CAESAR FLICKERMANCAPITOL CITIZEN AND HOST OF THE HUNGER GAMESInterview night is the most important night of the year. Well, for the tributes of course, it's probablythe day in the games where they meet their bittersweet end fighting for their district. But for me, theinterviews are a chance to make each tribute shine, to ask them what they bring to the games, toshow all the citizens of the Capitol where to place their bets. It's the most fun part, too, getting toshow off all the kids and talk to them about their lives and plans if they win. Not all of the tributeshave interviews, especially if they're too hysterical. Their mentors decide not to send them outbecause... well, since it's the Hunger Games after all, and a crying tribute in front of the careers is likethrowing a wounded baby zebra into a lions' den.Almost no one is hysterical this year, so I'm ready for a great night of smiles and applause!I tie up my shiny violet tie and smile widely in the mirror, brushing some pale powder off of themirror.A crew member raps the window of my dressing room with his knuckles. "Caesar, we're ready foryou."Showtime.~"Introducing the master of ceremonies...son of the famed Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman...host of thehunger games for over ten years...CAESAR...FLICKERMAN!"The booming music hypes up the crowd, making them shout and scream “Caesar!” and the names oftheir favorite tributes so far.I hate to admit that this year I don’t know nearly any of them. Usually I spend my time researchingand watching the tributes to make them sound as enticing and entertaining as possible, but I’ve beenbusy this year with my father. He’s getting much older and with age comes bad health, even with themiraculous healthcare in the Capitol. As far as we’ve come, we can’t fix everything. I doubt he’ll bearound to see another games, so even with my late start, I’ll make this the best one yet.The earpieces that dull the booming music around me so I can hear the tributes’ answers to myquestions doubles as a projector, giving me the list of tributes and a few of their basic facts to fallback on. The first girl up is one I’ve heard of around the betting tables at the Capitol. Not that I wasbetting, of course, because that would be… illegal.“Welcome, welcome, welcome, ladies, gentleman and everyone in between, to the tribute interviewsof the 48th HUNGER GAMES!I am your dearly honored host, Caesar Flickerman, and tonight, folks,we have what are, in my opinion, the best batch of tributes in a long time. From the incredibleweapon fighting skills from the career districts to the smarts of the producing districts to the brutestrength of the working districts, everyone who steps on this stage tonight has a fighting chance.”I tone down the utter excitement that keeps the crowd screaming my name and quiet the stadium. “Now, some of you have placed your bets. Some of you are yet to do so, you want to see how theylook and act, yes?” They erupt into cheers again. “Well, lets get started with the tributes with thehighest odds out of all 24 of them… Miss Gleam Andia, District 1!She steps out in a short, tight, revealing dress and I see the stylists are taking the same angle they doevery year on the District 1 girl, and I do as I’m supposed to: play it up. At least she’s 18… buthonestly, what’s the difference? She’s still a kid, and joining in on the disgusting catcalls from theaudience makes me disgusted with myself.Her interview is boring but good, I doubt many people will take back their bets after hearing her raveabout her speed and accuracy with her famed poison swords. Her non-graphic approach toexplaining her average kill makes the crowd cheer, and I can tell she’s been doing practice interviewsfor many years. When her time runs out, she does a dramatic curtsy and exits the stage.“All right folks, we’ve got a lot of blondes tonight, but perhaps none as talented as our next guest…please welcome Mr. Delian Hearth!”A tall, muscular teen walks out, head to toe in black. He looks average for a career, and he’s not thekid we’ve been hearing about for the last few years. He sits in the chair, shifting his position to awide-legged seat.“Well, Delilan, it’s a pleasure to see you here tonight. How are you feeling?”“Well, I’m a bit tired.” he laughs, but the booming sound I expect is replaced with a nervous chuckle.“But the threat of death will replace that soon, I’m sure.”Well, that’s not the usual open to a career interview.“I hear you’re a replacement to a different hopeful? Not many people here know much about you. Sotell us, what secrets are behind this stone face of yours?” The last bit is laced with sarcasm, lettingthe audience decide whether I’m playing around with him.“Yeah, Lux. Great guy, really talented. A piece of gym equipment broke on him, crushed his ulna.Hundreds of pieces, no way he could go in the games. I was the number two, so I stepped in.”Delian’s demeanor repairs itself and the boasting tone he should hold appears- still, yet, with somecracks. “But his accident was a savior to our district. Sure, he was good, but I think I could out-fighthim any day.” He doesn’t look so sure.“I bet you could. Look at you! All this muscle, what do you use it for? Any specialties?”“I’m smart on top of this bulk. I know a lot about surviving, recognizing plants and venom. You won’tbe seeing me die from eating poisonous fruit.” He pauses for a minute, considering what to say next.“My weapon of choice for the past few years has been a morning star. If you’re not familiar withweapon terminology, it’s an ancient weapon that comes from Germany, its a spiky ball with a handle.Sounds dumb, but a single strike from this can kill you instantly.” The crowd erupts into chairs andDelian scoots further back into the seat, looking rigid.It never looks good when the crowd is loud and the tribute is silent, so I try to get him to talk a bitmore before the time runs out. “And lastly, Delian, do you have a message for anyone back home?” This piques his attention. “Yes, actually. To my brother Nigellus and his wife Epha… I’m here. I madeit. And I’ll try to get home for you.” He pauses tentatively and I start to stand up so he can exit, but heopens his mouth again. “And to Noah… if I get out of here alive, there’s something I need to tellyou.”He stands up and doesn’t clarify further, so I shove the awkwardness under the rug with an almostcomically large grin. “The mystery and intrigue continues! Mr. Delian Hearth, everyone!”Yikes. That was awkward, especially for a career interview. Hopefully the twos are normal.The first one is short, she doesn’t even come up to my shoulder. But she’s absolutely jacked, and herrunning at me would scare me half to death. She talks about her skill in nearly all weapons, especiallythrowing blades and swordfighting. She describes her craft with such brutality my stomach startsflipping around, but I can tell the people in the crowds who are serious about the sport of the gamesare eating it up.“Now, Sylvie, I’m sure we’re all wondering what happened to your eye? Looks like a gruesomeaccident.” The thin but deep cut that looks past infection but still gnarly runs from the top of hereyebrow down to her cheekbone. She grins.“It was no accident, Caesar. The top hopefuls in my district have a tradition a week before thereaping. Our runner-up takes a shot at us with a weapon of our choice.” She looks at me with achilling smile. At this point, I can’t tell if she’s an incredible actress or just simply sadistic. “Mostpeople choose something basic, like a net or a dart. But, you know, Circe was eighteen, she doesn’tget to try again. So, I let her take a shot at me with my own specialty: throwing blades. I didn’t dodge,because what kind of coward does that if they’re trying to carry out tradition?”“Not you, certainly.” She laughs warmly, and it sounds unsettling.“Indeed, Caesar, not me.”I talk to the District 2 male, and he’s impressive, even getting the same score as Sylvie, but doesn’tquite entrance the audience as she did. Next up is the girl from Three. She’s normal looking as wemove into the middle districts, small, pale, and underfed. Yet her demeanor does not match herappearance, she is cheerful and brings a childlike energy to the stage.“So, Alex, tell us about yourself and your life. Do you bring anything special to the games that othersdon’t?”“Sure! Back at home, I worked on electronics. I really love video games, and even though I didn’t getto make them, I felt a part of making them because I helped put together chips! Oh, and specialskills. I’ve been working on close up fighting. I learned how to jump on people at different angles andhurt their bones.” She gives a crooked smile.“Fascinating! How are your relationships with the other tributes? How about the Capitol and itspeople?”“I’ve loved everybody I’ve met so far! Everyone here is so diverse and unique. I made sure to say hito all 24 tributes, and their mentors, and their stylists. I tried to talk to them too, but most people justwalked away. And for the Capitol, it’s amazing! I wish the districts would take a page out of theirbook. “