Голодные игры

           "I’msurethatwouldthrillyourparents,youlikingagirlfromtheSeam,"Isay.

           "Hardly.ButIcouldn’tcareless.Anyway,ifwemakeitback,youwon’tbeagirlfromtheSeam,you’llbeagirlfromtheVictor’sVillage,"hesays.

           That’sright.Ifwewin,we’lleachgetahouseinthepartoftownreservedforHungerGames’victors.Longago,whentheGamesbegan,theCapitolhadbuiltadozenfinehousesineachdistrict.Ofcourse,inoursonlyoneisoccupied.Mostoftheothershaveneverbeenlivedinatall.

           Adisturbingthoughthitsme."Butthen,ouronlyneighborwillbeHaymitch!"

           "Ah,that’llbenice,"saysPeeta,tighteninghisarmsaroundme."YouandmeandHaymitch.Verycozy.Picnics,birthdays,longwinternightsaroundthefireretellingoldHungerGames’tales."

           "Itoldyou,hehatesme!"Isay,butIcan’thelplaughingattheimageofHaymitchbecomingmynewpal.

           "Onlysometimes.Whenhe’ssober,I’veneverheardhimsayonenegativethingaboutyou,"saysPeeta.

           "He’sneversober!"Iprotest.

           "That’sright.WhoamIthinkingof?Oh,Iknow.It’sCinnawholikesyou.Butthat’smainlybecauseyoudidn’ttrytorunwhenhesetyouonfire,"saysPeeta."Ontheotherhand,Haymitch.well,ifIwereyou,I’davoidHaymitchcompletely.Hehatesyou."

           "IthoughtyousaidIwashisfavorite,"Isay.

           "Hehatesmemore,"saysPeeta."Idon’tthinkpeopleingeneralarehissortofthing."

           IknowtheaudiencewillenjoyourhavingfunatHaymitch’sexpense.