Hey everybody! I'm am so sorry I haven't updated in months...please forgive me! I can't believe how busy I've been with school and piano and everythign in between! I haven't even read any fanfiction in forever! :( But here is another chapter, I can't promise when the next one will be up, but hopefully it will be very soon! I love you all, and thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: As much as I hate to admit it, I am not Suzanne Colllins...
"Pst, Caesar, get up, son," Dad whispers in my ear. I squint one eye open and look up at him. Then I realize it's Monday, and we have to go to work.
"I'll be ready in a minute," I yawn standing up.
"Meet me in the square," Dad says and leaves. Quickly as I can, I throw on my fading worn out blue jeans and ragged button up plaid shirt. Rolling the cuffs up to my elbow, I thrust my feet into my tired looking boots. Bending down to the mat on the floor, I lean over in Laura's eat.
"Bye, sweet pea. Have a good day with mommy, okay?" I tell her with a kiss on her smooth cheek. I then head down the hall to Lucy's room, hearing a rustling from the inside. After one knock she opens the door in jeans and boots but still in her pajama shirt.
"I'm heading to work. Have a good day at school," I say. She slips her arms around me and I return the gesture. "Why don't I come pick you up, and we can spend the afternoon together?"
"I'd like that," Lucy replies. "Have a good day, Caesar," she says and closes the door. Since the government started making it harder to make a good living, I dropped out of school to help my dad. Lucy graduates at the end of this year. Next year, Laura will start kindergarten.
The sun isn't up yet when I step out of the house and make my way to the square to meet Dad. I find him standing in front of the Justice Building, what used to be town hall. A few Peacekeepers mill around working diligently on some type of wooden structure. By the grimness of Dad's face, I can tell what they're erecting is not good.
"What is it?" I ask. Dad sighs and hangs his head.
"It's a gallows," he grumbles, sounding confused. My eye catches one of the Peacekeepers walking near us. I walk over to him.
"Sir, why are these being put up?" I question, trying to keep my voice steady.
"President Snow ordered them in all Districts to help enforce the law," he growls. I nod and catch up to Dad. We walk in silence to the barn; it would do the family no good to get caught talking bad about the government. So now Snow plans to enforce execution. What does this mean for Panem? What could be worse than sending our children off to die every year? I let the rebellious thoughts die inside me; it's not going to do me any good to get angry,
When we reach the old wooden building, I habitually walk in and grab the worn bridle and saddle Dad made me when I was five. The simple design on the leather is fading, but still feels special to me when I look at it. Walking to the back of the barn, I greet what I consider to be the best horse in all the Districts. I've had her since she was a colt, bought her with my own money I made from selling lemonade when I was little.
"Good morning, Missy," I grunt as I heft the saddle onto her tall back. I make a mental note to myself to replace the underbelly strap later, it's starting to fray. After tucking the bridle into her mouth, I lift myself up onto her back and trot outside to meet up with Dad.
We do all the usual work for a Monday, pulling hay bales out for the cattle, feeding the two goats and slopping the pigs. I rush through cleaning the stalls for the horses in the barn, realizing from the sun that it's almost time for Lucy to get out of school. Once Missy is in her stall, I run out near the cattle creek to find Dad.
I find him sitting against a rock with his legs outstretched, a small worn book in his equally worn large hands. His hat casts a shadow on his face and over the thin pages of the old family Bible, probably the last religious book in District 10. He only reads it out here, away from the Peacekeepers and nosy neighbors.
Quietly, as not to annoy him, I begin timidly, "Hey Dad? I finished up cleaning the barn, the animals are fed, I shined your saddle, brushed the hors-"
"Yes, you may go pick up Lucy from school now," he interrupts with a grin.
"Thanks see you at home!" I call over my shoulder, already racing towards town.
When I arrive at the tiny white school house, Lucy is waiting under the ancient oak tree with her overstuffed school bag sagging from her shoulder. She sees me and waves me over, and I jog the rest of the way to her.
"Why don't I carry your bag for you," I say, "It looks awfully heavy."
"No, Caesar, I'm fine. I can carry it," she giggles with a smile. I lean down and kiss her lightly on the lips, and while her eyes are closed I slip the bag off her shoulder and onto mine. She pulls back and rolls her eyes at me, I playfully smirk in return. Hand in hand, we make our way towards the sweet shop, our favorite place to be together. Hopefully I can scrounge up enough pennies out of my pocket to buy her a piece of taffy or something.
Our cheery conversation about her day ends abruptly when we pass the now finished gallows. Lucy's head swivels around to catch one more look at it before we turn the corner, her mouth gaped open. I squeeze her hand and lean in towards her.
"We'll talk about it at home, okay? Don't worry about it," I whisper. She nods grimly and attempts to restart our discussion about one of her teachers who insists that Lucy answer every question. By the time we reach the sweet shop, and I have rounded up enough pennies and a nickel to buy my girl a peppermint stick and one for Laura too, we are as happy as the days before Snow, before the Capitol. The gallows are completely forgotten in our laughter. That changes once we reach the house, and hear my mother's wailing from the kitchen and a torn up Bible outside the door.
Thank you so very much for reading! Please review, it always makes my day! :)