Freddie Benson loved labels.
You've reached the one and only Sam Puckett's voice mail if you were lucky enough to be given this number there just might be a chance of me calling you back…but don't hold your breath.
Freddie hit the power button angrily on his phone, and shoved it in his pocket. He didn't understand how she could get him so infuriated…well he did understand it but that didn't mean he liked it. Sam was one of the only people on Earth with the gift to push his buttons to no relief …and yet he loved her, and he was the idiot who had mistakenly told her just that.
Walking into his kitchen he saw a blue post it note on the fridge. That meant his mother wouldn't be in until late or early the next morning.
They needed a couple of extra hands in the hospital today . I labeled your dinner and put it in the fridge please eat it I don't think you've been eating enough lately. We're getting so close to that car! I love you.
-Mom
Ps. Be safe.
Freddie sighed reading the note, he hated that his mother felt she had to work so hard for him, no matter how many times he told her that he could pay for his own car with his savings, she just kept on pushing herself. Balling up the note he opened the fridge easily finding his plate labeled with a blue sticker, while T-bo's was orange. Taking the plate from the fridge he pulled off the foil, cringing at the sight of Brussel sprouts . Placing the plate in the microwave he set it to a minute and a half, and hopped up on the counter. Hearing his phone beep, he felt his heart jump into his throat, finally she texted him back.
Hey little big dude, met a lady at the smoothie, don't wait up!
"Way to rub salt into the wound Teebs." Hearing the microwave sound he put his phone back in his pocket and grabbed his plate making and a fork his way to his bedroom. Placing his plate on top of his lab top, he carefully stepped out onto the fire escape. Putting his food down he looked to his lab top, adorned with his custom made iCarly icon that he, Carly and, Sam had all singed, another label…maybe she was right.
"It's like your freaking obsessed with them or something!" She yelled walking away from him.
"Well that's a hell of a lot better than scared, tell me don't you every get tired of running Sam?"
Freddie rubbed his hand across his face, their argument ways about a week ago, that was the last time he saw or spoken to her , and with her being 3,000 miles away he couldn't force her to see him, just like he couldn't force her to answer her cellphone.
He knew he had a…thing with labels. Not only did he love them he lived by them,and at a very young age he learned how powerful a label could be.
Flashback
"Do you have your books?" Marissa Benson asked while reading off a checklist in her son's room.
"Yes."
"Three dull number two pencils?"
"Yes."
"And remember Freddie, never sharpen past the point that I showed you." He nodded his head in understanding.
"Do you have your emergency contact list?"
"Yes it's tape inside my case with my crayons." The small boy said while sticking his pencil case into his Galaxy Wars backpack.
"Your first aid kit and extra set of under…"
"Yes mama I have everything." A five year old Freddie Benson said while hopping excitedly off his bed.
"Okay well let me look at you." Marissa wiped at his shoes, adjusted his belt, and straighten his sweater vest picking a inviable piece of lint off of his shoulder. Meeting his eyes, she let out a sad sigh. "You know Freddiebear you don't really have to go to kindergarten if you don't want to, it's not even a mandatory grade, you could just stay here and we could."
"Mama I want to go, I've been waiting, look right here on my calendar, it say first day of kindergarten." He said while walking over and pointing to the circled event. Marissa nodded solemnly while taking in her son's bright smiling face. She knew this day was coming; her baby was going out into the world …the germ filled world.
"Let me just double check your sanitizer." She said while bending down to examine his clip on blue chain.
"Mama we refilled it last night."
"Oh but it looks like we forgot the label." She stated while standing up and walking over to his desk. Returning back to his side she peeled off one of the blue stickers and stuck it on to his sanitizer. It was the same blue stickers that was on all of his belongings, the sticker which read Property of Fredward . "There now you're perfect." She smiled kissing his cheek. As they made their way to the front door Marissa walked over to the kitchen to get Freddie's lunch from the fridge. She may be sending him to school but she didn't want a hospital visit to follow, heaven only knows what they put in that food. Seeing his Nug nug lunch box in his mom's hands something occurred to him causing him to stop on his way towards the front door.
"Oh wait I forgot something."
"What is it your cloud block?"
"No ..it's uh..I'll be right back." He said while hurrying back into his bedroom. Reaching his room he moved over to his night stand where he picked up his limited addition Nug nug action figure, which included his legendry robe and accessories. Smiling Freddie carefully put his most prized possession into his bag, when the other children saw this he was sure to make friends.
"Freddie if you don't hurry I won't have enough time to go in and meet your teacher, principle, and possibly the lunch staff."
"Here I am mama." He said while walking out of his room sliding his back pack onto his shoulders.
"So what did you forget?"
"I uh..I had to go."
"Did you remember to wash your hands?"
"Front, and back, and in between." He said while holding up his hands for her to examine.
"Good boy, now let's go."
Freddie's eyes were wide as they pulled up to the large brick building. Seeing all the children playing on the playground equipment he began to feel nervous. What if they didn't like him…what if he tripped and fell…what if….
"Are you okay honey?"
He swallowed hard, opening his back pack he peeked in catching sight of his Nug nug. Be a big brave solider he told himself while thinking of his father who was currently serving in the US air force. Taking a deep breath he felt the rapid beating of his heart begin to slow down.
"Honey?"
"I'm ready mama."
….
So far kindergarten was going… ok. His teacher Ms. Mc Coy was nice as long as you didn't scream, kick, make a big mess or run. There were lots of books and they even had computers in the classroom, and he loved computers. He had a nice desk partner …but due to the uneven amount of boys and girls, her only down fall was that…well she was a girl, a real girly girl too, she didn't even know what Galaxy wars was.
"Well what do we have here." A boy who looked to be about 8 or 9 said moving to stand in front of him.
"It's a Nug nug action figure; my dad got it for me before he…
"Hand it over dork." Freddie stood up his eyes quickly scanning the playground for one of the aides who both seemed to have their hands full with some children on the monkey bars and playground equipment. "I said give it." The boy said moving forward to grab at the doll, but Freddie was too quick and was able to dodge the grab.
"No it's mine." He stated firmly placing the doll behind his back.
"You better hand it over or else."
Freddie having always been a curious child answered "Or else what?" This seemed to quickly infuriate the other boy who moved forward shoving him hard. Freddie stumbled back hitting the floor, he instantly felt pain throbbing in his elbows and the tears welling up in his eyes, but he didn't let up on his grip of Nug Nug.
"Back off wazzbag, he ain't giving it to you." Freddie looked over to see a small girl with wild hair wearing a power ranger shirt, jeans with the knees worn so bad that they were ripped, and red converses at his side.
"Why don't you mind your business." The boy sneered shoving the girl as he done Freddie. Freddie gasped standing up he quickly wiped at his eyes.
" My mama says a gentleman never hits a lady ."
"Well too bad your mama's not here." The boy said while snatching the toy from Freddie. While he didn't know the girl she stood up for him, and he found himself filled with more anger than he knew his body could hold. He felt his small hands beginning to ball into fist, but before he could act, he heard a strange noise which sounded like a mix of Tarzan and his neighbor's cat whiskers…and in a flash the girl was on top of the boy. Her fists seemed to be flying everywhere at once, and then she suddenly jumped up pulling something out of her pocket she stood over the boy hitting him with the object in her hand.
"Fight!" A nearby group of children playing kickball shouted noticing the commotion near the gate. As the circle began to grow around the three Freddie was paralyzed mostly in shock, as the girl continued to hit the boy with what appeared to be a sock.
"Alright, Alright break it up." An aid shouted entering the circle of children, she made a moved to pull the girl off the boy, but she wouldn't be moved.
"Samantha!" The girl froze. As another girl who he recognized as his desk partner entered the circle. She wore her long hair up in a ponytail, with a pink dress, and pristine white penny loafers, the most interesting thing Freddie noticed she wore was his hero's face they were identical. " You promised." She cried moving closer to the pair. Freddie saw the girl's shoulders slump as she dropped her sock and stood up.
"I want you children to get back to playing." The girl who Freddie now knew to be Samantha made a move to leave, only to be stopped by the lunch aid. "Not you." As the group of children scattered, the lunch aid helped the boy up off the ground. He had a bloodily nose and busted lip, and Freddie's Nug nug in his hand. "Now what's going here?"
"That crazy girl attacked me trying to get my toy." The boy said wiping at his nose and eyes.
"Uh unh, that jerk started it."
"And let me guess you finished it." The aid said putting her hands on her hips. "Look at this poor boy." The boy nodded his head, poking out his lip for good measure.
"Ma'am she's telling the truth, that boy stole my Nug nug and pushed me down, and then pushed her down, and a gentleman never hits a lady." The woman looked thoughtfully at him, and then back to the boy.
"He's lying this is my nag nard."
"It's Nug nug you ..you.."
"Don't hurt yourself there kid." The girl said while elbowing him.
"Let me have the toy."
"But it's mine." The aid held her hand out expectantly. The boy sighed handing over the toy. She carefully looked at the toy, turning it around she pulled down the collar of his robe.
"Property of Fredward ." Samantha snorted, not able to stop the smile from hitting her face.
"What a dumb name." The other boy said with a laugh.
"If it's so dumb I take it that it's not yours." She stated while turning to Freddie. "Now I want you to take this a put it away it looks very special, and you wouldn't want anything to happen to it now would you?
"No ma'am." Freddie smiled brightly as his Nug nug was placed back in his hands. It was that moment he realized what power a label held, without it he would have lost his Nug nug, nothing could be worse than that.
"Now I'm going to have to take you kids to the office."
"Aww not the office."
"I'll go with you Samantha." Melina said while taking her hand.
"Quit calling me Samantha, Mel." She said making a face but not dropping the girl's hand. As the group began to head towards the school, Sam stop abruptly.
"I forgot something." The aid sighed as she made her way back to the gate.
"I have to get this boy to the nurse, you come with me." She stated while pointing at Melina " I'll need your parents phone number and you.." She paused now looking to Freddie. "Make sure you two make it to the office."
"Yes ma'am." He nodded. He watched as they continued into the building, turning he saw Sam running back towards him, holding a white sock.
"What is that?"
"It's my creaming sock." She stated holding it up proudly.
"Creaming sock?"
"Yea I fill it with whip cream and then cream people get it?" She smiled, but her smile faltered as she examined it more. "The cream just keeps on coming out to easy." Freddie paused looking at the now squishy sock.
"Maybe you should try something harder…like butter… you the kind that comes in a stick." Sam looked thoughtfully at her sock, and nodded her head.
"You're alright kid I'm Sam by the way."
"Freddie." He smiled offering her a hand. Sam looked to him with a raised eyebrow before slapping him a five.
"That's a pretty cool toy you got."
"It's my favorite; you can play with him if you want." Freddie said while offering her the toy.
"Yea let's see how fast he slides down the slide." Sam said with wide eyes taking the offered toy.
"I think the aid is waiting for us in the office." Freddie said while looking to the school doors.
"If she is a few more minutes won't hurt." She said making her way towards the play place. "You coming?" She called.
Looking towards the school doors once more, Freddie made a decision that unbeknownst to him would forever change his life.
"Yea I'm coming." He smiled jogging to catch up to Sam.
End Flashback
…
Planning on a three shot for this one.
Let me know what you think.