Chapter 9
1167 Words
Miller Thresher POV
Life is good.
My father is the richest man in town, we live in a mansion and I've never had to so much look at tesserae. I'd probably vomit if I did. I know what real food tastes like. It's one of life's greatest pleasures.
To add to all that, I'm smart, handsome, agile, popular, confident, and stylish. No doubt I'll get invited to live in the Capitol before I'm even eighteen. A face like this begs to be on television.
As I swaggered to the Reaping center, I passed a filthy beggar sitting by the side of the road. I looked at the sandwich I was eating and then back at him.
"For goodness sakes, clean yourself up," I said as I tossed him a chunk of crust. He picked it up off the ground and tore into it. Dirty bum.
Even after that unpleasant interruption I was a bit early, so I popped into the nearest bakery and bought a dozen cookies, snacking on them until I finally reached the Reaping Center. The film was almost over. A normal person could have been shot for that, but I was the mayor's son, and nobody dared lay a hand on me.
Our escort, Kitty Leek, looked as drab as ever. Maybe I'd take over her job in a few years. I'd certainly be better than that old bird.
"As always, ladies first," she droned.
"Heidi Garrett!"
A plain girl I recognized from school walked onto the stage. Truth be told, she was beneath my notice. She kept to herself and didn't talk much. It was just as well. It left more room for me to talk.
Kitty reached into the boys' jar.
"Miller Thresher!" she announced.
"What?!" I bellowed. I'm the mayor's son! I shouldn't even be in there!
Hold on… I hear the food in the Capitol is great. I can work with this.
I swaggered onto the stage and stood in front of Heidi. No need for her to ruin the view.
Kitty took my hand and raised it overhead, bringing me to my tiptoes. Good things come in small packages, after all.
"Let's have a big round of applause for Heidi Garrett and Miller Thresher!"
Maybe five people clapped. I glared at them.
"Is that all you got? Come on, you bunch of losers!" I yelled.
Nobody else clapped.
"Well screw you too!"
My mother was wailing dramatically and wiping her eyes with a handkerchief when she and my father came in.
"Oh my poor little Millie!" she cried.
"Mooooooom, you know I don't like when you call me that," I complained.
"It's just you're my little baby and you have to go to that awful Capitol," she said. She pressed me into her chest.
"Aw Mom, I'll be fine. I'll send for you guys when I win so you can come live with me in the Capitol," I said.
I turned to my dad.
"You're probably pretty busy. Love you. You too, Mom. Bye," I said. My mother gave me one last hug and then they were gone.
Heidi Garrett POV
I could hear my parents tending to the grain in the fields. Usually I'd be out helping them, but today was Reaping day, so I stayed in to get ready. I didn't want to be totally useless, so I was working on some breakfast. Back when Hattie and Jamie were too young to stay home alone, I did all the cooking for them. By now I was pretty quick with a kitchen knife. I did the cooking most weekends still. I'd gotten good at stretching food and making do.
I flipped the last pancake and put the stack in the oven to stay warm. There was a metal triangle hanging by the front door, and I banged on it with the little metal stick that hung from it on a rope.
"Come and get it!" I called. I heard cheers and within minutes the whole family was gathered around the table.
"How's the harvest?" I asked.
"It's going. I'm having trouble telling the weeds from the plants, though. Sometimes it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack," my dad said.
"That's easy. Just burn the haystack," I said.
My dad smiled.
"That's my clever girl," he said.
We finished our meal and I stood up to go. I paused at the doorway.
"You'll be fine," my mother said. She tried to smile.
I tried to smile back.
I sat through the film and pretended to listen to the speech. Things brightened a little when Kitty Leek came out, but I do declare, we have the dullest escort in Panem. I can't tell if she's even awake.
"Ladies first," she said. She fished out a name.
"Heidi Garrett!" she called.
My hands flew to my mouth and my eyes filled. The girls next to me shied away and one bumped into me. I stumbled forward and found my way to the stage, where I stood in a daze.
"And now for the gentlemen," Kitty continued.
Oh good, at least I won't be alone anymore, I thought.
"Miller Thresher!"
Oh, no.
Miller was, without a doubt, the most odious, revolting toad I had ever met. That fat little doughboy jiggled like mashed potatoes and talked like he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. And now I would have to listen to that awful racket for days, possibly for the rest of my life. The only upside is that while I wouldn't wish the Hunger Games on anyone, not even Miller, there are people I wouldn't wish it on more than I wouldn't wish it on him.
After Miller proceeded to settle in front of me like a fat solar eclipse, I escaped backstage and waited for my family.
"Heidi! Heidi!" Jamie and Hattie yelled as they ran in. They jumped on me and wrapped their arms around my neck.
"We don't want you to go!" the cried.
"It's okay, guys," I said. "Try not to burn the pancakes, okay?"
"We won't," Hattie said.
"Why don't you two wait outside? We'll be out in a minute," Mom said.
Hattie and Jamie squeezed me one last time and reluctantly left, waving as they went.
"I'll try to come back," I said. My voice sounded so small.
"I know you will, darling," Mom said.
"We'll be together again in no time," my dad said tightly. He handed me a set of measuring spoons.
"Now you bring those back, you hear?" he said.
"I will. Don't worry. I love you guys," I said.
"We love you too, Heidi. See you soon," my mom said.
I stared at the spoons after they left. It was all I had of home now, and I knew it would never be enough.
I think you might be able to guess what the user who submitted Miller had in mind. But let's not count him out. He might come from behind and eat the Cornucopia.
- Writer
