My name is Gale

Chapter 5

Today, I start my long coal mining career. I always dreamed of doing something for my family when I was eighteen. Or myself. Is that such a bad thing though? Is doing something for yourself every once in a while really that much of a crime? Why can't I be a black smith, or make snares for a living? Or even be a baker! A baker, the things I would give to have a different life, To live in a different place, to ruin President Snow, to bomb the Capitol. The things I would give to save Katniss from dying in that arena. I had my chance and I blew it, I could of volunteered for peeta at the Reaping, but I didn't.Did I think some one else would? There would be lots of kids that day wanting to save Peeta, just not wanting it enough to give their life to him.

As I walk over to the mines, I realise I won't be able to get away with not watching the games this year. It'll playing on the radio 24/7 in the mines, then when we go to wash up at the end of the day, we get the privledge to watch them live! How exciting!

" you're name" the peace keeper standing next to me demands
"Gale Hawthorne" I say, scared to death. What will this guy do time me?
"You're new, didn't get reaped once. Sorry " he comments. This is classic Capitol tallk, they try to make you want to get reaped, make it sound like your missing out on a huge festivity.
"Don't be sorry, I should be able to move on. I always wanted see what it would be like though, outside District 12, Peeta and uh, Katniss are two lucky people." I just manage to get her name out. I think My comment made a good impression. You don't want to mess with peace keepers. Of course I didn't mean what I said to him, but you have to lie to make peace keepers happy.
He signals me to turn left into a big wooden house. I sit down on the old and squeaky pine chairs while every man from district 12 comes inside and takes a seat.