It was the day of the Reaping. Gale came home a little late from hunting with Katniss. Admittedly, he'd been standing outside her house wishing she would come out and talk to him some more. He liked the sound of her voice.
"Bath. Lunch. Clothes." Hazelle said shortly when he opened the door to their tiny home. He was covered with mud and dirt, and bits of branches stuck in his hair and shirt. With a sigh, Gale did as he was told. Rory and Vick had filled the wash tub with water, but whether they'd heated it over the fire first, was not obvious to Gale. It was cold - not freezing though. He scrubbed his body with soap and then washed his hair. He could hear his mother warning Rory and Vick about their behaviour. Not that they needed it. The boys were better behaved than Gale ever was. Probably better behaved than most of the kids their age. He rinsed his hair and then got out, drying off and putting on the bath robe that was once their father's.
"Lunch is on the table, Gale." Hazelle said when he'd drawn back the curtain that separated their toilet and wash tub. He sat down to eat beside Posy who was still only 4 years old. Lunch was broth with bits of squirrel meat in it. Gale started eating right away, knowing they were behind schedule.
"Where were you this morning?" Posy asked, her legs dangling from her chair since she was so little. Gale had never told Posy or Vick where he went on mornings when there was no school. Rory was old enough to guess although Gale had never explicitly told him.
"I was with Katniss." Gale explained. It was easier with Posy because she was satisfied with simple responses. It was getting harder with Vick, though. Posy smiled, her pretty green eyes lighting up.
"Did you get any deer?" This made Gale laugh. He'd been fortunate enough to bring home some of the deer meat instead of selling or trading it at the Hob once. It had become little Posy's favourite type of meat.
"Not this time. Sorry Po," Gale ruffled her red hair, making her giggle.
"Gale, are you soon done?" Hazelle asked. She sounded exasperated and Gale didn't blame her. This was his last year in the Reaping. Next year would be Rory's first. Gale surmised that his name was in the Reaping Ball the most. It was no comfort for this to be his last year. He was the least safe.
"Yeah, almost." Gale picked up his bowl and tipped the broth into his mouth. He spooned the meat out and put it all in his mouth at once. Now that lunch was over, he could get dressed. Hazelle had laid out an ironed cotton shirt and a worn pair of dress pants. Gale knew the dress pants had been his father's and he stopped short when he saw them hanging over a chair for him.
"They're from our wedding. This is the first year I think they'll fit you." Hazelle said, noticing how her eldest son paused in the middle of the room. Did that make it worse? To know that his father had worn these on his wedding day? That was a day of happiness... this wasn't. Gale slipped the shirt on and then the pants, noting how well they really did fit. He tucked the shirt in and rolled up the sleeves.
"How do I look?" He asked, turning to face the family. Hazelle smiled and nodded.
"Just like him." She quickly blinked away tears before kissing Gale on the cheek. "He's looking out for you today." She whispered so only Gale would hear. Suddenly, he felt tiny arms wrapped around his leg. He looked down to see Posy, wearing a white lacy dress. He unwrapped her arms from around him and picked her up.
"Well, don't you look lovely," he said, giving her a sloppy kiss on the cheek. She laughed, making Gale smile. Posy's laugh was more like a squeal.
"Mama made it for me!" She exclaimed excitedly. Gale already knew this, though. When he came in from hunting in the evening, he'd seen her stitching away at it while the kids slept.
"Did you say thank you?" He asked.
"Thank you for my dress, mama!" Posy screeched. Gale winced as her voice hit his ear drums first, loud and clear. She giggled and Gale set her down. "Wait, I want back up!" Posy reached her little arms up to Gale.
"You're too old to be carried around everywhere, Po." He said. He glanced nervously around the kitchen. It was nearing two o'clock and he wondered if this was going to be one of the last times he'd get to see this place.
"Please!" She whined, sticking her bottom lip out.
"Leave your brother alone, Posy. He's tired today." Hazelle warned her. Posy crossed her arms over her chest and stomped away. Gale hardly noticed. He was thinking about how many times his name was in that Ball today. Forty-two. Forty-two times his name was printed on a rectangular piece of paper and thrown in with the others. He had tried to be brave with Katniss in the woods this morning. But he was scared; he was terrified
.
"Hey Mom," Gale said, finally moving his feet. "I'm going to start heading down. I still need to get my finger pricked and stand in line." He explained. The truth was, he wanted to be with Katniss. She made him feel better even when she was plenty scared too. Hazelle stood up from where she was sitting, reading an old picture book with Vick.
"You'll be okay, Gale." She said, giving him a hug. He had to bend over to hug her. He was already over six feet. "I love you." She added, giving him one last kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too, Mom." Gale headed for the door and was almost out of the house when he heard Posy start screaming. Turning around, he quickly saw the little girl in tears. Without a second thought, he strode back in and scooped her up again. She clung to him like a life preserver, crying and screaming in his ear again. He rubbed her back, swaying a little to calm her down.
"What's wrong Posy?" Gale asked as she buried her face into his shoulder. Hazelle had stood up again, glad she had Gale to help out. One screaming child often led to another.
"I don't want you to leave!" She screamed, her voice only slightly muffled by Gale's shirt.
"It's okay. You'll see me later. It's okay, Posy." He tried to tell her. Posy didn't understand the Reaping yet, but she knew that he was scared. Gale wasn't as good at hiding his feelings as Katniss was. He stroked her hair now, telling her that everything was fine. He was safe. "Do you want to walk with me to the big stage?" He asked. The kids had seen the stage being set up in the square. Posy had been entranced by it, claiming there was going to be a show put on. Well, it was going to be a show, but not a very entertaining one.
"Yeah," Posy sniffed and Gale put her back down. He looked at Hazelle for permission. She nodded, smiling.
"Can I go too, Mom?" Vick asked, abandoning the book. This surprised them all. Vick liked to stay at home. He wasn't adventurous and preferred school and books much better. But today was different; today might be the last time they saw Gale.
"If Gale says yes, you can go too." She agreed. Gale nodded and Vick hurried to join Posy at the door to get his shoes on. "Are you sure you don't mind Gale?" She asked. Gale shrugged.
"We're just walking down to the square. I don't need to be alone anyway." Well, he'd rather be alone. But he loved his brothers and sister, too.
"I'll take Rory down soon. Make sure Posy doesn't play in the mud, please." She warned. Gale smiled.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she keeps that white dress clean."
XX
"Primrose Everdeen." Effie Trinket read one of three names he'd been hoping not to hear. He felt his stomach drop and his heart jump into his throat. He watched as Prim walked shakily up to the large stage that Posy had been so excited about.
"Prim!" He heard Katniss shouting her sister's name. Not much else registered. Gale pushed his way past the other eighteen year olds to the front of the roped-off area. Suddenly, he saw Katniss standing between Prim and the stage.
"I volunteer!" She screamed. There was silence as Effie tried to figure out what to do. It wasn't really her day in terms of being on schedule. Haymitch Abernathy had already waltzed in completely drunk. The mayor agreed to let Katniss volunteer as tribute and Gale could see what it did to Prim. She had latched onto Katniss much like Posy had done to him earlier. Without thinking, Gale jumped the rope that held them back. He took hold of Prim and pulled her away. She nearly punched him in the face, but he just held her tighter.
"Up you go, Catnip." He whispered to her, carrying Prim back to where the other potential tributes stood. Soon, Mrs. Everdeen appeared to take Prim away from Gale. The male tribute was chosen and the Treaty of Treason was read out although no one was listening. Gale had two thoughts immediately following the ceremony. The first was to go to his own family. They'd be scared for Katniss but still relieved that he would never be reaped. The second thought was to go with the Everdeen's and see Katniss before she left. Deciding he would have enough time to see Katniss later, he went in search of Hazelle and the kids. When he saw them, Hazelle was fighting back tears. He rushed into her arms, holding in his own tears. If he cried, the rest of them would cry. They would know it was sad if he showed it.
"Have you seen her yet?" Hazelle asked, referring to Katniss. Gale shook his head.
"I will though." He gave each of his brothers a hug. Rory looked sick to his stomach. He knew Prim from school since they were only a year apart. Vick also looked scared but that was probably because
everyone else was. The atmosphere was still tense despite the reaping being over. "It's okay Rory." Gale told his brother, nudging his shoulder. Rory forced a smile. Gale hated how he had learned how to feign happiness so young. And he hated how it was him who had taught him.
"A quick hug before I go, Posy?" He asked his sister, kneeling down so she could give him a hug.
"I thought you said you weren't leaving!" Her bottom lip quivered and tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. Gale gave her a tight squeeze.
"I'm just going to go see Katniss. You know Katniss. The one with the braid." He described. He felt Posy nod, her chin hitting his shoulder.
"The one you love?" She asked. Gale blushed. There was no way that Posy could know that. No one knew that. Not even their mother who Gale told everything to.
"I don't love her, Posy. Well, I do. But just as family. Just like I love you." He tried to explain even though it wasn't true. For once, this answer didn't satisfy the little girl. She let go of him, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears.
"Okay, you can go now." She said matter-of-factly, like Gale had been waiting for her permission all along. "Go and tell her you love her." She ordered. Gale had to smile. He ruffled her hair again and nodded.
"I'll tell her I love you just like I love you." He agreed. Just as he turned to walk away, he heard Posy turn to Vick and say one more thing.
"He must love her a lot if he loves her the same as me." Gale laughed to himself. Posy was one of a kind. And it was true: he loved that little girl like no one else.