May The Odds Ever Be In Your Favor!

A Girl I Don't Even Know (Reaping Day)

That night it took forever to get Selinna to bed. She has such a vivid imagination. She was weeping thinking that all of us would be picked. I kept telling her that was impossible, only one boy and girl can be picked. After I got her calm enough, she told me through sobs that Jaden nor Mecson would stand a chance. I told her calmly that if some how either of them were picked, either I or Luke would step in and take their place. No doubt. This got her quiet enough to go to sleep.
     That next day wasn't the usual. There isn't any school, and everybody gets the day off from work. It's the law. It's Reaping day. A holiday for the Capital, a torturous event for the rest of us. I'm nervous of course. I am fifteen years old, so automatically my name is in there four times. And every year I've received five tessarae. I do the math in my head. Slowly, I dropped out of school after 7th grade. 4 years of x 3 tessarae each year= 12 + 4 once for every year... my name is in the Bowl 16 times. It's not as much as some, but still more than I'd want it to be. The Twins' names are only in the Reaping Bowl only 3 times, the minimum for them. Me and Luke made sure of that. But, Luke, his name... I'm so scared for him... he's in there automatically 6 times, and he orders 6 tessarae a year... his name is in there 42 times. He never let's me take more tessarae for him. It scares and irritates me.
     The whole family takes the opportunity to sleep in until 10 o'clock. We get up, eat some scrambled eggs, courtesy of Jaden this morning. I dress Selinna in her only formal outfit. A navy blue velvety dress with puffy short sleeves. I let her wear her new white leggings I got her for her recent birthday. She was so grateful for them. Mecson wears his too-short khakis and an ugly green button up shirt shirt that is much too big for him because it used to be dad's. I have my ugly off-white, cotton blouse and dress slacks. Luke is dressed a stained polo with khakis. All of us except Selinna get in line to get our fingers pricked. We give Selinna to our neighbor, a women with 2 children of her own, but they are all too young for the Bowl also. I watch as Mecson holds his breath as the needle pokes him. He sighs, and looks back to me. I nod for him to go to the group of 13 year old boys. Jaden tears up when it is her turn. It surprises me, because out of the younger 3, she is usually the most cool-headed. I lift my own finger to the lady, and she roughly grabs it, and pulls it down to the desk she was sitting at, forcing me to painfully arch my back over. She dipps her sharp needle into the same place I have been poked 4 times before. I look away as the blood rises to my skin. I line up with other girls from my neighborhood. But we don't say anything.
     Christilleny Marloney  bounds up the steps to the stage. She surprisingly doesn't fall onto her face because she is wearing-what seem like-7 inch high heels. She is wearing her usual, light green wig. It is perfectly straight, it flows down past her waist, nearly to her knees. She taps the microphone on her headphone, smiles, showing perfect white teeth, and says in her usual peppy voice: "Welcome, to the wonderful 42nd Reaping for the up-and-coming Hunger Game!" No cheers or applause happen, but her smile doesn't faulter, and she keeps going, as up-beat like before. We watch a short video with President Leavets saying participating in the Games brings pride to our Districts, and honor to ourselves. Saying how the reward is to die for. No one laughed at this pun. As the large screen went black, Christilleny continues."Let's get started! Well, we like to keep tradition, so, ladies first!" (Most of us snickered, keep tradition? Who is she kidding? She is wearing a disgustingly long, GREEN wig!?!) It seems the whole nation is holding it's breath to see who the unfortunate, miserable family and child is this year. The next thing she says, makes me feel like puking. How is this possible? It shouldn't be! It can't be! I- No- she- she's- There is silence. The unlucky one, doesn't move. I can't see her. Where is she anyways? (and no, it isn't anyone in my family, I don't really know this girl)