Leona Mason {District 6}

At first glance Leona is a very normal looking teenage girl. It isn't until you get a bit closer or look at her from the right angle that you can tell she's missing a good portion of her right forearm. Her right arm ends in a stub and it's been that way since she was born. They called it a birth defect but it doesn't hinder her for most things. In fact her left hand is quite dexterous and she can do most things with one hand.  That being said, having an asymmetrical body does give her poor balance.

Nothing else about her appearance stands out in any noticeable way.  She stands at just under five and a half feet and she eats alright so she is neither under or overweight.  She has ill defined muscles and isn't able to lift anything heavy.  She exercises regularly so while she's not very fast, she can definitely jog or hike for a good amount of time.  Her eyes are pale blue, angular, and framed by short dark lashes.  Her hair is long, thin, and dark.  It frizzes during the hot wet months and she usually lets it hang loose around her face.

Leona has always been the practical type of person.  She is what you would call a realist and doesn't believe in hoping or dreaming for something outside of her grasp.  That's always how it's been and it was mostly because she grew up with a disability.  There will always be things she can't do because she's missing part of her arm.  She doesn't see any point in not acknowledging that.  This doesn't mean that she doesn't also strive hard to meet any goal she sets for herself.  She still has things she wants and desires.

If there is one blind spot that Leona has it's that she sometimes lets her pride get the best of her.  Because she has a disability, she works extra hard to make sure that she's not looked down on or anything.  If she were to fail at something or need extra help in school, she would keep her mouth shut and not ask for it.  It even gets to the point where she'll fail class assignments or hurt herself trying to do things on her own, even if she knows she can't.  She also hates it when people try to carry her things for her even if they're only being nice.

Leona is a very responsible and mature girl for her age.  She is the kind of person who takes care of younger students and siblings and she's very patient with them.  Some would say she spends too much of her time taking care of others and neglects herself.  But she's always loved kids and taking charge.  She likes it when people look up to her.  Leona has decided that once she's finished with school what she really wants to do is work in childcare or as a teacher.

Leona was born as the only child to her parents.  When she was born the midwife noticed she was missing part of a limb.  It was only a slight surprise to her parents.  Her paternal grandfather had been born missing one of his feet so it was a hereditary condition.  Knowing that her father also had the gene, her parents decided to only have one child.  They didn't want to see any more children with even worse birth defects.

Her parents babied her a lot growing up.  She was always sheltered from the worst District 6 had to offer.  Her parents thought it was necessary to keep her in the house to keep her away from anything that might hurt her.  When she was younger all she did was read picture books in her room using her stump to keep the book open.  It was only when she started school that she realized her parents were treating her like she couldn't do anything for herself.  She started standing up for herself more at home and branched out more but her parents still try to shelter her.

Life at her school was not very easy as someone who was different.  There were many who would pick on her and call her 'Stumpy'.  Her teachers were also the type to baby her and make allowances that they didn't for the 'normal' children.  She ignored the bullies and ignored her teachers and after a few years they left her be.  Now school is more enjoyable for her.  She is semi popular in her class for always being there to help anyone who needs it.