Chapter 5
The next morning, I put on my grubbiest skirt and blouse. If today I'm going to walk through the Seam again, and try to impress Reya, I might as well try to look the part. I even smudge some dust on my cheek after leaving home for good measure. I'm completely prepared for what's coming today. The schoolhouse looms in front of me. I take a deep breath and walk closer to the large, wooden building. When I'm partially through the doorway, I feel a tug on the back my shirt. Spinning around on my heel, I find Markas's eyes meeting mine.
"Lynn, I have some bad news."
My teeth bite into my lower lip as my gut begins to tighten. Markas, the boy who always finds the bright-side, never has bad news.
"Oh. Uhm... What is it?"
"Our neighbor, Mr. Larson, he's really sick. I promised his wife this morning I would go over there and look after him when school is finished, so she could buy some stuff from the marketplace."
My body begins to relax as the meaning of his words sink in. I won't have to go to the Seam today after all. I feel so foolish now, with the smudge on my face and my ugly clothes. What will all of the other girls at school think now? My hand rubs the dirt on my cheek as I reply, "That's so nice of you Markas. What a wonderful thing to do for them. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to spend with Reya on another day. I'll see you tomorrow, I suppose."
I turn to go, but Markas grabs my arms. Instead of letting me walk inside, he pulls me off to the right.
"Lynn, Reya will be coming over with me, and I was hoping you would come, too. It would really mean the world to me, and I know Reya would really respect you for it. You wouldn't have to do anything. Just sit there. Won't you come? Please?"
My muscles tense up and I resist the urge to smack him. No normal boyfriend would ask a girl to do something like this. Silly me, thinking the most terrible thing that could happen to me today would be to have to go back to the Seam. I clearly stand corrected. Any kind of sickness in District Twelve is awful, but when the sick person is a penniless old man? It feels like my worst nightmare. But if I say no, I would be letting Markas down. And, I would look weak to Reya, which is the last thing I need when I really want her to like me. There's only one logical choice. So even though every fiber in my body is screaming for me to say no, to head straight back home and hide under my thin bedsheet, I nod my head up and down.
"Yep. 'Course I will."
On the way to the Seam, Markas holds my hand like last time. As his thumb rubs against mine, I find myself wishing that the rolling feelings inside of me would take a break already.
Looking around at the dingy structures these people call their homes, I cannot help but wonder how they spend their money. Most of the adults in District Twelve work steady jobs in the mines. My grandparents had once lived here, in one of these very homes, exactly like these families. Their lives changed for the better because they had the sense and determination to open up the first textile shop that our district had seen in over 5 years, since the last man to own one had passed away. I know my father said it took a lot of hard work, and that it was difficult, but I can't look into the sunken faces of the mothers on these beaten streets and feel anything but disgust. Perhaps they should not have had as many children, leaving them with less mouths to feed. Or maybe they should spend their earnings more wisely. Certainly they shouldn't have to live this way, but they do, and I hate the way they seem so at peace with it.
My feet tread clumsily underneath me as we turn around a corner. Markas begins to slow, as his home is visible up ahead. A lump catches in my throat. I'm not sure what made me think I would be able to handle this, but it's too late now to run. When we reach our destination, Markas gently knocks on weathered wood in front of us. A tall woman with dark circles under her eyes opens the door, and melancholy smile reaches the corners of her lips as she speaks.
"Markas, dear. Thank you so much for coming. I haven't been able to go out and get food or medicine in days. He's been getting worse and worse, and I could not stand to leave him alone. He was finally able to fall asleep. I really do appreciate your help."
"Anything for you, Mrs. Lawson. You think I would forget how you bought medicine for my mother when she was ill? Never. So it's the absolute least I can do, to come and help Mr. Lawson while you run your errands."
Mrs. Lawson clasps Markas's shoulders and plants a quick kiss on his forehead. After a brief moment, she lets go and pulls a scarf over her head and shoulders.
"When he wakes, give him a fresh compress, and some of the broth on the fire. Thank you, both of you. Although, I don't believe we've met, young lady."
Now she's addressing me; something I'm not prepared for. Not knowing what else to do, I glance nervously at Markas for help.
"This is my friend Lynnetta, Mrs. Lawson. She's just here to keep me company. Reya will be here soon, too, if that's alright."
"Of course. Well, thank you, Lynnetta, for your interest in watching over my husband. I'm indebted."
She places her hand against my cheek and smiles at me, then walks briskly out the front door towards town. The place where her fingers touched my face is cool, and I have to feel it myself to make sure I'm not imagining the cool temperature. Her hand was chilled to the bone, and it felt as if she had sucked all the warmth out of my cheek. The sensation reminds me of touching a cold, metal pot on a wintry day. I don't like it.
Markas and I take the next few minutes to survey our surroundings and try to make ourselves comfortable. The Lawson residence is much like that of the Fenly's, except it boasts two rooms instead of one. A small door, which I assume leads to the bedroom where Mr. Lawson sleeps, is snugly fit into a back corner. Like the rest of District Twelve, everything is covered in a thin layer of coal dust. We sit down at the kitchen table, and I fold my hands neatly in my lap.
A long silence follows the scraping of our chairs against the floor. My eyelids shut slowly and I try to pretend Markas and I are somewhere far away from here. Maybe at a picnic in the Victor's Village in springtime. But a deep, rasping cough coming from the back room won't let me escape. Mr. Lawson's hacking goes on and on, and soon Markas leaves his position opposite me at the table to check on him. As soon as the bedroom door closes behind him, the front one opens to reveal a wind-burnt Reya.
"Where's my brother?" she asks bluntly, and with a slight hint of accusation, I might add.
"He's in the bedroom. Mr. Lawson was coughing, so Markas went to check up on him."
As she moves towards the back room, something inside tells me this might be my only chance alone with her.
"I'm sure he'll be out soon. You can sit down with me if you like."
Her body turns towards me, a confused expression on her face.
"What?" she replies, calmly.
"You can sit with me. I'm sure everything is fine. He'll only be a moment. I don't bite, you know."
Technically, this isn't true, because I suppose there was that one time I bit Madelaine Donner when we were five, but I was provoked; she had been holding the hand of a boy I liked. Well, no matter what the circumstances, I probably should avoid mentioning that moment to the young girl that I am currently trying to win the approval of.
Reya moves slowly, reminding me of a cat that has just noticed a wild dog nearby. She perches her scrawny body on the chair beside me. Immediately, her arms fold defensively across her chest, and she wrinkles her eyebrows, as if she's frustrated and can't quite decide what to think of the situation. I shift in my seat uncomfortably, and try to diffuse her uncertainty of me with small talk.
"So… Reya. What did you learn at school today?"
"Give it a break already. I know my brother likes you, and I know you're going to try and win me over."
"Oh? Is there something wrong with that? Becau-"
"Listen. I know girls exactly like you. They're prissy. They make fun of kids from the Seam. They braid their stupid blonde hair every day, and they think they're better than me."
Suddenly I'm all clammed up and overly aware of the tight braid against my back. And I'm honestly not sure how to respond. Unfortunately, some merchant kids will bully children from the Seam from time to time. I, personally, would never do something like that, but I can see how Reya could easily group me into the same category, especially if she's been a victim of bullying from other kids in her year. I'm still trying to form a good answer to her bitter charges when Markas emerges.
"Reya, I need you to run and find Mrs. Lawson. Tell her she needs to get here right away. Go, now."
The steadiness and urgency in his voice fill the room. The little girl, who was firmly planted and accusing me so deftly moments before, is now already off the chair and out the door like a bird in flight. Markas grabs a towel out of a small cupboard and dips it in a cold bucket of water on the floor.
"Lynnetta, can you please run next door and see if my mother is home? I need her to go into town and bring the healer. Then come back here and help me cool him down. He's sweating terribly and-"
Markas's words are interrupted by more awful coughing sounds echoing from the back room. His eyes lock onto mine as worry washes over his face.
"Hurry, Lynn. I think he may be dying."