strangers, reno snapshots

Everyone wants to shake his hand. Reno shifts down the row of smiley faces. He learns quickly that their ranch and farm are among the better-off ones left in Five that haven't been completely overtaken by the Capitol. Their faces show a level of comfort that can only be explained by wiggle room financially. The multigenerational family farm leaves his introverted soul with a long exhale at the end of the line.

The man who heads the farm is Mr. Silverfield. He's around forty years old, but he's already greying and tired. He asks Reno to head down to his office, the third door down the hall on the left. "Sure." He's compliant despite the shift in tone and demeanor of Silverfield after his family files out and back to their day. Reno sits in the chair across from his desk. The satisfaction of sitting in a chair so cushioned and soft should have been a warning that Reno was further from comfort than he thought he would be when taking the job.

Silverfield sits opposite him and reaches into his desk. Reno watches for a moment as he's grabbing something, but one stern look leaves him staring at his heels, anxiously clicking together while he waits. Did he already do something wrong? "We're happy to have you aboard, Reno. You seem like a very hard worker." Silverfield shuffles some papers in order as he speaks, scribbling comments in the margins. Reno smiles awkwardly. Considering he hasn't done an ounce of work yet, compliments feel like niceties. "I just need you to sign this here contract to make things official. Normal stuff. More simple than what most farms'll give 'ya."

Reno pulls paper off of the desk and begins reading some of the notes.

I. I agree to be paid at the end of each month. I acknowledge that the recommended time for sleep is 8 hours a day and expect to have time to eat and perform leisurely activities for about 4 hours each day. All other time will be spent at work or being reachable and "on call" to tend to any activities in the farm.

II. I will be paid at the end of the Saturday before the last Sunday of the month. I will have that last Sunday of the month off from work. This day off is guaranteed.

III. I agree that my main service is tending to livestock on the Silverfield Farm, but agree to perform routine maintenance services on the ranch, including the barn, the ranch, and fences.

IV. Three meals will be provided to me each day. I will eat in my personal space or outside unless otherwise permitted by an adult in the residence.

V. I am not allowed to be in any of the children's rooms at any point without explicit permission from Mr. Silverfield.

VI. Breaking rules in this contract or rules implied or otherwise stated will result in immediate termination. If I'm terminated, I will receive whatever proportion of the month I worked in pay.

The contract goes on with a few other things about what to wear and etiquette around Capitol inspectors. Luckily for Reno, the three changes of clothes he brought to the ranch fit the criteria and he's not reckless enough to be a risk during an inspection. He'll follow the rules to a tee so long as it gets him money.

At the end of the final page is a line for his signature. His handwriting is sloppy (cursive be damned,) but it's legible enough to leave Silverfield content. He files it away in his drawer.

The moment he stands up, Reno jumps to match him. His hands are at his side, ready to shake one final deal and then get to work. "And one last thing, Reno."

"Sure, what do you need?"

Silverfield steps toward him. There's a discrete click from below. Reno's eyes trickle down to the sound. There is a gun in Silverfield's hand, pointed just between Reno's legs.

"I know how kids like you can be. Flirty, waiting to fall in love. Don't think about screwing around my daughters, any of 'em."

Reno nods stiffly, hands rigid at either side. "I just want to work. I wouldn't do that." He wouldn't do it, really. That's the last thing on his mind.

Silverfield slips Reno on the shoulder and whispers to him "Good kid. Because if you do, I'll blow your balls off." He smiles again, half-terrified.

It won't matter at all. He'll keep his head down and not be a problem for Silverfield because he knows his family's security depends on it.

"Everyone missed you."

"Seems like it."

"Glad you've come to your senses and decided to come back home, Reno."

"Daddy, I don't think you understand. I'm just here for the day. I'm leavin' later tonight."

"If that isn't the stupidest thing I've heard…"

"I'm making good money! And it's not too bad. The family I'm working for covers my job one day a month. That's means I can come here and-"

"Once a month? You didn't think to ask for once a week?"

"It's not a big deal-"

"It is a big deal! People are going to take advantage of you for every lick you lettem' take, Reno."

"Daddy, we need the money. I came back to give you my paycheck. You can have-"

"I don't need your damn money."

"The house needs some renovations for Vegas."

"Ma and I can do that with our own money. Keep the month's pay you got and come home! You look like shit and you're treating me like a shit father. You're making the two of us miserable people."

"You're not shit– and you're not making me miserable! I'm happy as can be. I'm your smiling son. See?"

"I know you, Reno. You're not happy no matter how much you lie to yourself about it. I don't want your money if it's makin' you this exhausted. I don't need money that'll kill my son."

"Why can't you just admit you're too proud for your own good and take my fucking money, Daddy?!"

"Don't cuss at me, Reno. Why can't you just admit you're too proud for your own good and stay here with us? Hmm? Get a girlfriend, eat home-cooked meals, and be a kid!"

"That's not what I want!"

"It's what you should want, and it's what you deserve."

"Did you and Ma rehearse this for the past month waiting for me to come back? Y'all plan to guilt-trip me into staying here? It's not gonna work."

"We're not– we're not dying here, Reno. It's not like that anymore."

"Why's not dying gotta be the standard for you? Isn't that embarrassing for you, Dad? As a father?"

"Heh. The first time you've ever called me Dad. So stubborn in everything you do but this is what changes. Father and son."

"Maybe."

"I don't want you to bend over backward so young. I was a lot like you way back when."

"...yeah. Everyone says that."

"Cause it's true. And look how I turned out. Tired, lousy, stuck."

"I'm gonna be okay, Dad. really. Things are gonna turn out alright."

"You'd tell me if they're treating you wrong? At the farm?"

"..."

"Reno?"

"Yeah! Of course, I would. Now I have this paycheck for you and I want you to have all of it. Vegas needs a ramp on both sides of the house for her wheelchair. And Whitney needs a pad of drawing paper before she starts drawing on the walls. You need to get Henderson a helmet for his bike because I don't want him cracking his head open. You and Ma need a mattress, right? I know that check isn't enough but it's a good start for what we're lookin' to do here."

"And is there anything you want?"

"Uh… nah. I can buy a nice hat with my next paycheck. That can wait. I'll be back next month with whatever's left over. I'll be fine, otherwise."

"I pray you're not lyin'..."

"I'm not! We gotta go sit down for dinner, anyway. I wanna get out of here before nightfall so I can get back and take a nap before work tomorrow."

"I'm still not happy about this, Reno, I don't I'll ever be."

"I know."

"But I love you, always."

"I love you too, Dad."

"Daddy."

"Right."