N/A: Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed my story, Guilty. The reviews got me thinking that maybe I could do another Gale story… and this is the result. Enjoy!

Home

I am thirteen years old, and I am sitting at my kitchen table, doing my homework.

All I want is for my dad to come home from work so I can show him what I've been learning. He always talks with me, and we have a great conversation, every day. I talk about school. He talks about life in the mines. It's a fair trade. His life is so much more exciting than mine.

My mother comes in and looks at me, reading a chapter on the history of the Games. She shakes her head and sighs a little.

"Gale, sweetie, what are you doing?"

"My homework," I respond. I'm reading about the Second Quarter Quell right now. It's kind of boring.

In school, we've been talking about the Hunger Games and their cause. I don't really understand what they are, and if I'm being honest, I don't really care. If I was asked, I would have said the Games were just some really good TV programming. Who cares about rebellion or punishment or government? Frankly, the Games were only worth watching because of the fighting.

My mother murmurs to herself, and I think she says something like "I wish they wouldn't indoctrinate the children."

I decide that can't be what she said. It doesn't make any sense. What does indoctrinate even mean?

She continues stirring the soup, then stops, a strange expression on her face. Her hand flies to her belly, which is round and large. My mom smiles when she sees me looking at her, concerned. Is she okay? I remember when Vick was born, and she was constantly in pain because of him. I don't want her to be hurt. Dad said I have to keep a close eye on Mom. The baby's due any day.

"She's just exercising a little," she explains. I'm not certain I believe her, but I nod.

"All right. But if you think anything bad's gonna happen…" I trail off, and she just shakes her head.

"Stop being such a worrywart." She teases. "Honestly, I'll be fine. I promise."

I'm going to have another sibling soon, and I'm excited. I hope it's a sister, and my mom does too. Dad says he doesn't care. Any kid is the perfect kid for him.

We stay there in silence for a few moments, and then a screech comes from my little brother, Rory.

"Mo-om! Vick hitted me!"

My mother sighs, then turns to me.

"Gale, can you stay here and stir the soup? We want dinner to be ready when Daddy gets home, now don't we?"

I nod and get up, grabbing the wooden spoon from her as she runs to check on my brothers.

The delicious aroma of cooking rabbit fills the house, and I can't help but smile.

My dad hunts for our food. It's illegal, but he does it anyways. He always says it's to feed not only us, but everyone that can't feed themselves. That sometimes it's okay to break the law, when more good than harm will come of it.

I don't need an explanation. The fact that he gives away the food that he finds has never worried me. It's turned him into a sort of Robin Hood, like the character in the stories my dad always tells me. He steals from the rich, and gives to the poor. My dad is a hero, not just to me, but to everyone he helps. I know that when I grow up, I want to hunt with my father. Who wouldn't want to be a hero?

I am still stirring the dinner when someone knocks on the door.

"Can you get that?" my mother calls.

"Yeah!"

I go over to the door and open it, looking out of my house into the cold night air.

There's a woman there, someone I feel like I should recognize but I can't quite put a name with her face.

Her eyes are red and puffy, like she was recently crying, and her blonde hair is a mess. Automatically I wonder what's wrong, and why she is at my house. We don't get many visitors here.

"Can I help you?" I ask haltingly, not sure if I should invite her in or not.

The woman nods, and asks weakly, "Is Hazelle here? I need-" her voice cracks and she cuts off. I decide she is probably not going to finish her question, so instead I simply call for my mother.

"Mom! It's for you!"

My mom appears from around the hall, holding Rory in her arms.

"Who is-" The smile disappears from her face and she halts, a look of terror in place of the cheerful expression.

"Gale, go take Rory back to his room. Make him apologize to Vick, then don't come out until I call for you."

I know a dismissal when I hear one, and I also know I have to find out what's going on. I don't say anything, but take Rory from my mother's arms and head back to the other end of the house. My mother and the woman don't speak with each other while I am in the room, both of them seeming to agree that I shouldn't be let in on whatever secret she has come to tell.

I am a little irked by this, but I walk to the room that I share with my two brothers obediently.

Vick is sitting on his bed, mournfully, his curly brown hair sticking up in every possible direction. I set Rory down.

He automatically begins arguing with Vick and I turn to them, furious.

"You two- just be quiet, ok? I'm trying to listen!"

"Listen to what?" Vick asks.

"I don't know yet, that's what I'm trying to find out," I explain impatiently. "You two stay here, and be quiet. I'll be right back."

I open the door silently and sneak out of the room, walking down the hall just a little so I can hear what my mother is saying. Her voice sounds funny, as if she has been crying. This doesn't make any sense, though. Nothing bad has happened, and as far as I know, nothing good has happened either. I scootch closer.

"But, how are we supposed to take care of our families?" she whispers.

The other woman doesn't respond for a moment, then says quietly, "I don't know. My medicines won't be able to take care of us for very long. I can't support Katniss and Prim with them. We were barely making enough to get by, before."

There is another long moment of silence, and then the woman continues weakly.

"I heard that they're going to give out medals to us."

"Medals?" My mom sounds angry and offended, and I've never heard her speak in this tone of voice. "Medals are for when you've done something honorable. Where's the honor in having your husband-" She pauses, breathes in loudly, and then breaks down in sobs. "I knew something would happen in the mines. I knew it," she practically whimpers.

The other woman joins her in crying, she cannot even respond. They sound like their hearts are breaking.

I am very, very confused.

Why is my mother getting a medal? Why are these two women crying? And what happened to my dad? What about the mines?

Suddenly, all these pieces snap together in my mind and I understand what exactly is going on. My suspicions are confirmed when my mother whispers, "he can't be dead."

I feel like I can't breathe. It can't be true. He always comes home. He can't just abandon me now. I need him too much. My mom needs him too much.

My father is dead.

He's not coming home.