Rainy, just like it is every Sunday I got out of bed, dressed,and put on my knee high boots covered in dry mud from when I took them off the night before. Making my way downstairs and out the door grabbing a slice of toasted bread with some peanut butter spread on top, the warmth of the toasted bread made the peanut butter melt a little bit which made this my favorite fast breakfast.

I pulled out of the driveway and drove to the Abernathy Racing Farms. This place was owned and run by Haymitch Abernathy. News around town was that he was an old drunk but he really pretty much has it all together when you know him personally.

He didn't own many horses maybe like five or six, I only remembered the names of three of them.

Raven, a black horse with a white stripe from her ears to her muzzle.

Black Jack, he was a dark chestnut Haymitch rescued from a race track after badly spraining a leg . He was nursed back to health at the farm instead of being put to sleep, unique because the vet had to add medal screws into the leg so it would not break under pressure.

Finally there was Moon, a beautiful paint that looked like she might have been a showjumper at one time.

There were horses that came and went as people asked Haymitch to train them for racing. When I got to the farm Blackjack was in the front pasture grazing and walking around, he was still getting used to the living adjustment but this easy life he knew wouldn't last long because Haymitch already had plans for him to start training again.

I dropped my bag in the lounge and looked at the board that held lessons scheduled for today.

Peeta Mellark, 12:00pm

I knew that name from somewhere. I think we shared a class last semester.

It was 11:40pm and I went to ask Haymitch which horse I should tack up for the lesson.

"Get BlackJack ready." he groaned.

Usually we just use Raven but I didn't want to question his reason, gets you on his bad side.

I walk Blackjack into the barn and tie him with the cross ties while I clean his hooves, groom and saddle him. Putting on his bridal proves difficult as he won't accept the bit sometimes but after about 3 tries I accomplish the task.

It's now 12:00 and I lead the horse to the indoor arena to the blonde haired boy with blue eyes. The first thing besides his hair and eyes is the medal on his leg ...

" Hey this is Blackjack, and I'm Katniss I can teach you how to ride him if you want." I spill out a little bit too quickly

" I'm Peeta and that sounds like fun." He smiles

" Okay Peeta the first thing you have to do is get on BlackJack's back"

"How do I do that?"

"Just step onto the mounting block and put on leg over to the other side of his body"

Peeta does as I say and BlackJack jolts at the new weight.

" Easy when you're getting on though you don't want to just plop down you have to kind of lower yourself easy onto him"

Peeta apologizes and we move on with the lesson covering basic walking and turning.

The hour lesson ends what feels like too quickly. Peeta asks me if he could help return the horse to his stall and Haymitch agrees that it wouldn't be a problem.

I bent down to undo the girth on the saddle and Peeta noticed the wrap around BlackJack's ankle

"What happened to his leg?"

"Racing accident but this easy lifestyle won't last long"

"Why?"

"Haymitch plans on racing him after he's healed more"

"Oh"

I want to ask him about his own leg but I don't want to offend him or something so Peeta and I finish putting Blackjack away in silence.