Голодные игры

           TheCareerTributestendtogatherrowdilyaroundonetable,asiftoprovetheirsuperiority,thattheyhavenofearofoneanotherandconsidertherestofusbeneathnotice.Mostoftheothertributessitalone,likelostsheep.Noonesaysawordtous.PeetaandIeattogether,andsinceHaymitchkeepsdoggingusaboutit,trytokeepupafriendlyconversationduringthemeals.

           It’snoteasytofindatopic.Talkingofhomeispainful.Talkingofthepresentunbearable.Oneday,PeetaemptiesourbreadbasketandpointsouthowtheyhavebeencarefultoincludetypesfromthedistrictsalongwiththerefinedbreadoftheCapitol.Thefish-shapedloaftintedgreenwithseaweedfromDistrict4.ThecrescentmoonrolldottedwithseedsfromDistrict11.Somehow,althoughit’smadefromthesamestuff,itlooksalotmoreappetizingthantheuglydropbiscuitsthatarethestandardfareathome.

           "Andthereyouhaveit,"saysPeeta,scoopingthebreadsbackinthebasket.

           "Youcertainlyknowalot,"Isay.

           "Onlyaboutbread,"hesays."Okay,nowlaughasifI’vesaidsomethingfunny."

           Webothgiveasomewhatconvincinglaughandignorethestaresfromaroundtheroom.

           "Allright,I’llkeepsmilingpleasantlyandyoutalk,"saysPeeta.It’swearingusbothout,Haymitch’sdirectiontobefriendly.BecauseeversinceIslammedmydoor,there’sbeenachillintheairbetweenus.Butwehaveourorders.

           "DidIevertellyouaboutthetimeIwaschasedbyabear?"Iask.

           "No,butitsoundsfascinating,"saysPeeta.