The Tributes

           WhenIwakeup,theothersideofthebediscold. Myfingersstretchout,seekingPrim’swarmth butfindingonlytheroughcanvascoverofthemattress. Shemusthavehadbaddreams andclimbedinwithourmother. Ofcourse,shedid.Thisisthedayofthereaping. 

           Ipropmyselfupononeelbow. There’senoughlightinthebedroomtoseethem. Mylittlesister,Prim,curleduponherside,cocoonedinmymother’sbody,theircheekspressedtogether. Insleep,mymotherlooksyounger,stillwornbutnotsobeaten-down. Prim’sfaceisasfreshasaraindrop,aslovelyastheprimroseforwhichshewasnamed. Mymotherwasverybeautifulonce,too.Orsotheytellme. 

           SittingatPrim’sknees,guardingher,istheworld’sugliestcat. Mashed-innose,halfofoneearmissing,eyesthecolorofrottingsquash. PrimnamedhimButtercup,insistingthathismuddyyellowcoatmatchedthebrightflower. Hehatesme. Oratleastdistrustsme. Eventhoughitwasyearsago,IthinkhestillremembershowItriedtodrownhiminabucketwhenPrimbroughthimhome. Scrawnykitten,bellyswollenwithworms,crawlingwithfleas. ThelastthingIneededwasanothermouthtofeed. ButPrimbeggedsohard,criedeven,Ihadtolethimstay. Itturnedoutokay. Mymothergotridoftheverminandhe’sabornmouser. Evencatchestheoccasionalrat. Sometimes,whenIcleanakill, IfeedButtercuptheentrails. Hehasstoppedhissingatme. 

           Entrails.Nohissing. Thisistheclosestwewillevercometolove. 

           Iswingmylegsoffthebedandslideintomyhuntingboots.