Голодные игры

           Eatinglunch,sittingnexttoeachotheratassemblies,partneringforsportsactivities. Werarelytalk,whichsuitsusbothjustfine. 

           Todayherdrabschooloutfithasbeenreplacedbyanexpensivewhitedress,andherblondehairisdoneupwithapinkribbon.Reapingclothes. 

           "Prettydress,"saysGale. 

           Madgeshootshimalook,tryingtoseeifit’sagenuinecomplimentorifhe’sjustbeingironic. Itisaprettydress,butshewouldneverbewearingitordinarily. Shepressesherlipstogetherandthensmiles. "Well,ifIendupgoingtotheCapitol,Iwanttolooknice,don’tI?" 

           Nowit’sGale’sturntobeconfused. Doesshemeanit?Orisshemessingwithhim? I’mguessingthesecond. 

           "Youwon’tbegoingtotheCapitol,"saysGalecoolly. Hiseyeslandonasmall,circularpinthatadornsherdress. Realgold.Beautifullycrafted. Itcouldkeepafamilyinbreadformonths. "Whatcanyouhave? Fiveentries? IhadsixwhenIwasjusttwelveyearsold." 

           "That’snotherfault,"Isay. 

           "No,it’snoone’sfault. Justthewayitis,"saysGale. Madge’sfacehasbecomeclosedoff. Sheputsthemoneyfortheberriesinmyhand. "Goodluck,Katniss." "You,too,"Isay, andthedoorcloses. 

           WewalktowardtheSeaminsilence. Idon’tlikethatGaletookadigatMadge,buthe’sright,ofcourse. Thereapingsystemisunfair,withthepoorgettingtheworstofit. Youbecomeeligibleforthereapingthedayyouturntwelve. Thatyear,yournameisenteredonce.Atthirteen,twice.