Chapter 2: Ain't It a Pretty Night?

Later that evening, Katniss walked home, with her good friend, Peeta Mellark. Both were laughing about their time at the dance.

"Oh, was there ever such a nice square dance, Peeta?" Katniss trilled. "I've never had such fun, have you? I danced and danced till I was plum wore out, I couldn't dance another step!" She began to hum a tune until Peeta interrupted her fearfully as they approached her house.

"Where's Haymitch?"

"He ain't home yet, or he's gone to bed," Katniss shrugged.

"I'm scared'a Haymitch."

"Why? Why are you scared'a him?"

"He gets drunk. That's what my folks say. I'm scared'a him all the same. My folks don't like me coming here. They're scared'a what Haymitch might do. My folks say there's bad blood in your family. But I like to look at you." He admitted the last part shyly, clearly infatuated with her.

Katniss chuckled. "Don't worry about Haymitch, Peeta. He's never hurt me nor nobody, and he's always good to me."

"You were looking mighty pretty tonight, Katniss," Peeta flirted. "I seen all the men want to dance with you. I seen 'em - every one!"

Katniss brushed this off with a laugh and wave of her hand.

"And the preacher danced with you; he seemed mighty pleased," Peeta added. Katniss sighed happily as she and Peeta sat on her front stoop. She looked up at the stars.

"Ain't it a pretty night? The stars all shine like diamonds, over the mountains. I wonder what it's like beyond them, in Districts 6 and 11? Someday, I'm gonna leave Twelve and see them for myself."

Unnoticed by the pair, Haymitch Abernathy swaggered in, surprisingly sober. He smiled at the adorable sight before him.

"Ain't it a pretty night?"

At his voice, Peeta nearly jumped out of his skin. Haymitch need only make a threatening move towards the boy in jest before he was running clear across the Abernathy yard and down the dirt road towards home.

"Haymitch! You're home! I'll see you tomorrow at the picnic supper. Thanks for walking me home, Peeta!" Katniss called after her best friend.

Haymitch approached his niece, before picking her up and swirling her around.

"How was the square dance, little mockingjay?"

"Fine, Haymitch. I had a mighty fine time. I danced and danced till I was plum wore out, I couldn't dance another step. All the men wanted to dance in my square! And the preacher man was there, and he come and dance with me! And so did all the Elders! And the Elders' wives all gave me hard looks, but I had a mighty fine time all the same."

Haymitch chortled before teasingly spanking her as he asked, "Any of 'em court ya?"

"Course not, Haymitch! I'm much too young for that!" Katniss laughed.

"Sure ya are, little mockingjay! You're going on 19. Pretty soon you'll be an old maid!"

"I ain't getting married for a long time yet. I'm gonna stay here and cook for you!" Katniss playfully promised.

Haymitch smiled. "You're a pretty little wench and I'm glad to have you here, and I'm right proud to eat your cooking!" He kissed her forehead, before turning into to go into the house.

"Don't go to bed just yet, Haymitch! Sing me the Jaybird Song first. Remember how Pa used to sing me Jaybird every night before I'd go to bed? You ain't sung it for me in a real long while, and it always makes me feel real happy."

Haymitch sighed, then smiled. "All right, I'll sing you the Jaybird Song. And then we gotta get to bed." He began:

Oh, jaybird sitting on a hickory limb.

He winked at me, and I winked at him.

I picked up a brick bat and hit him on the chin.

"Looky here, little boy, don't you do that again!"

Katniss laughed and the two sang it together before playfully chasing each other around the front yard and then sitting on the porch. Uncle and niece looked up at the stars together before they went to bed.