Broken Wings

Chapter 17

My dad was the best there was. Thanks to him I am as good with my bow as I am now. He was always calm and though stern very forgiving. No matter how many birds or rabbits I missed he would encourage me to never give up and made sure I acknowledged the improvements I made. When my Father gave praise it meant the world to me, because he didn't give it for things that didn't deserve praise. That was one of the best parts of my dad, his honesty. He would always be straight with me, never keeping anything from me. If it was important, I knew about it. One of my best memories as a small child started that way.

My dad was working longer hours and that meant less food in the house. It went on for weeks and my father was becoming more tired which eventually led to a work accident. My father started cutting corners and taking unnecessary risks causing a balance beam to break. Thankfully there was no cave in but my dad hurt his foot. I remember that Prim and I kept quiet just in case Mom and Dad would start the fight they thought they were hiding.

When everyone else was asleep I went to get some water and found my dad at the table.

I saw this as an opportunity and asked the question I had being thinking about for a while.

"Dad, why are you and Mom fighting?" I must have startled him a little because he flinched at my voice. Probably expecting my mom.

"Your Mom is upset with me because I was stupid at work. Now my foot is busted, and I can't bring food home from the woods." Was his response as he hugged me. "And why are you up?"

"I wanted some water. Why were you stupid at work?" This made him laugh as poured me a cup of water. "You get straight to the point don't you. Here is your water my little grasshopper." I sat down at the table and retrieved my cup from his hand. Once I was settled, I waited for him to continue.

"We have a big order at work, meaning they need me and the others to work harder. It is a lot on us while still trying to provide for the families and we... well I, am tired. Being tired can make people do stupid things, which is why I was stupid at work."

"Oh" is all I could think to say and that was pretty much the end of it. My dad tucked me back in bed, kissed my head goodnight and left.

The next day I thought about it a lot at school. The conclusion my train of thought came to was that I would help my dad. If I helped him, he would be less tired and safer at work. Since I couldn't help him in the mine, I could help him in the woods. My dad had given me my first bow and arrows a month prior and was getting better. If I could shoot some dinner my dad wouldn't have to.

After school I asked my mom if I could spend some time outside before dinner. Since she was busy with Prim, she let me go and I ran out to the meadow. When I got my bow and arrows out of the log, I waited by a near by pond where I had seen ducks a few days before. I waited for about an hour as silent as a my eight-year-old self could be, until finally I saw the ducks since they were moving slowly, I was able to shoot one in the neck. I was so excited at my first solo hunt I dove into pond after the duck and started walking back dripping wet.

When I got home my mom was calling around for me. I realised that I had been gone for about two hours and my mom had gotten worried. I held the duck behind my back as a surprised and called out to her.

"Here I am. You'll never guess what I did." I was so happy with myself. My mother wasn't so much though, she was both yelling at me and hugging me at the same time.

"Audrey, I can't find her anywhere! Has she come ho..." my father's voice cuts off as he sees me. "Oh, Katniss you scared us half to death." Both pedants where now hugging me and saying so much at once that I couldn't explain. Finally, they pulled back, and my mother asked me where I had been, and I held up the wet bird in response. The silence that follows made me reconsider if this was a good idea. The only reassuring this was the smile that started tugging at my father's mouth. Slowly his mouth went from a gasp to a grin and the grin turned into a beam as my world turned entirely. "Well done grasshopper well done!" my dad said with pride as he spun me in circles. My dad went on and on about how clever, brave, and patient I had been to get such a bird. All he said touched my heart and I was full of pride.