Голодные игры

           Wecan’tleave,sowhybothertalkingaboutit? Andevenifwedid,evenifwedid,wheredidthisstuffabouthavingkidscomefrom? There’sneverbeenanythingromanticbetweenGaleandme. Whenwemet,Iwasaskinnytwelve-year-old,andalthoughhewasonlytwoyearsolder,healreadylookedlikeaman. Ittookalongtimeforustoevenbecomefriends,tostophagglingovereverytradeandbeginhelpingeachotherout. 

           Besides,ifhewantskids,Galewon’thaveanytroublefindingawife. He’sgood-looking,he’sstrongenoughtohandletheworkinthemines,andhecanhunt. Youcantellbythewaythegirlswhisperabouthimwhenhewalksbyinschoolthattheywanthim. Itmakesmejealousbutnotforthereasonpeoplewouldthink. Goodhuntingpartnersarehardtofind. 

           "Whatdoyouwanttodo? "Iask. Wecanhunt,fish,orgather. 

           "Let’sfishatthelake. Wecanleaveourpolesandgatherinthewoods. Getsomethingnicefortonight,"hesays. 

           Tonight. Afterthereaping,everyoneissupposedtocelebrate. Andalotofpeopledo,outofreliefthattheirchildrenhavebeensparedforanotheryear. Butatleasttwofamilieswillpulltheirshutters,locktheirdoors,andtrytofigureouthowtheywillsurvivethepainfulweekstocome. 

           Wemakeoutwell. Thepredatorsignoreusonadaywheneasier,tastierpreyabounds. Bylatemorning,wehaveadozenfish,abagofgreensand,bestofall,agallonofstrawberries. Ifoundthepatchafewyearsago,butGalehadtheideatostringmeshnetsaroundittokeepouttheanimals.