on my side . geebs . blitz

He stretched out at the table, crossing his long legs at the ankle and leaning back nearly to the breaking point of the hard cafe chairs. He sipped a black coffee and while he didn't openly check his watch he could feel each minute tick by.

Eedun was not often invited to speak with government officials so he didn't know what to except. He chugged his coffee and ordered a new one. The waitress passed off the mug to him right as Mayor Strauss fluttered in through the doors. She sat down across him using his given name. It made his eye twitch. When was the last time he interacted with an adult? All of his students were prohibited from using his first name and hearing it after so long felt like an electric shock.

She explained the meeting and the image became clearer. She was disappointed in how the District Two districts had been performing lately and Eedun couldn't disagree. Most of his pupils thought of training as an after school hobby and he hadn't had any of them volunteer in years. They all chicken out and expect to return after their last reaping so they can stay in shape or have him help them pass the Peacekeeper entrance exam. He told them all the same thing:

I make victors not Peacekeepers

Eedun took a sip from his mug, the hot coffee a welcoming sensation. He didn't have a coffee maker in his room above the gym and rarely did he find an occasion to justify paying for any. This little foray into the cafe may have changed his mind on the matter.

"I can see why you would say that Mayor Strauss," he said. "Meredith wasn't exactly the star you wanted, was she?"

He set his cup down and leaned on the edge of the table.

"The kids in District Two need to be pushed harder, more needs to be expected of them," he said. "Punctuality for instance."