District 5 Reaping | ECHO MJEMBE
The train takes almost no time to get from District 7 to District 5. They're not that far apart, and with the amenities onboard, I'm easily entertained for the trip. Having left District 7 a little behind schedule, I'm rushed from the station to the Justice Building before my prep team even have a chance to make sure I'm in an acceptable, camera-ready condition.
"You're late." The Mayor greets me at the back door to the Justice Building.
"I know. I'm sorry, District 7 overran." I explain, not truly caring if he deems this to be an acceptable excuse or not. He rushes be outside and onto the stage overlooking District 5's square. It's different to seven. The air is thicker, and I can hear a fait buzz of powerplants and electricity lines in the distance. I don't need the condition of the buildings to tell me how much wealthier this district is than seven, but it's still not a patch on the Capitol. I pause for a moment to wonder what it must be like living in a place such as this, but my duties snap me back to reality reasonably quickly, and I realise a sea of faces are staring at me waiting for me to return from my daydream. I clear my throat.
"District 5, welcome to the 85th Annual Hunger Games! I'm definitely excited and I'm sure you are too, so I won't waste much more time. Let's pick our first tribute!" I wait for the applause that never meets my expectations. 'You'd think these districts would be grateful, all we do for them... the least they could do is clap once in a while!' I think to myself. I make my way over to the large bowl containing the girls names, and lower my hand into it. I tease the crowd a little, playing with the slips of paper, before pulling one out and returning to the microphone.
I read out a name.