Голодные игры

           ThephysicalconfinementmakesmepanicandI’mtryingtopullmyselfupandwrigglemyhipsthroughthebandwhenaportionofthewallslidesopenandinstepstheredheadedAvoxgirlcarryingatray.ThesightofhercalmsmeandIstoptryingtoescape.Iwanttoaskheramillionquestions,butI’mafraidanyfamiliaritywouldcauseherharm.ObviouslyIambeingcloselymonitored.Shesetsthetrayacrossmythighsandpressessomethingthatraisesmetoasittingposition.Whilesheadjustsmypillows,Iriskonequestion.Isayitoutloud,asclearlyasmyrustyvoicewillallow,sonothingwillseemsecretive."DidPeetamakeit?"Shegivesmeanod,andassheslipsaspoonintomyhand,Ifeelthepressureoffriendship.

           Iguessshedidnotwishmedeadafterall.AndPeetahasmadeit.Ofcourse,hedid.Withalltheirexpensiveequipmenthere.Still,Ihadn’tbeensureuntilnow.

           AstheAvoxleaves,thedoorclosesnoiselesslyafterherandIturnhungrilytothetray.Abowlofclearbroth,asmallservingofapplesauce,andaglassofwater.Thisisit?Ithinkgrouchily.Shouldn’tmyhomecomingdinnerbealittlemorespectacular?ButIfindit’sanefforttofinishthesparemealbeforeme.Mystomachseemstohaveshrunktothesizeofachestnut,andIhavetowonderhowlongI’vebeenoutbecauseIhadnotroubleeatingafairlysizablebreakfastthatlastmorninginthearena.