Burdock Everdeen who grew up with his father either ignoring him or beating on him. Burdock Everdeen who went to the Covey house for things his parents couldnât (or wouldnât) do but always felt somewhat like an outsider as he wasnât âcovey enoughâ to fit in with the rest of them. Burdie Everdeen who started going to the woods by himself when he was 7-8 and figured out a lot of the stuff there by himself because even though his pa had taught him a decent amount about the woods, it was more of a trial and error type of thing (just letting him do stuff and letting him suffer the consequences to teach him a lesson). Burdie Everdeen who started seeing Willamae Abernathy as somewhat of a parental figure.
Burdock Everdeen who developed a childhood crush on his best friend so he would take him up to the lake, but no, Haymitch liked Lenore Dove. But they still stayed best friends and they were for a while. Burdock Everdeen who as he got older, realized that he really could just go live in the woods by himself if he wanted to. But he didnât. He wanted to stay around the people he loved and couldnât just abandon them.
Burdock Everdeen who developed the fattest crush on Asterid March. A Town girl. Haymitch and Blair teased him relentlessly for it. No matter what he did, sold the apothecary all sorts of plants and herbs at a discount, gave them first bid on a piece of game he got, no matter what, Asteridâs parents never liked him. And he didnât wonder why, he knew good and well why, but it still hurt.
Burdock Everdeen who lost his best friend on his best friendâs 16th birthday, because even if Haymitch came home, he wouldnât be the same. He was right. Haymitch did come home but he was never the same. A fire took Haymitchâs home and his family (who Burdock considered partially his too). Burdock Everdeen who tried and tried and tried to reason with Haymitch, to get him to come on and just talk to him. Burdock Everdeen who didnât stop until Haymitch hit Asterid in the head with the rock. Burdock Everdeen who felt so guilty for leaving Haymitch alone like this, but he was sure it was for the best. Haymitch would come around if he wanted to.
Burdock Everdeen and Asterid March who got married as soon as they both turned eighteen. Asterid March (now Everdeen) who got basically disowned for marrying a Seam boy, a Seam boy that was Burdock at that. Burdock Everdeen who started in the coal mines and was internally terrified the first few times because everyone in Twelve knew about mining accidents and how gruesome they could get. Eighteen year old Burdock deciding that if he was going to die in the mines, he wanted it to be something quick and for him to not look too gruesome, just so his family wouldnât be terrified by his body.
Burdock Everdeen who became a father and was immediately so proud of Katniss from the day she was born. Burdock Everdeen who toted her around everywhere, eventually teaching her about the woods. Primrose, who came a few years later, who he was just as proud of even if she didnât like the woods as much. Burdock Everdeen who taught his girls all his songs, trying to keep the semblance of Covey alive. Burdie Everdeen who wanted to be the man his father never was and he really was.
Burdock Everdeen who went into the mines, on a cold January morning, in a pretty good mood. Theyâd just been able to get back to work after a snow storm and he was just ready to go back home to see Asterid, Katniss, and Prim. Katniss was eleven now and Prim was seven. Theyâd both grown up so quickly. Burdock Everdeen who knew that something was wrong the moment he went down the mine elevator. Nothing felt right. But he went. Burdock Everdeen who the last thoughts he had was the hope that his family wouldnât have to see his mangled body after he died.
Burdock Everdeen, ACTUALLY the man ever.