Голодные игры

           ButEffierunsaroundinthemfull-time,andI’mdeterminedthatifshecandoit,socanI.Thedressposesanotherproblem.Itkeepstanglingaroundmyshoesso,ofcourse,Ihitchitup,andthenEffieswoopsdownonmelikeahawk,smackingmyhandsandyelling,"Notabovetheankle!"WhenIfinallyconquerwalking,there’sstillsitting,posture-apparentlyIhaveatendencytoduckmyhead-eyecontact,handgestures,andsmiling.Smilingismostlyaboutsmilingmore.Effiemakesmesayahundredbanalphrasesstartingwithasmile,whilesmiling,orendingwithasmile.Bylunch,themusclesinmycheeksaretwitchingfromoveruse.

           "Well,that’sthebestIcando,"Effiesayswithasigh."Justremember,Katniss,youwanttheaudiencetolikeyou."

           "Andyoudon’tthinktheywill?"Iask.

           "Notifyouglareatthemtheentiretime.Whydon’tyousavethatforthearena?Instead,thinkofyourselfamongfriends,"saysEffie.

           "They’rebettingonhowlongI’lllive!"Iburstout."They’renotmyfriends!"

           "Well,tryandpretend!"snapsEffie.Thenshecomposesherselfandbeamsatme."See,likethis.I’msmilingatyoueventhoughyou’reaggravatingme."

           "Yes,itfeelsveryconvincing,"Isay."I’mgoingtoeat."1kickoffmyheelsandstompdowntothediningroom,hikingmyskirtuptomythighs.

           PeetaandHaymitchseeminprettygoodmoods,soI’mthinkingthecontentsessionshouldbeanimprovementoverthemorning.Icouldn’tbemorewrong.