Голодные игры

           AwaytoplanthatredbetweenthestarvingworkersoftheSeamandthosewhocangenerallycountonsupperandtherebyensurewewillnevertrustoneanother."It’stotheCapitol’sadvantagetohaveusdividedamongourselves,"hemightsayiftherewerenoearstohearbutmine.Ifitwasn’treapingday.IfagirlwithagoldpinandnotesseraehadnotmadewhatI’msureshethoughtwasaharmlesscomment.

           Aswewalk,IglanceoveratGale’sface,stillsmolderingunderneathhisstonyexpression.Hisragesseempointlesstome,althoughIneversayso.It’snotthatIdon’tagreewithhim.Ido.ButwhatgoodisyellingabouttheCapitolinthemiddleofthewoods?Itdoesn’tchangeanything.Itdoesn’tmakethingsfair.Itdoesn’tfillourstomachs.Infact,itscaresoffthenearbygame.Ilethimyellthough.Betterhedoesitinthewoodsthaninthedistrict.

           GaleandIdivideourspoils,leavingtwofish,acoupleofloavesofgoodbread,greens,aquartofstrawberries,salt,paraffin,andabitofmoneyforeach.

           "Seeyouinthesquare,"Isay.

           "Wearsomethingpretty,"hesaysflatly.

           Athome,Ifindmymotherandsisterarereadytogo.Mymotherwearsafinedressfromherapothecarydays.Primisinmyfirstreapingoutfit,askirtandruffledblouse.It’sabitbigonher,butmymotherhasmadeitstaywithpins.Evenso,she’shavingtroublekeepingtheblousetuckedinattheback.

           Atubofwarmwaterwaitsforme.Iscruboffthedirtandsweatfromthewoodsandevenwashmyhair.