ORCHID WELLSHIRE, DISTRICT 9Branning's been doing better lately. I can take more shifts in the fieldssince he needs me less and less.It's almost been a year and a half since my brother lost both of his legsin a farming accident, and I've had to take care of him on a small portionof my peacekeeper father's salary-when he decides to send some home.Branning insists that he's fine, and I know he's embarrassed that his littlesister has to take care of him like he's elderly and incompetent. But heneeds someone here with him at least for a few hours a day, since he can'teven get out of bed by himself. He's at least excused from attending thereaping, and his name is finally out of that bowl now that he's nineteen.I'm not so lucky, though. I only took out a few tesserae this year, though.It felt weird only asking for three or so when they took this year'stesserae orders a month ago. It used to be a...few more.I used to take out hundreds back when I was with the raes. But after mybrother's accident, I realized that the chances we were taking just weren'tworth it.The raes were my best friends, and had been since I was a small child. Wewere all poor and weak, with bad money situations and absent or abusiveparents. When we turned twelve and were eligible for tesserae, we tried anew business model that no one's gone for before: selling tesserae. Our owntesserae.We used to take out hundreds of it for each of us, then sell thesubscriptions to our own supplies. I'm honestly shocked that none of us gotreaped, even with our names in hundreds of times. We were pretty young whenwe left home to do this full time, traveling for most of the year sellingwhat we'd sell for the coming year and delivering what we sold last year. Wewere a second family to each other and our relationship with the public wasmixed.They felt scammed by us but at the same time appreciated the miles wetraveled and the work we did to save their children from more entries in thereaping. We were edgier and different than most of nine, with brightlycolored clothes and makeup because we could afford it, and genders that theycouldn't guess by looking at us. But they still shook our hands and droppedmore and more of our envelopes into the bowls.We did this for five years until my brother ran into an accident with a haybaler than crushed both of his legs. He needed a double amputation and I hadto go home. They took this as a betrayal after hearing me talk badly aboutmy strict, hardened, patriotic brother for years. The rest of them still runtheir business, and I'm sure I'll be seeing them at the reaping.Which starts in three hours.I tie up my fiery hair quickly, since it's blisteringly hot outside. The only fancy thing I have is a black dress I bought with the raes last year.Great.I try to leave quietly but Branning stops me."I don't expect your name to come out of that bowl. You don't either...right?""I've told you a thousand times, I don't work with them anymore. It's inthere eight times.""And how many times are Tiff and the rest of those bitches in?"I sniff. "Teff. And hundreds, probably. Last year he was 400. And I'm notgoing to get picked.""I know." He crosses his arms. "Love you, Orchid.""I love you too."It's a long walk from our tiny house to the capital of district 9, but atleast we can walk. Some people have to travel for days. In a big districtlike ours, only eligible kids have to attend the reaping. There's just notroom for a few hundred thousand people in the capital courtyard.After a couple hours of walking, the courtyard comes into view.And so do the raes, sitting in their usual spot behind the brick wall.All five of them. Oatley and Teff are in the middle, cloying all over eachother. It grosses me out way more now than it used to for some reason. Iused to be kind of into Teff, back before we really got into the businessworld. I'm totally over him. He and Oatley are super into each other-theycan't keep their hands to themselves. It's a shock she's not pregnant,honestly.Amara and Miller and to the side holding hands. The two of them are superquiet and haven't ever kissed or anything. They just stay close to eachother. I was super close with Amara and she never really turned on me likethe rest of them did. Farro and Ash are on the opposite side with the pricenotebook, probably adding up today's initial sales.I walk quietly towards the check-in line but my staring errors me- I lockeyes with Farro and he quietly suggests that they get in line. I keepshuffling forward and desperately hope that someone comes in between us.But no, I hear Oatley's deep and Teff's ironically high voice behind metalking about what district they want to place bets on tonight. Oatley's beton District 2 every year since we had enough money to bribe our way intobets. She's won once or twice, but the rest of them are all 11 and 12 buffs.I can practically feel her eyes glaring into the back of my head before Ihear Miller. "Hey, is that..." they whisper.Oakley puts a hand on my shoulder and turns me around."Um...hi." I say. I wish this line would hurry up. I'm begging to be stabbedin the finger by the checker waiting hundreds of people ahead of me."You know, it's funny seeing you here after all this time." Oatley runs hertongue over her teeth and leans away from Teff."It hasn't been that long," I mumble."Sure. Your hair's still curly. Thought that was too alternative for yourfarm girl life."I grit my teeth. "Funny, I thought you'd be too busy counting your scammedcoins than to bother with us farm folk."Teff chuckles, placing a giant hand on Oatley's tiny shoulder. "Oh, come on,Orchie. We all know you miss the good old days as much as we do."Oatley looks like she wants to slit his throat for calling when I was withthem the good old days."You mean the days before my brother got mauled and I realized what a bunchof hypocrites you all are?""Lay off, both of you." Miller interrupts us, though they're still glaringat me. "There's more important things to focus on today.""Right, like which innocent kids to place your bets on this year? Or maybehow many starving people you'll con into buying your tesserae scheme?"Oatley pulls down her shirt, which covers less skin than a swimsuit. She'sthe least alternative of all of them, and in different clothes she couldpass for a farmer."You all look... different," I say, trying to distract myself from theconflict that just occurred.And they do. Amara's long, straight black hair and brightly colored makeupis swapped for shoulder length and layered with dark eyeliner. Ash has moreboyish hair and more eyelashes and lip color than before."Trying to skirt away from our little debate?" Farro juts, interrupting myquiet fantasy of this altercation being finished."I'm just trying to have a civilized conversation, but I guess that's toomuch to ask from you."Teff runs a hand through his hair and smirks. "Don't act like you're betterthan us, Orchid. We all know where you came from."I'm so done with this. "And I know where you're still stuck. Living off the