A/N - Hello! Chapter 4 is here and ready! Now.. I'm sorry but Peeta is coming in the next chapter, not this chapter. I apologize, this chapter took a bit of a different route then I planned. But I like it, hopefully you will too! I love the Posy moments in this chapter. Now the lullaby in this chapter is one I found online, I think it's on youtube if you want to know the tune, but just so you know I didn't write it or anything.
Now, I will have chapter 5 either up late tomorrow(Sunday) night(U.S. EST) OR sometime Monday, and it WILL have some Peeta in it! :D :D The next chapter is going to be great! Hopefully you guys enjoyed chapter 3 and will enjoy this chapter, chapter 4! Tell me what ya think!? Much love - Macayla
How in the world am I supposed to answer that question to an almost five year old? And why would Prim even say something like that? Joking or not, she shouldn't of said that. Just as I'm controlling my laughter, Gale comes over and picks Posy up. Setting her on his hip.
"Well, my little Princess, that's something you'll learn about when you get older." He says while grabbing the napkin off the table and wiping her mouth that has pudding smeared all across it.
"But I want to know now, Gale Gale's! I'm a big girl!" Posy says with a disappointment in her tone.
"Yes, you are a big girl Pos. But you have to be a really, really big girl." Replies Gale. I watch as Posy's brows cease in concentration.
"I'll ask Mama. She'll tell me!" Says Posy confidently. I cover my mouth with my hand to hold in my laugh.
"Good going, Prim!" He says while placing a now grinning Posy back into her seat. She resumes eating her pudding.
Just then the front door swings open, hitting the wall loudly.
"Hey hey hey!"
I have my back turned toward the door, but there's no mistaking Rory's voice when you hear it. Gale slides into the seat next to Posy.
"There a thing called knocking. Try it." I say over my shoulder teasingly. Gale and Prim laugh.
Rory slides his arm over my shoulders. It feels good to finally have our old, playful, joking Rory back. He's only been talking to me again for the past week or so. But it helped when Hazel told him he could have Gale's old room.
"So, what we be talking about?" He asks while giving me a wink. I just roll my eyes.
"Sex!" Says Posy in her high pitch toddler voice.
For the second time, I almost fall out of my seat. Prim puts her forehead on the table, hiding her laugh, and Gale's biting his bottom lip to hide his.
"Whoa. Tough subject there?" He says. I was expecting some kind of joke from him. But I think it even caught him off guard.
"No we weren't!" Replies Gale.
Gale tells him what Prim said and Rory just laughs and shrugs it off. We go over to Hazel's house and eat some of the pudding she made. It's been at least a year since I've had it and it's one of my favorites, so I gladly accept it. We decide the pudding filled us up so I do nothing but play with Posy all afternoon while Gale helps Hazel with a few things around the house. I ask if she needs my help, but she turns it down. Posy, Prim and I are making crowns with flowers in the living room when Gale comes in from outside, taking a seat on the couch I'm leaning against.
"What you girls doing?" He asks.
"We are making crowns!" Says Posy while jumping up, putting her half way down crown on her head.
"Their perfect for the three most beautiful Princess's!" Replies Gale.
Posy's eye's brighten at Gale's words. She comes over to in front Gale, next to me-
"Am I really a Princess?" She asks. I smile at her excitement and so does Prim. But just then Hazel calls for her from the kitchen.
"You are, Posy. That why I always call you Princess!" Replies Gale. She turns toward me and I wrap one of my arms around her tiny figure.
"Am I, Kat Kat?" She asks. I've never been a fan of children, but I adore Posy.
"No. Your not. You're a queen!" I say. I hear Gale give a light laugh from behind me.
"Really?" Says Posy gasping with excitement.
"Really!" I reply.
I join Gale on the couch and he wraps his arm around my waist as we listen for the next five minutes what would happen if she was queen. Me and Gale do nothing but smile and nod our heads. I think she's talking more to herself then to us. I listen to every word, but one sentence catches me a bit off guard-
"And then, in my Kingdom, there would be lots and lots of food so no one dies hungry like here."
I can almost hear the sadness in her voice, but she quickly regains her excited spirit and continues telling us about her 'Kingdom'. I exchange a concern look to Gale, but he just gives me a sad smile. It is sad that Posy, a four year old, would say and know about something like that. But here in District 12, it's the sad reality.
I never thought Posy would shut up but she finally does when her name gets called from Vick's room. She skips off to answer her brother. As soon as she's out of sight Gale starts laughing.
"She's so cute!" I say through a smile.
"That she is." He replies.
Later on that evening during the Sunset, we catch up on our hunting. Getting several Squirrels, a few Rabbits and Fish and a beaver that swam into the net. We make a quick dinner once were back home and retire to bed, but not without finishing the game he started last night.
XX
That morning I awake with the early Sunday morning sun peering into the room. I reclose my eyes at the brightness and turn over, seeking Gale's warmth. Instead I'm met with a cold, empty space. I open my eyes to find just that and sigh. Where in the world could he be? My question is soon answered when I smell something coming from the kitchen downstairs. Breakfast is a rare thing in the seam, thankfully though, with the hunting that Gale and I do, were able to eat it more often then most people. I decide to wait for Gale to come get me, but after a few minutes of laying there and smelling the food, I can't take it any longer. I quickly get out of bed and make my way down the stairs. I get in the kitchen just as he's taking whatever he's cooking off the stove. He doesn't know I'm here yet, so I walk up behind him, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head on his back.
"Good morning, sweet pea. Sleep good?" He asks.
"Yes. You?" I ask, too through a yawn.
"I did." He replies.
We sit down at the table to a breakfast of chopped rabbit. There's little conversation until he mentions tomorrow. My first day as the Music Teacher. I tell him about my nervousness and excitement. But like he says, it is a plus that our have Prim, Rory and Vick. And even Posy in a few months when she starts school.
"Are you excited for Posy to start school?" I ask.
Posy has always been Gale's little girl, and like I'm a mother to Prim, Gale's a father to Posy. Gale's the only father figure in her life, never having met her own. Gale told me once, that when she started talking, she would call him 'dada'. He said it was sweet and sad at the same time, more sadder then cute.
"Yeah, just sad to see her growing up." He says while moving the food on his plate around with his fork.
I nod my head in reply and we finish eating in silence. We quickly get the dishes done and then I start working on tomorrow's music lesson.
All afternoon and evening, only stopping for a quick lunch, I shift through the box of sheet music I brought home. It's full of old songs and lullabies. I come across an old lullaby my father use to sing me called 'Sweeter The Dawn'. It starts off rather sad at first-
A cold winter night Not long agoDeep in a forest in fresh fallen snowThe stars were as bright as the eyes of a fawnCuddled close to her mother, awaiting the dawn
Mamma I'm cold. Baby, I knowSoon the sun will rise and your shivers will goAnd this bitter wind, it will be goneThe colder the night the sweeter the dawn
A baby bunny was hopping near byMamma and fawn, they heard him cryCome here little bunny Tell us what's wrongWhy are you out in this wind cold and strong
The bunny hopped over, sniffled and saidI wish I was home, all snug in my bedBut I lost my family somewhere in the stormNow I'm all alone, and not very warm
Then the last bit becomes more happy-
Sweet heart it's too cold to be out aloneTomorrow we'll find them But tonight we're your homeCome cuddle with us, the sun won't be longThe colder the night the sweeter the dawn
They cuddled and waited for the morning lightAnd little by little the sky became brightThe sun warmed their faces, and then said the fawnThe colder the night the sweeter the dawn
The tune is pretty easy and only repeats itself each verse, As long as the older, younger kids can get it, the tiny ones will. And it's pretty easy for me to play on the Piano. The song floods old memories of my father. He would mostly sung it to me before bed, but sometimes when we were in the woods, too. I remember how the Mockingjay's would fall completely silent at his voice.
It's late evening by the time I choose this song. Gale's cooking dinner not just for the two of us, but Prim, my mother and his family. They all come over just in time and we sit down for a dinner of Beaver Stew. The conversation is light and of course Hazel asks me about tomorrow, I reply the same answer to her as I have been to everyone that asks. After dinner we play a few rounds of 'go fish' until it's bed time. Everyone goes home, leaving Gale and I alone. I quickly go upstairs to wash and change into my old faded nightgown, letting my hair down from it's braid. I walk out of the bathroom to find Gale already tucked into bed waiting on me. I slip into the covers on my side, resting my head on his chest. I know he can tell I'm nervous, especially when he starts running his fingers through my hair. It calms me though-
"Don't be scared about tomorrow, alright?" He asks soothingly. I never understand how his voice can be so deep and manly but yet so soothing. I nod my head in reply.
I quickly find sleep to the sound of Gale's heartbeat against my ear.
XX
I wake to the sound of birds chirping and the early morning sun light just making it's appearance through the window. Sadly though, No Gale. He leaves for the mines before I even wake. I slowly crawl my way out of bed and over to my dresser. I'm to nervous to eat anything, although I know I need to.
I open the top drawer of the dresser,
Professional clothes?
I pull out the clothes that Hazel gave me. She actually gave me nice, professional looking clothes. Back before she married Gale's father, she use to do something in the offices at the school. I can't remember what exactly, she wasn't a teacher though.
I pull on a black fitted skirt that cuts off right above my knees, and a plain blue, shirt sleeved v-neck shirt. Surprisingly, everything fits well. I hate wearing skirts just as much as I hate wearing dresses. But I quickly get over it and walk into the bathroom. I look into the mirror, undeceiving rather or not to braid my hair or not. But I choose the latter and only brush it out. When my hair's down, it makes me look older and… more professional. I try to completely take my mind off of the school and continuing focusing on getting dressed. I contemplate the plain black heels my mother gave me, or my black flats. I end up choosing the latter again. I never wear heels. I've only wore then once to my grade graduation last year and I almost tripped on the little plat form. Gale still holds that against me.
I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen to find a little brown bag on the counter with a note on it-
Catnip,
I made you a lunch to bring with you. I know you'll do great, hon. Everyone, including myself, believe's in you. I know that you father couldn't be prouder of you, I am. I have a surprise for you later. I love you very much!
Gale.
I open the bag to find some of the left over Beaver Stew and a piece of stale bread. Teacher's eat lunch the same time that all the grades do. I hadn't even thought about lunch, thankfully Gale did though. I take the note and place it in the bag. I wonder what the surprise is? He knows I hate surprises!
I take the bag and stuff it into my game bag as well as the few copies of the song I'll be teaching. I sling the bag over my shoulder and head out the door. I try to control my shacking as I make my way to the school, but I don't have any luck. The town is pretty empty at this time of the morning, the only people out are the merchants preparing to open their business's. A few of them smile at me and I return it. I'm completely lost in my own thought about the song when I bump into someone, knocking us both down on the ground and shattering a few of the bottles the man has all over myself and him. I quickly realize the bottles are liquor and the man is our District game mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. He stands quickly and I do the same. There's no missing the total rage on his face-
"Damn it girl! Watch where the hell your going!" He shouts at me.
I don't even have time to say anything before he's walking past me. I'm pretty sure I hear him mutter the words 'damn teenagers'. I look down to find my shirt and skirt not completely, but pretty good and wet with the liquor he spilled on me. That's just great! I'll be going to my first day at work reeking of alcohol! That will make a nice impression?
I quickly take out an old rag I carry around in my bag and do my best patting myself dry. It helps, but not that smell that's now coming from me. I stuff the rag back into my bag with frustration. There's not much I can do about the smell but tell the truth if anyone asks.
I continue my now short walk to the school. I pretty much jog though knowing I'm now running several minutes behind. The teachers are to be there at least an hour early and I'm well over thirty minutes late. I get to the school breathlessly and open the front doors, racing down the mostly empty hallways and to the music room. I get there, expecting to use the key to unlock the door, but it's already unlocked and wide open. I walk in to find Principle Maddox sitting in one of the chairs, clearly waiting on me.
"We need to talk, Katniss." She says angrily.
Chapter 5 Preview: What will Principle Maddox say to Katniss about being late, and the alcohol smell? Will she believe her, or not? Who will defend her? A certain bakers son? And what will happen when Gale brings up a diffucelt conversation and question to Katniss?