Голодные игры

           Andoneday,youcomeuponthemsittingmotionlessagainstawallorlyingintheMeadow,youhearthewailsfromahouse,andthePeacekeepersarecalledintoretrievethebody.Starvationisneverthecauseofdeathofficially.It’salwaystheflu,orexposure,orpneumonia.Butthatfoolsnoone.

           OntheafternoonofmyencounterwithPeetaMellark,therainwasfallinginrelentlessicysheets.Ihadbeenintown,tryingtotradesomethreadbareoldbabyclothesofPrim’sinthepublicmarket,buttherewerenotakers.AlthoughIhadbeentotheHobonseveraloccasionswithmyfather,Iwastoofrightenedtoventureintothatrough,grittyplacealone.Therainhadsoakedthroughmyfather’shuntingjacket,leavingmechilledtothebone.Forthreedays,we’dhadnothingbutboiledwaterwithsomeolddriedmintleavesI’dfoundinthebackofacupboard.Bythetimethemarketclosed,IwasshakingsohardIdroppedmybundleofbabyclothesinamudpuddle.Ididn’tpickitupforfearIwouldkeeloverandbeunabletoregainmyfeet.Besides,noonewantedthoseclothes.

           Icouldn’tgohome.Becauseathomewasmymotherwithherdeadeyesandmylittlesister,withherhollowcheeksandcrackedlips.Icouldn’twalkintothatroomwiththesmokyfirefromthedampbranchesIhadscavengedattheedgeofthewoodsafterthecoalhadrunout,mybandsemptyofanyhope.

           Ifoundmyselfstumblingalongamuddylanebehindtheshopsthatservethewealthiesttownspeople.Themerchantsliveabovetheirbusinesses,soIwasessentiallyintheirbackyards.