Голодные игры

           Whenallthegarbagehasbeendroppeddownadisposalandthefoodcleanedaway,sheturnsdownmybed.Icrawlinbetweenthesheetslikeafive-year-oldandlethertuckmein.Thenshegoes.IwanthertostayuntilIfallasleep.TobetherewhenIwakeup.Iwanttheprotectionofthisgirl,eventhoughsheneverhadmine.

           Inthemorning,it’snotthegirlbutmyprepteamwhoarehangingoverme.MylessonswithEffieandHaymitchareover.ThisdaybelongstoCinna.He’smylasthope.Maybehecanmakemelooksowonderful,noonewillcarewhatcomesoutofmymouth.

           Theteamworksonmeuntillateafternoon,turningmyskintoglowingsatin,stencilingpatternsonmyarms,paintingflamedesignsonmytwentyperfectnails.ThenVeniagoestoworkonmyhair,weavingstrandsofredintoapatternthatbeginsatmyleftear,wrapsaroundmyhead,andthenfallsinonebraiddownmyrightshoulder.Theyerasemyfacewithalayerofpalemakeupanddrawmyfeaturesbackout.Hugedarkeyes,fullredlips,lashesthatthrowoffbitsoflightwhenIblink.Finally,theycovermyentirebodyinapowderthatmakesmeshimmeringolddust.

           ThenCinnaenterswithwhatIassumeismydress,butIcan’treallyseeitbecauseit’scovered."Closeyoureyes,"heorders.

           Icanfeelthesilkeninsideastheyslipitdownovermynakedbody,thentheweight.Itmustbefortypounds.IclutchOctavia’shandasIblindlystepintomyshoes,gladtofindtheyareatleasttwoincheslowerthanthepairEffiehadmepracticein.There’ssomeadjustingandfidgeting.