Drayden Laborn // D11

I have been told I am a handsome man, whispered about by the ladies and many things like that. They may think it’s true, but I think myself as a normal District 11 male. An average looking guy but apparently I’m not, so I will take it as I am handsome. So to start I am handsome, or so everyone says. I stand at 5’11, not as tall as the careers you see on TV but I am at a pretty big height. Its gives me a advantage to picking the fruits on the tall trees.

My hair is always kept short, I could not imagine having long hair; it would be very annoying. So it’s usually close to the head cut but it looks nice. The color, deep brown that is slightly darker then my dark skin, matches my eyes. It reminds me about the dirt we plant seeds in to grow wheat and trees. To think about, my whole body is dark brown. Some kids here are and some are not, I have actually seen quite a few white kids.

My eyes are narrowed but still show off all the brown in them. Sometimes in the bright sun, they will change to a much more hazel color. I like it much lighter so it stands out against my skin.

My face is square but in a sharp manner. My cheekbones look that could cut through metal, it does match the short hair cut. My ears are normal, not too big and not to little just placed there, I like them that way. I am pretty muscular around my chest and arms. The chest and arms from pulling many carts filled to the brim with food we have to give away to the Capitol. The only real flaw I know about me right now is the two scars I have on my back that are still in the progress of healing. If you look closer maybe you can see more.

My strengths which would be good in the games are defiantly my strength. My cooking skills, I would just need to take a course on how to catch wild game. Climbing, even though I look quite heavy I can easily scale trees. But if I had to use a weapon I could just use a sword like a I use the long blade I use to cut the wheat. I don’t see why careers train so much for the games, everything you do can help you win. Just like what I had listed.

My clothes are decent and cheap, only affording what I can get. Usually just some cheap green shirt with short pants, it is always hot in District 11 and it helps when working. For the reaping, I just wear a formal white shirt with long black pants that are loose. Sometimes I go bare foot and sometimes I don’t. Its much better to have no shoes when running in the meadows, I feel like I run quicker that way.

Living with just your mom gives you a sense of respect for woman, and that’s what I like to give. I’m a gentleman that is for sure, woman are never to be treated bad in front of me. Expect for the Hunger games of course, then it’s an exception. Any hint of that and I’m off at the male. But I do also expect that the woman would give me some respect to and not break my heart, I’m too weak for those sorts of things. I will open the doors for woman, hold my hand out if they need help. I’m not the kind of guy who blushes every time they hold a girls hand.

I will complete all tasks given to me at work and work hard for the extra money. Even though I hate to work it’s something that needs to be done so when I am off of work I like to relax and take it easy in the growing fields of District 11. Or just sitting around in the market, it does not matter to me. All time should be spent relaxing, who wants to work themselves tried when it’s time to relax?

A flaw of mine, well I hate to say it but I can not stand to be told anything I do is bad! I did my best and it and I hate it when someone goes, "Oh you could of done better," I would like to see them try working all day and doing what I am doing. Well sorry about that, but as you can see. I dont like my stuff to be told its bad.

My mom tells me that I am humble and that I don’t soak up all the complements I get, which is a pretty good trait I would assume. I don’t want to be like those careers on TV that seems like the only thing they are fueled on are complements. Speaking about the Hunger games, I would love to give my thoughts on them.

I don’t care about them that much, I don’t mind talking about them but I hate the whole thing. But of course I don’t say that out loud or I would be hit by one of the strict peacekeepers. I hate that the careers love to kill and I hate that kids die. I just don’t care about the games, but like I said, I don’t mind talking about the games. I’m weird like that.

My mom is a hard working cook; she cooks food and then sells them at the market or from her small store. She gets a decent amount of money from it, more than most get from just be in the orchards. But I find it incredible about how she can do it without dad. From what I heard about him is that he worked in the orchards and met her in the market. They got married and next thing you know, they had me. Sadly my dad died in an accident when I was one year old. My mom never told me what it was; she gets to sad about it and I don’t like to see her cry so I just don’t ask her. But she is a strong woman.

I grew up as a normal child, going to school and eventually being able to go to work in the orchards for the rest of my childhood until I became old enough to pursue a job. This would be cooking because my mom already works in it. So I grew up a little healthier than the average kid because of the fresh food I got. That was such a blessing but I could not help feel sorry for the kids that did not eat as much as I did.

When I started working in the orchard, I quickly knew my place. The peacekeepers here are very strict and one accident can lead to a painful whip. But just one if you’re little so you know where to get in line. During my whole life working there I have only got a couple. One I was fooling around at a young age and another was when I foolishly helped my friend pull at trick on one of a peacekeeper. I would get home and like I said would relax. I spent some time with my mom and helped her cook, that is where I got my skill of cooking.

My first reaping was very painful and I will never forget it. My friend who I helped pull a trick with was reaped. He was just 12 years old, just the minimum age. He got a six in the training scores and somewhat wowed the crowd in his interview.
I had to watch him survive for few horrible days; he had got into an alliance with the D12 girl and the D11 girl. I did not know how he did but he did. The arena was a warm forest with tons of trees; it was a perfect place for him since he knew how to climb trees.

But on the fifth day, it was the final ten. He accidently was caught in a trap and before he knew it, a fatal blow to his head was placed by an angry career who was avenging his fallen ally that was killed by his alliance. I could not help but to cry a little to my mom, it was so harsh that we were forced to watch that.

My life is just work and relaxing, it’s nothing special but I hope to make it something to remember.