The first big snowfall came just before Christmas, Papa, Prim and I took the sled to the big hill behind our pasture. The Hawthorne boys were already up there with a long sled of their own.
"That looks like a fine sled there, son," Papa says to Gale.
"Thank you, sir, I just finished it last week. Pa helped me sharpen some old blades, it runs good and smooth. I'm going to be taking it to school tomorrow, I was hoping it'd be OK if Katniss and Prim joined us on the way to school, we can sled down the hills on the way in."
Prim jumped up and down, clapping, "Oh, how fun! There's the big hill just by the school, just think of all the fun we'd have going to school!"
"Not too much fun that you'd be late for school, right?" Papa asked sternly.
"No, sir," Gale said seriously.
"I'll allow it, but if I hear of anyone being tardy then we'll have to have a talk."
"Pa said the same thing," Rory said, kicking at some snow, "I reckon we'll get their fast sledding the hills then walking them… We won't be late and we won't dawdle much on the way home."
The following day was Sunday, and Papa hitched up the sleigh to take us into church. The wind blew on our faces, making our cheeks turn red. The journey to church is supposed to be a solemn affair, but it's so hard not to laugh aloud as we zip across the snow. There is something is exciting about the snow covered ground.
After church, there were a few boys throwing snowballs at each other, it didn't take long for their parents to scold putting a stop to their game.
"We could've had'em beat, huh Katniss?" Gale says coming up to me.
"Sure could," I said, "Of course, we know not to play on Sundays, don't we?"
Gale laughs, remembering when him and I used to try to slip away from the grownups on Sunday. That was before the church was built, when the Hawthornes and Leevys used to come over to our house on Sundays to worship together. Gale and I would sneak out and have a bit of fun, in the winter this included Gale teaching me how to aim and both of us perfecting the art of making snowballs, we never got to have much time on Sundays before a grownup would notice our absence and call us in, usually earning us a smacked rear.
"I guess we're a bit too old now, huh?"
I looked at Gale, "Speak for yourself." I bent over and picked up a handful of snow. I just started packing it between my hands when I heard Papa's voice, "Katniss."
I dropped the snow and looked at Papa, who gave me a sterrn look.
I turned back to Gale, who was smirking.
I send him a glare, he's been putting on airs, acting so much older than me lately, and it's really starting to get annoying.
"Stop acting like you're so much older, Gale."
"I'm going to be 16 in a few months, that's practically a man."
"Hardly."
"We're growing up, Catnip."
"You can go ahead and grow up. I don't plan to anytime soon."
On Monday morning we met Gale, Rory and Vick halfway between our houses. We took turns with the sled, Prim and I getting the first hill and the boys got to go down the next. Vick took a tumble into a large snow drift after one of the steeper hills, Gale had to reach in a pluck him out, Vick sputtered out some snow for a while before laughing along with Rory, who had been roaring with laughter since his brother disappeared into the pile of snow. When we got to the big hill that lead down into the school yard, we met Annie Cresta and she joined Prim and I as we made the final rush down into the school yard, the Hawthorne boys came laughing and tumbling down the hill after us. Delly Cartwright looked down her nose at our un-ladylike behavior, while the other kids were excited, asking for a turn on the sled. It was decided that there was enough time for one more run down the hill, 6 boys crammed onto the sled and came barreling down the hill right as the school bell rang. All the kids were chattering excitedly as we shook the snow off our clothes and hung them up in the coat room. The boys on the other side of the classroom were sitting on the edge of their seats, asking Rory and Vick if they could have a turn at recess.
After being told twice to stop whispering, Rory had to go stand in front of the class for the first half of the lesson. Some of the town boys brought their sleds back at lunch so the whole hill was dotted with sleds zooming down.
Madge and Rue were up at the top with Prim and I, waiting for our turn on Gale's sled.
Peeta Mellark reached the top of the hill pulling his sled behind him. His cheeks were flushed as he approached us with a big smile, I was the closest to him and he addressed me, "You girls can ride down on my sled." His sled was store bought and painted a bright red with black stripes, it looks as if it were brand new. His Father was the merchant in town, so it probably was.
"Thank you," I said.
Prim and Rue got situated up front.
"Oh, I think there will only be room enough for one more," Madge said and then looked at me, I knew she was looking forward to it, and I had got to go down the hill earlier this morning.
"You go on, Madge," I told her and she gave me an excited smile and a quick smile before settling in on the back of the sled as gracefully as she could. Peeta gave them the starting push then they were gone, down the hill like a flash of red with squeals of laughter still hanging in the air. I laughed as I heard Madge's laughter ringing down the hill, Peeta stood and looked at me, "I can bring it back up for you."
"I don't think there will be time, thank you though." The bell was probably going to ring soon, I looked over and saw that Gale was still at the bottom with the group of boys who had just ridden down. The rest of the students seem to also think that school would be resuming soon, no one was climbing the hill any more, they were staying at the bottom near the school.
"We should probably head back down," I tell him, we were the only ones left on the top of the hill.
"I'm sorry you didn't get a turn to sled down."
I looked at him, "I did this morning, on the way to school." I feel as if I need to thank him again for letting Prim, Rue and Madge take the last run of mid-day, "Your sled looks very fast, did you hear them laugh, they really had fun. Thank you for letting them use it." We reach the packed down path that everyone had been using to climb up the hill.
"After school you can try it yourself, it's the fastest sled ever."
"Prim and I can't be late getting home."
"Aw, it won't take long."
"Alright, but we really can't stay long. Gale promised Papa that we wouldn't be late."
"Are the Hawthornes your cousins?" He asked rather suddenly.
"No," I tell him slowly, unsure where this question came from, "No, we're not related."
"Oh… I just- I know that your families are close, I always see your Father and Mr. Hawthorne together around town… I just thought that they were your kin."
"No."
"Oh."
"Papa and Mr. Hawthorne were boys together in Ohio, they've been good friends ever since."
"Oh."
We reach the bottom of the hill, just as the school bell rings. All the students start making their way towards the door. I pick up my pace and Peeta matches my stride.
"How do you like Miss. Twill?" He asks me.
"She's nice. I should be able to start the 6th reader soon, I just have to pass the exam."
"I'm sure you can easily pass."
"I still have a lot of studying to do," I say and bite the inside of my cheek nervously, "There's so many dates to remember for history."
"I can help you study if you want."
"I can do it on my own," I say quickly. Why would he feel I needed help? I'm not a slow learner, I've always been a good student.
"I know you can." He starts fidgeting with his coat sleeve. "Just sometimes it helps to have someone to recite with… Ed helps me sometimes."
We're almost to the crowd waiting to go inside.
"Mama listens when I practice reciting."
"Oh, well, that's good," He sounds miserable, probably wishes he could go sledding some more.
"Thank you, for the sled ride," I say, thanking him again, just as we reach the back of the crowd, Prim comes bouncing up to me.
"Oh, that's alright," He says, perking up a bit.
"Yes, thank you. Your sled is so fast! Did you see us! We passed two other sleds!" Prim was still bubbling with excitement.
"You're welcome, you can go down it again after school."
Prim's eyes got even bigger, "Can we, Katniss? Oh you have to go down too; it's ever so much fun! You just glide right over the snow!"
"Sorry, Catnip," Gale said as we stepped into the front room where everyone left their wrapping and gloves to drip dry on their hooks. "I meant to bring the sled back up for you, we ran out of time."
"Don't call me Catnip," I hiss at him as I un-wrap my scarf from my neck. I hear Delly snicker behind us.
"Sorry," He told me, "It's just habit now."
"Did you see me on Peeta Mellark's sled, Gale?" Prim asked as she slipped out of her coat, "We're going to go down again after school."
"No, Prim," Gale said firmly, "I promised your Papa that we'd go straight home."
"Just once, Gale, it won't take long," I told him.
Gale looked up at me, then narrowed his eyes as he switched his gaze to Peeta before looking back at me.
"Your Papa won't like it."
"He won't mind. Don't be so bossy," I snap, still a little upset that he called me Catnip in front of everyone. Then I turned and walked into my classroom. I took my seat by Madge.
"Oh, that was so much fun. I saw that sled in the window at Mellark's, it's one of the best sleds," Madge was whispering excitedly to me, "Thank you for letting me go first. Rotten luck you didn't have time."
"Madge Undersee," Delly Cartwright said as she stepped up next to our desk, "That was the most horrid display of behavior. My Mother would never let me act so boy-ish, and I'm certain you're Mother wouldn't like it."
"It's just a bit of fun, Delly," I said.
"Oh course, I would expect it from a country girl, Catnip," She said and turned her nose upward and went to take her seat as the teacher called everyone to attention. I wish I could've snapped back at her, I like the fact that I'm a country girl, but it's just the way she says it, with such distain, that makes me want to pull one of her blonde curls that's hanging over the back of her seat. I sit on my hands to stop myself. I'm furious with Gale for calling me Catnip, now Delly was going to taunt me with it.
Peeta's waiting outside with his sled standing nervously, Gale is standing a few feet away arms crossed.
"I don't want you to get in trouble for being late," Peeta tells me looking at his gloved hands that were fiddling with the sled's rope.
"It'll be fine, Papa really won't mind. Gale's just being silly."
"Do you think we should just go home, Gale looks upset," Prim whispers to me.
"Come on, Prim, it'll be alright," I said.
We hurried up the hill, leaving Gale looking sulking at the bottom. He was probably going to tell Papa on us, but I know Papa won't really mind.
Prim sits in front of me and Peeta gives the sled a push. I clutch onto the rope as we zoom down the hill, Prim and I both shriek, we're going as fast as Papa's horse pulled sled, faster maybe. We're down at the bottom in a flash, my heart was racing and my cheeks felt frozen from the cold wind. As Prim and I got off and straightened our skirts.
Peeta came running down after us, a grin wide on his face. He reached us and I handed him the sled's rope.
"Thank you, that-that was so fast!" I told him.
"You're welcome, I'm glad you-"
Peeta was cut off by Gale trudging up to us, "Come on."
Lillian was just coming out of the school house with Annie Cresta, so I knew we weren't really running late.
"Thank you, again," Prim said to Peeta.
Gale was silent the whole way home, him and Rory pulling the sled across the path that they had followed on the way to school with Vick trotting along behind. We said good bye to Lillian Leevy and Gale kept silent until we got close to our house
"I'll have to tell your Papa, Katniss."
"I can tell him myself, Gale. You aren't in charge of us," I said, stomping my foot.
Mama opened the door, "Come on in, boys, I have some hot tea ready, it'll warm you back up before you head home."
The five of us came inside, stomping snow off our boats and un-doing our wraps.
Papa stood up from his chair, "How'd the sled do?"
"Very well, sir. I'm sorry if we're running late."
Papa looked at the clock on the mantel, "Not at all."
Gale shifted his feet, I knew he was having second thoughts about tattling on us.
"Prim and I wanted to go down the school yard hill once after school was over," I made a face at Gale, but stopped myself from sticking out my tongue at him.
"Oh," Papa said, I could see his beard twitch, "Well, thank you for telling me, Katniss."
"I told them not to, sir. I know I had promised you we wouldn't dawdle."
"Thank you, Gale. I know you are one to keep his promises."
"Peeta Mellark has this sled, Papa. It was so fast!"
"Hans Mellark's boy? Ah, I bet it was that one that was in the window."
After the Hawthorne boys left, Papa called me over.
"It's very nice of Gale to share his sled, Katniss."
I clasped my hands in front of me and looked down, "Yes, sir." I hadn't gotten a scolding from Papa in a long time.
"You should be more respectful, he was trying to keep to his promise to me."
"But, Papa, it was only a few minutes," I said.
"Don't talk back, Katniss," Mama said from the stove.
"Sorry, Papa," I said, "I should have listened to Gale…but-" I stop.
"But what?" Papa asks kindly.
"He called me Catnip in front of everyone in the coat room, and Delly Undersee heard and now she's going to tease me even more. She always calls me, country girl."
"You are a country girl," Papa told me simply, repeating what Prim had said and I already knew.
"I know, but it's the way she says it. She thinks she's so much better."
"Don't let her get to you, she's just trying to get you upset, don't give her the satisfaction," Mama told me, walking over and putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Yes, Mama."
"And don't get to upset with Gale, I'm sure he didn't mean to have Delly start teasing you. He's been calling you Catnip since you were kids... He put a lot of work into that sled, I reckon he was a little put out when you and Prim were so excited about the store bought one."
I hadn't thought of that. I should've been nicer to Gale.
"I'll apologize to him in the morning, Papa."
"I will too, I shouldn't have gush so about Peeta Mellark's sled," Prim said guiltily.
The next morning Prim and I started trudging through the snow to meet the Hawthorne boys.
Gale gave us a silent nod and continued walking
"Gale, I'm sorry about yesterday. I know you didn't want to break your promise to Papa. I shouldn't have dawdled."
"I'm sorry too, Gale," Prim said.
"Aw, that's alright," Gale said, looking down for a moment then looked up and gave us a smile.
"He was in a mood all evening, grippin' about that Mellark boy," Rory told us, earning him a shove in the shoulder from Gale.
Both Prim and I are quick to say that it wasn't Peeta's fault.
"He was just being kind, Gale."
"Come on," Gale says, dismissing the conversation, "Hurry up and get a move on or we'll be late for school. I don't want to get rapped, Miss. Trinket is awfully strict."
