I might change the description every chapter so I'll put it up here for people who start reading after I've written more than one chapter: For Peeta Mellark the story started a long time before the Hunger Games. Eleven years ago, that was the beginning for the boy with the bread.
I've seen a lot of Peeta's POV Hunger Games around the place but I think that there are a ton of times before the Reapings that are essential to the story of the boy with the bread. I don't know how far I'll take this story but I know it begins on the first day of school.
If you think 'wow this kid writes like a five year old' when you read this, congrats, this is Peeta when he's only 5.
Peeta Mellark ~ Age 5
It's the first day of school for me.
Both my big brothers have already been going for years; they have friends coming around to the bakery sometimes to play with them. They already know all of the people in their class while I've never met these girls and boys before. I haven't seen any of the kids from the Seam before; they don't buy our bread very often. I asked Papa why they don't like our bread and he said that they made their own with something called 'tessera.' I asked him what tessera was and he said it was a type of grain.
I spend most of my time in the bakery, helping Mama and Papa with the bread or painting in my room. The only time I leave is to go to the paint shop, to see all the new colours that the owner, Mr. Carson, buys from the Capitol.
I like it in the paint shop. It's nice and peaceful and there aren't too many other people around.
There are lots of people around here that I don't know. Papa says that these strangers are alright but I'm still nervous. I've never talked to someone from the Seam before; they seem so different with their dark hair and grey eyes. It's like I've moved to another District and soon Papa's going to leave me here all alone with the strangers.
"Papa, I don't want you to go," I say, pulling at his pant leg.
He looks down at me with his sparkling blue eyes and as he pulls me into a hug I feel safer, even with all the strangers.
"It'll be okay little Peeta, I know you'll make some new friends. If you get worried, just remember that in the afternoon I'll be waiting for you right here," he replies, ruffling my hair like he always does when I'm scared.
"But I don't know anyone here, what if they don't like me?" I ask as more kids join the group of people waiting outside the classroom.
"I know they'll like you, just be confident. Tell you what, I'll tell you about some of the other children so you don't feel so scared," Papa says as he lifts me onto his back so I can see everyone he points out. "You see that girl, with the slightly orange hair?" Papa asks, pointing out a little girl near the door wearing a bright blue dress with black shoes, and I nod, "That's Mr. Carson's daughter, the man who runs the paint shop."
Mr. Carson's nice; he always lets me try out the new colours when he buys them. Maybe his daughter might be the same.
"You see that little boy with the red shirt, the one whose hair still looks like he's sleeping on it? That's Mrs. Gardner's son. She always likes to thank you when she buys one of your cupcakes," he points at the little boy.
I like making the cupcakes; it's like painting but with food.
"See that little girl?" Papa asks as he points out a Seam girl wearing a red dress with two braids in her hair, "I wanted to marry her mother, but she ran off with a coal miner."
"A coal miner?" I ask, "Why did she want a coal miner when she could've had you?"
Papa pauses for a second before answering, "Because when he sings… even the birds stop to listen."
How could she choose a singer over Papa? He can cook, he owns the bakery and he's the nicest Papa ever. Maybe the birds were just too tired to sing, that's no reason not to want to marry my Papa.
A little bell over the door rings as the teacher opens it. Papa puts me down on the ground and gives me a hug as he says "Okay Peeta, have fun at school. You'll be alright, I know you will."
When I stand in line, I can still see Papa waving to me.
It's not until I walk into the door that I can't see Papa and I already want to go home.
The teacher says her name is Mrs. Cole and she asks everyone in the class to come to the front of the room and say their names. Mr. Carson's daughter's name is Eve and Mrs. Gardner's son that Papa pointed out to me is named Frost. When I go up to the front of the class I can see everyone watching me as I say, "Peeta Mellark," as loudly and confidently as I can manage.
Directly after me is the girl whose father can make the birds stop singing. She says, "Katniss Everdeen," quickly before she sits down again. 'Everdeen' doesn't sound so special, why would some sleepy birds be better than my Papa?
The first lesson is writing. We all get given pencils to write our letters on a piece of paper like Papa uses to wrap up the cakes with the special icing on them.
I like writing; it's like painting in a special order. Paintings can make pictures but with letters it can talk to people.
Painting is something I'd do at home so writing at school feels more normal than it did before.
After practicing our letters, we get a break to go out into the concrete square in the middle of the school buildings. I can see my brothers with their friends in different groups spread out over the square. Ash is sitting quietly on the ground while Ven is standing as the centre of attention.
Even Ash is in a group and I don't want to go to the big groups of older kids.
I walk over to Eve where she stands nervously, looking around the square like I did.
"Hi… I know your Papa. I like his shop," I say as I walk up to stand beside her.
"I know I've seen you there sometimes," she replies nervously, "My Papa likes you; he lets you use the new paints."
"He has nice paints," I reply as we continue to stand. I can see Frost standing with two other merchant boys under the shade of the classroom roof.
"Do you want to go talk to them?" I ask and Eve nods uncertainly.
As I walk over, I see Katniss sitting alone among Seam kids. For a second I wonder if I should ask her to come with us, but I remember how Papa said her mother ran away with her father when Papa loved her and I keep walking.
We talk about our houses until the bell rings again and we go back into the classroom.
The next lesson is music.
"This week in music assembly, we will be studying the valley song. Does anyone know the song?" the teacher asks as Katniss' hand shoots up into the air, "Now, Ms. Everdeen, come up here and we can all listen to you sing it for those of us who haven't heard it."
Mrs. Cole picks up a stool from behind her desk and puts it in front of the class. Katniss is blushing bright red to match her dress as she stands on top of the stool. A few of the people who know some of the song look bored until she opens her mouth.
Not a single bird so much as flutters as she begins to sing.
I know the birds weren't just sleepy.
I hope you liked baby Peeta. Next up is 6 year old Peeta at school once again.
Also: THANKS TO CORBIN AND LULU FOR BETAING (I sort of forgot to mention this the first time...)