February "Ary" Caris (District 6)

Name: February "Ary" Caris
Age: 18
Gender: Female
District/Area: District 6
Appearance:

The first time January saw me he stopped dead in his tracks. He says I'm the most beautiful girl he knows. I don't believe him, I hear it too often when I'm out "helping". My dark har falls in soft curls around my shoulders to the middle of my back, lighter on the tips from the sun. The men who need "help" always tell me my eyes give me away, my body and face are youthful and fresh, but my eyes honey brown and large, tell the true story. Gus tells me when I smile that my eyes light up the world, but sometimes I think he's just trying to make January jealous.

My mouth is a little too big for my face, giving me a strange doll like appearance. My teeth a little to big as well. When I smile its almost like my face is nothing but mouth. My nose is small and buttoned while freakles sprinkle my cheeks hiding my age even more. I don't mind it, being able to pass for a child helps with the "special" customers, but sometimes its hard to get the respect I deserve with the others. The fact I only clock in at 5 feet 2 inches tall and 110lbs soaking wet doesn't help either.

My body does have curves though, not enough to make me look overly motherly, but enough to make me spritely and entising. Gus always tells me I should dress a little nicer, or take the time to do my hair, but I'd rather make sure the others have what they need first. The nicer stuff Maye always wants, and I have a hard time telling her no. So often you'll catch me in clothes that are a little too small or too big, they might have holes in them, but at least they're somewhat attractive enough to make sure I can catch someone's eye if needed.

Personality:

I do what it takes to keep our family together.

Thats my motto. Whatever it takes. January doesn't approve of it, and Gus resents January because he thinks he makes me. Truth is, neither ones has any say with it. I can't look at the younger ones without wanting to give them what I never had. I'm too caring, too nice, too smart for my own good. December told me I'm as good as a mother too her, and I'm sure most of them feel that way as well. The more I take a look at myself I can see why. I AM motherly, and sweet, and will listen to their fears and problems.

The problem is the side I hide, the anger and the bitterness. You push my buttons too far and I flip. I don't remember what I say or what I do. Its kind of like when I'm on the "job", I just go to a place where February doesn't exisit, I'm someone else. January knows about it, Gus too, and I'm pretty sure March has seen me lose it a few times as well. I hope the little ones never see it. Ever.

Out of all of us I find myself being the most real, the only one who can pull January back from his wild dreams and ideas. Its hard enough trying to keep all of us safe in this house without the peacekeepers butting it, I don't know how he thinks about the future when I'm just trying to make it through today. Most of the time we don't even have enough food to go around, but I figure the growing ones need it a little more than I do. Eventually I'll find a way to make sure we all get what we need, until then I'm more than welcome to sacrafice so someone else doesn't have to.

History:

Life started off okay. My parents thought it would be cute to name me Feburary since I was born on a day they were told was St. Valentine's Day. They said it was supposed to be a special day for lovers and that I was very loved. As a child I knew we weren't poor, we weren't rich either, but there wasn't anything we really lacked. When I was around 6 years old I remember watching my dad get ready for work, my mom cried when he left and went to her room. She came out a few hours later with a suitcase and handed me a letter. She told me to give it to dad he'd understand...and then she was gone. I never saw her again, sometimes in the mirror I see glimpses of her expressions on my face though.

Dad wasn't the same after that. He said she had been called to the Capitol and that we wouldn't see her anymore. I remember crying for a long time, my dad becoming more frustrated with me, after a week or two he lost it and took a swing at me. He blacked my eye and told me I needed to grow up. That mom was gone and we were all each other had now. He never saw me cry after that. No one did. Even though I should've stayed mad at him I didn't. I moved on and did well in school. I was friendly and sweet, but I burned with a rage anytime someone would leave me.

When I was 16 a boy at school and I were seeing each other, his parents got the call that we had been caught kissing in the coat room as school and they told him he couldn't see me anymore. I broke inside as he told me, remembering that empty feeling I had when mom left, the pain and the sorrow. He left the coat room that day with a black eye just like I had 10 years ago. He reported me and I was suspended from school for two weeks. During that time Dad decided I was too much to handle and when I got back from school on my first day back the locks on the door were changed and a bag was packed with my things. Pinned to it was a letter wishing me luck and contanting enough money to last a few months. At first things were okay, I bounced from friends, house to house, but when the money ran out so did their hospitality.

After about 6 months on the streets January found me. I was crossing the street and he passed me by. The look on his face as he stopped in the middle of the road gave me such a startle that I stopped on the other side to wait for him. From that day on we've been inseperable, which bothers my friend Gus. Hopefully soon Gus will understand what its like to be in charge, to have responsiblity, til then I'm January's second in charge. The mother to his father. The peace maker, the loving confidant.

Codeword: ODair
Comments/Other:

For the Yearlings plot.