While we're eating, I find out a little more about what's been going on in District 12. After it was destroyed, a mass grave was made in the town square. Several of the people in 12 decided to plant a garden on top of it. I make a mental note to visit it that day. I also learn that Annie Cresta had a son and that Effie Trinket is back in town. Geevee tells me that she's Delly Cartwright's sister. Funny, I only remember Haymitch mentioning she had a younger brother. That all gets cleared up when Peeta explains that Geevee isn't Delly's sister by blood, but Geevee's mother adopted Delly and her brother when she learned their parents hadn't made it. As I suspected, Peeta's been rebuilding homes. And Greasy Sae has been feeding the families without a house. She's opened somewhat of a soup kitchen in her own home. I'm proud of the citizens of 12, working together to make a better future.
When we're all finished eating, Peeta sends Geevee home because her mother will be worried. He helps me wash the dishes while Sae goes through all the game in my icebox since I have finally agreed to sell it.
"Oh lordy, lordy," she says as she returns to the kitchen carrying an armful of squirrels and an armful of rabbits. "This ain't even half of it!" She goes back to the icebox and I'm alone with Peeta again. We clean quietly, him washing, me drying. It feels nice though, just being able to stand next to him without worrying that he's going to attack me or try to hurt himself. I'm able to really look at him. He's gained most of his weight back and his burn scars are fading. His arms have gotten darker from working outside.
When we finish, I bring him the Memory Book. "I added a few others in."
He nods and opens it, leafing through the pages until he lands on Rue's. He touches the ink spots. "It's hard to draw them, too," he whispers.
"You don't have to…" I say, suddenly feeling guilty that I've made him do something that hurts him.
He shakes his head. "No, I want to. I want to. It's just… hard."
I nod. We both know each person in this book deserves to be remembered no matter how painful it is.
Peeta closes the book suddenly, making me jump. "I should be going." He crosses the room, pausing in the doorway. He turns to look at me. "I'll be sure to draw her as beautiful as she was," he promises.
Later that morning, I venture out with Greasy Sae to sell my game. The people of District 12 don't have much money so I accept other offerings as payment, a ball of yarn here, a box of matches there. But despite their limited resources, they're hungry for fresh meat and it's gone by the sixth person we visit.
After selling the meat, Sae goes back to her soup kitchen and I wander over to the garden in progress. It's the most beautiful thing I've seen since I got here. Flowers of every kind blend together in a mosaic of colors. It's not nearly finished but I follow the few stone paths that have been laid amongst the blooms. It's hot out and only a few people are planting so I'm able to walk in peace. Before I know it, the hot mid-morning has turned into early evening and the sun is beginning to set. My stomach grumbles loudly and I return home to find Peeta sitting on my porch.
He smiles when he sees me and hands me the book.
I sit down next to him. "You finished already?" I ask.
"Just Rue's. I wanted you to see it."
I open the book slowly and there she is. Her face looks as real as Peeta's before me. I touch it as gently as if I were actually touching her flesh. Her big brown eyes look out at me from the dark curtain of curls. My lip starts to tremble and my vision becomes cloudy.
"There she is," I whisper as the tears spill over. I close the book and hand it back to Peeta, embarrassed to be crying in front of him, though I've done it many times. Peeta tucks it under his arm and hesitantly reaches out to wipe my cheeks with his palm. I turn away, ashamed of my tears.
"It's okay to miss her, Katniss," he says gently, dropping his hand. "It's okay to cry. I do it too… and I'm a guy."
Despite my misery, Peeta has done the impossible yet again. He's cheered me up by stooping to be my equal.
I sniff and wipe my face with the backs of my hands. "She was just so little." My voice sounds pathetic.
"I know she was." He pats my back, making me burp. I clap my hands over my mouth, embarrassed for the second time that night.
Peeta starts laughing. I feel my cheeks burn.
"Oh come on," he says, seeing my resentful stare. "It's not like I haven't done anything gross in front of you."
I have to admit this is true. I'm reminded of the time when I had to clean the pus out of his leg wound and feel a little better.
We sit on the porch until it gets dark. Peeta gets up to go and I follow him to the end of my front lawn.
"Well," he says, turning to face me.
"Well," I say.
"I'll finish this by the end of the week." He holds up the book.
I nod and he turns to go. "Hey, Peeta?"
He turns back around. "Yeah?" His blue eyes are shining, even in the darkness.
"I missed you," I say sadly.
"I missed you, too, Katniss."