvious approach.

One by one, the tributes are interviewed by the interviewed.The first half of the broadcast, districts 1-6 is especially intimidating. This half has all of the career tributes. They brag about their skill, how they are able to throw knives from 100 yards, their obvious superiority to the other tributes. They all have different angles, but their eyes are cold and unforgiving. These are the heartless people that my sister will face in the arena.

To say that I am petrified would be an understatement.

The broadcast stops for intermission. In between propaganda favoring “The Great Country of Panem” (who do they think they're fooling?) they show pictures of the tributes backstage. Now, I get a look at Arrow. As usual, her chin is up, and she looks confident. And beautiful. Whoever her stylist is,  she knows what she's doing. Simple makeup adorns her face. By her side is her personal trainer. Since district 11 hasn't had any victors yet, the capitol provides personal trainers to play the role of a normal mentor. I smile to myself. Despite of her superior competition,  she still hold her head high.

The broadcast cuts back to Caesar and the interview continue. This part is particularly torturous: all of these tributes are from the poor districts. They seem weak and therefore make themselves easy targets. I can barely bring myself to watch the interview from five, where two 12 year olds were reaped. They're shy and scrawny. In the background, I see the careers smirk at their obvious weakness. I can practically read their thoughts: you’re first.

Finally, Caesar says the words I've both been hoping for and dreading. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Arrow Manning of District 11!” the crowd cheers. Arrow walks onto the stage wearing a beautiful teal that flows to meet her high--heeled feet. Her hair is straightened and falls down her back-- since when is Arrow’s hair so long?-- and is once again adorned with a flower crown. Instead of pink flowers, they are brown.

She walks confidentially over to Caesar and shakes his hand. “How are you tonight, darling?” he says is his charming voice. Arrow smiles genuinely. “In doing just fine Caesar. Yourself?” her response seems to startle Caeser a little bit, but he quickly recovers. “Fine, just fine darling. Now tell me. You scored at 10, something shocking from a person of your district. How did you do it?” my eyes widen. We were in the orchards when they announced the training scores. Caesar is right--normally kids from our district pull a 7 or a 6 if they're lucky. But a ten?! Mother and father's reactions are the same. They gape at the television screen. Arrow just smiles casually. “Let’s just say I've got a few tricks up my sleeve,” this makes the audience clap. Now it is obvious what Arrow's approach was. She’s confident. It's just her personality. And a perfect angle. I'm glad that her trainer didn't try to pull a risky thing with her like a sexy approach. Although she is beautiful, Arrow's not cut out for it. Arrow's interview goes great. She gets a standing ovation at the end.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like the odds are in my favor.