She's Such a Pleasant Child
19 Weeks To Go
"Have you thought about who we'll pick as Godparents?" Peeta asks me.
"I have." I hesitate because I'm not sure if Peeta will agree. "Have you?"
"Yeah. I think Madge and Gale would be a good choice." YES!
"They are a good choice. I agree."
"What are you going to tell Jo and your sister?" I sit and start to think about this. I realize there will be some disappointed people. All on the potential Godmother side.
"Well, I don't think Jo will be too disappointed. She realizes that Madge and I grew up together and that Gale is the natural choice for Godfather." I pause. "My sister, on the other hand. Well she might be a little disappointed"
"A little disappointed? Are you kidding me?"
"I'll break it to her gently."
"Forget gentle. Get her drunk first. That way you stand a chance of getting away from her." I just laugh at my sister exploding. He. He. He. Exploding sister.
"Well... I have a suggestion. Since we have to update our wills." I cut him off.
"I don't want to talk about this!." I say emphatically.
"Katniss, we have..." I cut him off again.
"La! La! La!..." I don't want to hear it.
"Listen. We have to..."
"My country tis of thee. Sweet land of liberty. Of thee I sing. La la la laaa lala." I SAID I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS!
He stares at me. "Are you finished?"
"Are you going to bring it up again?"
"No. I wont."
"Then I'm finished." He walks towards our kitchen when he suddenly turns around and blurts out.
"Let's make Prim the guardian." That sneak. He lied about not bringing it up. I glare at him.
"You son of a... You said you weren't going to bring it up. I oughta..."
"Wait. Hear me out. You and I have to make sure that the baby is taken care of, just in case, something happens to both of us." Oh shit. I know he's right. He pauses as he feels the baby kicking. "Understand?" I stare at his hand and bite the inside of my cheek. I nod.
"Let me talk to her this weekend."
"Okay. Are we almost ready to leave."
I have a doctor's appointment today and I'm having my ultrasound. We'll find out if we're having a boy or a girl. "Yup. Let's go."
Peeta wants to take a cab but I insist on walking. It's not that far. And it gives me a chance to hold his hand and show him off in public.
"Holy fuck. It's cold outside. Next time we should take a cab." I say as we enter the building.
"But I... Never mind." I just stare at him as he holds the door for me.
We enter the office and it's unusually crowded. "Hi Katniss Mellark." I say to the receptionist.
"Oh Mrs. Mellark. Doctor Menton is running late. She had an emergency this morning. Do you want to wait or reschedule." I look up at Peeta. He's as anxious as I am plus he took off work today.
"We'll wait." I search for a seat and there is one left. Peeta leads me to it.
"Since we're going to be here a while. Do you mind if I go to the hall and make phone calls?"
"No. Go ahead." He kisses my forehead and walks out of the waiting room.
"Why is it taking so long?" A little girl next to me complains to her mother.
"Sit still. Here, read a book." She tosses the book to the floor.
"I don't want to read a book. I want to go home!" Oh she is so shrill. She's going to give me a headache.
"Let's go!" She pleads with her mother. "I hate when you drag me places!"
"Honey. Be good. Oh you look so nice in your new dress." Her mom is obviously trying to distract her.
"I know that already. You don't have to tell me that." Oh my. She's a real princess.
"Listen honey..." She glares at her mother.
"I told you I want to go home now!" She's getting louder and more annoying. My head is about to explode. "I HATE YOU!" She screams at her.
"Mrs. Kornfeld. Do you have your insurance card?" The receptionist calls to the mother. She gets up and goes to the desk. I look at the little girl.
I look at the little girl. "What are you looking at?" She asks me as she narrows her eyes.
"You. Your dress is pretty." Maybe I can put her in a better mood.
"Nobody asked you fatso." Why you little... I stop myself.
"You could be a little nicer and quiet." She frowns.
"Oh shut up. Stop talking to me." Alright that does it. I lean down and whisper in her ear.
"Listen you little brat. If you don't shut up and behave I'll arrest you. I'm a cop, I have a badge, I have a gun, I have handcuffs. I'll haul your little behind downtown and throw you in a cell. Where you'll rot. Got it?"
Her mother comes back.
"Oh your daughter has such pretty hair. I love curls." I say to the mom.
"Thank you very much. Shauna, did you thank Mrs. ...er."
"Detective Mellark. Katniss Mellark." I smile broadly at the brat.
"Shauna, thank the Detective." She looks at me and she is speechless. Well, at least she's quiet. "Shauna, have you suddenly gotten shy?" Her mom moves some of her hair out of her eyes.
"Oh that's okay. Sometimes it's hard to speak to someone new." Her mom nods.
"Mrs. Kornfeld." She goes back to the receptionist. I whisper again.
"Hey, Shauna. Do we have an agreement?" She turns and stares at me. "Your choice. Quiet or jail?" She remains speechless. I assume she has chosen quiet.
Her mom sits down again. "You must be very proud of her." I almost choke on my own words.
"Oh thank you. We are. She is such a pleasant child. Not like some kids today." Is this lady blind? Are we actually talking about the same child?
"Oh no. You're right about that." I sit back and pick up a magazine. Little Shauna just sits in her chair with her hands in her lap, staring forward. That's a good girl.
"Mrs. Mellark, Doctor Menton will see you now."
"Thank you." I call for Peeta. He comes inside. I grab his hand. Quite tightly and we walk to the examination room. I look at him. "Well, This is it."
"Yup. It sure is."
