Seven Year Hitch
Chapter One
A sad little boy was sitting on the front steps of his family home watching as the movers finished loading the last box into their truck. He has spent his whole life, all six years of it, living in that house. It contained all his memories of his mommy. How would he ever remember her without it? Mommy had been sick for a long time, but she always had a smile ready for him except for when she helped him work on holding his breathe in the pool last week. He still doesn't understand why his daddy got so mad at his mommy. They were only practicing, the little boy promised that next time he would do better.
Tears rolled down his face, as his daddy picked him up and loaded him into the backseat of their car next to one of his brothers. The little boy wiped away his tears as his big brother handed him a starburst in shared misery. The little boy turns pulling his knees onto the back seat so he can watch the only house he has ever known get smaller and smaller.
The drive to the new house took many hours the little boy, and his brothers slept most of the way. It was the first time the little boy had ever slept in a motel. It was weird sharing a room with his brother and his father. He never knew that his father could make those kinds of noises while he slept. Daddy even let them eat breakfast in a restaurant, it was so weird eating without Mommy. But his daddy just looked so sad when the little boy asked when Mommy would be coming so after the second time he just stopped asking. The little boy spent almost the rest of the day in the car, driving, it was late in the afternoon before they finally arrived.
The little boy looked out over his new neighborhood. The houses were so alike, each with a palm trees gently swaying in the soft, warm wind. but was quickly distracted when he heard an angelic voice singing. He swears that the birds and the crickets fell silent to hear that voice sing. The only thing that failed to give way was the wind. He couldn't help but wander off in search of that singing. He was glad that the sound only led him over to the house on the corner because he wasn't allowed to cross the street by himself yet.
Just as he made it to the front yard he saw a red headed little boy shove a smaller a dark haired little girl with a braid down to the ground and rip a Nerf bow out of her hands. The little boy doesn't even hesitate as he ran over and tackled the other little boy so that he can grab the Nerf bow out of his hands.
Once, he had the toy he got up and stood in front of the little girl glaring defiantly at the bully as he said, "Buddy, I'm doing your Karma a favor."
The bully faltered at this show of defiance and quickly ran away.
The little boy turned and smiled shyly at the little girl, "Here's your bow," as he handed her back her Nerf bow.
"I'm Peeta, " the little boy introduced himself as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
"Thanks for saving my bow," the little girl smiled as she took her toy back, "I'm Katniss. Welcome to the neighborhood."
"Thanks," Peeta smiled his eyes dropped to the ground, "I heard you singing. I really liked it."
"Do you want to play with me?" Katniss said as she played with the bottom of her braid, "I have another nerd bow."
"Ok," Peeta said with a big smile. Maybe the new house wouldn't be so bad after all.
