Chapter 25 - Mr. Winslow's Request
Mr. Winslow pays us a visit one hot July evening. He is followed by a grumpy looking Haymitch.
"See, I told you he will be here." Haymitch says pointing at me.
"Yes, thank you Haymitch." Mr. Winslow says politely. "Hello Peeta, Katniss. Sorry to bother, but I wanted to talk to all three of you together."
Katniss and I exchange looks. If someone wants to talk to all three victors at the same time ... it's probably not good news. Katniss eyes immediately go towards the back door.
"Don't even think about it, Sweatheart." Haymitch says in a warning tone.
"What?" Katniss asks innocently.
"You know what." Haymitch says pointedly.
"Please have a seat, Mr. Winslow." I say interrupting them. "What's the matter?"
Mr. Winslow takes the side couch and we all settle down.
"I just had a call from President Paylor. And well, she wanted me to talk to you all."
"What about?" I ask.
He takes a deep breath before continuing. "Since last 75 years, July generally meant the reaping for the Hunger Games."
"She is bringing it back, isn't she?" Katniss says suddenly.
"What? No, no, no ... actually she wants to pay homage to all the children who had lost their lives in these games. All 75 years of tributes. She wants a day dedicated in their memory. 'A Memorial Day' ... that's what she is calling it. We used to have such a day in our history ... to commemorate the soldiers who gave their life for the nation. Anyway, it's almost two weeks from now. It's also the day our district got bombed. So it has a special significance for us."
"What do you want from us?" Haymitch asks.
"Not much. President Paylor would like all of you to be present on that day at the city center. There will be some kind of unveiling of a memorial. Every district will have a memorial installed at their city center. And then may be you could say a few words."
"All of us?" Haymitch asks again.
"Well President have requested that ... esp. Katniss. Of course, it's not mandatory. We are fortunate to have 3 victors alive so anyone can make a speech."
Both Haymitch and Katniss turn towards me.
"She has requested you." I remind her.
"I won't even come, Peeta ..."
"Why not?" Mr. Winslow asks.
"I just won't ... I am sorry, Mr. Winslow."
"Katniss ... We haven't had much opportunity to talk but I want you to know that District 12 is very proud of you. You have inspired so many ... and they look up to you. You have made a huge difference in everyone's life. Whole Panem is in your debt. What you did ..."
"What I did resulted in the loss of so many lives."
"Katniss ... " I start.
"Katniss, your coming would help the district too." Mr. Winslow says. "We are starting from scratch. No other district suffered like we did. We need a boost, from our people, from our government, from investors. And I wouldn't have asked if the President hadn't insisted, herself. She is hoping that your presence will increase the overall morale of the country."
Katniss looks at me pleading. She wants a way out.
"Katniss doesn't like to be in the limelight, Mr. Winslow." I say.
Mr. Winslow smirks. "Peeta, I understand. And trust me, it was not easy to keep her out of the limelight. Do you know how many people want to come here and see how their favorite Mockingjay is doing?"
"Corry ..." Haymitch says trying to interrupt him.
"Do you know that it's only because of President Paylor that we don't have a crowd of reporters outside this house?" Mr. Winslow continues ignoring Haymitch.
Now that he says it, it is surprising that after the trial no one seems to be interested in knowing about Katniss. Katniss seems equally surprised.
"Is this true, Haymitch?" She asks.
"Well, Dr. Aurelius insisted that you be left alone so that you can recover from your 'Post Traumatic Lunacy'. We both talked to the President and she dispatched an official order to all the concerned. Why do you think Plutarch is not stalking you or even Peeta?"
"What? Me too?" I ask frowning.
"Of course."
"Look." Mr. Winslow says, "We could have gotten lots of publicity, lots of quick aid, but we value our privacy, we value our district people. It's fine if you don't want to come ... just think about it." He says.
This time Katniss looks at Haymitch with pleading eyes.
"Peeta is good with words, Corry. He will do the job." Haymitch says.
Mr. Winslow nods and then takes our leave. No one speaks for a few minutes. I look at Katniss and open my mouth to say something but she beats me to it.
"Don't, Peeta ... I won't go." She says.
"Why not?"
"You want me to go there and remind them that I survived these games and their kids didn't?"
"No, you will remind them that their kids are free from the Hunger Games ... because of you."
"And on the day of bombing. Which also happened because of me."
"Katniss ... we talked about this. I don't think you are solely responsible for the bombing. Snow was just playing his game."
Katniss snorts.
"I know the District suffered heavy losses because of the bombing. But the incident united everyone, all the districts. It made you step up and take the role of Mockingjay. And because of the bombing the coal mines are closed for good." I continue. "No one will have to go into the depths of the earth anymore. No one will have to die from mining explosions."
"I am a murderer, Peeta ... I actually killed people in those Hunger Games."
"To survive. And so did I."
"You killed just one ... Brutus."
"Doesn't matter. One or two or five ... still makes me a murderer."
"So you agree, I am a murderer."
"Stop putting words in my mouth, Katniss. You will be doing this for the good of the District."
"They hate me, Peeta."
"It's been a year, Katniss ... how many have told you that they hate you?
"You have."
"I was hijacked for God's sake." I say exasperatedly.
"And no one would say it in my face."
"Why? Because they are afraid of you?" She frowns. "Katniss, you are still their Mockingjay."
"No ... I am done being a Mockingjay. Prim died because of it. And all because I didn't die in my Hunger Games."
"Well, then I am equally responsible. Because I played the star-crossed lovers' angle."
"But you didn't pull out the berries, Peeta ... I did."
"To save us ... do you regret saving us?"
"Not us ... just me."
"Katniss ... "
"I am not going ... that's final."
"Fine."
"Fine."
Then she gets up and storms out of the house. I look at Haymitch hoping for some wise words. But he too gets up stretching.
"Well ... that was fun. Now if you don't mind, I need to complete my nap ... and you need to start working on your speech. Good night, Peeta." He says yawning. And then he too leaves.
I wait for Katniss while simultaneously thinking about what I am going to say on the podium. Katniss arrives a couple of hours later and joins me in bed.
"Where were you?" I ask.
"I don't like fighting with you, Peeta." She says ignoring my question.
"Not every argument is a fight, Katniss. It's just a difference of opinion. We will just have to agree to disagree."
"Then I don't like it, when we disagree."
"Where's the fun in always agreeing?" I say smirking. She smiles too shaking her head.
"How will I ever do without you?" She says.
"Then it's a good thing that you don't have to." and then I kiss her. We kiss for a few seconds, it's clear that her heart is not in it.
"Don't think about it too much." I say after breaking the kiss. "It's fine ... no one is going to push you to go in the ceremony. Not even me." She nods and then snuggles near me. Slowly we both drift into sleep.
It drizzles in the morning of the 'Memorial Day'. As if, it needed more gloomy environment. Katniss already left for the woods early in the morning. I doubt she will come back before the ceremony is over. I go to my home to pick up one of my better outfit. I also grab Oscar's trophy piece from there. I take early lunch. Greasy comes in and informs me about the television crew that has assembled near the city center. Thankfully, there isn't any prep team to give us a makeover. Greasy leaves after dropping some kind of special soup for Katniss. I sit at the table with Oscar's trophy piece in my hand, waiting for the clock to strike two. A strange nervousness, almost a familiar fear engulfs me.
It's just like the reaping day. Katniss was right ... this will just remind people of the deaths. This should not be happening ... not today. Suddenly, I start breathing heavily from the sheer terror of remembering the deaths. I drop the piece in my pocket and stand up shaking. A bolt of shock hits my brain. I grab the back of the chair tightly. And the flashbacks come. I try to ignore them by concentrating on my knuckles which are slowly turning white. I had promised Katniss I won't hurt myself during the seizures ... instead I try to remember the happy things. It's not easy.
Suddenly the door opens and Katniss comes in my hazy vision.
"Peeta ... " She screams running towards me.
"Stay away." I manage to say.
"No ... " She says coming close to me. "I won't ... I can't." She whispers. "It will be over, Peeta. Just hang on. Look at me." She orders. Somehow her voice breaks the stream of shiny visions and her face comes into sharp focus. I slump down the chair sweating and rest my head on the table. Katniss pulls another chair near me.
"I can't do this, Katniss." I murmur.
"Yes, you can. I am coming with you." She says taking my hand in hers.
"What? No, you don't have to do this for me."
"Yes, I do. You would do the same for me ... won't you?" I don't say anything. She knows I would do anything for her.
"Come now. The rain has stopped. Lets see if Haymitch is ready or not." She says and then pulls me up from the chair.
A/N: I just wanted to explain why Katniss and Peeta were not bothered by media in District 12. Thank you for all for reviewing, adding as favorite and/or following this fic. I hope it's keeping you entertained. The 'Real/Not Real' moment is not far, I promise.