Break The Rules But Be Smart About It: The Second Quarter quell

chapter sixteen

My turn, Adolf says aloud, "Haymitch Abernathy, winner of the 50th hunger games, the second quarter quell, Haymitch won the games by smashing an ax between a young girls skull, Haymitch is brilliant, and he received a total of five sponsored gifts throughout the two-month-long hunger games, I bet he was hungry!" The crowd laughs at his insulting joke because I was hungry, I was starving, my friends were toothpicks by the first month, and I also. Not true... it's all a lie because I outsmarted Adolf, month-long the game makers, which is so bad. This is truly going to be a long day.

A note is passed through, and it says, "take a deep breath, - Mags" I poke my head forward a bit and smile back at her.

My Family, My family. My family is on the big screens! A bolt of happiness is bolted through my body when I see Dahlia, Louren, and Mom. My eyes bug out in excitement! Mom looks fuller, and so does Louren. Dahlia stays with her thin figure, but at least they have been fed by the capitol or fed at all. I hear Dahlia scream, "HAYMITCH! HAYMITCH! HAYMITCH! OVER HERE! LOOK LOOK OVER HERE!" I can't move very much, but to make them realize that I see them, I make eye contact with Dahlia and look her way, and they stop. Dahlia presses her bodies against Mom, and so does Lourens. I never thought Dahlia showed emotion towards me or anything towards anyone. I was just "Haymitch," but as I see the tears falling down her face, I know she still has room in her heart for her younger brother. The anthem Plays, oh no. the man of the hour walks up.

President Snow. I can already see Alma's face covered with fury when he enters the stage. President Snow wears a dark green suit lined with gold on its edges. A white rose is pinned on the side of his suit. And his eyes seem to be briter than ever. Maybe he's wearing contacts to fancy some capital lady. President snow moves the microphone and begins his speech.

"Good Afternoon, Country of Panem. In celebration, today we congratulate our newest Victor. Haymitch Abernathy, a 16-year-old boy from... *cough* district *cough* twelve. I personally would like to say, well done to our victor, this year's games were like no other. A year ago, an old Game-maker and friend of mine had given me the news that our President, bless his soul, had been poisoned by snakes, and I was up for the presidency. Instantly my heart fell in mourning for our president, he was a dear friend of mine, but I knew that the country of Panem needed order, needed direction, and needed a president. I told Dr.Gaul that I would be obliged, and I accepted. I have to admit, I was scared, but Snow lands on top, my cousin had told me that evening when I had mentioned my presidency. Snow lands on top. I had hope, and I had fear entering this job, but what I have come to realize during my presidency is that hope is the only thing that can overcome fear." The crowd applauses for ten minutes straight, crowds chanting "SNOW LANDS ON TOP!" Over and over again. I whisper to Lily and say, "well, aren't they stupid" her eyes are moving from side to side. She says, "snow." That's true, Lilys hunger games were in a snowed-in Arena. I say to her "lily" her eyes bug out. She takes out a shark needle and begins to carve on her arm. I can't stop her. I want to because she's hurting herself but, that's her therapy. I say to her "lily cameras are watching" she says "they wouldn't play this on the screen and me doing this gets me off the screen." Something dumb, Nickolai did that in the Arena, a distraction. A painful one on her part, and all of us... but I can't blame her... that's what they do to us.

Crowds cheer and cheer for president snow as he continues talking, but I zone myself out of the arena. I picture myself in a place far away from here, far away from traumatized teens and adults, in a place where no reaping existed. I was with my family, on a couch singing old tunes and talking...in a place where we could buy actual Christmas presents and serve a real thanksgiving meal.

I see Chaff, five rows aside from me, and I see him take out a flask and start to drink. Huh, that's a good idea...... I notice almost every tribute is doing something. Wiress is drawing on a piece of paper with a red crayon, Doula Danes with a rope in-between her fingers making knots. All of them seem to be doing something. Even Mags is tying string between her fingers and weaving something. They all receive a shock at the same time and stop. All of them look forward into the crowd like nothing had ever been done.