The smell of braised rabbit lingered in the air. At first, it made my mouth water as it invaded my nostrils, but now it was an unwanted guest staying well beyond the duration of the meal.
I know the rabbit bones will be ground up by Mom to be used as an extra source of calcium and iron. She had a knack for using every piece; a talent honed by necessity. She'd grown up in a family of nine. With so many kids, it was a miracle they'd managed to survive. Their's had been a coal mining family, and scraping by became their specialty.
She'll be waiting for me, I think. Getting up, I grabbed the rupsack filled with today's strawberry pickings and make my way out of the house and into the street.
James and Klizor, my two younger brothers, run past me laughing, trying to coax me to join in their game of tag.
"You'll never catch us, Gale! We're not little rabbits for you to snare," says Klizor. James only sticks his tongue out, almost tripping in the proccess.
"I'm heading out," I say.
I don't know how to connect with my brothers. That being said, I have a hard time connecting with my little sister or mother too. I am the provider, yet the son; the caretaker, yet the brother; the hunter, yet the helpless. Because what I am is not defineable, I do not know where I stand. These hard times forced me to grow up fast - too fast. I am uncomfortable in how my family depends on me. That pressure keeps me tense at home. Unable to relax, I can't relate or bond with my family. I can only bring food and help them survive. I hope they can understand this gesture as my duty.
Before I know it, I reach the Mayor's house. Instead of going to the backdoor, I make my way around the now-familiar path along the side of the house and into a door that remains mostly unused.
Three raps on the door. It swings open before I can rest my hand at my side.
"Gale! I didn't think you'd come," Madge says.
"And why wouldn't I? It's Tuesday," I say.
"Well, it's just that... Well you know she-" says Madge, but I interrupt her.
"Be quiet. I have to check my traps before dark. That gives us only 20 minutes." Pulling her in abruptly, I silence her mouth with my lips.
I thought I knew Prim's older sister. We'd been friends, if you can call it that. She was different from the other girls. She had dark olive eyes, like mine. When I looked into her eyes, I felt like they were a mirror and I could see myself. She wasn't who I thought she was.
This girl left District 12 to participate in the Hunger Games. Well, I guess "participate" isn't the best of words. Her sister Prim was chosen and she went instead. Unfortunately, that blockhead Peeta was the male champion of District 12 and also competed in the games.
I used to spend a lot of time with this girl. We only really saw each other when it was just the two of us out in the woods. Always so cool and aloof, I thought all along that that was just her personality. All along, I'd been ignoring the signs. She wasn't interested. It wasn't until I saw her react to Peeta's approaches on the screen that I realized what she's really like when she likes someone.
In my anger, I went to the Mayor's house. It was the only localized place I could think of to voice my opinion. They were the representatives of the Capitol. They were the ones that didn't have to hunt for food. They were the ones that don't have to grind up rabbit bones to fight off malnutrition.
It was Madge that opened the door. She knew about me and this girl and I saw pity in her eyes. I had to make that look leave her face. I suppressed the urge to hit her, and before I knew it I had pulled her in and was kissing her.
I go back every Tuesday. If the Capitol can just reap the work of our people, than I'm going to return the favor. The Mayor doesn't know. But that's how the best traps work. The noose is around some pathetic animal's neck and it's dead before it knows it.
I leave Madge with the strawberries. I won't let her pay me. I pay her.
There aren't any traps to check. I walk home to my bed where I won't sleep.
This girl's train will be here tomorrow. She has forgotten me. I have forgotten her. I will forget her.
