Голодные игры

           Atleast,Idon’texpectitbecauseIdon’tthinkofDistrict12asaplacethatcaresaboutme.ButashifthasoccurredsinceIsteppeduptotakePrim’splace,andnowitseemsIhavebecomesomeoneprecious.Atfirstone,thenanother,thenalmosteverymemberofthecrowdtouchesthethreemiddlefingersoftheirlefthandtotheirlipsandholdsitouttome.Itisanoldandrarelyusedgestureofourdistrict,occasionallyseenatfunerals.Itmeansthanks,itmeansadmiration,itmeansgood-byetosomeoneyoulove.

           NowIamtrulyindangerofcrying,butfortunatelyHaymitchchoosesthistimetocomestaggeringacrossthestagetocongratulateme."Lookather.Lookatthisone!"hehollers,throwinganarmaroundmyshoulders.He’ssurprisinglystrongforsuchawreck."Ilikeher!"Hisbreathreeksofliquorandit’sbeenalongtimesincehe’sbathed."Lotsof."Hecan’tthinkofthewordforawhile."Spunk!"hesaystriumphantly."Morethanyou!"hereleasesmeandstartsforthefrontofthestage."Morethanyou!"heshouts,pointingdirectlyintoacamera.

           IsheaddressingtheaudienceorishesodrunkhemightactuallybetauntingtheCapitol?I’llneverknowbecausejustashe’sopeninghismouthtocontinue,Haymitchplummetsoffthestageandknockshimselfunconscious.

           He’sdisgusting,butI’mgrateful.Witheverycameragleefullytrainedonhim,Ihavejustenoughtimetoreleasethesmall,chokedsoundinmythroatandcomposemyself.Iputmyhandsbehindmybackandstareintothedistance.