Anonymous requested: "Olive has a tantrum and Haymitch or Effie has to deal with it?"
Hazelle had warned them countless times that though the toddler years gave way to some very exciting milestones, they also unleashed some rather unfortunate occurrences. Or, in simpler terms, tantrums. Every child, not matter how blessed or perfect they were perceived to be, had at least one in their life time. And as foretold by the most respected mothers, today seemed to be Olive's day.
"No," Haymitch told the two year old firmly. "Olive, you can't take the dead bird home."
It had begun just as any other normal Saturday would. Effie had woken up at the crack of dawn, had her morning tea, and then proceeded to wake both Haymitch and their daughter up. After a small breakfast, it was off to the farmer's market (a trip that had never been favored much by Haymitch). And the moment his young daughter came across the tiny carcass of a bird on the side of the road, his reasons for despising it grew greater.
"Olive!" Effie cried out, reaching forward to yank her daughter away from the decaying avian. "Don't you dare touch that! My goodness, you don't even know what diseases it could be carrying!"
"Pretty!" Olive whined, trying to break free of her mother's grip. "Want bird."
He had to admit, the thing must've been pretty at some point in its life. Though nearly decomposed, the poor creature still sported a few bright red feathers on its body. He couldn't help but wonder what species it could have been. Cardinal maybe? Some sort of sparrow? Yet, all ideas seemed to fall away from his mind the minute he heard the unhappy scream rage from beside him.
"Olive!" The blood rushed to Effie's cheeks in embarrassment as the two year old collapsed to her knees in complete and utter desperation. "Stop this instant! This isn't like you! Be reasonable!"
"I want bird!" She wailed, throwing her head back and letting out an ungodly gurgling noise. "Want bird! Want bird now! Please daddy! Mommy! Want bird!"
"Oh no," Effie whispered shakily. "This is it, Haymitch. We've failed as parents. The next thing you know she'll be cursing and drinking…just like you! Oh my, I had always wondered if it was in your genes. I should have had tests done while I was still pregnant. This could have been avoided. They might have had a cure while she was still in the womb. But we let in manifest! Oh dear…oh no…"
Haymitch closed his eyes for a moment and counted backwards from ten. He already had a daughter in hysterics, the last thing he needed was for Effie to do the same. When he was Olive's age, his father used to give him spankings. Made him even go out and find his own switch to be hit with. If anything, it just caused terror to manifest within him. Not respect. And though Olive was being incredibly ridiculous and uncalled for, he would never do the same to her as was done to him.
"Effie," he said calmly to the frantic woman. "Go to the store and get whatever it is you think we need there. I'll take her home. If she's going to act like this, she doesn't need to be out in public. She can calm down and get her act together without an audience around."
Without another word, he lifted the angry toddler from the ground and began to carry her in the opposite direction. This was good. He was doing the right thing. And though there was a child shrieking deafeningly loud in his ear, he felt proud of himself.
"I sorry, daddy," Olive said as the approached the house, her wails becoming sniffles. "I so sorry. No be mad, daddy. I so sorry."
Without both of her parents there and the bird she was seeking gone, the girl had finally began to recollect herself. Haymitch made sure he had a good grip on her as he walked up the front steps of the house, opening the door with his free hand. Once inside, he set Olive down and squatted in front of her.
"That wasn't nice, Olive," he told her. "You can't have a fit when you don't get everything you want."
"I sorry," she sniffled, rubbing at her eyes. "No do it again. Never again. No want bird no more."
"I know you're sorry," Haymitch sighed, scratching his chin. "But that doesn't excuse you from this type of behavior." God, how he sounded like Effie right now. "You need to apologize to your mother when she comes home, okay? And maybe next Saturday if you're good, we can all go to the market together." Or not, he was fine staying home too. "Do you understand?"
Olive nodded her head, "Kay, daddy. I be good. No more yucky birds." She then held out her arms and Haymitch obliged, pulling her into a hug. "Love you, daddy. Love you lots. I sorry, daddy. I so sorry. I be good girl now. I promise."
"I know, Half Pint," he smiled softly. "Love you lots too, kid."