Politics and Bows and Arrows

The Reaping

Katniss

Effie Trinket crosses back to the podium, smoothes the slip of paper, and reads out the name in a clear voice. And it's not me.

It's Madge Undersee.

Madge

I was standing in a clump of merchant kids. I wonder if the shock on their faces mirrored my own. I took small careful steps up to the stage. You could hear a pin-drop in the now silent square. An image of my father's face was being projected on the massive screen across from the justice building. Anger, Grief, Confusion, read all over his face. 5 slips; I only had five slips! Some girls my age had over 20!

I make it to the stage and Effie Trinket congratulates me. Why is she congratulating me? Winning the reaping is a death sentence. Not a celebratory event. Her bright pink wig and scary paper white teeth infuriate me. Why should she get to be safe and dry in her bed when all of us are starving and just getting by?

My family is better off than most of the families in District Twelve. Being the mayor's daughter I never pictured going to the Capitol, and to think I was messing with that Seam kid Gale just this morning. How ironic that I'm the girl whose ended up going. I wonder if he's glad about this. Maybe he'll get a little revenge.

I find his face in the crowd. All that is projected on it is pity. I feel bad about my nasty thoughts. Who is sadistic enough to want someone from their fellow district in the Hunger Games?

Next I find my mother's face. Her grief is all over her face. It is raw and apparent and she makes no attempt at hiding it. Her face, the whole situation, my realization about Gale, and Effie Trinket's scary grin, make me burst into tears, right on the stage in front of the whole country.

Gale

When Madge's name is called, pity washes through me. But then relief; Katniss has been spared: At least for one more year. I watch as Madge bravely walks up the steps to the stage. The look on her face is absolutely terrified. Who wouldn't be? Well I guess she was right. She is going to the Capitol. I wonder now if she actually was being serious this morning.

Effie Trinket introduces Madge and asks if there are any volunteers. There obviously isn't as volunteers are all but extinct in District 12.

Wanting to keep the ball rolling, Effie quickly transitions into picking the boy tribute.

She walks over to the large glass ball. Slips her hand in the top and picks out a name. My stomach does odd little flips in anticipation of what she is going to say. It seems like it takes her a lifetime to walk back over to the dark wooden podium. I pray it's not me. Please don't be me! I have to support Vick, and Posy, and Rory. Then in a voice as clear as day she reads the paper, "Rory Hawthorne".

I think I am going to throw up. Rory walks up to the stage and stands beside Madge who is now bawling. His face is ashen white, and it looks as if he is going to faint. I call out his name. He looks towards me, but his eyes are glassy as if he is in a completely different world.

I duck under the rope sectioning off the 18 year olds, and dash up the wooden steps. I find myself volunteering as a tribute in this year's annual Hunger Games. This is all my stomach can handle at the moment, and I throw up: Right on Effie Trinket's impractical, high-heeled shoes.