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There was a clatter in the bakery and I heard the woman screaming again and the sound of a blow； and I vaguely wondered what was going on。 Feet sloshed toward me through the mud and I thought； Itˇs her。 Sheˇs ing to drive me away with a stick。 But it wasnˇt her。 It was the boy。 In his arms； he carried two large loaves of bread that must have fallen into the fire because the crusts were scorched black。
His mother was yelling； ¨Feed it to the pig； you stupid creature！ Why not？ No one decent will buy burned bread！〃
He began to tear off chunks from the burned parts and toss them into the trough； and the front bakery bell rung and the mother disappeared to help a customer。
The boy never even glanced my way； but I was watching him。 Because of the bread； because of the red weal that stood out on his cheekbone。 What had she hit him with？
My parents never hit us。 I couldnˇt even imagine it。 The boy took one look back to the bakery as if checking that the coast was clear； then； his attention back on the pig； he threw a loaf of bread in my direction。 The second quickly followed； and he sloshed back to the bakery； closing the kitchen door tightly behind him。
I stared at the loaves in disbelief。 They were fine； perfect really； except for the burned areas。 Did he mean for me to have them？ He must have。 Because there they were at my feet。 Before anyone could witness what had happened I shoved the loaves up under my shirt； wrapped the hunting jacket tightly about me； and walked swiftly away。 The heat of the bread burned into my skin； but I clutched it tighter； clinging to life。
By the time I reached home； the loaves had cooled somewhat； but the insides were still warm。 When I dropped them on the table； Primˇs hands reached to tear off a chunk； but I made her sit； forced my mother to join us at the table； and poured warm tea。 I scraped off the black stuff and sliced the bread。 We ate an entire loaf； slice by slice。 It was good hearty bread； filled with raisins and nuts。
I put my clothes to dry at the fire； crawled into bed； and fell into a dreamless sleep。 It didnˇt occur to me until the next morning that the boy might have burned the bread on purpose。 Might have dropped the loaves into the flames； knowing it meant being punished； and then delivered them to me。 But I dismissed this。 It must have been an accident。 Why would he have done it？ He didnˇt even know me。 Still； just throwing me the bread was an enormous kindness that would have surely resulted in a beating if discovered。 1 couldnˇt explain his actions。
We ate slices of bread for breakfast and headed to school。 It was as if spring had e overnight。 Warm sweet air。 Fluffy clouds。 At school； I passed the boy in the hall； his cheek had swelled up and his eye had blackened。 He was with his friends and didnˇt acknowledge me in any way。 But as I collected Prim and started for home that afternoon； I found him staring at me from across the school yard。 Our eyes met for only a second； then he turned his head away。 I dropped my gaze； embarrassed； and thatˇs when I saw it。 The first dandelion of the year。 A bell went off in my head。 I thought of the hours spent in the woods with my father and I knew how we were going to survive。
To this day； I can never shake the connection between this boy； Peeta Mellark； and the bread that gave me hope； and the dandelion that reminded me that I was not doomed。 And more than once； I have turned in the school hallway and caught his eyes trained on me； only to quickly flit away。 I feel like I owe him something； and I hate owing people。 Maybe if I had thanked him at some point； Iˇd be feeling less conflicted now。 I thought about it a couple of times； but the opportunity never seemed to present itself。 And now it never will。 Because weˇre going to be thrown into an arena to fight to the death。 Exactly how am I supposed to work in a thank…you in there？ Somehow it just wonˇt seem sincere if Iˇm trying to slit his throat。
The mayor finishes the dreary Treaty of Treason and motions for Peeta and me to shake hands。 His are as solid and warm as those loaves of bread。 Peeta looks me right in the eye and gives my hand what I think is meant to be a reassuring squeeze。 Maybe itˇs just a nervous spasm。
We turn back to face the crowd as the anthem of Panem plays。
Oh； well； I think。 There will be twenty…four of us。 Odds are someone else will kill him before I do。
Of course； the odds have not been very dependable of late。
3
The moment the anthem ends； we are taken into custody。 I donˇt mean weˇre handcuffed or anything； but a group of Peacekeepers marches us through the front door of the Justice Building。 Maybe tributes have tried to escape in the past。 Iˇve never seen that happen though。
Once inside； Iˇm conducted to a room and left alone。 Itˇs the richest place Iˇve ever been in； with thick； deep carpets and a velvet couch and chairs。 I know velvet because my mother has a dress with a collar made of the stuff。 When I sit on the couch； I canˇt help running my fingers over the fabric repeatedly。 It helps to calm me as I try to prepare for the next hour。 The time allotted for the tributes to say goodbye to their loved ones。 I cannot afford to get upset； to leave this room with puffy eyes and a red nose。 Crying is not an option。 There will be more cameras at the train station。
My sister and my mother e first。 I reach out to Prim and she climbs on my lap； her arms around my neck； head on my shoulder； just like she did when she was a toddler。 My mother sits beside me and wraps her arms around us。 For a few minutes； we say nothing。 Then I start telling them all the things they must remember to do； now that I will not be there to do them for them。
Prim is not to take any tesserae。 They can get by； if theyˇre careful； on selling Primˇs goat milk and cheese and the small apothecary business my mother now runs for the people in the Seam。 Gale will get her the herbs she doesnˇt grow herself； but she must be very careful to describe them because heˇs not as familiar with them as I am。 Heˇll also bring them game he and I made a pact about this a year or so ago and will probably not ask for pensation； but they should thank him with some kind of trade； like milk or medicine。
I donˇt bother suggesting Prim learn to hunt。 I tried to teach her a couple of times and it was disastrous。 The woods terrified her； and whenever I shot something； sheˇd get teary and talk about how we might be able to heal it if we got it home soon enough。 But she makes out well with her goat； so I concentrate on that。
When I am done with instructions about fuel； and trading； and staying in school； I turn to my mother and grip her arm； hard。 ¨Listen to me。 Are you listening to me？〃 She nods； alarmed by my intensity。 She must know whatˇs ing。 ¨You canˇt leave again；〃 I say。
My motherˇs eyes find the floor。 ¨I know。 I wonˇt。 I couldnˇt help what〃
¨Well； you have to help it this time。 You canˇt clock out and leave Prim on her own。 Thereˇs no me now to keep you both alive。 It doesnˇt matter what happens。 Whatever you see on the screen。 You have to promise me youˇll fight through it！〃 My voice has risen to a shout。 In it is all the anger； all the fear I