Голодные игры

           It’sfunny,becauseeventhoughthey’rerattlingonabouttheGames,it’sallaboutwheretheywereorwhattheyweredoingorhowtheyfeltwhenaspecificeventoccurred."Iwasstillinbed!""Ihadjusthadmyeyebrowsdyed!""IswearInearlyfainted!"Everythingisaboutthem,notthedyingboysandgirlsinthearena.

           Wedon’twallowaroundintheGamesthiswayinDistrict12.Wegritourteethandwatchbecausewemustandtrytogetbacktobusinessassoonaspossiblewhenthey’reover.Tokeepfromhatingtheprepteam,Ieffectivelytuneoutmostofwhatthey’resaying.

           Cinnacomesinwithwhatappearstobeanunassumingyellowdressacrosshisarms.

           "Haveyougivenupthewhole’girlonfire’thing?"Iask.

           "Youtellme,"hesays,andslipsitovermyhead.Iimmediatelynoticethepaddingovermybreasts,addingcurvesthathungerhasstolenfrommybody.MyhandsgotomychestandIfrown.

           "Iknow,"saysCinnabeforeIcanobject."ButtheGamemakerswantedtoalteryousurgically.Haymitchhadahugefightwiththemoverit.Thiswasthecompromise."HestopsmebeforeIcanlookatmyreflection."Wait,don’tforgettheshoes."VeniahelpsmeintoapairofflatleathersandalsandIturntothemirror.

           Iamstillthe"girlonfire."Thesheerfabricsoftlyglows.Eventheslightmovementintheairsendsarippleupmybody.Bycomparison,thechariotcostumeseemsgarish,theinterviewdresstoocontrived.Inthisdress,Igivetheillusionofwearingcandlelight.

           "Whatdoyouthink?"asksCinna.

           "Ithinkit’sthebestyet,"Isay.