When my father died

Our mother

The cat crows somewhere in the distance. My cat has always made funny noises, but today I couldn't find the humor.
I had drifted in and out of sleep last night, but I still don't believe what we were told. My father wasn't dead, he simply couldn't be. He just had to work the night. At least I told my self that. It kept the tears at bay.
My sister Katniss came into the room. I knew she was trying to be strong, I wanted to do what she did. But I couldn't. My face crumpled and she held open her arms.
All thoughts of being strong seemed to leave me as I rushed forward. She whispers comforting sounds in my ear and rubs my back.
My thoughts are still a whirl but one thought sticks.
"Katniss?" I ask tentatively
"Yes?" She replies pulling back a little to look at me.
"Why isn't " I sniff and she waits patiently "where is mom?" I ask. I don't want to seem ungrateful to Katniss but usually out mother is the one who handles tears. Katniss's face turns grim. I know she wants to hide hard stuff from me, but she isn't good at keeping secrets. At least not yet.
"She's still asleep" she whispers. I look at the clock, it's 12:00. She wakes up at 7:00 every day. " she's awake..." She hesitates "but still asleep."
I give her a confused look. How can she be asleep and awake at the same time? But when I walk into the other room that is the only thing I can think.
Her ivory blond hair is uncombed around her face. She always tells us to look presentable, we don't have a lot of money but we have enough. Her eyes are dull, like she's still sleeping, but she sits up. She says nothing as I go over to her and take her hand.
I look at Katniss to our mother, Katniss to our mother, Katniss to our mother over and over until I say
"Katniss? Get me a brush, I can do it this morning" that's how it went.