I lay with my eyes open in bed. Tomorrow I will experience my first reaping. Here in district 9 we all gather around the Justice Building near the edge of the district. It is nearly a two hour walk. I look up at the clock in my room. It is five in the morning. We would start working around now. My family is the only family that owns a field in the whole district. We have owned the field for generations. We refused to sell it when Peacekeepers bought out all the fields. I am pretty sure my family’s name has been entered in the reaping more times than it was supposed to because of the field. My brother was drawn in the twentieth games. It has been three years since then. I get out off bed and pull on my bright yellow dress.My mother strolls in to my room. “ You look darling Tiger,”she says. I slip on my shoes and head to the kitchen. I quickly gobble down my eggs and bread. My father walks down the stairs. He skips the eleventh step because it creaks.” Come on, best not be late for your first reaping.” He says looking at his pocket watch. My father is a plump man. He looks like a duck when he walks. If I had to make him an animal he would be a duck. I head out the door and my father and mother come out right behind me. This is going to be a long day.
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By the time we get there it has nearly started. I rush to get checked in and the group of twelve year old girls. I hear the anthem and the long ceremony begins. Finally Warter Bonnersman steps up to the microphone.”Hello everyone. Welcome to the Twenty-third annual Hunger Games as usual Ladies first. “ He walks over to the ball and reaches in. He pulls one from the bottom and walks back to the microphone.” The female tribute from district 9 is!” He says. He opens up the paper.” Tigerlilly Franklin!” He says. I hear my mother cry out. I step forward and Peacekeepers take me to the stage. and the male tribute is!” He calls out. ” Shepherd Loraxe!” I see a large man come forward. He looks about 20. I am dead.
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