Chapter 11 – A Day's Work
Katniss woke up with a sinking feeling in her stomach on New Years's Eve. She wished it were already the next day. When she had agreed to sing in Haymitch's saloon she had been so focused on the money he promised to pay her that she had completely ignored the tiny voice in her head reminding her that she didn't like to sing for people.
She wished she could talk about it with someone. But there was no one to talk to. Her family was unhappy about her agreement with Haymitch because in their opinion upstanding young ladies did not sing in saloons.
And Peeta…well, they were barely speaking. After he had kissed her on Christmas day, she'd been happy and confused. It unnerved her.
She had answered him honestly about her reasons for taking the singing job, but when he offered to help her family financially, it was too much. It was so kind and generous – it reminded her again that he cared about her. It bothered her because kind people had a way of working themselves inside of her mind and her heart. And he was doing just that. She had to put a stop to it, now. Because she was not going to fall in love. Ever.
The worst of it was that she couldn't stop thinking about him and that kiss, well kisses really, and she had to admit she wanted more.
But then, she'd shouted at him and she didn't know how to make things right again. She knew she should apologize, but she didn't know what to say. `I'm sorry' needed an explanation behind it and she didn't even know how to explain it to herself, so she said nothing.
It started rainy lightly that afternoon. Gale urged her to leave early before the rain got heavier. Katniss put on her best dress and her mother pinned her braid up atop her head.
"Stick close to Gale and Peeta," her mother warned her.
She was surprised to learn that Peeta was outside the tent waiting with Gale. She assumed he wouldn't be going, since they had hardly spoken since Christmas. But maybe he felt obligated to keep up appearances since they were courting. He was standing next to Gale, smiling at her and wearing the knit hat she'd given him. Feeling guilty, Katniss looked away quickly.
They rode horses into town. It was too muddy to walk. The sky opened up midway there. By the time they arrived, everyone was completely wet. Katniss' dress was clinging to her. She hurried inside the saloon to seek shelter.
The room was dimly lit, filled with tables and chairs, and smelling of cigar smoke. Straight ahead, beyond the tables, was the wall-length bar with stools. Haymitch was sitting on one of the stools smoking.
"I see you brought some protection with you," he said, staring at Peeta and Gale. "I don't know you." Haymitch lifted his cigar and pointed at Gale.
"Gale Hawthorne," he said. "I'm Katniss' cousin."
"I can see the resemblance."
He looked at Peeta. "Did you bring me any bread, boy?"
Peeta shook his head, and Haymitch frowned, before turning his attention back to Katniss.
"Sweetheart, you look like something the cat dragged in. Did you bring a change of clothes?"
She shook her head. "My dress will dry soon enough." But she knew her skirt was so wet that she could wring the water out with her hands and it would still be damp.
"You need to borrow a dress from Effie," Haymitch told her. "Go up to her house now."
Kantiss flinched. She did not want to go Effie's house under any circumstances. She glanced at Gale, a look of alarm crossing her face.
His face remained impassive.
"Go now," Haymitch urged. "Before the customers get here."
She scowled, then walked to the door. Gale and Peeta followed at her heels as they made their way through the pouring rain and mud to the big clapboard house.
"This is stupid," Katniss complained. "My clothes are only going to get wet again once I leave the house."
They made their way up the steps and Gale knocked on the door. A short, blonde-haired girl opened it.
"Haymitch sent me up here to borrow a dress," Katniss explained.
The girl at the door didn't respond, so Katniss continued, "I'm singing at the saloon tonight."
The girl nodded then, and opened the door wider to let them in to the large entryway.
They all stopped for a moment to stomp the mud from their shoes.
As they walked through the door, the girl spoke. "Can't stay away Peeta, can you?" she teased.
Katniss and Gale jerked their heads quickly to see Peeta turn a bright shade of red.
How does Peeta know her? Katniss thought, a sharp pain stabbing at her chest. But even before she could begin to ponder it, the girl grabbed at her hand. "Come with me. You two can wait in the parlor." She pointed to room at the right.
She led Katniss up the staircase directly ahead. The lower floor was decorated in a grand fashion. The upstairs was similarly decorated with beautiful rugs and framed pictures on the walls. The girl led her down a hallway that was lined with doors. She knocked on one of them, and called out, "Octavia, I need your help."
After a minute, a plump, red-haired woman, wearing a green robe and a heavily painted face, opened the door. Katniss recognized her as one of the women who she'd seen in town the first time she'd visited there.
"She's singing in the saloon tonight. Haymitch wants her dressed up," the girl said. She led Katniss into a small room. A large brass bed took up most of the floor space. The room also included a wardrobe and an upholstered chair.
Octavia nodded. "Take your clothes off."
Katniss gulped. She didn't want to undress in front of these women. She didn't know them. And she certainly didn't want to strip in a brothel. She looked at the brass bed in the center of the room, strangely embarrassed.
Octavia turned to the girl. "She's too skinny to fit any of my dresses. I'll have to get something from Jo." She left the room.
Katniss stood frozen in place.
"Take off your clothes," the blonde-haired girl said.
Katniss took off her coat and set it onto the bed, then slowly began unbuttoning the front of her dress, but she wasn't quick enough and the girl pushed her hands away and took over. When Octavia returned, Katniss was standing in the room in her underclothes – her chemise and drawers.
"Put this on," Octavia handed Katniss a pale blue dress, but the blonde-haired woman grabbed it from her hands and put it over her head.
"Kind of bossy, Delly," Octavia commented.
"Well, she's kind of slow," Delly replied.
Once the dress, which was cut lower in the bodice than Katniss was used to wearing, was on, the two women took a step back and surveyed her appearance.
"Her hair needs to come down," Delly said. She pulled out the hairpins holding up the braid and made quick work of unraveling Katniss' hair and arranging it to hang over her shoulders. She handed the hairpins to Katniss who shoved them into the pocket of her wet jacket.
"She looks good," Octavia said. "But we need to do something about her face."
Katniss' hands went quickly to her cheeks.
"No paint. I don't want any paint on my face."
"So you can speak," Delly laughed.
Katniss blushed. She wanted to get out of here now.
"Just a little rouge," Octavia said. "For color." She opened her wardrobe and pulled out a small glass container. She opened it up and dipped her finger into it. Quickly she dabbed at Katniss cheeks and worked the color up onto her cheekbones toward her ears.
She and Delly stood back again to look over Katniss.
"Much better," Octavia said, before opening her wardrobe again and pulling out a long, black cape. She hooked it at Katniss' neckline.
"It doesn't matter though, because I'm only going to get rained on again walking back to the saloon," Katniss stated.
"We'll loan you an umbrella," Delly said.
Delly grabbed her hand again to take her downstairs, but Katniss stopped her. She had to know something. It had been weighing on her mind ever since Delly had let them inside. "How do you know Peeta?"
Katniss bit her lower lip waiting for the news – that Peeta was a customer at the brothel. That her friend who was courting her had secrets that he'd kept hidden. She knew he made regular trips into town to get supplies. The very thought that the lips that had kissed her were doing heaven knows what to Delly or Octavia or anyone else here, made her stomach sink, but she had to know.
Delly licked her lips and smiled coyly. "Does it bother you that I know him?"
Katniss tried to keep her face expressionless, but she was sure Delly saw the concern that flashed in her eyes.
"Oh for lands sakes, don't be so upset. I was just teasing. Peeta came here last week to buy milk. I showed him how to milk our cows."
"Oh." Katniss took a deep breath. She was relieved.
"Is he your sweetie?" Delly continued.
Katniss nodded, although she wouldn't describe Peeta in that fashion at all. But in this place, she felt strangely possessive about him.
"I figured he might have one, he was awfully nervous around me," she laughed.
The conversation ended and Delly took her downstairs. She reached into a big ceramic urn next to the front door, pulled out a canvas umbrella, and handed it to Katniss.
"She's ready for you now," Delly called as she popped her head into the parlor.
Peeta and Gale, who'd been sitting stiffly in the two side chairs stood up and walked to the entry. Their clothing looked a bit drier, but Gale's hair was still very wet. Peeta had removed the knit cap, so the top part of his head was dry, while the ends fell into wet curls around the sides of his face.
"Nice look Katniss," Gale smirked, seeing his cousin with her hair down and painted in rouge.
Katniss glared back at him, at the same time noticing that Peeta was staring at her, as well. Quickly she looked down and realized that the cape was pushed open revealing the lower cut of the dress. Did he see? She quickly grabbed the sides of it and pulled it closed.
"Let's go," she said.
Delly let them out, after showing Katniss how to open the umbrella.
"Have fun," Delly called as the three of them headed back to the saloon.
Haymitch frowned when he saw Katniss. "Those damn girls made you look like one of them. He handed her a wet cloth from behind the bar. "Wipe that paint off your cheeks, braid your hair, and keep the cloak on."
Katniss began wiping at her cheeks. Once they were clean, she quickly braided her hair into a thick side plait that hung over one shoulder. She was glad Haymitch said to leave the cloak on. She'd never worn a dress cut this low, besides the room was cold.
There were already customers sitting at the bar and a game of cards was being played at one of the tables. The men glanced up and leered at Katniss, making her uncomfortable.
"What can I get for you boy?" Haymitch asked Gale. "I know what the baker here likes, but what about you, beer or whiskey."
"I'll try your whiskey old man," Gale said.
Haymitch poured out two glasses and gave one to Peeta and the second to Gale. Then he picked up a pitcher of water and poured a glass for Katniss. "No spirits for you tonight, you're working."
"I don't drink liquor," Katniss said stiffly, as she reached for the glass.
"Oh a follower of the temperance movement, I see."
"If I were a follower, do you think I would have agreed to sing in a saloon?" she hissed. She drank a sip of water and put her glass down on the edge of the bar's top.
"Well, aren't you the fiery one," Haymitch retorted.
"When do I start?" Katniss asked. He said she'd be singing all night long and there were men already here. She wanted to get this whole thing over with as soon as possible.
"You can start now. Climb up on the bar."
Katniss face paled. "I'm not climbing up there." The bar was a narrow ledge that was easily four feet off the ground. She didn't want to fall. Also the height would give some of the patrons an eye view of her undergarments.
"What about a chair?" she suggested.
"Alright for now," Haymitch agreed. "But you're going on top of the bar when things pick up."
Katniss nodded, but she hoped that Haymitch would be too drunk to remember it later.
She grabbed a chair from one of the tables and dragged it over to the wall. She climbed up on top of it. "Do I just start singing?" she called to Haymitch.
"I'll introduce you first," he said. He turned to face the customers who had been watching Katniss carefully ever since she had entered the saloon.
"Gentlemen, this is.." he turned to Katniss and asked, "what's your name girl?"
She whispered it to him. Once more he faced the customers. "Katniss Everdeen from Dirty District 12 to sing songs of home."
All eyes were on Katniss as she began to sing the comedic ballard, Take Your Time Miss Lucy.
When young my heart was bent, sir,
Upon a nice young beau,
So to my ma I went, sir
And she reprov'd me so.
Indeed my dear you're joking,
You're still too young to know.
So take your time Miss Lucy,
Miss Lucy, Lucy, oh.
So take your time Miss Lucy,
Miss Lucy, Lucy, oh.
Katniss glanced briefly around the room as she sang. Her heart was pounding as she noticed all eyes were on her. She looked at the nearby table where Peeta and Gale sat. Gale had already finished his glass of whiskey and was leaning back in his chair with his eyes half-closed. Peeta was leaning forward at the table smiling at her, his glass still full. She continued to sing.
But not content with that, sir,
To father I did go;
But he my head did pat, sir,
And plumply answer'd No!
There's time enough for lovers,
Don't impatient grow,
Just take your time Miss Lucy,
Miss Lucy, Lucy, oh.
Just take your time Miss Lucy,
Miss Lucy, Lucy, oh.
She finished the song to loud clapping and some cheering. She looked over to Haymitch who was sitting at the bar smoking. He nodded toward her and she began to sing another song, a soft, romantic ballard called Sleeping, I Dreamed Love.
Katniss noticed a few men wipe tears from the eyes after that song ended. She followed this with The Rose of Allandale.
Haymitch motioned for her to take a break after the song ended. He wanted the customers to buy drinks and while she sang, everyone had sat quietly.
Katniss hopped down from the chair and dragged it over to sit at the table with Peeta. Gale had left to get more whiskey from the bar.
She took a long sip of water from her glass, which Haymitch had set upon the table.
Katniss took a deep breath, and then smiled at Peeta. She was so glad he was here with her. She knew she should apologize for the way she'd been acting ever since he offered to help her family. He was a good friend to her. Too good.
She reached one of her hands across the table and rested it atop one of his. "Thank you for coming Peeta."
While it wasn't an apology, she could tell that her gesture and comment had been accepted as one. Immediately the tension between the two of them eased. She felt comfortable with him again.
"You were wonderful," Peeta said softly. "How are you feeling?"
"Nervous. But they seemed to like it."
The bar was filling up. Now that she had stopped singing, the noise level raised considerably. Katniss noticed a few men from Dirty District 12 had arrived, including Rye.
"Your brother's here," she pointed out to Peeta. He turned his head, catching Rye's eye. His brother tipped his drink toward Peeta.
Gale returned to the table with a glass of whiskey. "This stuff isn't half-bad Peeta," he said, as he took a long drink.
"Take it easy, or you'll be sorry tomorrow," Peeta warned.
Gale laughed, and then turned his head toward the door. Five women had just entered the room, faces painted and colorful dresses cut low. "Looks the party's just starting," Gale joked, as took another swig of whiskey.
Author's Note : The temperance movement was a social ideology urging reduced or prohibited use of alcoholic beverages. It started in the United States in the late 18th century and by the 1840s was being promoted in an organized fashion by both Catholic and Protestant church leaders.
Take Your Time Miss Lucy was written in 1842, with music by George Loder and words by A. Allan. Sleeping, I Dreamed Love was written in 1844, with music by M.V. Wallace and John H. Hewitt, and words by Mary C. Hewitt.