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Katniss Everdeen. Top selling author and billionaire. That’s what everyone knows her as. But no one ever mentions the fact that she’s a divorcee and single mother of five. Of course people know that, but no one thinks it’s important. No one except Katniss. She doesn’t see herself as successful like everyone else sees her. She sees herself as being a failure. She refuses to believe that she’s a good example for young girls. She was a teen mum for crying out loud, who wants their daughter to aspire to be like her? But she fails to see herself for what she truly is – a fighter. She’s been strong for a long time and her strength and courage are what people look up to – not the age she was when she fell pregnant with her first born.
She fell pregnant with her eldest when she was just thirteen years old. The father, her boyfriend Gale was fifteen at the time. Everyone expected him to leave her, but he didn’t. When their son, Jeremy, was born nine months later he was there to hold her hand through the difficult labour. Gale was responsible, unlike other boys his age, and was always there to help his girlfriend raiser their son. However, there was still some doubt about whether he’d stay for the long run.
Three years later Katniss fell pregnant again. She was sixteen and he was eighteen when they welcomed their daughter, Peggy, into the world. By this time Gale was finished school and moved out of his mother’s home. He had offered to have Katniss and the children move in with him, but Katniss’ mother decided that it was best that her daughter stayed at home until after she graduated. She was able to take care of her grandchildren during school hours.
Two years later Katniss graduated high school and she and the children moved in with Gale. Life became more challenging after that. She was only eighteen and Gale only twenty with a five year old son and a two year old daughter. Gale worked full time as a landscaper and Katniss worked part time as a waitress at a small café. Jeremy was now in school and the enrolled Peggy in day-care. By now people were starting to believe that what Katniss and Gale had might last.
The next year Gale proposed. Katniss said yes, of course, and they got married three months later on the 23rd of June. It was a beautiful beach wedding and Jeremy and Peggy were part of the wedding party. Now everyone knew that their relationship was going to last.
Their next children were conceived on their wedding night. Twins. A boy and a girl. Eric and Erin were welcomed into the world and increased their family to a family of six. They had now outgrown their two bedroom apartment so they moved into a four bedroom house. Jeremy and Peggy were excited to both have their own room for the first time in their memories.
The final child in their family, Ellie, was born on the twins second birthday. Now a family of seven Katniss thought her life was now complete with everything anyone could ever want, except becoming a published author but that was never going to happen. But, on the night of their fourth wedding anniversary Katniss came home late to find Gale in bed with another woman. She packed up hers and the children’s belongings and left instantly. The divorce papers were signed not long after.
Now a billionaire author she’s decided that it’s time to find a place as far away from everything as possible. She wants to leave the troubles of society and live with her children in a calm environment. An added bonus will be that her writing isn’t influenced by the impurities of those around her; she knows enough about the troubles of society to make her stories realistic without petty problems leaking into them. On top of all that her family was getting older. She was now 26, Jeremy 13, Peggy 10, the twins 6 and Ellie 5. They were much too big to be living cramped up in a normal sized house. They all needed their own space, something their current living arrangement couldn’t provide. Katniss had plenty of money so there was no need to be living in what felt like a shoe box, they were only there for convenience. It was time to upsize – majorly.
“I’ll take it.” Katniss said to the real-estate agent who had just finished showing her around Mellark Mansion.
“It’s a bit large for just one person, don’t you think?” The real-estate agent asked, she looked as if she wanted to get away from the mansion as quickly as possible. “Are you planning on renting out rooms? ‘Cause I don’t think you’ll get much interest.”
“Oh, no.” Katniss said. “I have five children. They’ll love all the extra space we’ll have here.”
“I really don’t think you should bring children her.” The real-estate agent said.
“Why not?” Katniss questioned.
“Because it’s haunted.”
“Oh, don’t be silly.” Katniss laughed. “Now, can I buy it or not?”
But perhaps Katniss shouldn’t have laughed off the real-estate agent. Perhaps then she’d know what lay ahead of her. For Mellark Mansion was in fact haunted by the ghost of the cantankerous and nefarious Peeta Mellark.
Author’s Note: So what do you think? This story was inspired by a story posted by MTK4FUN. I have her permission to use the ideas and would like to thank her for granting me that permission. I’m only assuming that she is in fact a girl. I actually don’t know and it’ll be really awkward now if he’s a guy. Maybe I shouldn’t just assume that everyone who writes fan fiction is a girl until otherwise stated. Stereotypical aren’t I. I’m sorry. I might just leave before this gets weird and I reveal my life secrets. I should get back to assignments anyways. Thanks for reading. – Sean (I am a girl. Don’t question my name.)