Under the Willow

Chapter 16

I've only been scared of Katniss once.

     In the summertime, a few weeks after Katniss returned from the games, Effie sent a list of things for Katniss to do to consume her time. One of them was planting flowers. I actually admired this hobby and decided to plant roses as a surprise for Katniss. They were all bright red, beautiful and showy. When it came the day to present them, her smile faded.
  " Katniss, what's wrong?"
She kept walking straight toward one of the rose bushes that was the first one I planted with no response.
" Katniss?" I asked, and managed to brush my fingertips against her sweater. As she turned around, she was holding a rose. But this one was different, almost frightening. Half of it was it's normal,  red- rose color. The other half was white, beautiful, and almost perfect. Katniss starting walking and took a pair of garden pliers that I used for cutting weeds. Instead, she sliced the mixed colored rose's head off. Then, she cut the other roses too. I guess she must've been deaf, because I was screaming, begging her to stop. When she was done, Katniss just dropped the pliers and left.

    So that's how I feel like right now. My heart is cut straight through the middle. I walked slowly down the stairs to see mother cleaning the wood countertops. Trying to make herself useful I figured. " Oh, hello my lovely flower. Will you go get groceries for me? "
She handed me a small pocket bag of coins.
I nodded, and closed the door behind me. There was no time to be sorrowful.

   The cold air blew in my face like a ship's sail.
I wrapped my greyish black cotton jacket around me tighter, and rubbed my hands together. I had taken a pair of scissors and cut holes out of my grey mittens so my fingers could breathe some air. At this moment, I wish I hadn't. Thinking in my mind, I would go to the Hob first, or at least of what was left of it. Ever since it caught on fire, the people set up tents that were deep in the woods, so the Peacekeepers wouldn't find them. Then, I would go to the bakery after to make me feel safer. As I approached the Hob, my stomach was tingling so badly. The oak trees loaned over me like a canopy, making me even more nervous. It went away after Greasy Sae gave me a friendly smile from her tent. "Oh darling you need to put some weight on! Your as skinny as a twig!" She remarked, and filled a cup of hearty potato soup. That was Greasy Sae's responsibility-
To feed everyone she can. Even though I had gained at lest twenty pounds over the year, I accepted  graciously. I sat down at the long wooden table with other other people, but kept a slight distance since it was the first time I've been to the newer Hob. After I finished, I placed my bowl on the counter. " How much do I owe you?" I asked, taking out the bag of coins.
" On the house."
" Bu-"
" Primrose, it's fine darling. Run along."

That was awfully nice. As I went around the Hob, I got more comfortable. As I left I had gotten barley, needles and thread, two bottles of alcohol for the apothecary, a turkey, potatoes, and some cheap fabric. As I was leaving, I saw Holly's cousin, Rain. Rain has the Seam look too, and is only in her twenties. She used to work in the mines, but when a tunnel collapsed, it ruptured her eardrums, causing her to become deaf. Rain can now read lips perfectly.

" Hey Rain, " I said slowly for her to read.
She smiled back. " Hello Prim. It's the first time I've seen you here ," she said in a soft but quiet voice. " Where's your sister?"
I shook my head. " Katniss was reaped again for the Hunger Games. Tomorrow are the interviews." Rain shook her head. " What a shame. " I looked on the table she was presenting, but there wasn't much. I thought it would be rude not to buy something, so I picked up a small brown leather journal.
" How much?" I ask, and I see a smile escape her lips. " Just two coins Prim. I would normally give it to you for free but the bills are just so....." I hand four to her instead. " I know, it's alright Rain."

She smiles brightly. " I have this for free though. Nobody has wanted it. Maybe you might like it," she said, and pulled out a small little box. I opened it, and there was a bracelet.
The hooks were a metal like gold, but in the middle was a silver circle, that was meant to look wornish.
Carved into it was a tree. " This is so beautiful!" I remarked, and stared up at Rain.
" But what does the tree mean?"
" It means your happy and peaceful, but you remain strong."

I took the box and thanked her. Next was the bakery. I ordered my vanilla bean scones, two loaves of bread, and gingerbread hot cakes. I walked home in a hurry, dropped off the groceries, and went up to my room. The first thing I did was copy all the plants from dad's plant book into my new journal. I also added illustrations, which weren't too bad compared to his. As the moon finally came up, I pulled up the covers, and thought about what tree my bracelet was.