Christmas In the Sand
Finnick's POV:
It's a warm Christmas day, but that's expected. This morning, Annie got up early and packed us a picnic basket for us to head down to the beach with. I walk down the stairs, looking at our Christmas tree. It is simple with some white lights and starfish ornaments but still perfect. I kiss Annie on the forehead.
"Merry Christmas, Annie." I tell her.
"Why don't you go wake up Dylan?" She asks me. I walk back up the stairs and into Dylan's room, who isn't asleep.
"What are you doing awake little guy?" I ask him, sitting on his bed.
"I'm just so excited! Look! They are already going!" He says, leaping out of bed and pressing his face to the window. It's a Christmas tradition in Kuoka (or District 4 as known before the rebellion) to head down to the beach and celebrate with a huge picnic, blanket after blanket together.
"I know. That's why you better get dressed!" I tell him. I get up and open his closet, throwing a pair of jeans and a red t-shirt on his bed. Then, I head out, but turn around quickly. He hasn't moved from the window.
"Come on!" Then, I head back downstairs and check that everything is ready. Dylan comes running down the stairs, throwing on his sandals.
"Let's go! Let's go!" He shouts as us. Annie gets up off the couch and I pick up the basket.
"Well, let's go." Annie allows him to throw open the door and take off running toward the beach. We don't try to stop him.
"He reminds me of you, always wanting to be down at the beach," she says. We walk over the little bridge and onto the sand. The beach seems much more open now that the force field is gone that prevented us from escape and the boats aren't always at sea.
We set up our blanket next to my friend Noah and his wife Jessica's. They have a little boy too named Caspian. Noah is currently the mayor of Kuoka and a much better one.
Annie and I let the boys play for a while as we talk to our neighbors and then it is time for dinner. We all gather around the fire someone lit and hold hands with each other, forming a huge circle around the beach. The waves hit my ankles as they crash onto shore.
"This day is for remembrance. Of what we have and we don't have but are striving for. It is a new beginning, a rebirth. Let us welcome the light into our hearts as the waves crash onto the sand." Noah leads us in this simple speech before everyone goes back to their blankets.
We packed a pineapple glazed ham and green beans. For dessert are a chocolate cake that Peeta sent us from Ledig (or 12). We dig in and after we all have finished the main course, we pull out our present for Dylan.
He rips off the wrapping paper quite gently for an eight year old. When he is finally done, he finally examines his package.
"A new pair of goggles! Thank you so much!" He shouts, leaning over to hug both of us. After we finish dessert, he is very eager to try them out and we let him. What is living here if you don't swim in your clothes every once in a while.
I watch him dive in and out of the ocean, exploring like few have done before. I've heard of creatures living down there, ones that we didn't pick up on the fishing ships.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Annie says reaching pack into the basket. She pulls out another pair of goggles and straps another on her face. She presses the other one into my hand.
"Ready?" She asks. I attach them to my face.
"Ready." I reply. We jump in the ocean together off the dock, letting the waves surround us. When we come back up, I give her a quick kiss before zooming off into the ocean again on the best Christmas ever.
Yeah, Christmas! I'm going to be giving each chapter a song title or one that I made up based off a song title and this one was "Christmas in the Sand" by Colbie Caillat, which I think is pretty perfect for District 4, or should I say Kuoka. Also, I have a poll on my author page where you can vote for who else you want to see celebrating their Christmas. And don't worry, Katniss and Peeta have already been covered. Make sure to review this chapter too!