THE HUNGER GAMES
The Hunger Games
The Banyan Deer , Ellen C. Babbitt
It was reaping day. The day everyone dreaded all year long. My name Katniss Everdeen would be in the bowl an extra 30 times this year. Extra entries meant my family could have more food. This was also the first time my little sister Prim had ever been entered into the drawing. This was the first time she was old enough to be entered, only 12 years old.
The Hunger Games was the Capitol's way of punishing us for rebelling 74 years ago. Now each of the 12 districts had to have a boy and girl enter the Hunger Games where they would fight to the death. There could only be one winner. My family and I live in district 12, one of the poorest districts. We had not had a winner come from our district in nearly 30 years.
I got my sister and me ready for the reaping. I did her hair in two pigtail braids and she wore a white dress. My dark hair was in one single braid that wrapped around my head, and I wore a light blue dress. My mother always thought the blue brought out my eyes.
The crowd of people walking to the town square was silent. Every single person afraid of a loved one's name being called or even their own. We had to stand in our own age groups so Prim and I were separated as soon as we got there.
A woman from the Capitol stepped onto the stage. Her name was Effie Trinket. Her whole outfit probably cost more than many people made in a year in District 12. She had huge blonde hair, a pink velvet suit, and blue eyeliner. She cleared her throat into the microphone.
"Hello, district 12!” she said in her high-pitched voice.
The crowd was silent. No one was amused by what was about to happen.
"Okay, well, let’s get this rolling." She went on as she reached her dainty manicured hand into a giant bowl filled with a bunch of names. My name at least 30 times.
"Primrose Everdeen."
My whole body went numb. The crowd distanced themselves around my little sister. Her name was only entered one time. How could it be her? As the guards went to grab her something overcame me.
"I VOLUNTEER! I volunteer as a tribute," I yelled desperately.
The crowd turned and looked at me, all of them silent. I walked towards the stage not sure what had just happened. I felt like I was in a dream. Prim was crying and my mother was trying to console her. A wave of terror washed over me as my decision set in.
I sat there as Effie Trinket drew a name for the boys.
“Peter Malark.”
I knew him barely. He had siblings too but none of them said a word. Some people’s sibling bonds did not stretch to imminent death. I guess I felt more strongly for Prim than his siblings did for him.
We both shuffled into small rooms in the district 12 Headquarters and had a few minutes to say goodbye to our families. I was not having regrets about taking Prim’s place, but I was having regrets about leaving her alone with our mother. Mom just had not been the same since our father passed away. I wanted to cry but I knew I must stay strong for Prim. Prim was distraught. Tears were running down her face while she was hysterically sobbing.
I petted her head and reassured her “No need to worry. I’ll be home before you know it.” As I said it, I realized I was reassuring myself more than her.
This story is based off the Hunger Games and the Banyan Deer. In “The Banyan Deer” the deer choose one of their own to sacrifice to the king every day. One day at random a deer that is a mother of two fawns is chosen. The King deer decides to take the mother’s place even though he was exempt from the sacrifice. Katniss is the equivalent to the King deer who chose to sacrifice himself for the mother deer. Primrose is the equivalent to the mother deer who was spared her life so she could take care of her young. When I read the Banyan Deer, I was immediately reminded of Katniss’s bravery in the Hunger Games. Both felt a strong enough duty to those in their family or in their tribe to sacrifice their lives for their loved ones. If I expand this story in later weeks, I will also add in how Katniss was able to survive much like the King deer and was rewarded for her bravery in this way. And the person that freed Katniss much like the person who freed the deer was a leader, though the leader that freed Katniss would come to regret it. The leader that freed Katniss did not vow to stop killing the district’s people. Because of this the districts started uprisings and overthrew the Capitol. The districts in turn start their own Hunger Games and make the people from the Capitol compete. A very different lesson than “The Banyan Deer.”