Disclaimer: I own only my own thoughts and words. Suzanne Collins owns the HG and all the characters she so wonderfully created.

Chapter 9

"Madge sweetheart, wake up." Mabel whispers softly as she gently touches my arm.

The sun is just rising over the horizon and the sky is beautiful. Shades of pink and purple spread across the sky as far as the eye can see.

"I got locked out last night and didn't want to wake up father." I mumble groggily as I tumble off the porch swing.

"What on earth were you doing outside in the middle of the night?"

"I couldn't sleep so I came outside for some fresh air and I forgot to bring my key." I don't want to tell her whole truth. It's embarrassing enough as it is without her knowing what a fool I've made of myself with Gale.

"Well, come on inside and I'll make us some breakfast." She leads me into the kitchen and doesn't press me on the events of last night though I suspect she knows there is a tad more to the story than I'm offering up.

I pull up a chair by the counter and watch as she effortlessly cracks open eggs, sliding their yolks into the cast iron skillet. I'd tried to crack an egg open once and ended up making such a mess, bits of shell and sticky yolk went everywhere. Mabel somehow does it one handed and doesn't even seem to be looking at it as she does it.

"So, what plans do you have your day dear?" Mabel asks making conversation.

"I am going to speak to my father about hiring a few workers to prepare our garden out back. I want to learn how to garden, like my mother used to do."

"I think I know a few young men who might be looking for an odd job or two that may be able to clear that patch of land. Why the sudden interest in gardens?"

"I just need something to do with my spare time. Something that matters. Something that keeps my head from thinking too much."

She doesn't reply out loud but nods her head slightly in a knowing manner. She returns to her cooking and I watch as she effortlessly moves throughout the kitchen that I'd felt so lost in the night before. In a matter of minutes she's made a pot of coffee and a full meal. She pulls a tray from a cabinet, filling it with a glass of juice, steaming hot coffee and a plate of eggs and toast.

"I'm just going up to check on your mother and take your father's breakfast to his study. You go on and eat your breakfast before it goes cold." She says as she excuses herself from the room.

And with that I'm left alone in the kitchen with my plate of eggs and toast. I quickly devour the food and rush back up to my room. I need to hurry and get dressed if I want to catch my father before he leaves for the Justice Building. I find that when asking him for things it's always best to catch him at the beginning of his day rather than the end of it. He tends to always give me my way, provided it would be pleasing in the eyes of the Capitol that is. I quickly shower and throw on the first sundress my hand reaches in my closet. It's one I wear often. It's long and blue and made of the softest cotton I've ever felt. My capitol buyer who supplies my clothing tried to toss it last time she was here and I'd begged her to let me keep it. She was filled with disgust at the thought of my wearing the same dress over and over again. As a compromise, she'd let me keep the dress itself but had changed out all the coordinating accessories and shoes in an attempt to update it. I don't bother with make up today, just a dab of concealer under my eyes. I pull my hair up in a messy bun, securing it with a blue ribbon.

I'm about to knock on the door of his study when I hear him on the telephone. Not wanting to interrupt, I wait patiently outside his door. Well, okay, maybe not so patiently. I've just begun to pace back and forth when I hear him call out to me.

"Madge honey, is that you out there?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I was about to knock when I realized you were speaking to someone and so I thought I should wait instead of interrupting you." I say as I enter his office.

"Well, what are you up to this fine morning?" He asks, smiling at me when he does.

"I wanted to ask if I could start a garden out back where mother used to have hers."

"I don't see why not. What can I do to help with this project?"

"I'll need you to hire a few workers to clear and prepare the ground for planting. After that I can handle it myself. Oh, and if you could arrange for the Captiol to send me a book on gardening tips please."

"That should be fine. I'll have Mabel hire a few young men and they can start work immediately. And I'll have your book by tomorrow. Why the sudden desire to garden though?"

"I just think it would be wise for me to learn a new skill in my spare time. Gardening seemed as good a skill to learn as any." I reply. I don't include the part of how I want to do it in honor of my mother. Whenever anyone mentions her there is an unspeakable sadness that fills his eyes. He'll never in a million years admit that's what it is though. Ever the brave face, he'll smile and say she's doing much better and that the Capitol has graciously been sending medicines for her. It's part of his illusion though. Just as I have my illusion, he has his. He refuses to show the rest of the world what he really feels inside.

"Right you are my dear, right you are. It is very important to possess a wide range of skills and everyone should have something at which they are especially talented. Why don't you stop by McFerrin's store today and make the arrangements for the seeds and other supplies you'll be needing. Tell him to bill my account for the charges."

"Thank you! I'll go right now!" I grin from ear to ear, kiss my father on the cheek and fly so quickly down the stairs that I doubt my feet even touch some of the steps. I grab my purse from the table by the front door and I'm out the door before I can even blink twice.

I have to stop myself from literally running full speed to the store. Peacekeepers would not approve of someone running through the streets. I purposely slow my stride and smile as I pass by other people about the town. McFerrin's is sort of a supply store. They'll be able to get me all the things I need for my new garden.

"Good Morning Miss Undersee! What can I do for you this morning?" Mr. McFerrin greets me as I enter his store. He's a short, plump man with a moustache that curls upwards on the ends.

"My father sent me to order supplies for a garden we're beginning. Could you help me select what I'll need to get it started?"

"Of course deary. Let's have a look around the shop and see what you'll need."

We spend the next hour or so going aisle by aisle through his store, even looking through a few catalogs selecting the items I should need. Shovels, hoes, watering can, hoses and sprinklers. We spend the most time on the seed packets. I decide on mostly doing vegetables. Tomatoes, onions, carrots, peppers and squash. For flowers I only select one. Sunflowers. It's one I remember my mother having when she did the garden. When we're finished I look over at the mountain of supplies we've amassed and suddenly realize that I can't carry all of this back to the house by myself.

"Mr. McFerrin? Would it be possible for the workers my father hires to come collect these items later today? I don't think I can carry them back by myself.

'No worries deary. I'll just keep them here until you send for them. Would you like this charged to your father's account?"

"Yes please and thank you for everything!" I smile as I turn to leave the store.

I'm just to happy to go back home at the moment so I decide to stop in a few of the other shops in town before I head home. I go into the clothing store and decide I need some type of clothing appropriate for gardening. My dresses aren't really right for it. I select a pair of denim overalls and a plain tank top. These should do the job just fine, I think to myself. After purchasing the clothing I stop by the bakery next. It's owned by the Mellarks, Peeta's family. My family has purchased all of our breads from them for years. Mabel makes most of our desserts but there's one thing they have here that I cannot get at home. Almond Cookies. It's sort of a signature cookie of theirs. It's a butter cookie, flavored with almond extract and then pushed through a special cookie press so that it has a beautiful design. It's then topped off with a dollop of melted dark chocolate which hardens over the top making the pressed design stand out that much more. I love them! The hint of almond in them is what makes them so melt in your mouth delicious.

As I walk through the front door of the bakery a small bell jingles and Mrs. Mellark appears through the swinging kitchen door.

"Well hello Madge. What can I get for you?" She asks. She's sounds nice but her face lacks a smile giving away her true personality.

"I'll take a dozen of the almond cookies please." I reply. Phony smile on my face. I don't care for this woman but I know it's my duty to be polite to her just the same.

"Anything else? A loaf of rye perhaps?" She asks as she boxes up my order. Still not with a smile.

"No, just the cookies for now, thank you." I reply. I pay for the cookies and she hands over the pink bakery box.

"Please tell your family hello for me Mrs. Mellark. Have a lovely day." I say as I exit the store.

I'm heading home now and looking forward to getting started on my garden. It's now that I realize I have managed to go all morning without thinking about Katniss and the games. Or about Gale. Until now since I realized it anyway. I wonder if Katniss will help me with my garden if she gets to come home? Maybe she would like that since she likes being outside and hunting so much. I picture us out in my backyard, laughing and picking vegetables together. It would be fun. But that's all just a dream. I just don't know if she'll make it home. I want her to more than anything but I know how brutal the games are and I just don't know how she'll measure up against the other tributes. I hope she gets sponsors. I hope she has courage. I suddenly have an idea and smile. What if I enlist the help of Prim with my garden? Not to clear it obviously but to help me plant seeds and tend to the plants. I could even pay her with some of the produce we grow. That would help feed her while Katniss is gone. And I wouldn't mind the company either. I'll stop by her house and speak to her about it tomorrow. The thought of having Prim by my side working in the garden makes me even happier than I was before. I smile the whole rest of the way home. A real smile, not my illusion smile.

I find Mabel in the kitchen preparing my lunch.

"Look what I picked up!" I say as I hold the pink bakery box up for her to see.

"That will be perfect for after your lunch." She teases as she swaps out my box with my lunch plate.

"Have you eaten yet? I ask her, hopeful she'll take a break and sit down to eat with me.

"I can't stop for a break right now. I'm about to head back to the Seam to hire those young men for your garden work. Your father wants them to begin clearing the land tomorrow. " She tells me, patting my hand as she does.

"Oh, I see. Well, that's okay. I'll just take my lunch out on the porch. See you for dinner?"

"Of course. You and I can eat dinner together. Your father has a meeting at the Capitol on Monday so he'll likely leave on the train this evening. It'll be just us so we can sit out on the porch if you'd like."

I just nod and head out the screen door to the porch. My tuna salad sandwich is tasteless in my mouth. Not because it isn't good. I just hate being so alone. And I hadn't known about my father's meeting in the Capitol. I hated when he was gone overnight. When I was younger, Mabel would stay overnight in one of the guest rooms so I wouldn't be alone in the house. Now that I'm older she doesn't need to do that anymore so she goes home at the end of the evening like normal. Tomorrow was Sunday so she wouldn't be coming over at all. It would just be myself and whomever she hired to work the garden. My mother would be accompanying my father to the capitol. Whenever he had to travel there for meetings he would always use it as an opportunity to have her see various medical specialists there in the hopes that one of them could help ease her pain. Well, at least I wouldn't be totally alone. Especially when I'm so happy. It's killing my mood. I finish my lunch and head up to my room.

When I enter my bedroom I see that Mabel has cleaned it and put a bud vase of fresh flowers on my vanity. White gardenia, from the bushes out front. Oh Mabel and her little sweet touches.

I go to flop down on my bed when I notice a box and card there. Sliding the card out of it's envelope I see it's a note from my father.

Madge,

Your Mother would be so proud of the woman you are becoming. Your newfound interest in gardening would surely delight her as it was always a favorite pastime of hers. Here is a little something I know she'd love for you to have. Enjoy sweetie and I'll see you soon.

Much Love,

Father

Opening the box reveals a straw hat with a faded blue polka dotted sash tied around it. It's my mother's old gardening hat. I didn't even know it still existed. The tears are spilling freely down my face and I welcome them. These are happy tears. Happy to feel as if I'm sharing a bond with my mother.

Author's Note:

Thank you to all my reviewers and readers! Your support continues to inspire my writing! I realize this chapter wasn't the most exciting of chapters but it lays some of the groundwork for later chapters so it's essential even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment.

Kinkajous17- Your review may have been one of the nicest things I've ever been told. I really appreciate your kind words and hope my writing continues to be enjoyable for you. I do try to write as descriptively as possible so the reader can really see what I'm picturing as I write. I really feel as if the more you can "see" it the more realistic it seems to the reader.

Junebugz21-Thank you for your multiple reviews! As for Gale's character, I am intentionally writing him as difficult to understand at this point. For now he is filled with a lot of uncertainty in regards to how he feels (about everything) and his anger seems misdirected because he himself isn't 100% sure who or what he is angry about. He won't always be so uncertain or so angry though. Eventually he will know exactly how he feels about life, Katniss, Madge and everything in between! As for the grammatical errors, they aren't the first and won't be the last. It isn't my strong suit but I will continue make an effort to correct them when I notice them. Hopefully they won't detract to terribly much from your enjoyment of the story!