Buck Chandler, District 10, Age 13, Male
"I'm going to the butcher's with Ralphie!" I gently shouted to my dad. I wanted to warn him, if not he might worry. I didn't want him to worry. He had always taught me to never say a cross word and to always consider others feelings, even if it means not considering your own.
Like he nevers does with his feelings for mom. She's dead now. A rebel. My dad had tried to keep us as far away from the war as possible. But that didn't stop me from finding out.
That she was killed by the Capitol.
My dad had kept us neutral, but she didn't believe the same. She called him a coward for staying neutral. Sadly, those had been their last words, their last words exchanged before her… death.
But I tried not to think about it, it was easier not too.
My dad answered shortly after with a simple, "Sure, sell the meat, stay out of trouble."
It was sad, dad, he past self erased by the war. Mom. duroc the kind sweet father of the past, still trying his best, but only a shell of the person he once was.
We owned a cattle farm, sold the meat to the Capitol, occasionally the butcher's down the street. They didn't always accept it. They had their own farm, but the girl was nice. I feel like sometimes she did it out of pity, other times I feel like she genuinely likes me.
In a friend way, which is one thing I don't have many of.
I called out a simple, "Love you." before grabbing part of a cow, which my father had killed this morning. I tried not to cringe.
I hated our job, killing animals. I mean killing anything wasn't right.
But, it was our only means of survival. I shouldered the bag, wishing we just sold the milk from the cows. It would be better that way. I shifted the weight of the bag on my shoulder and looked around for Ralphie.
"Ralphie?" I was starting to feel panicky. I turned around, looking for him. The war had made me paranoid that's for sure. I started thinking of the worst. Rebels had come and killed him. Loyalists had come and killed him. The cows had eaten him. The-
"BOO!" I visibly jumped. He came out cackling. I wanted to get angry, but controlled my temper. It had actually scared me, I could practically feel the tears start.
Ralphie immediately stopped. "Buck, I'm sorry." he noticed it wasn't helping. "Buc-" I cut him off, "no, it's cool Ralph."
He looked at me disbelievingly. "Really." I nodded. He shrugged, but obviously wasn't letting it go. I tried changing the subject by making a corny joke about the weight of the bag.
He tried to look serious but in the end ended up chuckling deeply to himself.
"That was so bad, it was almost funny."
I just shrugged, not wanting to agree or disagree. To stay… neutral.
His face then brightened. "Oh yeah!" He snapped his fingers, "I brought money for you know… whatever the Hell we want!" I gasped. Ralphie was a stable boy. He did not have money, and quite frankly neither did we, to buy whatever the… Hell we want.
Plus the whole District was running the meat gig, it was hard to sell more than everyone else, leaving our District quite poor.
Today, me and Ralphie, my best friend, a stable boy, had decided to try the butcher's.
"Do you think Haizea's gonna be there?" I looked up at Ralphie, raising an eyebrow in question. He just shrugged. His dark green eyes, looked and met my own brown ones. Ironically they looked like those of a cow. Funny right?
"Maybe, yah never know." I looked ahead, Ralphie staring quizzically at my head. I resisted the urge to look back. The bag on my shoulders heavier.
He knew that him and Haizea were my only friends. I wasn't too popular, anywhere. I hadn't taken part in the rebellion like everyone else. I was, according to them, a coward.
But I wasn't, my dad had just wanted to keep us safe. I was always kind to everyone and they still hate me. I sighed, at least the butcher's would be a refreshment.
They treated me, fairly over there. I could feel Ralphie's fixated on my back, I didn't care, a childish grin forming on my face.
I'm just glad I don't have to go to school, me and my dad just stay at the cattle farm, all day long, everyday of the week.
If I went to school it'll be completely miserable. But still I loved Ralphie, Haizea was a mystery, but still nice to talk to.
There was another person, to which I liked. Haizea's brother Mikel, and Mikel's girlfriend Dimitra. They were more good acquaintances though. I didn't see Mikel nearly as much as Haizea.
I could feel the stares on me, as I slowly changed from a skip to a slow trot. The stares felt like daggers on my back.
I looked around, Ralphie was slightly taller than I am, so I had to look up to meet his eyes. "Are we near the butcher's?" I looked at him disbelievingly. He looked at the bag of meat of my shoulder, trying not to look embarrassed. "After all this time you still don't know?"
He laughed and blushed a new shade of crimson. "Well, um…"
He looked around rapidly, "Whatever." He muttered, looking at his shoes, his face still slightly tinted red.
"We're almost there. Just turn left on Granny Smay's fruit stand, then a right at…" I recited the directions, which had been permanently etched into my mind. Hey, when you don't have much to do, memorizing is a great way to kill time.
We stopped on the way to check out a few fruit stands, food stands, thing stands. We had extra money, I was still curious as to where he got it from mind you. I saw an old lady begging for food, Ralphie had wandered off somewhere, but i couldn't stand seeing her like that. I took one last look at her before going to find Ralphie. Regretting leaving the woman behind. I shifted the heavy bag on my shoulders. Every step felt like daggers digging into my shoes. I felt horrible. I looked at Ralphie about to ask him about it when… well, when we reached the butcher's.
When we finally reached the butcher's I could hear the faint sound of meat being chopped to pieces.
I timidly opened the door, I heard the familiar bell jingle, and a smile adorned my face once more. I looked to my left, where Ralphie now stood, he was greedily looking at the meat. When he finally realized I was staring. He looked down and mumbled something I didn't quite catch.
I decided not to persist it, instead I turned to meet the face of a female.
It was not Haizea. It was Mikel's girlfriend Dimitra.
"Hey sweetie." She looked at me like a sort of lost little puppy. It was sweet and genuine. Something you don't see in a lot of people these days.
I smiled back brightly, showing off dimples. Ralphie was looking around everywhere but Dimitra. I smiled, it was cute.
"Is Haizea here?" I asked. Dimitra just gave me a lopsided smile and shook her head. "Sorry Buck, she's out shopping, I guess you could say." She ruffled my hair, like a puppy. I was touched, maybe I should call her a friend. I smiled back, her smile seemed to brighten. Then she noticed I had brang Ralphie.
Ralphie was tall for his age for sure,. Opposite to me, who was often mistaken for twelve. He had dark green eyes and long, messy brown hair. That seemed to fly in all directions. He had a square jaw, and sunken cheekbones. He was lean for sure, we were in a way complete opposites.
The rancher's daughter crinkled her nose at the sight of him. "Hey Ralphie." He looked her way, finally acknowledging her presence, "Dimitra." We all just stood there in silence.
"Can we sell this meat?" her sneer vanished and the loving grin pt back on her face. We were regulars here, if you couldn't tell by the welcome.
"Sure, Mikel's out back. He'll talk to you about prices." Her brown locks were squished into a tight bun, although some strands were now falling out. They circled her head in an eerie halo like shape.
"Thank you Dimitra." I smiled at her. I didn't know her exact age, but she seemed a lot older. I wanted to try and act mature, like dad always ask.
We went out back negotiated prices then came back outside with no cow, and more money than before. That reminded me, "Hey, where'd you get that spare change?" A guilty smile plastered quite clearly on his face. "Stole it." I gasped. Stealing was wrong. Is wrong. My best friend had just gone against the law.
"Oh,. don't look at me like that Buck. They didn't need it anyways. Stupid upperclassmen." I still shook my head in disbelief, "It's still not right." I voice came out as barely a whisper. "Yeah, well whatever. I'm gonna go spend MY money. Thanks by the way." He soon disappeared into the crowd.
I really felt like crying now, a single droplet of water rolled down my cheek. It cold against my warm cheeks. No one noticed though, no one ever does.
As i made my way back home I heard a shriek and fire of a gun. The begging old lady from before dropped dead at my feet. Peacekeepers surrounding the body.
"She, one that wasn't caught. Any other rebels may experience the same fate as hers.
"He shot her one last time, straight in neck. I winced, and another tear strolled down my cheek. I ran before a third bullet went off.
When I finally reached home, I was in tears. My face sticky from the past. And my father? Too busy in the fields to notice.
So that was Buck. he's areal sweetheart isn't he? Him and Ralphie though. Sorry I haven't been updating lately. I went on a trip to NYC (fantastic, you should go) and was very busy with end of the year schoolwork. So I haven't had the time to update as much. Sorry. :'( Anyways thanks as alway for teh reviews and everything. The SYOT is now officially closed. Thanks for all the submissions, all fantastic to read.