第12部分(第1/7 页)

Slowly；　I　drag　myself　out　of　bed　and　into　the　shower。　I　arbitrarily　punch　buttons　on　the　control　board　and　end　up　hopping　from　foot　to　foot　as　alternating　jets　of　icy　cold　and　steaming　hot　water　assault　me。　Then　Iˇm　deluged　in　lemony　foam　that　I　have　to　scrape　off　with　a　heavy　bristled　brush。　Oh；　well。　At　least　my　blood　is　flowing。

When　Iˇm　dried　and　moisturized　with　lotion；　I　find　an　outfit　has　been　left　for　me　at　the　front　of　the　closet。　Tight　black　pants；　a　long…sleeved　burgundy　tunic；　and　leather　shoes。　I　put　my　hair　in　the　single　braid　down　my　back。　This　is　the　first　time　the　morning　of　the　reaping　that　I　resemble　myself。　No　fancy　hair　and　clothes；　no　flaming　capes。　Just　me。　Looking　like　I　could　be　headed　for　the　woods。　It　calms　me。

Haymitch　didnˇt　give　us　an　exact　time　to　meet　for　break…last　and　no　one　has　contacted　me　this　morning；　but　Iˇm　hungry　so　I　head　down　to　the　dining　room；　hoping　there　will　be　food。　Iˇm　not　disappointed。　While　the　table　is　empty；　a　long　board　off　to　the　side　has　been　laid　with　at　least　twenty　dishes。　A　young　man；　an　Avox；　stands　at　attention　by　the　spread。　When　I　ask　if　I　can　serve　myself；　he　nods　assent。　I　load　a　plate　with　eggs；　sausages；　batter　cakes　covered　in　thick　orange　preserves；　slices　of　pale　purple　melon。　As　I　gorge　myself；　I　watch　the　sun　rise　over　the　Capitol。　I　have　a　second　plate　of　hot　grain　smothered　in　beef　stew。　Finally；　I　fill　a　plate　with　rolls　and　sit　at　the　table；　breaking　oil　bits　and　dipping　them　into　hot　chocolate；　the　way　Peeta　did　on　the　train。

My　mind　wanders　to　my　mother　and　Prim。　They　must　be　up。　My　mother　getting　their　breakfast　of　mush。　Prim　milking　her　goat　before　school。　Just　two　mornings　ago；　I　was　home。　Can　that　be　right？　Yes；　just　two。　And　now　how　empty　the　house　feels；　even　f