I stand at the kitchen sink, washing the breakfast dishes as I listen to Hearne reassure Prim about her first day of first grade. My sweet, blond-haired, blue-eyed little six year old. So much like myself when I was her age. And Katniss, my spunky ten year old, so much like her father. I smile at the dishwater at the sound of Hearne's words to Prim. So much like my own father's words to me when I was afraid to go to school. Only unlike with me, they don't work with Prim.
"I just wanna stay home with Mommy and play hospital with my dollies!" Prim whines. "I'll only go to school if Kat comes with me and stays with me."
"But just think, Prim," I say, coming around the counter and kneeling to look into her tear-filled cornflower eyes. "If you stayed home, you'd have to help me with all the chores. But at school, you won't have to! You'll see your friends."
"But I can see Ellie and Pet when I'm not in school!" Prim protests. I glance at Hearne, distressed. My eyes say to his, What do we do? and his reply, I don't know!
"Prim, you forgot to tuck your blouse in all the way," Katniss says, out of the blue. "You look like you have a duck's tail."
Prim turns to look at her big sister, who she admires so much. "Really?"
"Yes," says Katniss. "You're a little duck!"
"Really?" Prim repeats.
"Yes," Katniss says again. "You're my little duck." She reaches out to tuck in the blouse, but Prim pulls away.
"I don't want you to tuck it in!" Prim protests. "I want to show Ellie and Pet how I'm a duck! Quack! Quack!"
Katniss grins and hugs her sister, and Hearne and I exchange another look. I know that Prim's first day will be a delight for her now.