Against All Odds discussion

*

Jayda Shani ran into the district's square. Today was the day of the reaping, the best day of the year.

She stood next to Tonnetta Jordson and Kerston Edwards. They were her best friends.

Finniken Oberwanski stood on the stage. His had moved over to the girl's wheel. Jayda thought about how much she wanted to be choosen. But mostly she thought about her father. He had wanted a son, but instead he had gotten a daughter. He thought that if he had a son, he would be more likely to win the Hunger Games. After Jayda had been born, her parents had tried again to have a son, and they succeeded, but the baby boy died a week after being born from lack of food.

Jayda had trained all her life for this moment, being part of the career districts. Finniken Oberwanski pulled out the name.
Jayda and her parents purposely put Jayda's name in there more by getting more free grain.

"The next girl from District One to compete in the Hunger Games is..."
There was a long pause. It felt like no one even dared to breath.

"Jayda Shani."

"Lucky," Tonnetta dared to say.

All of the color drained from Kerston's face. He looked at Jayda,and for a second Jayda thought she saw scaredness in his eyes, but it was for only a second. Jayda hugged her friends and her parents, and walked up to the stage. Jayda thought she saw a hint of relief in her mother's face, and a small smile on her father's.
Yes, she thought, I will have a chance to prove to my father that a girl can win the Hunger Games. At least he can be proud and happy now that I am competing in the Hunger Games. He will be able to brag to all the other men now his daughter is actually IN the Hunger Games.
But Jayda was scared. She was going to die.