Голодные игры

           IflashbacktoPeeta’slessononthevariousdistrictbreadsintheTrainingCenter.ThisbreadcamefromDistrict11.Icautiouslyliftthestillwarmloaf.WhatmustithavecostthepeopleofDistrict11whocan’tevenfeedthemselves?Howmanywould’vehadtodowithouttoscrapeupacointoputinthecollectionforthisoneloaf?IthadbeenmeantforRue,surely.Butinsteadofpullingthegiftwhenshedied,they’dauthorizedHaymitchtogiveittome.Asathank-you?Orbecause,likeme,theydon’tliketoletdebtsgounpaid?Forwhateverreason,thisisafirst.Adistrictgifttoatributewho’snotyourown.

           Iliftmyfaceandstepintothelastfallingraysofsunlight."MythankstothepeopleofDistrictEleven,"Isay.IwantthemtoknowIknowwhereitcamefrom.Thatthefullvalueoftheirgifthasbeenrecognized.

           Iclimbdangerouslyhighintoatree,notforsafetybuttogetasfarawayfromtodayasIcan.MysleepingbagisrolledneatlyinRue’spack.TomorrowI’llsortthroughthesupplies.TomorrowI’llmakeanewplan.Buttonight,allIcandoisstrapmyselfinandtaketinybitesofthebread.It’sgood.Ittastesofhome.

           Soontheseal’sinthesky,theanthemplaysinmyrightear.IseetheboyfromDistrict1,Rue.That’sallfortonight.Sixofusleft,Ithink.Onlysix.Withthebreadstilllockedinmyhands,Ifallasleepatonce.

           Sometimeswhenthingsareparticularlybad,mybrainwillgivemeahappydream.Avisitwithmyfatherinthewoods.AnhourofsunlightandcakewithPrim.