Neddy Edwin | District Seven {FIN}

Neddy. I always found that name of mine to be a tad bit... peculiar. As a child, I used to get teased for it, and it never bothered me all too much. Perhaps, though, it's gotten to me in my adult years, and caused a slight dislike for the title my parents provided me with. Over the years, however, I've gotten used to people calling me by my name, and haven't bothered telling people that I should be known as something else. I'd say that the only people that call me something other than my own name are my kids, who call me dad, or some variation of it. I'm a single man with two sons, both of which I would guard with my life.

I have, actually, as a matter of fact, protected one of my sons by risking my own life. The older of my two sons, when he was only ten years old, had been wandering about the District with me, only for him to unexpectedly walk under a tree that was starting to fall. I noticed immediately and got him out of the way, but only to have my leg crushed by it myself. Unfortunately, this has given me a permanent limp that hasn't gone away in the seven years since. I don't regret it, however, as it's likely that, had that tree fallen onto him, he would have been in worse condition than I was.

Both of my children have the same dark hair and dark eyes as I do, and look very similar to me in other aspects, as well. I remember when I was young, often being told that I looked like my father, and seeing pictures of he and I together certainly confirms that. My boys also look a bit like their mother does. Although, we separated a few years ago when it was discovered that she was having an affair with another man. This devastated myself and my children, finding that their mother had been lying to us. Now that she is away from us and living in another part of the District, though, I can happily search for a new relationship, should I wish to. 

When I was a child, my parents always treated me well. I came from a wealthy family, and am able to carry that wealth over to my current life as well, which I am truly grateful for. My parents were kind souls, always doing what they could to make sure I was well-off as I could be, despite not having a lot of friends when I was young. Luckily, as time has gone on, I've made more friends through work and other things. There have been a few people here and there that I have grown particularly close with, and have been friends with for quite some time, too.

Nowadays, my parents are gone, unfortunately. My two brothers are still around, each with their own three children, and I'm glad to be able to say that we've remained close with one another. Our children all enjoy spending time together, and have become very close as cousins. I personally wish I had had such a great connection with other children in my childhood. Although, my brothers and I didn't really seem to get along well until our later teenage years.

When I got my very first job at the age of sixteen, I was hired to cut wood. It wasn't the most exciting form of employment by far, but it earned me enough money that I had some to spare and spend on things that I wanted for myself. Now, I'm a woodworker, which is a profession I've been working at since I was twenty years old. I'd say I'm rather talented at it, and I've carved most of the decorative items in our home. I've also built many pieces of our furniture, which I'm proud of.

Now that I'm taking care of my two children on my own, I have the worries that any father would have. I worry about them getting sick or getting hurt. I worry about them getting lost when I let them go out on their own. Most of all, however, I worry about them getting reaped for the Hunger Games and not making it home. It's one of the things that I always worried about for my brothers and I when we were of reaping age, and now I worry about it for my sons, as they're both of reaping age at twelve and seventeen.

As time goes on, things in life change. My elder son has started learning some woodworking skills similar to what I started to learn when I was younger, and hopes to help me with making things to sell. My younger son is a student, attending school on weekdays. I hope that they continue to live happy lives like I have, without worrying about anything more than they should be. I've been rather successful in life, despite the perfectionist need I have that often gets in the way of tasks I should be completing. Occasionally, I slowly start to drive myself and others crazy with the need I feel to have everything be perfect. Regardless, I do live a rather happy life.