56th Reaping [D8]

It was that time again, the time Hadlee had always dreaded. The Reaping was supposed to be a joyous occasion, one that residents would celebrate. And in a way, Hadlee would celebrate the event…after it was over. First, she had to go through the fear that her sister would be reaped. But once the age of twelve started to roll around the corner for her, Hadlee’s stomach would drop a mile and her whole body would quake from the prospect of having to be sent to the Games. Whenever she was at the square, time seemed to pass by slowly; everything would move in slow motion. The mayor’s speech, the actual drawing of the names, all of it went by too slowly for Hadlee’s teenage self. She vaguely remembered the wave of relief that would wash over her as the drawing moved on to the boy tribute.

For five years, Hadlee did not have to worry about the Reaping at all. It was simply an event she was forced to go to but did not have to care all too much. The year her brother was twelve was the year Hadlee started to wring her hands once again. The long, thin fingers would find a way to twist and turn as Hadlee bit her lip with anxiety, wondering if her brother would be the one Hadlee would see on the television screen. Two years went by with Hadlee leaving her hands in pain for no reason. Two years Hadlee had left the square, exhaling before plastering a big smile on her face. The Reaping caused her pain every single time; it was something she could barely watch. Although she was no longer quaking, her nervousness was more pronounced, more evident, with her eyes trained on the stage. Not once, not twice, but five times she was asked if she needed to take a rest or if she was ill. With polite words Hadlee would decline, but several times, she wondered if she was ill. I must be able to accept what happens, whatever happens to these poor children.

Getting up slowly from her bed, Hadlee took the time to get ready. Although there was no longer any chance of her standing on the stage, she still felt that it would be wise to look presentable, at least something more than her usually disheveled manner of dress. And if her brother was chosen this year…well, her parents would have been ashamed if she did not look cleaned up for the reaping. She knew how they were with their disapproving eyes, their fingers flying straight to the loose strand of hair that never seemed to stay down. She was the middle child who was unsuccessful, the one they wished had been Reaped so that they could at least have a few minutes of glory and perhaps a good riddance of her. As much as they tried to deny it, Hadlee knew the truth: they just didn’t care.

Had she woken up earlier, Hadlee might have been able to squeeze in some time to weave, perhaps to get ahead on yet another project of hers. But sleep was something the young woman treasured, something that seemed to escape her whenever she was forced to work. The Reaping was just another holiday, though, a day off. In Hadlee’s mind, that only meant more time to sleep. Worry would eventually find its way into her mind. With a slow tread to the corner that held her food, Hadlee noticed that she was going to have to buy some food soon. Just more money to be spent that I won’t be able to replenish quickly. One hand went through Hadlee’s knotted hair as she contemplated on the best way to eat without having to waste too much money.

A long sigh later, that very same hand reached for a section of bread that had been sitting on some box for a while. Better than nothing, Hadlee thought as she left the piece of bread in her mouth while changing. A quick glance out of the window informed Hadlee that she had a few minutes left before she would have to leave. Chances were she was not going to be able to see the stage, but it was better than having the Peacekeepers knock on her door and finding out that she was indeed at home. With a casual air, Hadlee pulled her hair up, forgetting to brush it before. It was time for her to leave, time for her to worry about her brother. Granted she might have had problems with her brother, but she would never wish the pain of the Hunger Games on him.

The district square was already packed with tense observers, no doubt parents who were wondering if they were going to be losing a child this year. A shout a few feet away brought Hadlee’s attention to a young man, one who was taking in bets. He probably doesn’t have any family members he needs to worry about. Hadlee’s eyes were filled with scorn as he continued to head towards her direction. As he passed by, Hadlee made the effort to collect herself and ignore the man who could only be but a few years younger than her. Her brother was one of those at stake, and here was a young man, trying to make some money by using so many people’s misery.

The mayor began his speech and Hadlee gave up on trying to find her sister and her parents. They probably weren’t trying to find her in the first place. She could already imagine the scene: her parents were nervously clasping their hands with each other as her sister held out a comforting arm towards her mother. Well, Hadlee was going to have to suffer through this reaping on her own. Her eyes snapped up to the mayor, a distant figure ahead of her. It was always the same, though, so Hadlee relied on her memory to fill in the missing blanks. The mayor had a smile on his face as one hand reached into the glass ball Hadlee had learned to fear within her twenty-five years. The paper rustling was loud in her hand as the mayor pulled out a slip of paper, one that had the name of an unfortunate girl from District 8.

“Topanga Pollen!”

Anxiety started to kick in after the mayor read Topanga’s name. Hadlee’s eyesight began to blur as she waited to hear the boy tribute’s name. Not a Winnows. Please not a Winnows.

“Will Atlas!”

It took Hadlee a moment before she could exhale again, her lungs already starting to complain. He wasn’t reaped. His name isn’t the one that was read. Hadlee’s hands were still shaking from all the nerves that had managed to tangle while she held her breath. And although she was glad that she would not have to watch her brother try to survive in the Games, her heart felt a pang of sadness for the girl and boy that she would have to watch. The Reaping was never a good time for Hadlee and this year was no exception.