The Everdeen's
Last night was the most restful night I've had in a while. I didn't wake up during the night. No disturbing dreams. Neither of us snored. I'm not hungover. We didn't kick each other. I look over and see Peeta has already gotten up. Geez I'm surprised we slept so well in a twin bed. I swing out of bed and step down. "OUCH!" The cry comes from the floor.
"Peeta. What are you doing on the floor?"
"It was a little too cozy. Sorry."
"No problem. I slept great." I step over Peeta and make my way to the bathroom. Knock, knock. "I'm in here."
"Sorry Rory." I walk downstairs to use the bathroom down there. I can hear voices in the kitchen. "Good morning."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" My father can't stop laughing and he almost falls off his chair. My mom's eyes are the size of a barn owl.
"What's wrong?"
"Try the mirror dear." I look at the mirror in the bathroom. Black rings have been painted around my eyes. I look like a raccoon. I scream out "Primrose Violet Everdeen, prepare to die." I run upstairs to her bedroom. It's empty. I pound on the bathroom door. "Rory, where is she?"
'Where is who?"
"Don't play dumb with me Rory. You know who I mean."
"Oh Prim, she went out jogging." He's lying. That skinny bitch never jogged in her life. I run down stairs to arm myself. I go back upstairs and lay in wait. The door opens. Rory exits, then Prim. I jump out and throw the paper plate full of whip cream. Prim moves out of the way and I get Rory square in the face. Prim starts laughing so hard she falls against the wall. She leans over and kisses Rory coming away with a face full of whip cream. "Ummm. Your kisses were never so yummy." Then she takes a handful and hits me in the face. I start laughing. Peeta comes out of the room.
"Hey, what's all the noise." He sees the three of us with whip creamed faces. "What's going on?" I kiss him and now the four of us are creamy. Peeta licks some from his face. "Umm. Tasty."
Dinner at my parents is like being in an arena. Two go in only one comes out alive. Prim and I are the competitors. Mom is the prize. Sometimes we fight for her attention. Today it's the opposite.
We sit in the living room. Prim and I sit on the couch. My Mom across from us in her easy chair. We both start with small talk. This is only the prelims, the main match has yet to start.
"So Mom, what's up around here?"
"Not much dear. The Mayor is on a rampage about something no one cares about again. Your father bought a new leaf blower. Besides that, nothing much."
"Wow. A leaf blower. That's interesting." Prim says. Trying not to sound sarcastic.
"Prim, I'm so happy you brought Rory." Uh oh, Mom is starting. Prim is going to open. I have to act fast.
"You know Mom. Gale and Madge got engaged." Bingo. I strike the first blow.
"I know. I spoke to Hazelle. I'm so glad that he finally decided..." Mom drones on and on about Hazelle's son getting married. Decidedly aiming her comments at Prim and Rory. Prim looks like she's heard it a thousand times before but Rory has those deer in the headlights look.
"I'm getting a beer."
"I'll go with you Frank." Peeta and Dad get up to avoid being hit with any shrapnel. They left poor Rory in the splatter zone though. Poor kid. He never had a chance. Peeta comes racing back and grabs a dazed Rory and bolts into the kitchen.
Then Prim strikes "Guess what Mom. Delly is pregnant."
"Delly is pregnant. Oh my God that's wonderful news. Her Mom must be so hap..." Now she's staring at me as she goes on about how wonderful it is for Delly's Mom to finally have a grandchild on the way. My Mom gets up to take care of something in the kitchen. Still going on about grandchildren. "Touche Prim. Telling Mom about Delly." I give a sly smile. " When did you hear about it?"
"I didn't. I made it up."
"You bit... Hi Mom." Prim has won this round but it's not over yet.
"I didn't even know Delly and her husband were even trying. You see it goes to show you that it can happen at any time. Right Katniss?"
"Uh. Right Mom." Oh geez that was too close. Better bring out the big gun.
"Oh Prim. I forgot. Here's your Brides Magazine you left at my apartment last week." Prim's eyes get tremendous. I can see her mind starting to work this one out.
"Oh Prim. Let me see. Have you picked anything you might like?" Mom asks as Prim answers. "Oh, to be honest with you. I was looking at bride's maid gowns. I might be in a wedding party."
Mom doesn't even hear her "Oh Prim! It's beautiful. I love the neck line. Your shape and the model's is exact. You'll look beautiful!" Mom was looking at a folded page with all sorts of notes and Prim's measurements written in the margins.
Prim leans in. "You win this round."
"No Prim. I believe this was game, set and match."
"Dinner's ready!" is the call from the kitchen. "Oh. Kit-Kat, dinner's ready come on let's go."
"Okay, Little Duck." Prim grabs my hand and pulls me into the dining room.
"What are we having?" Out comes a beautiful leg of lamb that my Dad is ready to carve.
"Hey guys, 'What did one shark say to the other shark?'"
"I don't know Dad, what did one shark say to the other shark?" Prim and I say together.
"I just had a great 'Leg of Man'" and we all laugh at the same joke he has told every time we have lamb.
"Come on Dad. Get goin'" Prim eggs him on to start carving as my Mom brings in the mashed potatoes and peas. Peeta brings in his home made rolls that are better than anything you get from a frozen cardboard container. Rory fills everybody's glasses. Prim puts the gravy on the table and I have the little jar of green mint jelly that only gets used when we have lamb. I swear it's the same actual bottle from when I was a kid.
And there we are, all six of us at the table when I see something is wrong, Rory and Prim are not together. "Rory, switch with me." I switch seats with him and all three couples are now seated next to each other.
Now the stars are in alignment!
After dinner, Prim and I sit on the screened in back porch drinking brandy. I remember when Prim and I helped my Dad screen it in. Prim started to help, broke a nail and took off. She's such a girlie-girl. Me, being a tom-boy helped him finish.
"Kat, why are we so competitive?"
"I don't know. It must be in our genes. You're a doctor. You explain it."
"How 'bout a truce?"
"You got it."
Peeta walks in "Who wants the first cupcake?"
Prim is the first to react "Me. Me. Me." Well I guess the truce is over already.
"Oh Prim. I forgot to ask. How was dinner at the Hawthorne's?"
"Fine. Gale and Madge were there. Everything revolved around their engagement. They didn't even realize we were there."
"So it was better than fine. It was perfect." Rory chimes in with.
"Why would you guys say that?" I ask.
"Because my Mom is no better than your Mom when it comes to us getting married. And Gale takes the heat off us 'til June when they get married."
"Leave it to Madge to pick the most popular month to get married in."
"Rory is the Best Man and I think Madge is going to ask you to be Maid of Honor."
"Oh yeah! I have to prevent another woman from picking awful bride's maid dresses. Guess what honey, another wedding in June."
