<pre class="commentbubble reverse" style="width: 450px;">I took a deep breath wishing I had a choice. I diddnt though. No one did. I opened the door and walked outside my little shack of a home. My siblings followed. They were all deathly silant as they walked outside in their Sunday outfits I had forced them into. They had to look nice. If-if you know. A deep since of dread had settled in my stomach, what if I was chosen? How would they survive without me? And then a worse thought hit me. What if Apa got picked? She it was her first year. I couldnt just stand there and watch my younger sister get reaped. I wouldn't be able to help her. If I volenteered I would be sentencing my other siblings to death by starvation. They couldn't survive without me! I was so scared I was shaking a little from the stress of it all. We started walking toward the town square. "Zay." Jade asked running up to me. "What's wrong? Why is everyone so scared? Your making me scared!!!" I diddnt have the heart to tell my 4 year old sister why I was scared. She diddnt know about the games, she diddnt know about the government, she only knew of here and now, so I picked her up and hugged her saying that everything would be ok. She started crying. Mrs Darke came up to us, smiling and waving as always. I had arranged for her to watch my younger siblings while me and Apa went with our age groups during the reaping. "Why Mrs Darke? She scares me! That lady is way to happy, she is probably on drugs or something!" Dove hissed at me. "Yeah! She probably is a drunk!" Blake added "Just please don't give me a hard time about this!" I said desperately as some peacekeepers looked our way. Mrs Darke reached us. "Don't worry I'll take good care of them!" she squeaked as she pinched Ranis cheek. Rani sent me a angry look. "Hey shouldn't you kids be in your pens?" one of the peacekeepers had come up behind me. I whirled around startled. He pushed me roughly toward the sign in table. Apa followed. "Im scared Zay. What if I'm picked?!" she hissed in my ear"You won't be picked." I said trying to convince not only her but myself."Your only in there once." she nodded not making eye contact. "How many times are you in there?" she whispered "22" I said honestly feeling the fear corse through my body at the thought of it. The lady at the sign in desk looked up and smiled as she saw us aproaching. "Name?" she smiled "Zay Weeds." I said giving her my hand so she could prick it. "Quit shaking." she said sticking the needle into my thumb "It makes you look weak." she pointed me in the direction of the 15 year olds pen. I tried to turn around and say good luck to Apa but I was hustled along by a peacekeeper. I felt my stomic knot grow bigger every time I took a step closer to the pen. I entered and looked around. All the other boys were dressed respectively. I imidently felt self concess of my torn blue jeans and jacket. This was the best thing I owned and yet I still looked like the poor person I was. I looked around trying to find the 13 year old girls pens, I saw Apa talking with another girl. Man my sister could start a conversation anywhere. "Is this thing on?" a man tapped the microphone making it squeak loudly. I covered my ears. The man hurried off the stage as a new man aproached. It was Jake Swift the man in charge of the district 10 tributes. He had been at this for 50 years and looked it as he hobbled across the stage. "Welcome to the Reaping." he grunted "A long time ago the districts rebeled. The capital won. The writer games was started. The end." he moved toward the reaping bowls. I caught a glimpse of the mayor out of the corner of my eye. He was horrified at Swifts speech. would if laughed except for the fact I was so scared I felt like my guts were going to fall out. "Let's get this over with." Swift said shuffling over toward the reaping bowl. He carelessly plunged his hand into the bowl. Not Apa... Not Apa.... He pulled it out..... Not Apa..... He opened it.... Not Apa...... "Katia Tunberg" relief coursed through my body. I looked over at Apa. She smiled and gave me a thumbs up. Katias face filled the screen. I diddnt know her, and juging by the blue streak in her hair she was from an upper class. She looked shocked at first then she quickly masked itShe plowed her way up to the stage powerfully. She grabbed the microphone from Swift and said "I will bring pride to district ten!" the crowd cheered, Swift ruined the moment by cutting her off and saying "And now the young man." he had plunging his hand into the other bowl. I wasn't as nervious this time. I must of zoned out thinking of what I would try to get for dinner to congratulate ourselves for making it through another reaping when Swifts voice cut through my thoughts. "Zay Weeds." I froze. Had I heard that right? It seemed so impossibul. Fear started making its way through my body again when I saw my face on the big screen. This wasn't happening. All the boys around me were turning and noticing me for the first time. I tried to mask me feelings but it only made it worse. I tried to walk. I couldnt it was like a bad nightmare where you can't talk or move as you watch the monster plunge toward you. "Are you going to walk up there yourself or do we need to bring you up there?" a peacekeeper asked walking menacingly toward me. I made a quick second desion. One so stupid I can't believe I survived. I ran. I ducked and dodged running as fast as I could just wanting to get out of there. It only took about 30 seconds before I was takled by a peacekeeper. I hit the ground painfully being alot smaller than the peacekeeper. He wrenched my arms behind my back painfully and marched me up to the stage. "That was stupid." Swift said looking me in the eye. "I-I" I stuttered "Cat got your tongue? Well thease are our tributes folks lets hear a round of applause!!!" I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it. . </pre>
