The Little Duck's Tale

Tuck in your tail.

I woke up about half an hour later. I sat up in my bed and thought. I thought about the horror that I would have to face in only a few hours. Memories of my dream began to bombard my mind. My name being called. The tormenting faces of the crowd. It was all too much.

"Your name's only in once, remember."

Katniss' words made me feel slightly better. She was right, after all. I was only twelve, and my name was only in once. Katniss had taken enough tesserae for our whole family. Even when that wasn't enough, she refused to let me put my name in any more times. I knew she was trying to protect me, but seeing her so hungry made me hate myself for not doing anything to help.

I got up and tiptoed out of my room. To my surprise, mom was standing in the middle of the room, waiting for me. She actually smiled at me. I was confused, but then I realized.

"Let's get you ready, sweetheart."

Mom set a small metal bath out for me, and filled it with water. It wasn't much, but it was all we could afford. Mom obviously wanted me to look nice for the reaping. I had never understood why people thought is was a good idea to dress up nicely so we could watch somebody's children be condemned to death. Whenever I asked mom, she would say I was too young to understand.

I undressed and climbed into the bath. It was slightly too small for me to fit in properly anymore, but, by curling my legs up to my chest, I just managed to squeeze in. Mom came back in with a small jug. She began filling it using the water from the bath and poured it over my head. I tried to insist that I could do it myself, but she just smiled back at me, and poured the water over my matted, grubby hair.

After my bath was over, I went to my room, and found an outfit laid out on my bed.

"Do you like it?"

I turned around. Mom was standing in the doorway, looking hopefully at me.

"I love it. Thanks."

I changed into my new outfit, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My hair hanging down at my shoulders, dripping with water. I thought about Katniss, wondering if she was ok. I tried my best to forget where I was and what was happening at that very moment. I shuddered to myself.

"Would you like me to braid your hair for you?"

Mom was still stood in by the door. She had a small brush in her hand.

"Yes please." I replied smiling back at her.

I almost wished I had said no. The next fifteen minutes were spent sat in a chair with mom pulling and tugging at my hair. I tried my best to sit still, but I couldn't help fidgeting every so often. The brush scratched and yanked the knots in my hair, and mom's hands were shaking uncontrollably. I almost felt sorry for her. She hadn't been the same since my father died. She seemed so distant, just sitting in her chair all day,not saying a word. Katniss didn't feel the same though. She would sometimes spend almost an hour shouting at her, begging her to just say something.

Remembering this reminded me how surprising mom's behaviour today was. It almost seemed like she'd finally managed to put the past behind her, even though I knew that was impossible.

"There you go, sweetheart."

I turned to the mirror. I was surprised to see that my hair had been styled into two neat braids that hung down past my shoulders.

"You look beautiful." Mom looked at me, and smiled. Her eyes seemed to glint in the light that shone from the window.

"Thanks." 

Mom seemed to take my short reply as a request to leave, slowly making her way towards her room. I watched as she left. I knew she cared about me, and Katniss too. She only wanted what was best for us. I knew that it was hard for her.

"Wow! Look at you!"

I jumped, and turned around to see Katniss standing in the doorway, smiling down at me. I ran over to her and flung my arms around her waist. Her t-shirt smelled of wild berries and grass. She knelt down in front of me, brushing my new plaits behind my face and gently kissing my cheek.

"I got something for you."

She clasped my hands in hers, and opened them to reveal a small gold coloured pin. It was a circle shape with a bird on it, sitting on a small arrow.

"It's a Mocking Jay." Katniss explained. "For good luck."

She took the pin, and attached it to my blouse, just bellow the collar. As I turned to leave she called me back.

"Don't forget to tuck in your tail, little duck."  She smiled tucking the back of my blouse into my skirt. I smiled back at her, before running back out of the room.