Our Entrance

                             
Cinna tells me its customary, for the opening ceremony, that our outfits and our entrance reflects the "flavor" of our district. He and Peeta's sylist, Portia, both think we should wear complementary outfits. As Cinna explains my outfit to me I already prepare for the worse. District 12 usually has the worst entrance. They're usually either in a coal minor's jumpsuit or naked and cover in coal dust with minor's helmets. I was no where near excited until Cinna mentioned fire. I was soon dressed in an all black unitard with black leather boots that come up to my knees. There's also this fluttering orange, yellow, and red cape that matches my head piece which they plan to set oon fire. Not a real fire but a synthetic one so I'd be safe. Cinna says I'll be known as "Katniss the girl that was on fire". Soon enough District 12 was called and we most definitly pleased the crowd. Everybody was chanting our name.

Our Advisor

We met Haymitch, right now I am not impressed. He may have survived but I have no clue how. At breakfast instead of preparing us he is already drunk. He only agreees to help if we don't bother him with his drinking. His frist advice to us was to not challenge the stylist, to just allow them to do whatever they want.

Peeta Mellark

                                

As a reached the stage it was time to call up a male tribute. Of course after my gesture of volunteering, Effie Trinket tries to make bigger than what it really is and asks if there are any other volunteers and of course no hand was raised. Effie reaches in her big glass bowl and picks another name, Peeta Mellark. The odds are definitely not in my favor. My last encounter with Peeta was my family and I were nearly starving to death and as I was trying to search his family trash can for food I was "shooed" away as if I was a stray cat. I remember hiding in the bush until his mom went back in the house and Peeta comes out again as throws me a slightly burned loaf of bread. If it wasn't for that bread that day I may have died. 

My Goodbyes

                             
As I'm talking to my mother and Prim , I'm just trying to keep everything positive and let them know that everything will be okay. I don't feel that I have any chance in this competition. Then Peeta's father had came to visit. He promised that he would make sure my sister was fed. Madge came next, she gave me a gold pin and asked for me to wear it while I was in the arena. Gale was my very last visitor. He has so much faith in me, he thinks because I'm a good hunter that I will do well, but I'm just not to sure about that. He tells me no matter what, I need to have a bow and arrow, whether I get one or have to make one. This might be the last time I get to even see my mother, my sister, and Gale.

Tesserae

                                         

             Gale and I have both entered our names numerous times.  Now at 16, my name will be entered 20 times. I had to enter name that many times to be able to take care of my sister Prim and my mom. Gale, who is basically single handedly taking care of a family of 5 for seven years, has entered his name 42 times. So now it's just more likely our name would get called.

The Tributes

                                       
Today was the day to see which one of  us was to be choosen. I heard my sister name called, I didnt know what to do. Spontaneously, I volunteerd to take her place. Effie Trinket was amazed at what I had done but I would do anything for my sister.

The Name Pool

                                                    

The age of eligiblity is 12. At that name your name is entered only once. At 13 your name is entered twice and so on. Until the age of 19. Because my district is so poor, many people opt their name in the name pool for tesserae. Tesserae is a "deal" that basically states, "the more you enter your name the more food you'll get to take care of your family".