53rd Hunger Games CH: 1

I hear a clanking of dishes and pots as I turn over on my bed. My younger sister Rini comes into my bedroom and shakes me awake.

"Amaranth," she softly calls, "Amaranth, it's time to get up, it's already noon." I groan, still tired, it doesn't take me long to become overcome with anxiety. I was able to sleep in. By this time I would already have gotten ready and be on my way to they South Fields. Looking at my clock and thanking Rini I spring up and run into the kitchen, Rini following close behind. Everything seems to be normal, but everyone knows it's a special day, for the capitol. No one makes a noise, all I hear is the running water on the plates.

"Good morning Amaranth," my mother says, "how did you sleep?" She seemed far too calm, I begin to writhe, how could she be so calm? 

"How can you say 'good morning'" I burst. My mother turns her head and her eyes meet my blue eyes. I notice that her eyes are damp and her cheeks very red.
She ignores my outcry and deters her gaze, "You need to brush your hair, dear." I have long straight brown hair that meets my tailbone, pulling a strand over my shoulder I see that it is a complete rats nest. I am 14. I'm about 5'2" and weigh at just about 100 lbs. My younger sister Rini is 13, this is her second reaping and so far she's been lucky, she has blue eyes and straight light brown hair that waves near the end that goes to her shoulders.
"You don't seem phased at all by the date." I murmur in an annoyed tone as I pass by my mother to grab a bowl.

My mother sighs, "I'm just trying to forget what today is…"
"So is everyone!" I yell, I am on edge; nerves are filling me to the brim.

"Calm down Amaranth, at least you don't have to take the tesserae." My older sister Meggie comes in rubbing her eyes. She is 16, she has green eyes and wavy brown hair that goes half-way down her back. Meggie is a very blunt kind of person, though her affections show through every once and a while, when she feels like it.  

We are not one of the richest families in District 9 nor are we one of the poorest. My father constantly works and loves us more than anything.

"Meggie, Amaranth, there is still some oats and milk on the table." Meggie grimaces at the oats; she put her name in the reaping 21 times for it.
"Got it." Meggie says as she sits down with a thud, obviously frustrated. I quietly sit down across the table as not to trigger her into a fiery rage. The Reaping has always been a touchy subject to her, since last year especially when her homeroom teacher's son, a crush of hers you could say, was brutally killed in the most unimaginable way by a tribute who had completely lost their mind. I shook the images away and poured some milk.
Rini has already eaten and continues helping mom put away plates. The kitchen is completely silent for a good amount of time save for the clinking of spoons against bowls, running water and the quiet conversation between mom and Rini. 

After I have eaten breakfast and all the dishes are cleaned and put away I walk into our room to find Rini helplessly trying to tie a bow on the back of her dress. I help her.
"If you get picked, Amaranth," she paused, "I'll volunteer for you…" I stop.

"No Rini, don't do that no matter what ok? I'll be able to fend for myself better than you will if you get picked, I know how to use a hoe better, remember. If I get picked that skill will help me a little." I say. Rini turns and hugs me, I hug her back. Now I need to put on my dress, its Meggie's old reaping dress that I can now fit into. It's a faded yellow with ruffles around the bottom of the dress. It goes to my knees and has no sleeves except for two thin straps.
Meggie walks in and puts her new red dress with a little fabric rose on one shoulder. It's good I like it because it will be mine one day. She leaves without a word. 

Rini tugs on my shoulder, "It's about time to leave, its 1 o'clock now." That's right, the reaping is at two. People usually come around 1:45 to take their place, leaving early is good to avoid having a problem finding a spot.

My mom and dad are waiting outside, my mother is wearing a worn white dress with a vintage pattern and my father is wearing a flannel shirt and nice brown pants. We all start walking down the path to the stage where the reaping will take place. Once I get there I quickly find my best friend Olive Valentine. My sisters take their places in their age groups while my parents wait around the edges, softly conversing with the other parents acting as if nothing's wrong, I hear them on the outskirts.
"How's the wife?"
"The harvest was surely nice this year, I hope for more rain."
Things along those lines. 

"Boy, am I nervous." Olive says. I look to her, Olive had to take the tesserae again since she now has two little brothers. Olive's mother had recently given birth to a baby boy; his name is Buck, named after Olive's older brother who was 14 when he fell victim to the Hunger Games. If I were to also fall prey she would fall into depression and never come out, I was the one who got her out of it when her brother died, that's why we're best friends.

Olive Valentine has olive green eyes and light brown hair that is cut into a bob. She is 14 like me, but she's taller at 5'4" and weighs about 100 lbs as well. She's one of the most comforting and nicest people I've met. On the other hand, Olive is kind of a worry-wart. But no matter what we're best friends and I intend for us to stay that way.  

"You'll be OK Olive, there are many other people here with their names in there more than yours…" As I say this a pit falls into my stomach and I almost regret it. Meggie. I sigh at the thought but it was true. Finally all the kids are here and the reaping is about to begin. I stand still though Olive cannot.

Up on the stage comes the mayor of District 9. As always he tells the "amazing" tale of how our country of Panem rose from the remains of what once was North America. Also, how the districts rose up against the capitol and how they destroyed District 13 because of this. Lastly, how the Hunger Games were created to show the Districts new loyalty to the capitol. If anything, loyal did not apply to me, I hate the capitol, for killing Olive's older brother. Though I'm no martyr, I don't have much courage or strength at all to do anything about it, my hatred is just a little flame deep in my stomach. 

While I was deep in thought about Buck, the past victors of the Hunger Games had all the attention. There are 5, but only two were eligible to be mentors. Grace and Barley are the eligible ones who won the 44th and the 49th Hunger Games. Then there is Petal who is pretty old now and took part in the 8th Hunger Games at the age of 16, Jacob who is just too old to be a mentor and won the 21st Hunger Games and lastly Morgana who is about 60 or so and won the 10th at 17 years old.

And now the most dreaded part of it all, Ms. Happy-go-lucky Sunny Perkinson is called up by the mayor to pick out the names of the tributes for the 53rd annual Hunger Games. She prances on the stage and quickly does a turn before reaching the microphone. She has an immense amount yellow and pink makeup all over her face. She also wears a hot pink and fuchsia coat with too many ruffles to count, a bright yellow shirt that's tucked into a very poufy black skirt, and bright blue shoes with heels so high it almost hurts just looking at them. To 'compliment' the whole outfit she has her hair dyed bright blue, styled to look like a bow on the top of her head with a black headband with ribbons falling all around her face as if they were a frame.  

"Happy Hunger Games!" she manages to say between giggles from her twirl, "and may the odd the ever in your favor!" She yells enthusiastically with a giggle at the end. Grace puts her hands on her face in embarrassment that this woman was taking a death-match as seriously as a game of duck-duck-goose.

"Ladies first!" Sunny said as she shuffles over to the girls' glass ball. With heels that high I'm surprised she could even walk. She takes her hand and sticks it right into the middle, my stomach drops with nerves as to who it was going to be. She picks up a slip, holds it up, then shakes her head and puts the still folded slip back into the bowl, she does this three or four times until nearly all of the girls are on the verge of tears from complete and utter fear. Time slows down…my heart is beating fast…I am light headed. Sunny finally pulls out a slip and shuffles back over to the microphone and unfolds the slip, looks up then calls out "The female tribute for this year is…" My heart seems like it's about to pop out of my chest.

"Amaranth Hemming!"
No.