Голодные игры

           SohethoughtI’dsaidCatnip. Thenwhenthiscrazylynxstartedfollowingmearoundthewoodslookingforhandouts, itbecamehisofficialnicknameforme. Ifinallyhadtokillthelynxbecausehescaredoffgame. Ialmostregretteditbecausehewasn’tbadcompany. ButIgotadecentpriceforhispelt. 

           "LookwhatIshot," Galeholdsupaloafofbreadwithanarrowstuckinit,andIlaugh. It’srealbakerybread,nottheflat,denseloaveswemakefromourgrainrations. Itakeitinmyhands,pulloutthearrow,andholdthepunctureinthecrusttomynose,inhalingthefragrance thatmakesmymouthfloodwithsaliva. Finebreadlikethisisforspecialoccasions. 

           "Mm,stillwarm,"Isay. Hemusthavebeenatthebakeryatthecrackofdawntotradeforit. "Whatdiditcostyou?" 

           "Justasquirrel. Thinktheoldmanwasfeelingsentimentalthismorning,"saysGale. "Evenwishedmeluck." 

           "Well,weallfeelalittleclosertoday,don’twe?" Isay,notevenbotheringtorollmyeyes. "Primleftusacheese." Ipullitout. 

           Hisexpressionbrightensatthetreat. "Thankyou,Prim.We’llhavearealfeast." SuddenlyhefallsintoaCapitolaccentashemimicsEffieTrinket, themaniacallyupbeatwomanwhoarrivesonceayeartoreadoutthenamesattheleaping. "Ialmostforgot!HappyHungerGames!" Heplucksafewblackberriesfromthebushesaroundus. "Andmaytheodds-" Hetossesaberryinahigharctowardme. 

           Icatchitinmymouthandbreakthedelicateskinwithmyteeth. Thesweettartnessexplodesacrossmytongue." -beeverinyourfavor!" Ifinishwithequalverve.