Prim sits on my mother's lap, brushing her hair. Our mother looks off into the distance, barely even acknowledging her daughter's attention.
"C'mon, Prim, let's go," I say.
"No," Prim squeaks in a tiny voice. She begins to braid our mother's hair.
"Prim, I can't leave you here alone with Mom like….like this. And if we stop going to school, someone's going to come here and find out!" My voice rises to a frantic pitch. If someone came - a school official or even a Peacekeeper - they would see the horrible state we were in and break up our family.
"But I don't wanna leave Mama!" Prim wails. I study my mother's face for any reaction, but her eyes are starting blankly ahead, searching for our father's face.
I sigh exasperatedly, pushing away the anger, and go to my sister's side. I place a hand on her little blond head, and she looks up at me with her clear blue eyes.
"I'm hungry, Katniss," she whimpers.
So am I. Our scant money is running out, and I don't want to think about what will happen when it does.
"It's okay, Prim," I say, stroking her cheek. "Come on, Mom will be fine."
Prim looks at me, wide-eyed. "You sure?" she asks softly.
"Yes, I'm sure," I say impatiently. I grab our school bags from a kitchen chair and beckon for Prim to climb off Mom's lap. Reluctantly she slides off and gives Mom a hug.
"We'll be back soon," I can hear Prim whisper. "You always want us to go to school."
Prim gives our mother a kiss on the cheek and comes to my side. "Okay. I'm ready."
I give her a half-hearted smile. "Get your shoes," I say.
She runs to fetch her scuffed shoes, and I notice that the back of her worn-out blouse is un-tucked. A memory from a day so similar to this, yet from such a happier time, surfaces in my mind.
"Come here, Prim," I say, tugging lightly on one of her braids. "Your tail's un-tucked. Little duck."
Prim turns around, startled. Her eyes light up, and she smiles.
"I remember that," she says. "Quack!"
"Quack yourself," I say, giving her a hug. "My little duck."