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throat. “I’ll keep an eye on the little girl. Make sure she’s eating.”<br />

I feel some of the pressure in my chest lighten at his words.<br />

People deal with me, but they are genuinely fond of Prim.<br />

Maybe there will be enough fondness to keep her alive.<br />

My next guest is also unexpected. Madge walks straight to<br />

me. She is not weepy or evasive, instead there’s an urgency<br />

about her tone that surprises me. “They let you wear one<br />

thing from your district in the arena. One thing to remind you<br />

of home. Will you wear this?” She holds out the circular gold<br />

pin that was on her dress earlier. I hadn’t paid much attention<br />

to it before, but now I see it’s a small bird in flight.<br />

“Your pin?” I say. Wearing a token from my district is about<br />

the last thing on my mind.<br />

“Here, I’ll put it on your dress, all right?” Madge doesn’t<br />

wait for an answer, she just leans in and fixes the bird to my<br />

dress. “Promise you’ll wear it into the arena, Katniss?” she<br />

asks. “Promise?”<br />

“Yes,” I say. Cookies. A pin. I’m getting all kinds of gifts today.<br />

Madge gives me one more. A kiss on the cheek. Then she’s<br />

gone and I’m left thinking that maybe Madge really has been<br />

my friend all along.<br />

Finally, Gale is here and maybe there is nothing romantic<br />

between us, but when he opens his arms I don’t hesitate to go<br />

into them. His body is familiar to me — the way it moves, the<br />

smell of wood smoke, even the sound of his heart beating I<br />

know from quiet moments on a hunt — but this is the first<br />

time I really feel it, lean and hard-muscled against my own.<br />

39

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