"Cubby" Beckett | District 10

His father had wished for a son, but it was only after eight daughters did he end up with one. Few of his children shared a mother, but all were the product of the same man. Artorius Beckett was not a very liked man at all, often he rubbed people the wrong way but it was how he was around his children that really spoke of the person he was. By the time his son finally entered the world, it was somewhat known that he didn't much care at all for his daughters barely even acknowledging they existed.

It angered a lot of people, his own parents included. He was part of what brought them into the world after all. For the most part, at least they had mothers who cared and looked out for them, but Orson the "Little Bear", the son that Artorius had often spoken of how much he longed to have. His mother didn't make it long after giving birth to him, living the majority of his care into his fathers hands. It was a worrying thought that almost all who knew Artorius concerned.

Often when the little boy was spotted when he was still very young, he was lucky to be seen fully dressed. His feet usually left bare and his stomach grumbling. More often than not it was others who would make sure the child was fed, but it wasn't until he was five did more become clear. At home he was usually on his own, unless one or more of his sisters was near - he was extremely attached to the sisters who spent some time with him. Tagging after them with messy blonde curls or clinging to one as they gave the barefoot little boy a piggyback somewhere.

Rarely was his father spotted with the child, it raised questions - which caused attention, and attention was not something that was wanted. After all, if no one was caring for the child properly - he'd be taken from the only home he knew.

Orson remembered little from these days, but what he did remember was smothered by a lot of arguing. He remembered some crying - maybe it was him crying? Or one of his sisters - he wasn't too sure - he remembered loud noises and angry faces. He remembered pain in his arm - a phantom ache often still appeared in that arm.

Then it was a lot quieter and his Grandma and Grandpa took him to live with them, his father he wasn't sure what happened to him - but all would be okay for Orson, his Grandparents would take care of him from then on - not just for a little while - but for a long time.

Forever was a long time after all.

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Oh, Little Bear, your father thought himself a king

Better than others - believing himself deserving

While the son was surely a little prince

Charming all who knew him, he was loved

And the crown slipped low upon his fathers head

Though he was Mistreated it was easy to find

The little Bear Prince remained kind

As the Older Bear grew bitter and the crown

Slid from his head quicker than any frown

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Things with his grandparents were a lot better - Cubby as he was more often called now, rarely missed out on eating and flourished under their care and attention of the adults in his life. He would be seen tagging along after his Grandmother into town, laughing and chating with anyone he met, he was far from shy and liked to talk with people. At home he'd ask a bunch of questions as he 'helped' his Grandpa with the day to day things, making meals and sewing up holes into clothes - but taking care of the horses was always his favorite thing.

He grew quickly, but still remained a little small for his age. The earliest years of his life doing a permanant damage to his growth. A few of his sisters often would spend time with their grandparents as well, usually in afternoons and occasional weekends - he loved those times the best. Despite some of the larger age gaps, Orson Beckett certainly could state his sisters loved him and made time to spend with him - by the time he was Seven, his oldest sister was already married and expecting her first child. Yet Orson was there the day his first nephew was born with a proud little smile on his face as he stated he'd protect the baby.

As he grew, he did his best to help out more often around home.

His Grandparents were not as young as they once were and he began to take notice of things - things they tried to not show. How his grandmothers hands would hurts and be stiff, after making repairs to their clothing - usually fixing the holes and tears in Orson's own clothes. How his Grandfather would take longer in the evenings, moving slower and sometimes with a limp. He noticed and worried about them.

Despite the rough start in his life, the young boy known as 'Cub' or 'Little Bear' to some - grew up a strong one. He learned like all kids seem to in the District, life isn't always fair - its rough at times and you need to be strong to survive. He could carry bails of hay on his own by the age of ten, struggling more with the bulk than the weight itself. He knew to move quickly on his feet while dodging chickens, moving fast to prevent animal escapes from the pens. He was smart in his own way, doing fairly okay in school - but outside he learnt best by doing things himself - experience teaching him far more than something in a book.

Yet it was his heart that worried his Grandmother most, the boy cared deeply - his hands may have calouses from working hard, but his touch was gentle as he brushed the horses or held a little chick in his palms. His voice light and soothing as he spoke, talking to the animals as he made his evening rounds for their feedings. He grew attached often to animals, treating them more like friends in some ways - he'd hold whole conversations about his life and school, all while doing his chores, each animal would have a name (even if he was told not to name the animal) and there would be days of barely a single word passing from his lips when one would pass.

 Loss is a part of life, another lesson he learned through experience.

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Why? He asked, not understanding

Curiousity within him burning to be sated

Instead of answers he was punished

The world he lived in was puzzling

It was what was known to the Little Bear

To watch people he knew go away

To fight, to die in fear?

Yet, for what reason? It was far from fair

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He was rarely one to ignore the burning need to ask questions, his curiousity for the most part had been encouraged even by his sisters and grandparents. Yet, he learnt quickly that sometimes he had to bite his tongue and wait for a better time before letting his curiousity win. Speaking too loudly in the wrong place, or asking the wrong person something may not turn out the best - which sadly was a lesson that he learnt in a very hard way.

Watching the Games was a strange thing, something for the most part he tried to not do - it didn't sit all that right with him after he was old enough to be reaped himself. He had grown up knowing about the Games, even hearing and seeing his sisters prepare for possibly ending up in one themselves. Yet, seeing in person as someone he knew all his life was called out. Maybe it was different if it was strangers, but those he knew - that he spoke to, that he knew family members of - that he would see at the markets with his Grandma. It made his stomach twist and his chest felt a heaviness he hadn't experienced before.

The Games were something that had been around all of his life, everyone knew about them - there were always whispers particularly around school about 'being reaped'. It remained mostly whispers at school. The wrong person being asked something happened only once before he learnt his lesson - the young boy ending up left on the ground, hurt and in pain.

It taught him a rough lesson to not question certain things too much, they were as they were and for now he couldn't do anything about that.

A few things changed after that, knowing one day it could be him or someone close to him even - he still wanted to ask questions, but knew better now. The bruising on his body was still healing but it became a sight to see him helping out the family members left behind, whenever he could. Its what he would want someone to do if it was him, his grandparents needed more help as the years passed - he might still be young himself but his heart was big, he cared deeply and wanted things to be easier.

There was always so much that had to be done, he had school of course but he responsibilities at home as well. He also wanted to have fun, he had friends and nieces and nephews he wanted to do things with as well, finding time for so many things wasn't always easy - but he did his best. Making sure he got up early enough to do things before making his way to school, he worked hard. No one could speak of differently as the sight of the young Beckett boy was commonly seen.

Always on the move, doing something or on his way to see someone - rarely was he ever completely still.

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Stay strong little Bear, 

the words were whispered into his hair

You're far stronger than you are even aware

Things may happen that may not always be fair

So, be Brave, the world can be hard

And at times, Adventures may leave you scarred

Oh, Sweet Cub, you will see so many wonderful things

As one adventure ends, another begins

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While still called 'Little Bear' or Cub to most who know him, Orson Beckett is now a teenager. He's still a little small for his age, but is stronger than most first assume - like his sisters once did for him - he's often spotted in town with one of his nieces or nephews on his back
as he makes his rounds. He now has two of each, his three oldest sisters were now married and with children of their own.

Life is changing all around him, while some of the changes are good - others not so much.

His Grandmother sadly lost her life a few months ago. It hadn't been quick, but instead was a long and slow path - there was a lot of pain and many tears shed before she finally left them behind.

It was a rough event for all of them, for himself though its been a huge struggle. For as long as he could remember she had always been there - no matter what was going on, he had always had his Granny to run to. Now he didn't and he still is struggling with how to handle that change in his life.

 His Grandfather is doing his best, but its clearly hurt him more than he admits. Since the loss, Orson has been working harder, he's still doing his best to help with ranch work as much as he can - he also has taken on some of the little things his grandma used to do. Before school each morning he'll sit and do some clothing repairs - patching a few things like she taught him. His biggest challenge though is trying to make sure his grandpa rests and eats enough. Sometimes he'll tell a white lie or two, saying he's eaten already. 

Life is continuing on and while he's trying to keep going himself, there are moments when he  breaks down. Heading as far back as the ranch allows he'll find himself staring up at the sky as he lays on the roof of the storage shed. He hasn't spoken a word about it to his family, but his Grandmother said something to him before she died.

A brief mention of his father, she didn't realize it - lost in her own pain, she called him Artorius as she clutched his hand. Mistaking him for her son when her time was close to the end. It had hurt him deeply at the time but now it ... it just made him feel a deep sadness. He didn't know what had become of his father but he knew it hurt his Granny a lot how he had chosen to not really be in his sisters lives and what had happened to Orson when he was still so little. Which he also didn't remember much about, what had happened to his Dad? Why did no one speak about him at all?

Its a mystery and one that he's now slowly trying to look into, he's doing his best to be careful and as discrete as possible- the reminder of the last time he asked the wrong person questions was still very much in his mind. On top of that, he knows that his questions could also likely upset his sisters or grandfather. He has a small notebook he keeps on him now at all times, inside are things jotted down that he has discovered or little thoughts he has.

In moments of quiet at the end of the day, he finds himself on the roof of the shed, in the days dying light he goes over things. The mystery of what became of his Dad is one he wants to find answers to, if nothing else it might help to heal something inside of him that he didn't know he needed healing.

His Granny had truly been right with what she had told him as he had said his goodbyes.

As one adventure ends, another begins