Голодные игры

           "Imean,lookatit!"

           Astheaudienceoohsandahs,IseeCinnamakethetiniestcircularmotionwithhisfinger.ButIknowwhathe’ssaying.Twirlforme.

           Ispininacircleonceandthereactionisimmediate.

           "Oh,dothatagain!"saysCaesar,andsoIliftupmyarmsandspinaroundandaroundlettingtheskirtflyout,lettingthedressengulfmeinflames.Theaudiencebreaksintocheers.WhenIstop,IclutchCaesar’sarm.

           "Don’tstop!"hesays.

           "Ihaveto,I’mdizzy!"I’malsogiggling,whichIthinkI’vedonemaybeneverinmylifetime.Butthenervesandthespinninghavegottentome.

           Caesarwrapsaprotectivearmaroundme."Don’tworry,I’vegotyou.Can’thaveyoufollowinginyourmentor’sfootsteps."

           Everyone’shootingasthecamerasfindHaymitch,whoisbynowfamousforhisheaddiveatthereaping,andhewavesthemawaygood-naturedlyandpointsbacktome.

           "It’sallright,"Caesarreassuresthecrowd."She’ssafewithme.So,howaboutthattrainingscore.E-le-ven.Giveusahintwhathappenedinthere."

           IglanceattheGamemakersonthebalconyandbitemylip."Um.allIcansay,isIthinkitwasafirst."

           ThecamerasarerightontheGamemakers,whoarechucklingandnodding.

           "You’rekillingus,"saysCaesarasifinactualpain."Details.Details."

           Iaddressthebalcony."I’mnotsupposedtotalkaboutit,right?"

           TheGamemakerwhofellinthepunchbowlshoutsout,"She’snot!"

           "Thankyou,"Isay."Sorry.Mylipsaresealed."