"President Raven? We're on in 30 seconds," her secretary reminds her. Madam Raven clears her throat as her fingers tap along the desk, repeatedly; pointer finger, to middle finger, to ring finger, to pinky then back. Her patience was almost shortening. The longer I say the announcement, the longer these children will die. President Raven sighed to herself. What does it take to have me announce it? Jeeze.
"Can this speed up?" President Raven requested.
"Were's on in 10 seconds," the camera man behind camera 2 informed.
President Raven neatly placed her papers on her desk as the producer counted down, "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two," and the producer pointed to President Raven to begin broadcasting. The buzzer vibrated, and the camera lights turned red.
"Good evening to all districts. The Choosings will begin tonight of 7:00pm starting with District 1. Boys and girls that are 9-13 years old must be at Reaping Night unless they want their loved ones and themselves tortured brutally.The escorts will choose who will perform in the annual 75th Games. I expect all of you to be there."
Camera turns off.
Two hours until the most suspenseful hour of the year. June sat watching her eleven year old sister playing with Luke. She smiled to herself and spot an elevator shaft rising up. The shortest and youngest miner, Walter, walked out with the rest of the miners. He thrown his pick on the ground and wiped his sweat from his face. He said hi to Kendra and Luke and waved over at June. She nodded in a greeting gesture as he sprint back to his house. Luke followed after him then Kendra sat next to me on the old wooden porch.
"June? What happens if I get reaped?"
"I don't think that will happen. There are forty other kids our age that could get reaped. 1/40 people."
"Really?"
"Yeah, the odds may ever be in our favor."
"Are you sure?" Kendra asked.
June avoided the question because June wasn't really sure. "You're hair is untidy. Let me rebraid it for you."
In silence, June slowly braid her hair, part after part. The Hunger Games rules are pretty simple: there are no rules. If you ever ask for advice, the only advice Rodger Cardenator, the mentor of District 12, would tell you, "Stay Alive." the question is… Would you rather kill or get killed?
Fifteen minutes later, Luke sprinted out, in a white short sleeves collar. Kendra ran after him in glee and played tag. Walter from the distance watched Luke and walked back inside. On the town square area stage, a woman, who seemed to be an escort, hung a beautifully painted banner that read, "HAPPY HUNGER GAMES!!" in bright pink letters just like her hair. Two other men heaved one crystal ball onto the stage and one man shipped a podium onto the stage.
June sighed in disgust at the banner. How could someone decorate a bright and happy banner on a dark day such as this?
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