The Scores
It's nearly dusk on Sunday when I haul my load back inside the fence of District 12. Katniss and I usually spend Sunday's together, laughing and forgetting some of the trials life has given us. Today it is only a reminder of her. Being in the woods, hunting, gathering, It reminds me of the Capitol and what they've done. It reminds me of what they can do to us, and what we haven't been brave enough to do to them.
I look like a strange kind of creature when I walk to the hob. I have two rabbits in my hand for the Hob, a sack of herbs for Mrs. Everdeen slung around my waist, three squirrels hanging from my belt and a fat turkey in my other hand.
I already know who likes what so I bring my turkey to Cray. He stands in the corner of the Hob, watching young girls walk by with a disturbing amount of interest. He pays me well though; he may be Head Peacekeeper, but he likes to eat and I know where to get his favorites. So I don't interfere with his life as long as Katniss and I can go outside the fence to hunt. I have too many mouths to feed, especially now, to even consider criticizing him.
I take the three squirrels to Greasy Sae today. I can see her already mixing some kind of stew together and as soon as I give her the squirrels, she smiles a toothless smile and puts the stew into a rather large bucket, much more than I pay for, and nods at me, encouraging me to take it and not complain. I slide a coin over, but she slides it back to me.
"I'll pay you back for it when you're not looking you know," I warn her with a grin.
"And then I'll do the same thing another time and then it will keep going…you know." Her laugh is broken, like a cackle, but nowhere near sinister.
Then I hear the booming voice of Caesar Flickerman and the loud horns of the music that plays as his talk show begins. This is the night the training scores are revealed. As I look at the screen, Katniss may be in the room showing off her hunting skills, shooting a bow. I think back to old games in my head and I can recall some boy who had a bow in an arena. I think he started the games off with a seven. The betting really begins tonight and a seven would be a great start for Katniss to get sponsors. Sometimes the kids in our district get a six or seven, but mostly they are just underfed Seam kids who don't have the strength to fight and may get a four or five. The careers get between eight and ten and I have only ever seen a few elevens. I don't think there has ever been a twelve, or if there has I don't remember, it isn't common enough.
I know Mrs. Everdeen won't cook tonight which is why I got the stew. And tonight she won't sleep… none of us will, especially not Katniss. Mrs. Everdeen has been strong for Prim, but every now and then, when no one is looking, I'll see her staring off into space again, blank eyed and gone off into the distance. She has been through so much. First, like my father and countless others, her husband was killed in the mines. But then, her twelve year old, maybe one of the most innocent people on the planet, is reaped in a match to the death. Normally, that is the end… they steel themselves for the loss. But Katniss volunteers and Prim is safe. Should she feel grateful? Or does she wish Katniss hadn't volunteered? She can't win unless Katniss does.
"If I were a betting woman," mutters Greasy Sae, "I'd put my money on her."
"Me too." I thank Greasy Sae again and turn to leave when I nearly run over one of the last people I'd ever expect to see in the Hob: Madge. As the black market of the district, seeing the mayor's daughter in here is almost taboo. Then I notice that everyone is looking at us, her really. I stare at her and she stares back.
"Hi," she finally says and then goes quiet. I nod a courteous hello but say nothing.
I am almost ready to just walk by her now. It is almost too awkward to function through. But then I really realize that she has probably never even been in here before. "You looking for someone?" I ask as I look for who is in here that she may want to see.
She shifts around with her hands behind her. "I was actually looking for you. I have a favor to ask. Could you tell me where the Everdeen's house is? I have something for each of them."
I look back at the screen where Caesar is laughing. "I'm headed there myself. I can bring you. I just need to pick up my brother first. It's on the way."
"Thank you, Gale." She eyes my belt with the two dead rabbits hanging.
I almost start to laugh, but it doesn't seem right to laugh at this girl, so I clear my throat instead. "I'm dropping those off, don't worry."
She smiles and says nothing again. I wave goodbye to Greasy Sae who is still watching me and then I head out with Madge beside me.
Some people eye Madge with suspicion. She is not someone who would normally be in the Seam and everyone knows who she is. We get to my house quickly and I invite her inside. My mother is surprised to see her and I explain why she is here while I hand my mother the rabbits and stew. She takes a few helpings out for her, Posy and Vick. Then I go into the bedroom and grab Rory so we can head over.
"Why can't I come too?" asks Vick.
I bend down and put my hand on his shoulder. "You need to keep mom some company and help her take care of Posy, right?" He nods and sits at the table with a pouty look as we leave.
I keep hold of Rory as we head through the crowded paths. Most people are headed to the square to watch the scores. It's a mandatory viewing too so it will be on every screen no matter where you go, why not make an outing of it? It frustrates me to no end.
I knock on the door and Prim answers. I'm glad I decided to bring Rory because her nervous demeanor changes when he goes into the house. He is energetic and pretty funny when you listen to him, always able to make someone smile. Then Mrs. Everdeen comes over.
"Madge? What a surprise. How are you?"
"I'm doing well. How have you been doing?" It's clear she isn't just asking to be polite.
"I've had better days, but my daughters are both alive today and for that I am grateful. How can I help you, dear?"
She pulls a bag from behind her back that I hadn't even noticed. "I was at the bakery today and Mr. Mellark asked me to get this to you." She pulls out a giant loaf of fresh bread, expensive and still warm, my mouth almost starts drooling at the sight. Then she takes out two cookies. "And I bought these for Prim. I just wanted to let you know that we are all here for you, and rooting for Katniss."
"Madge," gasps Mrs. Everdeen, "This is too much. Don't you spend your money on us, we're fine. And tell Mr. Mellark thank you the next time you see him. This was beyond what he should have done."
"I just wanted you to know," she smiles.
"Thank you, hon. Do you want to stay for food and the training scores?"
Madge shakes her head. "I have to get back home, I know the way now. But thank you for the offer."
She waves goodbye and we call the kids so the four of us sit at the table as we divided up the food. We don't tell them about the cookie yet, but we decide to give half of one to Prim and the other half to Rory and the other cookie can be split between Vick and Posy, who has never had one. We dunk the bread in the stew broth as we watch Caesar in his overdramatic voice and insane outfit talk about the tributes so far. It's brief, what district they came from, and what costumes they wore at the parade. Then he talks about Katniss and Peeta, again calling her the Girl on Fire. Then he gasps as someone obviously tells him that the scores are in.
Prim's cat, Buttercup, rubs up against my leg. I look down as it stares at the screen. "You miss your Catnip too?" I whisper. As if it heard me, Buttercup hisses and jumps up on Prim.
"My friends," he begins, "the training scores are in. I don't know about you, but I cannot wait another second! So without delay, let us see the scores! From District 1," a picture of the boy appears on the screen and behind Caesar's head with his name below it and a blank space for the score, "Marvel with a score of 9!" The nine filled up the screen dramatically as it shrunk back down to fit in its space. Then the girl's picture and name appeared. "And also from District 1: Glimmer with a score of… 8!" The two from District 2 got 10's, unsurprisingly, and the other careers had scores of eight. There weren't too many outstanding ones until District 11.
"Thresh with a score of… 10! Amazing! And from District 11 also is Rue with a score of… 7!" I wondered what the little girl could have done for a seven. Then Peeta's face was on the screen. I could imagine the baker who gave us this bread sitting with his wife and sons anxiously awaiting this score.
"From District 12 we have Peeta with a score of… 8!" I sigh. I remember him being on some sport team so he must have used that skill to get his score. And then I lean forward. The four of us are silent. I find myself holding my breath and then I feel a hand in my own. Mrs. Everdeen is squeezing my hand so tight it begins to turn white. "And finally, last but certainly not least, from District 12: Katniss with a score of… 11! An eleven! The highest score of the games to the Girl on Fire! Whew! This has—" We stop listening to Caesar and sit in silence still.
Prim is the first to break it, her tears are streaming down her face, but this time, she is smiling. "She got an eleven! She got the highest score! She's the best one there! Katniss is going to win! You know she can win!"
In the distance, I can hear the faintest sounds of cheering from the square. I can tell the betting has begun and Katniss has moved up in everyone's eyes. There are sponsors in the Capitol, rich maniacs who will be rooting for her and even put money towards her. Then I find myself letting go of my breath. I squeeze Mrs. Everdeen's hand and she nods to me. I can see a change in her; she sits up straight, and smiles. Hope.
