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Sausage stood as tall as he could in the crowd of his classmates and friends. With his birthday in a few weeks he felt like he was supposed to be braver, he was older than them. His cousin, Justin, stood just a few feet from him, barely 13, they were almost two years apart yet there they were side by side, equal chances of getting Reaped. His hands were shaking so he clenched his firsts, digging his nails into his palms to ground himself.
Since they lived in the same home he and his cousin had been forced to take out Tesserae for each other. they are the poorest of the poor in District 7 and Sausage's uncle, Justin's father, had demanded they both take out the maximum amount of Tesserae for the household, which amounted to 8 each so now they both had sixteen entries in the Reaping.
It was a ridiculous amount of slips to have, any moderately well off 18 year old didn't have that many, but if they made it to 18 they would have a total of sixty-four entries, not that Sausage thought either of them was gonna make it that long.
But he definitely didn't think he was gonna get picked yet.
“Good afternoon District 7, how great it is to be back! I had missed your greenery! Now, now, let’s get to the important matters, happy 149th Life Games! Let’s see who is gonna be the brave tribute representing District 7 this year… Sausage!“
When the distinctly blue Capitol Escort for District 7 called out, Sausage had been too busy calculating his chances for the future to actually process what had been going on, he only realized once Justin basically knocked him to the floor with a hug, which was more of a grapple, sobs making their way out, muffled by Sausage’s chest.
Up on the podium, Jevin spoke out:
“Sausage, if you would care to join us, whenever you are free from there.“
Gently a couple of Peacekeepers pried the two kids apart, Sausage now visibly shaking but still trying to put on a brave face, made his way to the podium, the drunken shouts of his uncle complaining that he was useless lost on the wind. First addressing the Peacekeepers, then the crowd, Jevin kept going unfazed.
“Thank you guys, now a big applause from the crowd for our new Tribute, my oh my you are tall, how old are you? Fifteen?”
As the crowd clapped politely, mostly distracted by the commotion still ongoing in the back, Sausage answered, barely above a whisper.
“I’m thirteen, sir.”
Jev winched at that, but Sausage didn’t notice. They walked into the Justice Building as his uncle got arrested. He then was left waiting for his family and friends to come say their goodbyes, alone in a small room. From outside the door, he overheard people talking, Jevin and another man whose voice sounded familiar but he couldn't place.
“Hey, sweet face, how have you been?”
“Hello there, so you’re the one mentoring this year? I hadn’t seen that. It’s been busy, but it always is isn’t it?”
“That’s just how it is sometimes. Look I gotta go organize the goodbyes for the poor kid, I just wanted to say hi, and let you know that you read that paper slip just a bit to early, better be careful Jev.“
“Shit. I was so focused on acting normal I just… never mind. Thanks for having told me, catch you on the train.”