4. Bodey

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As the lights dimmed and the music swelled, I watched the tributes before me carefully. Ideally, I would’ve come up with a strategy before the actual interviews, but my mentors and district escort had again focused all their energies on Lyra. I watched the careers, as they played the cocky-arrogant part, and the rest of the tributes play themselves as elusive, secretive, sexy, or joking types.

When my name was finally announced, I walked up with a smile on my face. I’d decided that I could never play a part, it just wouldn’t be believable; I’d chosen to go as myslelf.

“Hello there Bodey!” said Ceasar as I walked up and sat in the chair beside him.

“Hey.” I answered as I peered at the stage.

“Quiet one huh? Well, tell me Bodey, how has it been like these past few days in the Capitol?”

I thought for a moment before answering. “It’s been busy.”

Ceasar raised a brow, and chuckled. “Busy? Busy how?”

I elaborated. “Busy, like, we’ve had a lot of stuff to do. The chariots, the training days, the costumes, everything.”

He laughed. “Yes, I suppose it has been busy then. Tell me young man, I’ve been wanting to know this since I watched your reaping, why did you volunteer?”

My lip wobbled as I remembered Beau, but I grit my teeth and puffed out my chest as I answered. “I volunteered because I didn’t want my brother to have to go through this.”

Ceasar nodded, but didn’t seem convinced. “But was there another reason? I mean, siblings have been reaped before and their families haven’t volunteered. And you, being so so young, why? What crossed your mind?”

I could’ve lied; tried to say I’d done it because I thought I had a better chance, or because I wanted the fame. I could’ve said anything to make myself look better before the citizens of Panem. But I couldn’t, I’d made up my mind to be honest. “Why did I do it? Look at me Ceasar, I’m small, I’m of no use. I can’t work in hard labor, I can’t bring in any kind of profit, I can’t even keep up with kids in school. I’m… I’m a burden. My older brother, Beau, he’s had to be like a mother and father to me and my siblings. He’s the reason we’ve managed to live this long without starving. If he came, we’d die, if I came, they’d live…. It was only logical that I do something of value with my life.”

The audience was quiet as they took in my words. Ceasar cleared his throat and he looked at me with new eyes. “Mature words for a boy your age. Let me assure you, your reasons are justified. I look forward to seeing you in these games. Before you leave, however, I’d like to ask one last thing.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

He looked at me with a sober expression. “From what you’ve said, I couldn’t help but gather that you don’t seem to have high hopes for yourself in these games. Tell me, honestly, how do you feel about your odds?”

I actually smiled. “Good actually. I mean, I’m not just going to roll over and wait for someone to kill me. I’m gonna’ give it my all. I mean yeah, a five isn’t great, but it isn’t horrible.”

“You sound optimistic.” Ceasar noted.

I nodded. “I am. My brother Beau, he said the best thing you can have is a positive outlook on life. No matter what position you’re in you should always try to look on the bright side.”

Ceasar smiled back and clapped. “Well said young man, well said. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a round of applause for Bodey Jacks; volunteer from district nine!”

As the applause caught in my ears I couldn’t help by smile in my childish way. I looked at Macon, and I looked at Smalls; my friends, my allies. Indeed, I had hope. 

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