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It was a morning like no other. Daylight peaked through the windows. Peeta snuggles her, just as he has every day for the past 18 years. Stirring in bed, his nose in her hair, not yet braided. Usually, they woke up as the sun was rising, and they watched it snuggled together. It was their tradition, one that had grown into a gratitude practice. It was a luxury to wake up together, the breeze sneaking into their room through the slightly open window. It was mid-August, so the air still had a summer freshness to it right before cooling down for autumn. Their front yard tree swayed, the leaves dancing for them. Birds outside serenaded them, like they usually did, thankful for the seeds Katniss left for them, in the gorgeous bird feeders Peeta built and painted for them.
But it was not any August morning. It was an August morning like no other, the long awaited morning. Dreaded by Katniss, feeling far away, unreal. Yet it had arrived. His embrace should calm her nerves. After all, they’re facing this together. She knew this was coming, and it should be a cause of celebration. Really. It is mostly her overprotective nerves that were winning.
Staring blankly at space, she feels Peeta’s chest rise, and fall, and rise again. He’s waking up, and she’s relieved. She can’t face this day alone.
Even though she’s had much harder days, this one feels a special type of scary. Not that Willow feels any fear, counting down the days excitedly. Last night, she created a “special dance” before going to bed with the biggest smile. Katniss had to coax her to bed early, with the little thing jumping around the kitchen, and the hallway, and fantasizing about her first day of school. She asked if there would be other children, if she would make friends, if there would be crayons available, and if her teacher would be as sweet as Aunt Effie.
Katniss explained that she would be able to make friends, or so she silently hoped, crossing her fingers that there would be no teasing, no bothering sweet Willow, none of the new kids recognizing Willow for who her parents are and asking one too many questions. Peeta explained that there would be crayons, markers and paints, and, Willow sweetheart, Daddy himself donated some supplies for the kids in school! So you will feel right at home, right at Daddy’s studio.
As for her teacher, she was happy, all smiles, twenty something. That type of attitude was very important after the war, and she was young when the war ended. Katniss had the pleasure of meeting her a few weeks prior, and she helped smooth over all of Katniss’s questions. Quite frankly, Andressa was a tad bit nervous herself, having only a few months in District 12. Originally from District 4, she left after finishing her studies. She had already taught the District 7 children for a year, but she did not quite feel the click she was looking for.
Peeta’s hand started caressing her hair, starting to wake up, while Katniss had already gone over the day ten times. Every possible outcome is coldly analyzed.
“Good morning, my love.” His voice raspy, her heart still dipped whenever he called her that, which is several times a day. He plants a kiss on her forehead, “ready for today?”
“Mhm,” murmurs Katniss, and he squeezes her tighter into his chest.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make blueberry pancakes for breakfast, and her lunch is nearly done. Just have to pack it”
She squeezes him right back, and groans. “I know, Peeta”
“And you packed her bag yesterday, twice actually, if I recall correctly!”
“I’m just worried! I wanted to make sure everything was there”
“Katniss, it’s kindergarten. They won’t be needing rulers or calculators. The stakes are low. You also ironed four different outfits, even the socks!”
“Agh!” Hiding her face in her hands, Peeta laughs.
“Come on, don’t be a scaredy cat.” He says, gently pushing her off him and swinging his legs out of bed, pulling the bedsheets with him. “Buttercup would be so disappointed. The mighty Katniss, scared of the first day of school.”
Truth is, it really did terrify her. Her sweet little girl, out in the world, no mom or dad to protect her. What if the other kids were mean? Or simply, did not want to play with her? Sure, Willow was well known in town, always going on walks or errands with either of them, and setting up playdates with some of the town kids. But that's not the same thing as a controlled environment. Anything goes.
Really, Katniss’s first day of school wasn’t bad. Just a bit quiet. Same with Prim’s. Nothing out of the ordinary, back then. However, there wasn’t as much freedom, hope and joy as there was these days. She sat in bed, legs dangling off and she allowed herself 30 more seconds of dread before getting ready. This point out, she would be the prime example of optimism.
They brushed their teeth together, and Peeta headed downstairs to start breakfast, while Katniss took a shower and got ready. She headed to the guest bedroom and observed the outfit choices spread out for Willow. She had seen two of them, but the third and last were something of a surprise for her. One picked by each family member. Haymitch, Effie, Katniss and Peeta. All special, for their special girl.
She started prepping her bath, and went to wake her up.
“Honey, it’s time”
Her bright eyes popped right open, and a big smile appeared on her face.
After her bath, Katniss walked her over to the bed, and Willow’s eyes transfixed on all the “super cute, cute, cute” dresses and blouses ready for her choosing.
The first one consisted of a soft, mint green mini dress, with a ruffled sleeve, and three buttons down the middle. White leggings and matching green loafers. Two mint green bows, each with an enamel goose in the center. Meant for pigtails, this was Haymitch’s gift, such a level of care and delicacy had surprised Katniss, since Haymitch usually dressed Willow in the most ragged pair of t-shirt and pants so she could wreak havoc in his yard. She loved it.
The second outfit was what you’d expect of Effie. Katniss had given her such a look when she unpacked it, and Effie had rambled on about first impressions and marking the importance of a first day. Big, frilly, three layered tutu, pink leggings, and a white top with a glitter heart in the center. As if that wasn’t outlandish enough, a tiara.
The third outfit was Katniss’s favorite, despite it not being her pick. It was one that all Willow, Katniss and Peeta had worked on together. They all liked going to the woods together, and Katniss picked all the herbs, plants and leaves she needed for teas, balms and lotions. Peeta started saving her discarded tea bags, all the hibiscus, chamomile, and rose petals. Well, even the avocado pits! She knew he was experimenting with the pigment of the plants to make paints, his own paints, which he cherished more than the oils and acrylics he got from the Capitol. These homemade ones, he saved to paint with Willow, or send thank you cards. He once got commissioned by Annie to make Finn’s birthday cards, so he had a lot of fun with indigo and marigolds.
Peeta had made his usual vat of avocado pigment, but before straining it, he had dipped the t-shirt in it, and then sprinkled some turmeric over it, wrapped it in loose chamomile, orange peels, eucalyptus and rose petals. It had taken two weeks for the pigments to permanently set.
“That way, she will wear the medicine on her,” he explained, showing Katniss his creation. “Besides, it’s pink and very pretty.”
Katniss stared at the pink, purple dotted t-shirt, spread on the bed right over some dark purple linen pants, not unlike the ones she was wearing that morning. Peeta liked to see his girls matching, and was prone to commission them matching pieces. He always teased her about her victor talent being fashionable, and having to dress the part. Truly, she was happy with her pants designed by him, and stealing his overly large painter shirts. Which Willow wanted to copy as well.
The final outfit was Katniss’s picking. Yellow dress, ruffles in the hem. Pleats going down the sides, and mother of pearl buttons down the center. Annie had sent those in months ago, and Peeta helped her sketch the dress for commissioning as well. Then, a white knit cardigan, which is honestly such a bad choice for such an unruly, playful child, but she couldn’t resist it. A duck hand-embroidered by Katniss, an ode to Aunt Prim, which Willow loved hearing stories of. Yellow socks, with white lace ruffled on the edges. Sweetness personified.
Katniss watched as Willow took in each outfit, her perfect lips gaping slightly. She also had a weakness for beauty. She touched the goose bows, and ran her hands through the hem of Peeta’s shirt. And then. She did something that surprised Katniss. Something she hadn’t predicted, something she wasn’t prepared for.
Willow grabbed the tutu, the dyed t-shirt, and the white cardigan.
“I want to wear this, mommy!”
Katniss stared at the mismatched outfit, her brain short circuiting. Somewhere in the kitchen, she heard the house phone ring.
“Are you sure, hun?” She managed to get out. The whole point was for her to wear one of the outfits! Not all of them.
Willow seemed to think it over, staring back at the piles, and grabbed the goose bows, the mint green shoes, and the yellow socks.
“Now I’m ready!”
Katniss decided that some fights were better left untouched, and brushed Willow’s hair into pigtails, securing the bows, before leaving her to dress and take over the kitchen so Peeta could shower as well.
The smell coming in was delicious. She could see the pancakes were done, stacked and wrapped in a towel to keep the heat in. Her lunch was nearly done, and there was water boiling for tea.
“Who called?” She asked as she greeted Peeta.
“Oh, you know, it was Effie reminding us to send her pictures of Willow’s first day. She says there were some delays on the trains so she will be here for dinner, not lunch like previously discussed.”
“Oh, just you wait to see her outfit. Now, go shower, I can finish up here. She’s getting dressed.”
As Peeta swung up the stairs, Katniss took over the kitchen. Serving mint tea for a sweet wakeup morning boost, and handwriting Willow’s note. Peeta had the amazing idea of writing her a loving note to leave in her lunchbox, and had taken some of his fancy paper and tiny envelopes from the studio. He had already sealed his with a heart shaped sticker, but Katniss had another idea.
“I love you bunches, my girl. Share with friends” read her note, and slid the rest of the sticker sheet in her envelope. They could always get more, and she knew that stickers were gold currency in any five year old’s hands.
Willow came out, ready in her adorably mismatched outfit. Katniss was not strong enough to tell her no. Sometimes she wondered who spoiled her more, but it was a near perfect tie between the four of them. Even Delly Cartwright could not refuse to give Willow sweets.
“Can you help me with the cutlery as we wait for Daddy?” Katniss asked, knowing Willow is always happy to participate in “grown up” activities.
Katniss slid in the envelopes in her lunch, which consisted of grapes, lamb stew, and a cheese bun, as well as fresh mint-cucumber juice.
Willow happily placed forks and knives on three of the seats. It was too early for Haymitch, who had said “I’ll see the cute sucker after class”
Peeta came downstairs just as Katniss was serving their tea, and he sat right at the head of the table. His eyes widened, and he raised an eye at Katniss once he saw WIllow’s outfit. Katniss stared at him back, her eyes saying an unspoken “I know, right”
“Well, arent you the cutest girl in the whole town!” And picked her up for a quick spin, as she giggled.
“My, I bet the Capitol will be jealous they weren’t able to think of such ingenuity!
They ate breakfast silently, preparing what awaited them all.
Katniss insisted on taking Willow’s backpack for the walk, but she countered that she was a big girl now, and quite frankly, it was mostly empty.
“That’s right, but you will always be my baby girl.” Retorted Peeta, as he took pictures of Katniss and Willow at their doorstep. “You two look lovely,” and Willow’s smile grew bigger.
They walked together, mostly silent except to point out birds, and Peeta pointing out the different types of plants.
They got to the school fairly quickly, which happened to be in the center of town. They had converted it to suit all twelve grades, a playground, a public park, and an auditorium, where they hosted some of the Harvest Festival activities, as well as any choir concerts or anything else the district came up with these days. There is more cause of celebration.
They walked right in, following the arrows labelled kindergarten. Willow smiled at all the kids she saw, big and bigger than her. And once her classroom came into view, she let go of Katniss’s hand and ran straight in. By the time Katniss and Peeta reached the door, Willow was already introducing herself to Miss Andressa.
“My name is Willow, I am five years old, my favorite color is all of them, my mommy’s name is Katniss, my daddy’s name is Peeta and I like painting! What’s your name! Can we be friends?”
Miss Andressa chuckled, and squatted down to meet Willow’s blue eyes. “Nice to meet you Willow. I am 25 years old, I like your pink skirt. My mother’s name is Alena, and my father’s name is Bris. I will be your friend and teacher this year, and we will do a lot of painting.”
“That sounds amazing!” Willow squealed, as she hugged Miss Andressa.
“It sure will be, but you will need more friends than just me. How about we say goodbye to mom and dad and go meet some other kids? You can also place your lunchbox in that shelf over there,” explained Miss Andressa, as she pried Willow's arms from her.
Willow stared at the colorful carpet, with a few kids playing with blocks, and then stared back at Katniss and Peeta. “Bye Mommy, bye Daddy!,” she explained, and sped off to the shelf and then right into the carpet. She started talking with the other kids faster than Katniss to process.
“Well, that was easier than I expected,” said Katniss, since what she expected was a tearful goodbye and some convincing.
“We will call you if anything happens”
Which wouldn’t happen. Willow was happy as a duck, playing with other children. It made Katniss’s heart rest easier.
They walked hand in hand together back to their house in the Victor’s Village. The morning would go by pretty quickly, so the day’s plan was simple. Katniss would prep some balms, grind up some leaves, and stay close to the phone in case it rang. Peeta would continue working on a birthday commission painting for a family in District 11.
Soon enough, 1:30 pm rolled around, and they headed out to pick Willow up. They stopped by Haymitch’s house, knocking to let him know it was almost time for their family lunch.
They found the kids playing in the playground, and met eyes with Willow. To Katniss’s surprise, she did not run towards them, but rather, called this other girl’s attention, and they both walked towards them, hand in hand.
“Mommy! Daddy! This is Salinea!”
Salinea was a blond, curly girl, green eyes, and heart shaped stickers on both of her hands. Due to her name, also from District 4. She smiled at them both. “Hi, nice to meet you!”
“Mommy, Salinea said she wanted to ask you something!”
Katniss tensed. Here it came. For sure this girl had heard about the Hunger Games, had recognized her face, her name, who they were, what they did. Maybe her parents, or just her home District in general, talked about these things in a different manner than the way District 12 handled the past. She wanted to snatch Willow up and leave, but she felt Peeta’s hands squeeze her, and she gave this girl a small smile back.
“Hello Salinea, it is very nice to meet you. What’s your question, honey?” She asked, as she stooped a bit lower to meet her blue eyed gaze.
“May I be Willow’s best friend?”