Today is Victor's Birthday…..
He's five years old now, and a big brother. He wasn't sure that he would like living with someone else, but he does. She's so much fun! Except when she cries, but still. She has the most perfect, tiny fingernails and the most perfect, delicate eyelashes. He loves to count her fingers and toes. He's gotten good at counting now and its fun to see that even though Victor is bigger, they have the same number of everything. Her name is Amandine. He loves that name. It's so much fun to say and sort of rolls off his tongue. He doesn't know it, but his mommy named her based on the latest fad. Cooking names. Amandine is some sort of fancy style and Crystal thought it sounded particularly luxurious. Crystal thinks following the trends is very important. Cornelius still wanted a Roman name, but ever since his Games, he has become a very unassertive person, usually waiting for the commands of others. Besides, Crystal promises that they'll have another child, a girl. Maybe then he'll get his name. Suddenly, Victor hears banging on the door. "They're here!" He shouts. While his parents rush to the door, Amandine in mommy's arms, Victor fixes his shirt. He has a small bruise from last night. He knocked off one of mommy's best vases, and daddy had to hit him because he was bad. He doesn't like the way it looks though, so he wants it covered. The first guests walk in, Grandma and Grandpa. Victor runs to them and gives them a hug. "Oh, here's the boy! And isn't he a strong one!" Grandpa exclaims. Victor stands up straighter. Why yes, he is strong. Grandma ruffles his hair. "He will make a good Career, Cornelius." By now, Victor knows that a Career is someone who fights in the arena with swords and stuff, and then gets lots of money after. That's what he wants to be.
The next people are walking through the door. It's Aunt Jade and Uncle Flavius. Aunt Jade smiles at him. "I swear his eyes get bluer each year. He's going to be very handsome." She winks at Victor's mommy, who agrees. Victor stands up even straighter. Right behind those too is Victor's cousins and their parents. Victor waves to Ruby, who enthusiastically waves back. She's holding Emory's hand and looking very angry with this job assignment. After the last guest arrives, Great Aunt Opal, just like every year, the adults all sit down to talk, mostly about Victor, since it is his birthday. "So Cornelius, how is the boy with that sword you gave him last year?" Uncle Mercury asks.
"Oh, he goes outside with it every day. He plays "arena."
Cornelius laughs at the memory of his boy, outside swinging that sword and shouting "and that's the end! All the evil people are dead and Victor Mercury Cornelius Sybil is the winner!"
"So how is the baby?" Aunt Jade questions. The adults all know that Jade wants a baby of her own someday.
"Yes, he's wonderful with her." Victor's mommy says. "You know, we're thinking of having a third child, you know, so one can stay with me?" All the adults nod. They know that a family with two children has to send both of them to Training. That way, if one child dies in the arena, another one can go and bring glory to their family. But if a family has three kids, one gets to stay home with the parents and become, as most put it, soft. However, Amandine isn't necessarily the one going to train. If the next baby has a tougher personality, she'll be the one to go and Amandine will stay home and get dresses in frilly dresses and things Crystal wants. But Victor doesn't know this. All he knows is that sitting inside is boring. He wiggles impatiently, waiting for present time. The gift pile is just so big! He wants one right now. But he has to sit here and wait. Suddenly, Grandpa turns to Ruby. "So how's Training going, sweetpea?" Ruby frowns.
"Don't call me that. I'm not a baby anymore." Victor is confused. He's never seen his cousin angry. But now Ruby's smiling. "We got to work with real weapons. And I got through the first elimination a few weeks ago." Everyone claps. Victor doesn't know what that is, but he claps too. Ruby continues. "We had to pick one that we like best, just for this week, to see if we're any good. I picked spears." Grandpa laughs. Ruby frowns again, then stands up with her arms crossed. "What's so funny?" Victor wants to know too.
"Well, how does a little girl like you throw a big spear?" He questions. Ruby stomps her foot.
"I am not a little girl!" Her voice rings throughout the room. Victor feels like he's on Ruby's side. She's not a little girl! But Ruby's mommy is mad at Ruby for yelling at Grandpa. Her daddy doesn't seem that mad though. Ruby's tone softens. "Besides, they have me using really light ones, so I can pick them up. It's fun when you hit the target." All the adults nod approvingly. Victor can't wait until he gets to train! He wants to hit a target too! And, most of all, he wants to see mommy and daddy happy for him.