Anonymous and room-onthe-broom requested: "The talk"
"Am I in trouble?"
From her place on the bed, Olive Abernathy eyed her parents doubtfully. She hadn't remembered doing anything particularly notable of reprimanding. Or much less something that would require both of their presences. Yet, here she was, trapped in her room without any means of escape or any reason for being sent there in the first place. An uncomfortable tension seemed to fill the area as Effie stepped forward, a strange expression etched on her features that didn't make the thirteen year old feel any less worried.
"No," Effie said, a forced smile plastered on her face. "Of course not, sweetheart. Your father and I-" Haymitch muttered something quietly that resulted in a glare from Effie before she continued. "We just wanted to have a talk with you about a topic we both find-" She paused again, her attention diverted back to Haymitch who was shifting restlessly beside her. "-that we both find important."
"What kind of topic?" Olive asked slowly. "This isn't about the door again, is it? I swear, the skid mark in Ms. Luther's garden was not from us. Ginger and I threw the old thing away after the first time-"
"No," she shook her head. "It doesn't involve that," Effie reached forward, taking Olive's hands in hers. "Darling, what do you know about sex?"
As if struck by some unknown force, Olive recoiled back. No, this wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. Were her parents seriously considering giving her "the talk"? Dread rose in the young girl's chest as she watched the sympathetic expression on her mother's face and the look of pure agony washed onto her father's. That made two of them who really could live a lifetime without having to suffer through this.
"I know how babies are made if that's what you're asking," Olive said quickly, hoping this was enough of an answer to appease her mother. "We learn about this in school, you know. You really don't have to tell me."
"Who taught you? Your teacher Ms. Rutherford?" Effie rolled her eyes, taking a seat on the edge of Olive's bed. "And what does she know? Trust me, dear. That woman has not once had a romantic partner in her life. Maybe a toy or two-" she hesitated. "But that's an entirely different subject we'll go over when you're older."
"Or never," Olive groaned, covering her face as the heat rushed to her cheeks. "Really, mom. You and dad don't need to do this with me. I'm a teenager. I know all about this sort of thing."
"Exactly!" Effie exclaimed. "Which is why it's more important that we go over this with you now. Now, Olive, you know how important it is to wear those long pants of yours when you climb those dreadful trees, yes? So you don't get cut up? . Well having sex is like that too. Protection, protection, protection!"
Olive wasn't sure who was feeling worse at the moment: her or her father cowering off to the side. He had that look in his eyes that he sometimes got when he really needed a drink and her mother wouldn't let him. He probably wished he had a whole keg right now. And though she had never partaken in the activity herself, she sort of wished the same too.
"Now, Olive." It was her mother's voice that finally brought her back to reality again. "I know this wasn't how you planned to spend your Saturday morning. And trust me when I say your father and I aren't enjoying this any more than you. But I just want to make sure that if and when the time comes, you'll be prepared!"
"I swear I'll never even touch a guy," Olive said shaking her hands. "If we can end this right here. Right now."
"I'm willing to go with that," Haymitch nodded briskly. "I think that's something I can live with."
"Haymitch," Effie glared. "You and I have first hand experience with what happens when protection is forgotten. Do you want that to happen to our daughter at her age?" She sighed, looking to Olive with a smile. "Now dear, there are two types of protection available in District Twelve. One is for males and the other is for females. There are even more options in the more industrialized districts and if you really wanted, your father and I could do some research and perhaps come up with some more options…"
Olive rested her forehead against the tops of her knees as her mother continued to ramble on about different methods of protection and sex as a generalized topic. The idea of romance was seemingly less and less romantic as the minutes rolled on. Even her father seemed to be incredibly disturbed with all her mother knew-or it could have just been that no man ever wanted to witness this talk with his child. She sighed, her eyes falling onto the clock hanging from her wall. It was going to be one long Saturday.