[93rd] The Reaping - District 4

Maverick Marlow

It's hard waking up every morning knowing that his family is a disgrace to the career name. Living in poverty despite being in the midst of the hustle and bustle of district four is rough, yet it never stops Maverick from trying his best to do whatever he can to make sure his family is fed. Ever since his father left him when he was young, Mav has struggled to keep up, but he always tries his best even when it doesn't feel like it's enough. Waking up on the reaping day is always the worst since it's his responsibility to make sure that everyone is ready with enough time to walk to the district square and check in before the reaping actually begins.

This morning everything seems like it's falling apart. The youngest doesn't want to put on their nicest outfit, another one doesn't know where their proper shoes are. No matter how many times mom yells that breakfast is ready, none of them go to the kitchen to eat. It's frustrating knowing that his entire teenage years have been spent playing father to these rambunctious children instead of enjoying his life to the fullest, but Mav wouldn't change a thing. Making sure his family is protected is his number one priority in life more so than protecting himself.

"Maverick! Can you please bring everyone for breakfast!"

With a sigh, he leaves his bedroom and starts knocking on the door to the other rooms making sure he's heard.

"Mom said it's time for breakfast. I'm not knocking on the door again. Get up and go eat now." It's unlike him to reach a breaking point of losing his temper, but if they would simply get their heads out of their asses and go to the kitchen and eat, none of this would happen. "Come on! We can't run late today."

Without saying another word, Maverick makes his way to the kitchen where he waits and listens for his siblings to start moving around. This is a dreaded day, and Mav is very much aware of this, but the lollygagging has got to stop. That's when he hears them moving around.

"You okay, Mav?"

"Yeah, mom, I'm okay." He lies through his teeth, but this weight is one he has to carry alone. Having lost most of his childhood playing father to kids that aren't even his is consuming him today. Maybe because after today, he finally enters into adulthood since this is his last reaping after all, and right now, Maverick is mourning the loss of his childhood, but he doesn't want to pass the burden to his mother since she's sacrificed so much.

"Are you sure?" She asks again, and Maverick knows she can tell that something is wrong. "You know you can tell me."

"I'm just about to enter into adulthood, and I'm never going to get these teenage years back." He lowers his head thinking of how much he's missed out on even though he's spent plenty of time surfing and fishing which are two of his favorite things to do. "There's so much I wish I could've done."

"I know. It's been hard for all of us, and I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me and for your siblings."

"Everything I do is always for you all."

"I finally hear them coming down the hall. We'll finish this conversation when we all get home this evening."

He leans in and gives his mother a hug trying not to let tears rolls down the side of his face, and then he backs away and starts serving breakfast.

Once everyone is finished with breakfast, Mav ushers them to their room where he quickly makes them change into their best outfit they have. "Listen, we don't have time to complain about every little thing this morning. We're already running behind. We can complain later." And it's all about them being unable to find their good shoes, their perfect hair pieces, everything, and Maverick is running around trying to help them all out causing him to almost forget about himself.

Then they're all ready, and he rushes back to his bedroom where he quickly throws on his best outfit, and makes his way to the kitchen where everyone is waiting -

"Mav, what took you so long?"

"Yeah, Mavey, we've been waiting for you."

"If you all would've gotten ready the first time, I told you to, we'd already be in line."

"Enough! We have to go."

Mom always has the final say in everything, and Maverick is very understanding of that. Without another word, they walk out the door and make their way towards the district square where they're the last to arrive as the crowd is almost sorted, and the line to check in is down to only a handful of people. At least we made it before the line was completely gone.

The check in is always the easiest part, but standing with the others waiting for a name to be called is always more difficult. If any of his family is reaped, Maverick knows for a fact he isn't going to hold back. Nobody can stop him from running forward even if they didn't want him to. Protecting his family is his biggest priority in life. He's said before he'd volunteer for a friend, but only if the moment felt right, and when that moment comes, Mav will know.

Standing in place, he watches as the escort walks onto the stage, and he listens to the same speech he's heard over and over again, and then he takes a breath and watches for his family to make sure they're okay -

"Ezera Naretti!"

Maverick turns his head and sees one of his best friends making his way towards the stage, and his heart sinks deep into the pits of his stomach. Ezera confided in him when he needed help the most, and Mav sworn to secrecy he'd never tell a soul. Ever since that moment, he saw Ezera as a brother, and now he sees him standing on the stage with his shoulders slumped forward almost like they're crumbling under the weight of the world. Nobody is moving, and time is running thin.

Shifting his weight back and forth, he looks through the crowd again wondering if someone will save him since most people here are willing to volunteer for anyone at any given time, but nobody is moving. It seems as though Ezera has accepted his fate -

I can't let him die.

"I volunteer!"

The words fall from his lips before he's even realized what's happened, and he hears his siblings starting to say his name begging him to return, but Maverick is making his way towards the stage. Finding a friend worth dying for is something he never thought he'd experience, yet right now, he's willing to lay his life down to give someone the chance to figure out their own life. Mav makes eye contact with Ezera, and he sees the shock, the relief, the confusion all at once.

As he moves towards the center of the stage, Maverick barely hears the words Ezera uttered.

"Why?"

"I care about you, and you deserve better. You deserve to live."

And without another word, Maverick watches Ezera as he makes his way off the stage back into the crowd leaving Maverick alone as he musters up a blank face to look as confident as possible. His heart is racing, but none of it matters. His fate is sealed, but he hopes to prove that family bonds run thicker than blood.

Maverick Marlow volunteers as D4B tribute.