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Description
I Am Not Permanent
Before she knew it, Kasha was pulled off the train and escorted through a large building that somewhat resembled the hospital back in District 9. Kasha had never needed to go to the hospital, but her youngest brother had nearly killed her mother when he was born.
It was silent, overwhelmingly so after stepping in from the cheering crowds. The hall she was walking through was white with various decorations of varying colors. She was pushed into a large room with the eleven other girls who were picked, or volunteered, to join her. They were aligned in order of district.
On her left was the girl from 10. She seemed angry at her situation, though she was the youngest one picked for the Games. On her right stood a girl looking frightened. She looked younger than Kasha, but Omri has informed her that she was actually eighteen. Past them were girls of various ages but none younger than fourteen.
There they stood for about fifteen minutes until a cluster of people entered to escort them into their own rooms. Kasha was told to lay down on the large metal table after changing into a gown that looked like the hospital gown her mother once wore. The three people who had escorted her in introduced themselves briefly as Leto, a man with bright green flowing hair and pasty white skin, Bacchus, a short man with short purple hair and pink-stained skin, and Coco, who indeed looked like chocolate from head to foot aside from her gold sparkling wig.
They were to be her stylists and after their brief introductions, they spoke no more to her. She had said nothing to them. The absence of Rye brought her back to her bitter state. She sat and endured all they inflicted upon her, such as waxing every hair that was not on her head and plucking out the stray hairs on her eyebrows. They washed and dried her completely and lathered her in a flowery lotion. Finally, they replaced her gown and escorted her to a different room.
This room, unlike the windowless, dark rooms she’d been in, was warmly lit. There were a sofa and a window and a single chair. She elected to take the sofa and waited anxiously for what was next to come. And what came next shocked her.
She had seen many people in the Capitol who dressed extravagantly, but none compared to Zeus. He was gold from head to toe and covered in what seemed to be wheat. Even his eyes were gold. He chuckled at her shocked reaction.
“Good morning, my dear!” he yelled excitedly. “Do you like it? I thought I’d dress to represent!” He fluttered his long gold lashes at her. “You are just lovely! Although I was hoping for two blondes this year… And it’s probably too late to dye your hair…” Kasha defensively grabbed her light brown hair. “Oh, don’t worry, darling! I will figure it out! I always do! Oh, heavens! I forgot to introduce myself! How rude of me! Do forgive me!” He held his hand out to her. “My name is Zeus.”
“I’m Kasha.”
“Oh yes, I know that of course. Now, I’ve been designing for District 10 for a few years and I just got promoted to 9. How boring 10 is! Livestock, yuck!” He exaggerated every word, and although his whole personality was a bit off-putting, Kasha liked him. He was funny. He reminded her of Bran, her nine-year-old brother.
“I’ve been considering what is usually done and I think it’s so bland! Always dressed as a factory worker or a grain farmer. So, what I’m thinking is we go gold!”
“But,” Kasha said quietly, “District 1 is Luxury.”
“No not that gold, silly!” Zeus chuckled. “I mean gold like wheat ready for harvest. Don’t you see me! Surely you’ve seen wheat at harvest time. Of course, I don’t really know if you worked in the wheat… I suppose maybe you didn’t.”
“No, I ran a shop.” Zeus looked disappointed. “But I have seen the fields at harvest time.”
“Perfect! We’re going to be that! Wheat at harvest time.”
And so, after a brief lunch, Kasha was covered with gold paint that stuck to her skin like a tattoo. She was given a tight-fitting top with fake golden wheat hanging down and covering her otherwise exposed stomach. Kasha hadn’t noticed until then how her ribs protrude more than the well-fed girls of the inner districts. She had never felt starved or underfed, even knowing she lived in the poorer part of District 9. There were no factories in her part of the District, meaning the only job with much demand was working in the fields which didn’t provide much money if one didn’t steal the grain.
Coco reassured her that she looked better than last year’s girl, and gave her a sparkling gold skirt that had a long flowing cape of the same fake grains on her shirt. Lastly, she was given sparkling gold heels that made her the exact same height as Rye. Pieces of the fake grain were braided into her hair and she was given a wreath of golden wheat.
Finally, she was reunited with Rye and almost burst into a fit of giggles. He was also covered in gold glitter, but had no shirt and was wearing a skirt that matched her own along with the same golden wreath. He, however, did not laugh at her appearance.
“Wow you look beautiful,” he said. “And I look ridiculous!”
“We both look ridiculous,” Kasha said.
Zeus led them to a large garage area where the other tributes stood waiting in their chariots. Omri and Cleo stood waiting by the golden, wheat covered chariot that would lead Kasha and Rye through the Tribute Parade.
“Wow!” Cleo gasped. “Gorgeous, Zeus, as always!”
“Oh, darling! You speak as if I’d added a mirror to them!” Zeus answered with a wink.
Cleo stuttered and giggled and Omri rolled her eyes. “You two, get over here so we can discuss.”
“Discuss what?” Rye asked.
“Strategy starts as soon as they can see you.” She narrowed her eyes at Kasha and pulled her away from Rye. “Are you really going with the stupid little girl thing?” she whispered.
Kasha shrugged. “I guess…”
“Alright, then you have to commit. No changing in the middle of everything. You are totally smitten by him and you have to have stars in your eyes when you see him, got it?” Omri seemed intense.
“What’s with you?” Kasha crossed her arms.
“I don’t want you going back to your snarky attitude in the middle of things and jeopardize your sponsorships. You’re responsible for yours and some of his now. Don’t screw it up.” Omri pulled her back over to the chariot and she climbed in.
“What was that about?” Rye asked.
Kasha hesitated. “Omri’s just being her normal dramatic self,” she mumbled.
“Oh, come on!” Rye chuckled. “She’s not so bad. She’s just looking out for us.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” Kasha shrugged and took a deep breath.
“Are you nervous?”
“Maybe... just a little.” Kasha hadn’t noticed her right hand clutching the chariot, her knuckles white.
“You’ll be fine.” Rye laughed again. “If you feel too nervous, hold on to me.”
Kasha blushed and turned away. Omri was watching them and gave her a subtle nod. Kasha hesitantly looped her arm in Rye’s and took another deep breath.
“Don’t forget to smile, dears!” Cleo called as the chariots began moving slowly and the loud anthem began playing outside. Kasha tightened her grip on Rye’s arm.
“How awful would it be to be from 1,” Rye whispered. Kasha giggled.
Each chariot went out with ten seconds between each exit, and after what seemed like forever before the ninth chariot carried Rye and Kasha into the loud cheering crowds and the loud music.
Immediately, as if Omri were screaming in the back of her mind, Kasha smiled at the crowds and waved, as she saw the girls in front of her doing. Rye did the same on the other side of the chariot. Kasha immediately noticed that very few of the couples were as close as they were, the exceptions being the couple from District 5 and the twins from District 7. She looked at Rye and blushed again, turning away quickly and looking out toward the crowd.
The chariots reached the semicircle formation below the President’s balcony and the crowds died out, along with the music. President Ravana stood up. He was a thin man with dark and pointed features. His hair was jet black and he evidently matched everything to that. Kasha had never seen him up close but Gwenith’s mom used to joke that his eyes were as black as his hair.
“Welcome, tributes! The Capitol welcomes you!” The crowd responded with a roar of applause. Kasha looked around. Some of the younger kids looked scared. The ones from the Career districts, 1, 2 and 4, looked proud to be where they were. “We salute your courage and sacrifice. Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!”
Kasha took another look around as the chariots took off back to the garage. She did not feel like the odds were ever in her favor.

Description
I Am Not Permanent
Before she knew it, Kasha was pulled off the train and escorted through a large building that somewhat resembled the hospital back in District 9. Kasha had never needed to go to the hospital, but her youngest brother had nearly killed her mother when he was born.
It was silent, overwhelmingly so after stepping in from the cheering crowds. The hall she was walking through was white with various decorations of varying colors. She was pushed into a large room with the eleven other girls who were picked, or volunteered, to join her. They were aligned in order of district.
On her left was the girl from 10. She seemed angry at her situation, though she was the youngest one picked for the Games. On her right stood a girl looking frightened. She looked younger than Kasha, but Omri has informed her that she was actually eighteen. Past them were girls of various ages but none younger than fourteen.
There they stood for about fifteen minutes until a cluster of people entered to escort them into their own rooms. Kasha was told to lay down on the large metal table after changing into a gown that looked like the hospital gown her mother once wore. The three people who had escorted her in introduced themselves briefly as Leto, a man with bright green flowing hair and pasty white skin, Bacchus, a short man with short purple hair and pink-stained skin, and Coco, who indeed looked like chocolate from head to foot aside from her gold sparkling wig.
They were to be her stylists and after their brief introductions, they spoke no more to her. She had said nothing to them. The absence of Rye brought her back to her bitter state. She sat and endured all they inflicted upon her, such as waxing every hair that was not on her head and plucking out the stray hairs on her eyebrows. They washed and dried her completely and lathered her in a flowery lotion. Finally, they replaced her gown and escorted her to a different room.
This room, unlike the windowless, dark rooms she’d been in, was warmly lit. There were a sofa and a window and a single chair. She elected to take the sofa and waited anxiously for what was next to come. And what came next shocked her.
She had seen many people in the Capitol who dressed extravagantly, but none compared to Zeus. He was gold from head to toe and covered in what seemed to be wheat. Even his eyes were gold. He chuckled at her shocked reaction.
“Good morning, my dear!” he yelled excitedly. “Do you like it? I thought I’d dress to represent!” He fluttered his long gold lashes at her. “You are just lovely! Although I was hoping for two blondes this year… And it’s probably too late to dye your hair…” Kasha defensively grabbed her light brown hair. “Oh, don’t worry, darling! I will figure it out! I always do! Oh, heavens! I forgot to introduce myself! How rude of me! Do forgive me!” He held his hand out to her. “My name is Zeus.”
“I’m Kasha.”
“Oh yes, I know that of course. Now, I’ve been designing for District 10 for a few years and I just got promoted to 9. How boring 10 is! Livestock, yuck!” He exaggerated every word, and although his whole personality was a bit off-putting, Kasha liked him. He was funny. He reminded her of Bran, her nine-year-old brother.
“I’ve been considering what is usually done and I think it’s so bland! Always dressed as a factory worker or a grain farmer. So, what I’m thinking is we go gold!”
“But,” Kasha said quietly, “District 1 is Luxury.”
“No not that gold, silly!” Zeus chuckled. “I mean gold like wheat ready for harvest. Don’t you see me! Surely you’ve seen wheat at harvest time. Of course, I don’t really know if you worked in the wheat… I suppose maybe you didn’t.”
“No, I ran a shop.” Zeus looked disappointed. “But I have seen the fields at harvest time.”
“Perfect! We’re going to be that! Wheat at harvest time.”
And so, after a brief lunch, Kasha was covered with gold paint that stuck to her skin like a tattoo. She was given a tight-fitting top with fake golden wheat hanging down and covering her otherwise exposed stomach. Kasha hadn’t noticed until then how her ribs protrude more than the well-fed girls of the inner districts. She had never felt starved or underfed, even knowing she lived in the poorer part of District 9. There were no factories in her part of the District, meaning the only job with much demand was working in the fields which didn’t provide much money if one didn’t steal the grain.
Coco reassured her that she looked better than last year’s girl, and gave her a sparkling gold skirt that had a long flowing cape of the same fake grains on her shirt. Lastly, she was given sparkling gold heels that made her the exact same height as Rye. Pieces of the fake grain were braided into her hair and she was given a wreath of golden wheat.
Finally, she was reunited with Rye and almost burst into a fit of giggles. He was also covered in gold glitter, but had no shirt and was wearing a skirt that matched her own along with the same golden wreath. He, however, did not laugh at her appearance.
“Wow you look beautiful,” he said. “And I look ridiculous!”
“We both look ridiculous,” Kasha said.
Zeus led them to a large garage area where the other tributes stood waiting in their chariots. Omri and Cleo stood waiting by the golden, wheat covered chariot that would lead Kasha and Rye through the Tribute Parade.
“Wow!” Cleo gasped. “Gorgeous, Zeus, as always!”
“Oh, darling! You speak as if I’d added a mirror to them!” Zeus answered with a wink.
Cleo stuttered and giggled and Omri rolled her eyes. “You two, get over here so we can discuss.”
“Discuss what?” Rye asked.
“Strategy starts as soon as they can see you.” She narrowed her eyes at Kasha and pulled her away from Rye. “Are you really going with the stupid little girl thing?” she whispered.
Kasha shrugged. “I guess…”
“Alright, then you have to commit. No changing in the middle of everything. You are totally smitten by him and you have to have stars in your eyes when you see him, got it?” Omri seemed intense.
“What’s with you?” Kasha crossed her arms.
“I don’t want you going back to your snarky attitude in the middle of things and jeopardize your sponsorships. You’re responsible for yours and some of his now. Don’t screw it up.” Omri pulled her back over to the chariot and she climbed in.
“What was that about?” Rye asked.
Kasha hesitated. “Omri’s just being her normal dramatic self,” she mumbled.
“Oh, come on!” Rye chuckled. “She’s not so bad. She’s just looking out for us.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” Kasha shrugged and took a deep breath.
“Are you nervous?”
“Maybe... just a little.” Kasha hadn’t noticed her right hand clutching the chariot, her knuckles white.
“You’ll be fine.” Rye laughed again. “If you feel too nervous, hold on to me.”
Kasha blushed and turned away. Omri was watching them and gave her a subtle nod. Kasha hesitantly looped her arm in Rye’s and took another deep breath.
“Don’t forget to smile, dears!” Cleo called as the chariots began moving slowly and the loud anthem began playing outside. Kasha tightened her grip on Rye’s arm.
“How awful would it be to be from 1,” Rye whispered. Kasha giggled.
Each chariot went out with ten seconds between each exit, and after what seemed like forever before the ninth chariot carried Rye and Kasha into the loud cheering crowds and the loud music.
Immediately, as if Omri were screaming in the back of her mind, Kasha smiled at the crowds and waved, as she saw the girls in front of her doing. Rye did the same on the other side of the chariot. Kasha immediately noticed that very few of the couples were as close as they were, the exceptions being the couple from District 5 and the twins from District 7. She looked at Rye and blushed again, turning away quickly and looking out toward the crowd.
The chariots reached the semicircle formation below the President’s balcony and the crowds died out, along with the music. President Ravana stood up. He was a thin man with dark and pointed features. His hair was jet black and he evidently matched everything to that. Kasha had never seen him up close but Gwenith’s mom used to joke that his eyes were as black as his hair.
“Welcome, tributes! The Capitol welcomes you!” The crowd responded with a roar of applause. Kasha looked around. Some of the younger kids looked scared. The ones from the Career districts, 1, 2 and 4, looked proud to be where they were. “We salute your courage and sacrifice. Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!”
Kasha took another look around as the chariots took off back to the garage. She did not feel like the odds were ever in her favor.