Backfire part 2

All felt perfect in the world. My eyes remained shut as I listened to the whistle of the wind in the summer breeze. The long grass tickled my cheeks as I laughed carelessly at the pleasant delight. Today was a special day. I listened to my surroundings. The crunching of the leaves as a rabbit hops by. The humming of the insects in the soil. The slow breathing of my lungs as I inhale to the rhythm of the breeze. In…Out…In…Out…..Crunch…What was that? Crunch… My eyes were instantly wide open. Then I heard the knock. Tap, tap, tap…tap, tap. I grinned.

"Why…Someone's late…" I exclaimed. A hearty laugh erupted from the intruder.

"Wow…No hi or hello or any kind of greeting at all? Should have known coming from you…" she joked as she plopped down next to me. I could feel the warmth radiating from her being. About the knock, you see, we made up a series of different knocks to coordinate with different words. What she just tapped out meant, "It's Maysilee."

"Well, what do you expect, Mazy? I am who I am." I replied, chuckling. She joined in my laughter as we just laid there. The meadow. The peaceful piece of land that has grown to becoming our illegal getaway. I taught her various ways to outsmart the electric fence while she, in return, teaches me about various herbs and medicines that could one day prove to be useful.

"Well…Are you here for a reason?" I heard myself say. She rolled her eyes at me as she crossed her arms.

"You're not getting your presents till you learn some manners." She said firmly as she waited patiently. I sighed.

"Fine… Can I pleeeaassee have my present now?" I replied.

"May." She corrected.

"Maaaay I pleeeaaase have my present now?" I said, exaggeratedly.

She grinned as she took out a tiny box. A tiny, red, floppy ribbon lay on top of the miniscule present. I gently took it from her fingers and unwrapped it gingerly. I opened the box with great care to see sitting in the box was a tiny bracelet. Beads of different shapes, colors and sizes were arranged carefully on a piece of black rope.

"I know it's not much but it was all I could get for now." She explained as she looked off into the greenery. I wrapped the bracelet around my wrist securely and studied it quizzically.

"So…Do you like it?" she asked expectantly. Her green eyes staring intensely into mine. She crossed her fingers together, hoping I would say yes. To answer her question, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. I squeezed her tight to show my gratefulness. In my arms, she whispered,

"Happy 14th birthday, Haymitch."

"Thanks." I replied. We stayed like that for a while…

"Umm… Haymitch? A little too…tight?" she mumbled. I released her and started laughing so hard. She joined me. It was one of those moments that could last a life time.

I stared at the ceiling. Time slowed down. The ticking of the clock made me twitch each time. Tick, tock, tick, tock… A million thoughts rushed in and out of my mind. What's going to happen today? Will I be that lucky? Will I? Tick, tock, tick, tock… Then the time I dreaded rolled into the bedroom. Light streamed in, illuminating the dull room I call my own. I heard the pitter patter of the floor below me. They're up. It's a new day. It's the new day. I slowly brought myself to sit up on my bed. I placed one foot, then the other. I pushed myself onto my feet. I did not know what happened next. I guess I just stayed there… Facing the wall… Not knowing what to do. Every year… Every year the same emotion courses through my veins. Dread. This year's game was twice as ruthless as a normal one. The Quarter Quell. The second Quarter Quell. Where a sickening twist torments the citizens of the districts. Where instead of two tributes... It would be four... Twice the fun... Twice the dying... A knock echoed throughout the room. The door creaked open.

"Haymitch?" a woman's voice asked.

"Mom." I whispered in reply, my eyes downcast. I could hear her footsteps walking towards me. She placed both her arms around me and tucked me in for an embrace. Her silky blonde hair was tucked into a bun and an apron fluttered around her waist. Even though I was taller than her, she could reach me just fine.

"Everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay." She lulled as she caressed my hair. I stay frozen, frozen as a statue.

"It's not about me I'm worrying about. It's about you...and Jake. I don't know how you'll survive without me if I get picked...since dad...was..." I stopped. My mom hated that subject. My dad. He's gone. No one knew why. He just vanished...into thin air. Right before he disappeared, he had Jake...my little brother.

"We'll do fine... We'll do fine." she comforted as she stroked my hair. We stayed there for a while, staying in our embrace. I wanted it to last forever but fate hadn't planned it that way. She pulled away gently. She cupped her face in my hands.

"Whatever happens, even if you get picked, there would be a family waiting for you to return." she said. I squeezed her hand as she gingerly released herself from my grip and headed for the door. As the door closed, I was pushed back into reality. I commanded my feet to take me to the closet and they obeyed. I took out a pair of black pants and a button-down, white, long-sleeved top. I put on the clothes I picked and gelled down my hair. I rushed down the stairs to start the day. I was welcomed by the smell of stale soup and bread. And waiting for me there was a rosy-cheeked, bubbling, blonde haired young boy who knew nothing of suffering and death...and I intended to keep it that way. He smiled, cheek to cheek as I sat beside him. Pieces of bread were still stuck onto his teeth. I grinned at him as mom handed me a bowl of soup together with pieces of bread.

"Good morning, Haymitch!" he greeted cheerfully.

"Why, Good morning to you sir!" I joked as I saluted him. He chuckled as he stuffed his last piece of bread into his tiny mouth. He gobbled it down. When his fingers reached for another, his hands found none. He stared at the plate, disappointed. I slipped him a piece of my bread under the table. He giggled as he rapidly stuffed it into his mouth once more. I smiled as I slurped down my soup.

"Haymitch! Today is a big day!" he said as he tapped my shoulder a billion times.

"Oh yeah..." I played along.

"It's where all those people with the names picked out of the bowl go to the special place and act in a show!" he replied. It was all a lie, I know... We made it up as he watches the games every year.

"Yes..." I exclaimed as I licked my bowl clean. I fixed the little tie he fixed on and wiped away the crumbs. I stood up and gave the dishes for my mom to wash. We don't have much. I live in the Seams you see. But we make do. After a few minutes we were ready to leave for the ceremony. As I stare at the door, holding my brother's hand, I thought to myself;

"This is it. Today is it. Today is the reaping. My fourth reaping."