Eloise Strekker [District 11]

My name is Eloise Karen Strekker. Yes, you heard that right, Strekker. You don’t know why Strekker makes me special? I’m one of those redheads from District 11. Alright, now you know who I am! Still no? Well think about it. I have long red hair, and I’m from District 11. Strange, isn’t it? Well the Strekkers are known for that color, though there are plenty of cases where a Strekker does not have the gene. Now, if you just hear my name it is easy to mistake me for a boy, but I am without a doubt a girl. A short one, at that. I’m eight years old, but some people think I’m six or seven, which is rather embarrassing. I have pasty skin, and my fair share of freckles that circle my face. My lips have a nice pink coloring, and my green eyes add more interest to the look. Being short and very skinny isn’t too bad, as I can get through crowds easier.

I look very frail, though I am the best runner in my class. Not too strong, but what does that matter anyways if all I have to do is pull weeds anyways? My knees are like doorknobs, I tell you, and I hate looking at them. My elbows are just as pointy, and sometimes I jab myself, being so clumsy. I have a very small nose, and elf ears, as some would call them. I also believe my neck is too long. So after my cute face, it’s easy to think I’m ugly with my gaunt frame, and the rest I have just told you.

Usually I wear a brown skirt, and a dark green shirt. I prefer going barefoot than having shoes, though I step on pointy things all the time. My hair is usually kept in two braids, braids in general being another thing the Strekkers do often. I can always be found carrying around a little basket made of twigs, which I often stick random things in. It’s good for carrying things around in.

I have four brothers. Mason is the oldest at 18, then Collin at 16, Colby at 13, and finally Simon who is 10. Mason treats me like I’m four, always watching out for me, and making sure I don’t get into trouble. We’re close though, and don’t quarrel too often. Collin is too obsessed with school to even pay attention to the family at all, in my opinion. Colby is always pulling jokes, so I can’t ever get a chance to try and befriend him. Simon and I don’t get along very well, being so close in age I guess. He and I don’t really share with each other, though we understand we have to share food. My parents are Oliver and Olivia. My dad is the one with the red hair, the true Strekker. Only my brothers Simon and Mason have the hair, while Collin and Colby are stuck with the common old black hair and dark skin. My uncle --- has three daughters and a son, the famed Strekker triplets Meredith, Fornax, and Amity, then Callum who in my opinion hides too much. Amity and I are good friends, though we don’t spend much time together for some reason. I have another uncle, who shares the red hair with his children as well. Most notable is Common, a girl, who lends my family food when she can. She just can’t let her parents know what she’s doing.

When my parents had me they agreed I would be their last child. That’s fine with me, I guess. As a toddler my brothers all played with me, except Simon, who was jealous of the attention I received. Every now and then my father would bring home cookies, and he’d make the boys split two cookies while I got my own. Yes, he spoiled me, but I didn’t turn out too bad, did I? When I was five I told my mother I was bored, and she immediately sat me down and taught me the basics of knitting. Within a year I was moving on to harder things. To me it was easy, like a natural talent.

On my seventh birthday my cousin Amity lent me her hat – which I absolutely adored – and I ran around with it all day. I was jealous of it, and in the end asked her if I could have it. She shook her head no, much to my displeasure, but showed me how she made hers. I thought it too hard after watching her for three minutes. I can still remember her laugh, and how she took off part of her sleeve and made it into a flimsy hat of cloth. I loved it despite the fact it looked so ratty. I’ve worn it ever since. I also received my basket on my seventh birthday, and that was when I began collecting random things.

I few months ago, I made a really good friend. Her name is Penny, and we are very close now. We both enjoy running, so that is something we do often. We like tag, and hide and go seek. She is smarter than I am, so she helps me with my homework most of the time, though I’m better at math than her. She has nut brown hair and tan skin, which I’m very jealous of. I often complain to my mother nowadays that I want “Nutty brown hair and darkish skin.”