Food For Thought [Smith Family]

There’s something extremely special about the feeling of being on stage; not as powerful as living on the edge and doing something dangerous, but still just as important to notice. Performing for a crowd of citizens erased their memories of living in the dreadful district, or at least till the end of the show, and it was exactly the same for the performer Charlie as well. It was unexplainable for the young adolescent, the energy exerted through the audience, being allowed to sing and dance her heart out, and it was the only form of acceptance that Charlie ever received. It began a little over a year ago, when she was only a tiny sixteen year old (though she has yet to grow since) on one of her regular drunken nights with some strangers at the local bar.

From that time Charlie started performing for tips, starting by just intruding upon the stage herself and leaving a hat for potential tips, then surprisingly enough requests began to arrive. The music industry, in District Six at least, was not well paying unless a few bucks and loads of pills of booze was enough to support the singer. But this singer had eight younger siblings waiting at home, with no one else to fill their stomachs. Well maybe not fully true on account the second oldest Elias held a steady job, still Charlie was insistent on her supporting the entire family. It held its difficulties with the only finances coming from tips at the bar, and food beyond the fence, but Charlie was not nearly a good enough hunter to feed nine mouths (those hers only really required a few pills).

Today of all days the Pub is on the list for the peacekeepers to invade and destroy. This happened occasionally and though it was never predictable Charlie was able to hear the signs as soon as the front door was open. Right in the middle of one of her most hype songs as well, with everyone appearing a bit crazy to be dancing around so freely and happy. Peacekeepers didn't like this type of excitement from large numbers of people, as if a rebel would honestly start from a few songs, and within seconds the place was shut down. It was chaos with the men and (very few) women in uniform yanking and dragging people out of the bar, and of course Charlie as well. Enforcement and authority was the only two issues of Charlie, neither of which she handled well and of course only landed her with a few various bruises. At least this time Charlie’s resistance didn’t result in a harsher punishment, once being publically whipped on the back after successfully beating-up a peacekeeper during one of these many riots.

This meant one major thing, and it wasn't until being literally kicked out that Charlie came to the realization. Flipping off the peacekeepers, and rubbing the tailbone that the hard metal shoe meet, she had to curse at herself for not even trying to grab her tips. Plus that was a really stylish hat that she lost through all the stomping and shoving. There was absolutely nothing to return home with and though this was not the first time is always wore heavily on Charlie's guilt. With small possibilities of scraps of food still being at home she made her way there with a bit of a lowered head. Of course a cigarette was pulled out on the way, something to ease the pain of everything physical and mental that just occurred.

The worst part would being seeing everyone's faces; the older ones that expected this to happen, the ones in the middle that wanted to try to understand, and of course the younger ones that shouldn't have to understand but simply knew it would be a slim picking for everyone that night. This sort of thing didn't happen often and that was the worst part, before with their Father around a meal was never skipped and low portions didn’t exist, well for all of them with the exception Charlie. They weren't used to it, and it was now her fault that they had to start. Searching high and low in all the cabinets there was absolutely no way that she would be able to pull off a meal for so many people.

Cooking up the last few slices of turkey, two potatoes, and whatever vegetables were left, if there was only two people they could easily go to bed with nearly full bellies. But it wasn't only two people in this family, there’s nine, and even if Charlie skipped a meal as she often did, it wouldn't be enough to prevent growling stomachs tonight. Dividing the little bit into eight individual plates Charlie was quite lucky to never shed a tear because these portions would make a man of a household cry serving this to their family. It wasn't uncommon for families to starve in the Districts, but usually a relatively low district as number six didn't suffer this much.

Individual family members slowly began filling in the house, some returning to their bedrooms, the living room, or some other room, and some of course reached the dinning room. The dinning room was in a separate area apart from the kitchen, almost in entirely other room despite the lack of one wall joining the two. Staying on the barstool, Charlie was too ashamed to even look at the food, let alone the intruders that were going to discover her inability to be the responsible head of the household. Of course the first two to arrive is the second oldest girl (third oldest in general) and the adorable baby of the household clinking to her hand. With one gaze at the table, and up at Charlie it toke no time at all for that Perfectionist to have a sly remark.

"Eat most of it yourself?" She accused with spite in her voice. It was a bit ironic on account Charlie was nearly the smallest in the entire family even being the oldest. Only the three youngest have yet to reach past short Charlie's 5'1 height, and all a lot more filled compared to her scrawny body.

"Don't do this in front of her." Charlie demanded with the little power she had left, the baby that was not even over five and had no business hearing her older sibling's fight. The caring side of the oldest arrived and she bent down to lift the baby off her feet and direct her to the table to eat. At least she might not be starving tonight on account her portion was exactly the same as the rest, which was perfect for her. "I'm sorry there's so little tonight baby." Charlie felt to need to apologize and place a gentle kiss on her little forehead before approaching the older brat.

"I didn't have anything for the sake of all of you." Charlie spat at her completely fed up with her lack of appreciation. "You can disrespect me all you want, but don't do it in front of the youngsters." She repeated to make sure the girl understood not in front of any of the younger kids, especially the baby. Before any chance of any response another walked in and Charlie quickly directed her attention towards whoever it may be.

She may of lost it if it was the next in line to Charlie, Elias, but it wasn't. There was one person in the family that actually completely supported the oldest Charlie, and lucky for her it was Summer that was arriving in. Well maybe not so lucky on account she had not much food to offer the young girl. There's first an adorable perk as she greets everyone, but then of course her eyes find their way to the table with little food and her emotions completely shift. There was a reason Summer found normality and someone to look up to in Charlie, and that was because they were both in the same boat with their Father. Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder Summer had a bit of a different reason to be denied by their father, hers a bit less harsh with more acceptance and love from everyone. It was still something they had in common, they were both mistakes and it didn't take long for Summer to learn even more things to make her similar to her older sister.

Immediately, as always, Charlie was able to recognize Summer's shallow breathing and even more so when she attempts to control it. This was now becoming even worse because not only was everyone going to bed with only a little bit in their stomachs, but it was also effecting Summer's emotions. Quickly Charlie made her way over to the suffering young girl in desire to help. With Summer's deep brown eyes fixated on the food, it was easy to figure out her problem. "Hey Summer it's okay, it's not nothing right?" Charlie tried to comfort, placing her hands on her younger sister's shoulders and attempts to break her gaze from the table with her own blue eyes.

It was nearly nothing though, and right before Charlie's eyes she pictured Summer's healthy face sinking into an even scrawnier figure then herself. Gazing over at the table the baby wasn't taking the intense emotions too well, and looking back at Summer's concern she knew she had to do something. "Try to shift yourself honey, and I'll take you hunting to find everyone a midnight snack later." She whispered an offer into her ear as she gave a reassuring hug, before returning to the baby to make sure she was decent. Sitting down next to the tiny little girl that was slowly finishing her meal, Charlie still managed to watch Summer to make sure she'd still sit down and eat. She was fully aware that Summer had constantly followed her beyond the fence, and possibly even witnessed her hunting in the flesh, and maybe being invited could help her emotions and possibly even bring in more game. "Finish up and eat so I can get you to bed sweetie." Charlie told after the baby gave a big yawn to indicate bedtime for her was just around the corner.


((OOC: I don't think I've ever created a post this long, hopefully this is the start of a very interesting plot!))