Chapter 2

* Katniss is stunned. The crowd is displeased to have a twelve-year-old girl chosen as the tribute. Prim approaches the stage, but as she does, Katniss stands in front of her and volunteers to take her sister's place. Volunteers are allowed, but they don't usually come forward. Prim freaks out. Gale grabs her, allowing Katniss to take the stage. The people of District 12 do not clap; instead, they are silent. They then give Katniss the three fingered salute of the district, a gesture rarely used, meaning thanks, admiration. and good-bye to a loved one. One evening Katniss is in the Hob to trade some baby clothes for food. Unsuccessful, she is wandering behind the shops when she smells the bread of the bakers'. Katniss lifts the trash can when the baker's wife appears out of nowhere to scream at her and shoo her away. She sees a little blond boy staring at her from behind his mother. Soon, the blond boy appears with two loaves of burned bread. Katniss runs home with the bread and eats the loaf with her family. The next morning she realizes that the boy probably burned the loaves on purposes – so he could give them to her. That day at school the boy does not acknowledge Katniss. She does, though, see in the schoolyard a dandelion and remembers her time in the woods with her father – and that there she can find food for her family.