Disclaimer:  Believe it or not, they all belong to me.  A Potatoverse story, 
over a year before Coming Home.  Thanks to Chicago, Kerrie and Noel 
for looking at it for me.

Ramen Noodles and Fuzzy Sweaters
By Smitty 


	Jamie Scranton swung his legs idly as he waited outside the 
Principal's Office.  Scotty was in trouble again and Mommy had to come 
to school to pick him up.  Since Scotty held Jamie's hand to the bus, Jamie 
had to stay, too.  But at least he could go home on the big bus with 
Mommy, instead of on the noisy school bus.
	The door opened and Mommy came out with Scotty held firmly by 
the shoulder.  
	"Come on, Jamie," she said, holding out her other hand.  "We need 
to get home."
	Jamie hopped off the bench, pulling his bookbag with him.  
Mommy was mad.  Her face was flushed under her pretty red hair and her 
mouth was frowning a little.  He took Mommy's hand and squeezed.  He 
was only in first grade but he was a big boy and he knew Mommy needed 
a hug. 
	Mommy steered Scotty all the way to the bus stop and onto the 
bus, carefully counting out enough change for one adult and two children 
and dropping it in the slot.  She found a pair of empty seats and nudged 
Scotty into the window one.  She sat on the aisle one, pulling Jamie into 
her lap.  Her sweater was fuzzy and warm and Jamie laid his head on her 
shoulder as the bus lurched into motion.
	"Tired, little guy?" Mommy asked, running her fingers through 
tangled auburn curls that matched her own.  "Don't fall asleep before 
dinner."
	Scotty didn't say anything at all.


	Jamie liked it when Mommy made noodles.  They came in a 
square package and sometimes she let him break them up in a bowl before 
she put them in the Hot Water—Don't Touch.  
	Scotty hadn't liked the noodles.  He'd dumped his bowl over and 
stomped off.  Jamie could hear him in the living room.  He was yelling at 
Mommy.
	"They said you were a ho!" Scotty yelled hotly.  "They said you 
fucked men for money!"
	"You will *not* use that language in this house," Mommy told him 
sternly.  She sounded mad.  Jamie took another bite of noodles and waited 
for the response.  Scotty was in big trouble again.  Jamie wondered how 
much more trouble he was going to get in.
	"I'll use it where I wanna use it," Scotty said defiantly.
	Lots more trouble, Jamie decided.
	"You are not to use it here and you are certainly not to use it at 
school.  And you can't *fight* at school, either.  No matter what.  You've 
got to go to school and do well, because that's the only way you're going 
to do better than I did.  You can't mess that up, ok, Scotty?  You have to 
be a good big brother and take care of Jamie."
	"My name's Scorch," he told her crossly.  "And his name's Spud."
	Scotty was in trouble now.  Mommy didn't like them to hang out 
with the mean kids on the corners.  The kids who called them those names.
	"You are *never* *ever* to call yourself that again!" Mommy 
yelled.  "I told you never to hang out with those kids!  They're bad news 
and they're gonna get you in jail one day.  How *dare* you bring your 
brother into those awful gang!"
	"They're my friends!" Scotty shouted.  "And *they* like me!"  He 
rushed through the kitchen and behind the curtain where he and Jamie 
slept.  Jamie heard him jump on the old cot.
	Jamie continued to eat his noodles until Mommy came back, no 
longer in jeans and a sweater, but in a skirt and boots, with lots of colors 
on her face.
	"How's my little boy?" she asked, sitting down on the other chair.  
	Jamie crawled from his chair onto her lap, wrapping his arms 
around her neck in a hug.  "What's a ho?" he asked, wondering why Scotty 
had been so upset.
	"It's…can we talk about this tomorrow, honey?" she asked.  "I just 
wanna hug my baby right now."
	"I'm a big boy," Jamie reminded her.  But he cuddled into her 
anyway.
	"That you are," Mommy agreed.  "That you are."
	They rocked together for a few minutes before Mommy had to put 
Jamie back on the floor.  She stood and straightened her skirt and called to 
Scotty.
	"Scott?  I have to go.  Come out so we can go over the rules 
again."
	Scotty reappeared from behind the curtain, his face stained with 
tears.
	"I don't *want* you to go out," he protested before running 
headlong into Mommy's arms.  
	"Shhh."  Mommy squatted down and caught Scotty in a special 
squeezy hug.  "Honey," she explained when Scotty had stopped crying, 
"rent's due next week.  I can't stay here with you tonight.  I have to go."
	"But I don't want you to," Scotty sniffed, wiping his nose on his 
sleeve.
	"I know."  Mommy put her hand under his chin and turned his face 
up to her.  "Now tell me the rules."
	"Don't answer the door," Scotty recited dutifully.  "Don't answer 
the phone.  Don't go outside.  Don't touch the stove.  Do all my homework.  
Help…Jamie…with his.  If we want something to eat, use the plastic forks 
and stuff in the cupboard."
	"Good boy.  I love you, y'know," Mommy said, rubbing Scotty's 
head.  "You're my Knight in Shining Armor."  Her hands went to the cross 
around her neck, holding it for a moment.  She undid the clasp and 
fastened the chain around Scotty's neck.  "Keep this safe for me, ok?   I'll 
see you both in the morning."  She kissed her fingertips and pressed them 
to his cheek.  "Jamie?  Good-night, sweetie.  Be good for your brother."  
She kissed her fingers again and pressed them to Jamie's cheek.
	"Bye, Mommy," they said, almost in one voice.
	"Goodbye, guys.  I'll miss you while I'm gone."


The End