I blink。 Finally； they cover my entire body in a powder that makes me shimmer in gold dust。
Then Cinna enters with what I assume is my dress； but I canˇt really see it because itˇs covered。 ¨Close your eyes；〃 he orders。
I can feel the silken inside as they slip it down over my naked body； then the weight。 It must be forty pounds。 I clutch Octaviaˇs hand as I blindly step into my shoes； glad to find they are at least two inches lower than the pair Effie had me practice in。 Thereˇs some adjusting and fidgeting。 Then silence。
¨Can I open my eyes？〃 I ask。
¨Yes；〃 says Cinna。 ¨Open them。〃
The creature standing before me in the full…length mirror has e from another world。 Where skin shimmers and eyes flash and apparently they make their clothes from jewels。 Because my dress； oh； my dress is entirely covered in reflective precious gems； red and yellow and white with bits of blue that accent the tips of the flame design。 The slightest movement gives the impression I am engulfed in tongues of fire。
I am not pretty。 I am not beautiful。 I am as radiant as the sun。
For a while； we all just stare at me。 ¨Oh； Cinna；〃 I finally whisper。 ¨Thank you。〃
¨Twirl for me；〃 he says。 I hold out my arms and spin in a circle。 The prep team screams in admiration。
Cinna dismisses the team and has me move around in the dress and shoes； which are infinitely more manageable than Effieˇs。 The dress hangs in such a way that I donˇt have to lift the skirt when I walk； leaving me with one less thing to worry about。
¨So； all ready for the interview then？〃 asks Cinna。 I can see by his expression that heˇs been talking to Haymitch。 That he knows how dreadful I am。
¨Iˇm awful。 Haymitch called me a dead slug。 No matter what we tried；