The hot summer days blur into one, Effie reads and Haymitch drinks. It's been just over two months since Effie arrived in District Twelve and she's not showing any signs of wanting to move out. Haymitch is secretly pleased about that, but along with the pleasure comes the fear of loss when she does leave. He doesn't want to go down that line of thinking so he swallows another mouthful of clear liquor, wondering when the next train from The Capitol will arrive to bring him some whiskey.
It's been just over two months since she arrived in District Twelve and Haymitch isn't showing any signs of wanting her to move out. She's secretly pleased about that, but along with the pleasure comes the fear of loss when he does ask her to leave. She doesn't want to go down that line of thinking so she turns the page of her book, wondering when the next train from The Capitol will arrive to bring her the books she's ordered.
The supply train arrives a week later and they go to the station to pick up their orders. The act feels strangely comfortable, like they've done it a million times before, she tries not to put too much thought into it and allows herself to simply enjoy the feeling. She signs for the relatively hefty box of books while he goes off to collect his alcohol.
Effie stares at the sturdy cardboard box sitting on the grey concrete floor, wondering what her mother would say if she saw her now. Her mother who always resented books and reading and anything that had nothing to do with looking pretty or being charming.
'Effie is that dirt under your fingernails? Clean yourself up at once!'
'Effie put that book down and do something more constructive like fixing your hair,'
'Effie don't pick up that heavy chest, let the Avoxes do it,'
She sighs and tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear before lifting the box up. She can already feel the strain in her muscles but it's not unmanageable, she just hopes she'll be able to make it all the way back. Haymitch comes up behind her and sees that she's lost in another one of her memories so he doesn't make an effort to speak to her on their way back.
Effie thinks about her mother. Her always perfectly made up, well mannered mother and remembers how, despite being a typical Capitolian, always tried her best for Effie. She tried to instill manners and social skills into Effie, she taught her how to apply makeup in a socially acceptable style, taught her all her little tips and tricks for putting on wigs, taught her how to hold her tongue and smile. Effie was never able to fully appreciate her mother's effort until she was sent off to the Games Academy, and then when she became an Escort, where image and impression were held at the utmost importance. Her father may have taught her to be human but her mother taught her how to survive in the vicious world.
Her thoughts drift to her father and her parents share a space in her thoughts. Her parents who were so mismatched, who were so different in temperament, who were so stuck in their loveless marriage. They might have been unable to love each other but they always, always, loved her. She thinks about them, silently bearing their own troubles and burdens, unable to share with anyone else, and thinks that maybe, just maybe, she might end up like that too.
Effie feels the box slipping from her sweaty fingers a little too late and just before she can react and just as it's about to go crashing down, Haymitch's arm comes under it.
"Take one side and I'll take the other," he orders gruffly, slipping his fingers through the cutout hole.
Maybe not, she thinks as they carry the box back together, maybe not.
