Somber faces, so silent a crowd as the hovercraft lowers Rue's body to the earth. The family is huddled together trying not to shed a tear; knowing that Rue would want them to be happy that she was rid of this horrid place. Her co-workers, who adored her so much, sat dumbstruck after seeing their poor Rue be stabbed in her large, tender heart.
As the casket finally hit the ground with a gentle "thud" the Head Peace Keeper walked to the front stage and asked if anyone had anything to say. Everyone stood in a long reverent silence, too afraid their words would do her no justice. That was until the mocking jay landed on top of one of the buildings surrounding them.
He landed in all his majesty, but yet he hung his head. He looked lonely, lost, almost depressed. Like all purpose in his life was gone; he had nothing to live for without his companion. At that moment the Head Peace Keeper says once again, "Does anyone want to speak?"
The youngest of Rue's siblings pulls on her mother's tattered skirt. And whispers to her "The mocking jay came to say goodbye to Rue."
"He sure did sweetheart." replies their mother with tear drops gleaming in her eyes.
"Mommy I want to go talk about sissy." and at that moment she makes a dash for the stage. Too fast for her mother to catch her much less comprehend how one so young could be so full of courage at such a young age.
As she makes her way to the decrepit stage she can't take her eyes off her source of strength, the mocking jay. When the crowd notices her coming they start to part like the Red Sea. After that she made it swiftly through the crowded town center to the stage. She steps up the stairs and walks straight up to the head peace keepers.
"Sir, I want to talk." She says sweetly. Ok, here is a microphone. Don't take too long." And with that she starts to speak.
"Rue was the bestest big sister anyone could ever have. She loved me so much, and sang to me all the time. I miss her a lot and wish she hadn't have died. It wasn't fair; she was too nice to die." At this point she burst into tears, but keeps speaking anyway. "I want my sissy to be alive again so I can tell her how much I love her and so we can sing and play together again. I don't want her to be gone no more." She falls into a ball on stage, unable to speak or move, broken down by pain. Then the most beautiful sound reaches her little ears, and she looks up.
The mocking jay is still sitting on the roof top, but this time its head is no longer hung. It is sitting proud, doing Rue her well deserved honor. The three note melody is being sung for the first time in District 11 since she died.
She stands up on stage and starts to sing, her voice just as beautiful as her older sister's once was. You can still see the pain in her eyes, but it is slowly turning to joy as she does her sister tribute.
When her mother hears her start to sing, she starts up in her soulful voice. The song carries throughout the crowd from one person to another. Soon the entire town center is bursting out in song. The Peace Keepers can't contain it, their threats for order make no impact. If anything they just urge them to sing louder, to show the capital that they may have silenced her heartbeat but they can never silence her song.