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March 18 - March 20, 2025
Well, half for the dead girl called Lenore in this old poem and half for a shade of gray, which I found out the day I met her.
Lucy Gray tie in?
She wasn’t one of Burdock’s Everdeen cousins,
He uses a bow....Katniss"s father?
After that, I started to notice things about her. How her faded overalls and shirts concealed snips of color, a bright blue handkerchief peeking from her pocket, a raspberry ribbon stitched inside her cuff. How she finished up her lessons quick, but didn’t make a fuss about it, just stared out the window. Then I spotted her fingers moving, pressing down imaginary keys. Playing songs. Her foot slipped from her shoe, her stockinged heel keeping time, silent against the wood floor. Like all the Covey, music in her blood. But not like them, too. Less interested in pretty melodies, more in
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Lucy Gray descendant?
mine. This is not a song her uncles let her play at the mayor’s house. Or even when she performs around District 12. There’s the
Lucy Gray tie in?
going to happen no matter what I believe.
He uses a bow....Katniss"s father?
“And that’s part of our trouble. Thinking things are inevitable. Not believing change is possible.” “I guess. But I can’t really imagine the sun not rising tomorrow.” A crease forms between her eyebrows as she puzzles out a response. “Can you imagine it rising on a world without a reaping?” “Not on my birthday. I’ve never had one that came without a reaping.”
there was also a reaping. So every year, there will be a reaping on my birthday.’ But you have no way of knowing that. I mean, the reaping didn’t even exist until fifty years ago. Give me one good reason why it should keep happening just because it’s your birthday.” For a girl who’s quiet in public, she sure can talk up a storm in private. Sometimes, she’s hard to keep up with. Lenore Dove is always patient when she explains stuff, not superior, but maybe she’s just too smart for me. Because while it’s a fine idea, thinking about a world with no reaping, I don’t really see it happening. The
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Lucy Gray descendant?
curls go every which way. “Quit!” Sid laughs and bats my hand away. “Now I’ve got to comb it again!” “Better get on it!” I tell him. He runs off and I drop the striker down my collar, not ready to share it with the world, not on reaping day. I’ve got a few minutes to spare, so I head into town to trade. The air’s turned heavy and still, promising a storm. My stomach clenches at the sight of the square, plastered with posters and crawling with
PANEM’S #1 PEACEKEEPER.
#1 Peacekeeper = The Reaping
The apothecary shop has a flag of Panem in the window, which pisses me off. Still, this is where I’ll get the best deal on my white liquor. Inside, the sharp odor of chemicals makes my nose twitch. In contrast, a faint, sweet scent comes from a bunch of chamomile flowers resting in a jar, waiting to become tea and medicine. I know Burdock collected these in the woods. Of late, he’s added wildcrafting to his game business.
katniss's mom's apothecary shop....Katniss's dad wildcrafting/collecting herbs.
Asterid March,
Katniss's mom
We lost, and in punishment every July 4th, each of the districts routinely has to send two tributes, one girl and one boy between the ages of twelve and eighteen, to fight to the death in an arena.
Ironic date
be replaced soon. The
#1 Peacekeeper = The Reaping
It’s hard to tell because she has a line of what look like fancy thumbtacks encircling her face, pulling her skin back and pinning it in place. Last year, each one was decorated with a tiny buzz saw blade. This year, the number 50 seems to be the theme. As for clothes, she clearly struggled to incorporate two fashion trends, military and sassy, and the result is her current outfit, a lemon-yellow officer’s jacket with matching
katniss's mom's apothecary shop....Katniss's dad wildcrafting/collecting herbs.
from the top
Katniss's mom
her attention to the latest victim. Woodbine’s the youngest and handsomest of those crazy Chance boys. They all get so wild when they drink that Hattie won’t sell them white liquor for fear it will bring down the Peacekeepers,
Ironic date
Otho Mellark,
Peeta's dad
restraining
Peeta's dad
This reminds me of when I was six and got chiggers and Maysilee nicknamed me “Itchy Itchy Haymitchy.” Nobody would come near me for two weeks, even though I told them it wasn’t contagious. That name still makes me cringe ten years later.
LOL
In fifty years, we’ve only had one victor, and that was a long time ago. A girl who no one seems to know anything about. Back then, barely anyone in 12 had a television, so the Games were mostly hearsay. I’ve never seen her in the clips of the old shows, but then those early efforts are rarely featured, as they are said to be badly filmed and lacking in spectacle. My parents weren’t born yet, and even Mamaw couldn’t tell me much about the girl. I brought our victor up with Lenore Dove a few times, but she never wanted to discuss her.
Lucy Gray
“Who are our mentors anyway?” I ask. “They’re in the process of selecting them from the pool of victors not tapped to oversee their own district tributes,” says Plutarch. “Don’t worry, some very talented candidates are in the running.” Yeah. Candidates who would be pariahs if they led a District 12 tribute to victory while their own district’s tributes died. Most years, I don’t even hear about who ends up mentoring the kids from 12. Let’s face it, we’re on our own.
District 12 mentors
“And not a moment too soon.” Drusilla snorts and gives Louella’s gingham dress an appraising look. “Honestly, where do you people find these things?” “My ma made it,” says Louella evenly. “Where did you find yours?” Louella’s holding her own, but Maysilee lands the insult. “I was wondering the same. It’s like someone mated a Peacekeeper and a canary and . . . there you are.” “What?” says Drusilla. She rises from her chair but wobbles a bit before she finds her balance on her spiked heels. “Careful,” says Maysilee. She drips sugar as she goes for the jugular. “Might be time to rethink those
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Maysilee KS brutal
Maysilee slowly pushes herself up from the floor, using the wall for support, before she responds. “Really? How? You’re not a Gamemaker. You’re not even a stylist. You’re nothing but a low-rent escort hanging on by your fingernails to the trashiest district in Panem.” This hits a nerve. Fear flickers across Drusilla’s face before she recovers. “And you’re headed for a bloody and agonizing death.” Maysilee gives a bitter laugh. “That’s right. I am. So why should I care what you say? Unless I win, of
I know I am supposed to hate Kayak lee but I am really enjoying her take down of Drusilla.....who for some reason I picture as Cruella D'ville
Maysilee slowly pushes herself up from the floor, using the wall for support, before she responds. “Really? How? You’re not a Gamemaker. You’re not even a stylist. You’re nothing but a low-rent escort hanging on by your fingernails to the trashiest district in Panem.” This hits a nerve. Fear flickers across Drusilla’s face before she recovers. “And you’re headed for a bloody and agonizing death.” Maysilee gives a bitter laugh. “That’s right. I am. So why should I care what you say? Unless I win, of
LOL
on Sundays, when the mine’s quiet and the soot’s minimal so it smells like fresh air. Ma . . . Sid . . . I don’t expect to sleep, but the day’s been so draining that the movement of the train lulls me into a semiconscious state. A few hours later, I wake with a start and feel someone shaking my leg. “Hay. Hay!” Louella whispers over Wyatt’s snores. I prop myself up on my elbow and squint at her through the dim light. “What’s going on?” “I don’t want Wyatt. I don’t want him for an ally, okay?” “Wyatt? Okay, but can I know why? He looks pretty
Lucy Gray
in. “He’s a Booker Boy. At least, his pa is.” The Booker Boys are miners who cater to those who like to gamble in 12. They take bets on any number of goings-on — dogfights, mayor appointments, boxing matches — and organize gambling events. On Saturday nights, you can usually find them in an old garage behind the Hob, running dice and card games for a cut. If things get tense with the Peacekeepers, like the time someone set fire to a jeep, then they lay low, popping up in back alleys and condemned houses. Personally, I never
District 12 mentors
shrink a bit. Maysilee keeps her head up, but her cheeks burn with embarrassment. “Still don’t think it’s a good idea to bring them to the Academy,” one of the Peacekeepers mutters. “This gymnasium’s been empty for close to forty years,” says another. “Might as well get some use out of it.” “Ought to tear it down,” says the first. “It’s an eyesore.” The van pulls away, revealing the gymnasium, a looming, dilapidated structure with a banner over the entrance that reads TRIBUTE CENTER in metallic gold letters. The Peacekeepers hold the cracked glass doors open and the smell of floor cleaner and
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Maysilee KS brutal
striker could be viewed as an unfair advantage, but I’m not giving them any help with that. “Yes, it’s a necklace,” I say. The Peacekeeper rubs the metal between his fingers and admits grudgingly, “It’s nice. They’ll take it later for evaluation.” I nod. Even if they examine
I know I am supposed to hate Kayak lee but I am really enjoying her take down of Drusilla.....who for some reason I picture as Cruella D'ville
“Hello, I’m Wiress. One of your mentors.”
No Way!!
It’s Mags, a victor from District 4. She looks at me sadly, knowingly, and then opens up her arms and says, “I’m so sorry about Louella, Haymitch.”
Mags!!
“I want to remind people I’m here because the Capitol won the war and thinks that, fifty years later, this is a fair way to punish the districts. But I’d like them to consider that fifty years is enough.”
And Haymitch is finally getting it.
if you take it off or the whole thing could
No Way!!
I note the pair of steel-rimmed glasses. While he bears a strong resemblance to Ampert, this is not why he looks familiar. It’s Beetee, a victor from District 3.
needed is A left's dad
one potato, I stand a good chance of finding two.” “If not, you might try cutting one in half.” He produces a second potato and slides it in front of me,
Mags!!
find one another, I guess. It’s Maysilee who surprises me. Back home, she isn’t popular, she’s known. She’s not respected, she’s feared. Not deferred to, but avoided. Here, following Ampert’s lead, kids bring her
And Haymitch is finally getting it.
our final wishes. “I have no say in that.” “No, but I do. And I will orchestrate your death based on your behavior from here on out. You decide what you want Lenore
needed is A left's dad
“You — are — brilliant — Effie — Trinket!”
Effie saves the day!
The Twenty-fifth Games, the first Quarter Quell, proved particularly heinous, as the districts were forced to choose their own tributes rather than relying on the reaping.
WHAT!?
takes over the song at once. Nesting in this apple tree Picking time so
Effie saves the day!
Probably I could dig anywhere and find potatoes. Was my entire pack just a big joke? Here I am, hauling twenty-five extra pounds around like a saphead. Part of me feels like
WHAT!?
Fire is catching,
I make out the hundreds of squirrel-like creatures, swarming around in their gorgeous golden coats, their eyes shining as if lit from within. Cute in a way, but too hyper, bouncing from branch to branch, gnashing their long rectangular front teeth in agitation. Mutts. They only pause to emit piercing rodent screams at a mound of their comrades in the center of the clearing. The boldest are fighting viciously, throwing themselves onto the heap, kicking one another away with powerful hindquarters.
Poor Ampert! He wasn’t in the story much but I really liked him. I love Beetee and my heart breaks for his loss.
Angry squirrels is no way to go.
Panting, I watch them fade away. Then I turn back to what I am meant to witness. A small white skeleton, stripped clean to the bone. No flesh or clothing remains, only an ax at its right side, my knife at its left.
JFC….that is brutal! On the same level as Finnick’s death.
Somewhere, Beetee’s heart breaks into fragments so small it can never be repaired.
We’re Beetee, Mags, Wiress ‘selected’ for the 75th Hunger games in retaliation….same to be said for Finnick and then Annie by extension.
doesn’t begin to
Maysilee’s and my eyes. She’s so furious with me she’s spitting. “What the hell, Haymitch! Where were you? Why was Maritte the only one who had my back?” She’s right. I froze. Caught off guard by the unexpected encounter, intimidated by the white uniforms, whatever. I choked. “I don’t know what happened, Maysilee. Everything was coming at me so fast and I’m covered in slime and —” “You’re supposed to be my ally! Not her! Not that fish-eating, bootlicking, wished-she-could-pull-off-pin-curls piece
Poor Ampert! He wasn’t in the story much but I really liked him. I love Beetee and my heart breaks for his loss.
Angry squirrels is no way to go.
has a belly full of fish, she’ll give me a hand. After a few minutes, the slurping stops. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch the can slide into view. Three fish remain. I shake my head. She gives them a nudge in
JFC….that is brutal! On the same level as Finnick’s death.
walked all over, I guess. You nailed it.” “No, what I said wasn’t fair. You’ve done
We’re Beetee, Mags, Wiress ‘selected’ for the 75th Hunger games in retaliation….same to be said for Finnick and then Annie by extension.
“She used to say, if I was afraid, ‘It’s okay, Maysilee, nothing they can take from you was ever worth keeping.’”
In the last moments, she releases her grip enough to lock her pinkie around mine. Looking, I think, for a final confirmation of the promise we made to each other. I nod so she knows I understand and that I will try my best to bring the Capitol down, although I have never felt so powerless in my entire life.
