Spark changed into clean clothes, after removing all the grease from his hands, and looked up at Lilly's voice. He laughed gently when she trudged into the room with her arm caught in an awkward position and her dress very crooked.
"I don't think that's how you wear those," He told her gently, kneeling before her to straighten the dress, "Where's mother?"
"She's getting into her dress, hers is really beautiful," Lilly replied, holding out her hands, "I get a toy this year right?" With her light blue dress in place the toy had become the forefront of importance. Spark laughed again, reaching into the pouch on his belt. He always had a belt, even at the Reaping, it felt comforting. The pouch contained lots of bits and pieces, including his own Reaping toy, made by his father.
“Yes you do,” He said, holding forward a small figurine in his palm. Lilly gasped, recognising it immediately.
http://www.kidnemo.fm/cgm/ecommerce/kid ... 1329357178 “It’s my dream defender!” she said loudly. The dream defender was something Spark’s father had taught him when he was younger, the idea was that you engineer something that you believed could keep your nightmares away, and therefore stopped you from being scared. He’d taught it to Lilly a few years ago and for a while she was doing heaps of scetches of what she wanted it to look like.
“What’s his specialty?” She gasped excitedly.
“You know Spark can’t tell you that, everyone has to figure it out on their own,” Their mother wandered into the room in an emerald green dress, “Come along, you two we don’t want to be late.”
They hurried to the square, listening as all those new to the Reaping whispered about their gifts and began betting on who would work out the secret first.
“Hello, everybody,” Called the annoyingly flamboyant man who represented District 3, “Another great year for the Hunger games. Still no reason for the end of the Qauter Qwell to mean an end to the fun! Let’s do boys first this year.”
The crowd mumbled, irritated, no one liked the Quarter Qwell and bringing it up seemed horrible. Silence fell again as he reached his hand into the large ball of names.
“Alphonse Fletcher.”
Winery, a few steps away from Spark let out a pained sound as she watched her brother make his way up the stairs. Like many of the people, even though he was no longer eligible, he was clutching his Reaping gift tightly. Spark took a deep breathe, this was it, he was going to go to the Capitol. His hand wrapped around his own Reaping gift, one of the last his father made.
“Well then, are there any volunteers?” The man’s voice rang out in the silence of the district. Many people knew about the deal between Spark and Winery, therefore they knew they were probably going to lose their gift maker.
“I volunteer,” His voice was amazingly calm all things considered and the crowd parted easily to allow him to move up to the stage. Alphonse hugged him before running down to Winery. “Spark Nix.” He said, already knowing they’d need his name. He didn’t acknowledge much else, accept relief that neither Winery nor Lilly were called upon. His mind was a total blank, even as he shook the girls hand. Before he knew it they were being shepherded inside and left alone for the goodbyes.
His mother and sister came first, bringing his sketchpad, much to his delight. They discussed plans for them while he was away. Winery would help them with anything they needed, but they were both pretty capable. Lilly gave him a really tight hug before they were escorted out. Winery and Alphonse came next, both looking grave and slightly guilty.
“No,” Spark said, before either of them could speak, “We agreed to this and I’m going to stick to it. Don’t feel bad. And hey, maybe I can win this, I am pretty smart you know. Beat you with my gift.” He wangled his finger at Winery who laughed slightly, but had to swallow when it almost turned into a sob. They hugged then they were gone. Some other people came in, wished him luck, said farewell, his family was well known. Then before he knew it he was on the train heading to the Capitol.