Голодные игры

           TheideathatImighteverhavebeendiscussed,aroundthedinnertable,atthebakeryfire,justinpassinginPeeta’shousegivesmeastart.Itmusthavebeenwhenthemotherwasoutoftheroom.

           "Heknewyourmotherwhentheywerekids,"saysPeeta.

           Anothersurprise.Butprobablytrue."Oh,yes.Shegrewupintown,"Isay.Itseemsimpolitetosayshenevermentionedthebakerexcepttocomplimenthisbread.

           We’reatmydoor.Igivebackhisjacket."Seeyouinthemorningthen."

           "Seeyou,"hesays,andwalksoffdownthehall.

           WhenIopenmydoor,theredheadedgirliscollectingmyunitardandbootsfromwhereIleftthemonthefloorbeforemyshower.Iwanttoapologizeforpossiblygettingherintroubleearlier.ButIrememberI’mnotsupposedtospeaktoherunlessI’mgivingheranorder.

           "Oh,sorry,"Isay."IwassupposedtogetthosebacktoCinna.I’msorry.Canyoutakethemtohim?"

           Sheavoidsmyeyes,givesasmallnod,andheadsoutthedoor.

           I’dsetouttotellherIwassorryaboutdinner.ButIknowthatmyapologyrunsmuchdeeper.ThatI’mashamedInevertriedtohelpherinthewoods.ThatIlettheCapitolkilltheboyandmutilateherwithoutliftingafinger.

           JustlikeIwaswatchingtheGames.

           Ikickoffmyshoesandclimbunderthecoversinmyclothes.Theshiveringhasn’tstopped.Perhapsthegirldoesn’tevenrememberme.ButIknowshedoes.Youdon’tforgetthefaceofthepersonwhowasyourlasthope.Ipullthecoversupovermyheadasifthiswillprotectmefromtheredheadedgirlwhocan’tspeak