Three

Haymitch rather reluctantly admits that, maybe, quite possibly, he hasn't checked his mail. Ever. Disbelief crosses the face of both Peeta and Katniss; even Haymitch can't be that slovenly.

"Just come and see if you don't believe me. I just chuck it all in the fire every few months. Burns nice."

Katniss laughs, and Peeta shakes his head dissaprovingly. They both trail him back across Victor's Village, and climb the steps to his dilapidated house.

His post has been stacked neatly into piles wrapped in brown string, and Haymitch figures he should thank Hazelle Hawthorne for that. She's done wonders for his home: he'd quite happily live in filth if left to his own devices.

"Get stuck in then." He chucks a handful at Peeta and dumps the rest unceremoniously on the dining room floor.

They spend the next hour opening and sorting post. He has letters from people he wouldn't have thought – news, birthday cards, and photographs. Annie Cresta has sent him a picture of her young son along with an invite to his naming ceremony the week after next. He is called Reed and is the spitting image of his father.

There are dozens of envelopes from Effie Trinket; he recognises her neat script immediately from her copious scheduling in the past. He pulls them all to one side and after arranging them in date order starts to read.

Peeta has it right – Effie's letters lack the colour and vibrancy she's renowned for. She's going through the motions of life, doing what she should be without any of the verve, and it comes across as brittle and false. He skims a paragraph about her struggle to source a new wig and gets the impression that she actually couldn't care less.

She ends every letter bidding him to get in touch, how she'd love to hear from him. Haymitch feels awful. This is the only honest thing in all her letters - that she misses them.

Her newest note is different.

Dear Haymitch,

I hate to impose – to ask this outright, but I am feeling a touch overwhelmed. Please can I come to Twelve to visit with you? I do not want to bother Peeta and Katniss, not whilst they are building a life together.

Things in the Capitol are a getting difficult at the moment and I am a little scared. I could do with getting some distance. It need not be for long and I would keep out of your way. I am happy to bring you Capitol alcohol if you would like some.

I know you do not like writing and you have no phone line – but you could ask Peeta to confirm if I can come? I hope to see you soon.

Thank you, Haymitch.

Yours,

Effie

Haymitch checks the date. It was sent a few weeks before Effie's disappearance.

"I guess you didn't reply then?" asks Peeta.

"No, I didn't even know. You're right, she doesn't sound herself. And talking about being scared?" They sort the piles a while longer but find nothing else useful.

"Would you have let her stay, Haymitch?" Katniss enquires.

"I don't know. It's not like we ever really got on. But the Rebellion - it changed people."

Haymitch thinks about last time he saw her in Thirteen. Her eyes were hollow, ringed with dark circles and she had clung to his arm. She was lost and scared then too and he was abrupt with her, more concerned about his trip back to bombed out Twelve. He feels bad about that now.

A quick glance at the photo of baby Reed propped up on the mantel makes up his mind. He'll head to Four for the name giving ceremony and take a look around for Effie whilst he's there. After all the times she cleaned up after him he owes her that much at least.