Everyone at school marvels at how sweetly Katniss bid farewell to Rue. The way she used to sing me to sleep when Mom was out of sorts. She sings with such a majestic voice, it used to calm my jitters when there was nothing to eat and my tummy just wouldn't let alone. Katniss would make tea and sing until her voice went raw and even the warm mint wouldn't help.
Once Mom's depression improved, Katniss stopped singing altogether. It reminds her too much of Dad. It's hard to think about him since we miss him so badly. Katniss has it worse because she had to take over for him, bringing home enough food and supplies to keep us alive.
I accept everyone's kind words. It's nice to see that other people care. There's one person I don't see at school. Madge is out again. I wonder if the mayor's daughter is going to get in trouble for absences. I haven't seen her since she was over at the house a few days ago.
Katniss is tipping on the edge of a breakdown. Having the comfort of a companion must be a really big deal in the arena. With Rue gone, my sister had to command herself verbally to get up and hunt for food.
Katniss is closer now than ever to victory! Only a few tributes remain and my sister didn't hesitate one bit to kill Marvel, last night. She's capable, but maybe consoling Rue has broken whatever was left of her emotional balance. She needs a reason to try. Hopefully coming home is reason enough. In the meantime, I make up my mind to help those people who are trying to comfort Mom and me.
After school lets out, I walk straight to the mayor's house and knock on the door. Mrs. Undersee answers it, shading her eyes from the sunlight. "Hello, there, young lady. What can I do for you?"
"Hi, uhm," I stammer nervously. "I-Is Madge here?"
Mrs. Undersee cocks her head. "Aren't you a little young to be in Madge's class?"
"We're not in the same class, ma'a-Mrs. Undersee." I step into the shade, so she can see me. "I'm Primrose Everdeen. Katniss is my big sister."
"Oh, yes. I remember you. Let me check and see if Madge is feeling well enough to see you." I wait on the porch, noticing how splendid the mayor's house is, even if it could use another coat of paint. It's covered in manufactured siding instead of plain flat boards, and the windows are thick. There's even an old bench swing that trembles in the breeze. I settle onto it until the rusty chains creak. I shoot onto my feet, fearing something is damaged.
"It's okay, Prim. Sit back down." Madge comes over holding two glasses of a grayish-yellow liquid with ice. "Here. Have some lemonade."
Oh, I remember this! It's sweet and tart and I savor the taste as we both sit, chains creaking. "Are you alright, Madge? You haven't been to school in two days."
She doesn't answer, merely stares into space. The other houses in this area are owned by some of the people who run businesses in District 12. They're very nice; however none is quite as impressive as the Undersee's.
"Gale said you left early on Tuesday. That you were upset about something."
Madge nods distantly, remaining silent.
"Thank you for the lemonade." I take another sip.
At this, she smiles, her gaze suddenly gaining presence. "You're welcome." Her own glass is still full, condensation drips onto the wooden slats of the bench swing. "You seem better today, Prim."
My feet rock anxiously. My shoes are nowhere near the porch. "I just needed to know that-" It's still very hard to convince myself, "that I didn't do anything wrong."
Madge's lips tighten toward the left corner of her mouth. "You didn't. There was nothing you could have done differently." She looks away, lost once more.
I try to bring her back. "I have you to thank for that, Madge. A lot of people tried to tell me that, but you helped me see it."
She continues staring, pats my hand. Ambient noise of the afternoon takes over and we simply listen for a while. When my own glass of lemonade is empty save ice, Madge offers me hers, still untouched. I object at first. She's already handed it to me, refusing to take no for an answer.
A few minutes later, that's gone too. My belly swirls, tight and full of lemonade. I sit with Madge a while longer, just in case she needs company. Maybe she and Katniss were closer than anyone knew. Gale knows my sister about as much as I do and he didn't notice a deep friendship either. Still there was clearly some sort of bond between her and Madge, something that they shared together.
"Katniss is doing well in the Hunger Games," I say, hoping somehow to brighten Madge's damp spirits.
Madge nods faintly. "Better than I ever could have hoped."
"Well, I have to go help Mom in the apothecary. If you want to talk, you're always welcome to come over." I set down the glass on the porch railing. "Thank you for the lemonade, Madge."
"Sure thing,"
Today, the apothecary shop is busy with people buying herbs for this and that ailment. One miner comes in with a deep cut on his arm and I help Mom clean and sew it up. People also come in to tell us how sure they are that Katniss will win. I wonder about Peeta, though. Wonder, whether or not anyone is caring to tell the Mellarks how sorry they are that he's literally on his last leg.
Peeta was always very sweet to me and I still like him a lot. Maybe more even now that he may die from his efforts to protect Katniss. I don't want any of the tributes to die, although that Cato boy seems like he's too full of hate. He wouldn't be if there were no Games to hate other people in.
It's evening by the time Mom and I get home and night once the chores are done and dinner is prepared. Another mixed stew of the last food in the house. I'll have more of Lady's milk and cheese tomorrow, so there will be a little money to buy more food. Gale stops by and gives us a plump rabbit and a massive bag of greens. Some of the plants are medicines that will go to the apothecary shop. Aside from that, Gale has brought us enough food for another few days. Mom invites him in to watch the replays and have some dinner.
Katniss perches in a tree, settling in for the night under the infernal anthem which plays every night before the replays. Trumpets signal an unexpected announcement followed by the deep voice of Claudius Templesmith who makes the rare statements.
"Attention, 74th Hunger Games tributes! For this year only, there is to be a change in the rules. In the event that only two tributes remain alive and happen to be from the saaame district, they will both be declared victors of this year's Hunger Games! If both tributes from a single district survive, they will both be victors, this year! Gooood luck!"
Katniss' look of shock reflects faces all across Panem. No such change in rules has ever occurred before. Not in the middle of the Games and never to permit two victors! Katniss moans aloud, "Peeta!" Suddenly, her hands clamp over her mouth. I can hear Gale gasp lightly.
Peeta doesn't have to die! Katniss has to beat the other tributes and Peeta can come home too, if he can hang on. But Gale is not surprised at the announcement. It's Katniss' reaction. She barely knows Peeta, right? She screamed his name in the night, longingly, as if he were the only boy in the world that matters.
To accompany my sister's emotional outburst, the Capitol shows an enlarged replay of Peeta's reaction. Camouflaged, laying in a mud bank, where he's been for several days, it's impossible to see his face in the poor lighting. No matter. It's clear that he has trouble containing himself. Mud heaves where Peeta's chest hides and moans of either hope or pain escape his clenched teeth, white against the darkness.
Both tributes from District 2 are alive too, although still suffering from painfully swollen tracker jacker stings and now feeling the hollowness of starvation. Katniss and Peeta are the only other pair of tributes. "Gale, why would they wait till now to change the rules?"
Mom answers when Gale neglects to speak. "Prim, it's because the Capitol likes Katniss and Peeta."
Gale nods. "They don't want to see Peeta die alone. Not when every guy could see himself liking Katniss, especially now with her singing and everything..." He growls at the screen.
Is he really worried about how Katniss feels about Peeta? She may not even come home and he's concerned that she may fall for the half-dead boy who saved her? That's ridiculously unfair! Although, I've never been in love and don't understand its intricacies.
It makes you do crazy things, I know. It made Mom lose her senses when Dad died. Katniss and I couldn't bring her through it with our affection and Katniss stopped trying after a few months. Love made Peeta put himself between Katniss, who was indifferent toward him, and the harshest alliance of tributes in the arena.
Love is a strong motivator and a strong burden to carry at the same time. Peeta had a reason to set his life aside for Katniss, just like Katniss had a reason to volunteer for me. And now, Peeta has a reason to survive. He was prepared to sacrifice himself so that Katniss could win. Now he would be allowed to win with her!
I'm only twelve years old. I'm only just learning about what love is and how it works between people. How it can make you set yourself aside entirely and do what is best for someone else. That's all well and good and I adore Katniss for what she's done for me.
But if she could just come home!