By the time the brothers got into town, they were tired enough to do nothing but eat and go to bed. Especially Jeremy, who felt like he'd forgot everything he knew about working, and it really hadn't been all that long. He was disgusted and unhappy.

Saturday the brothers all tended to their separate interests, although they passed one another frequently. Jeremy came out of the store with lumpy pockets and eating a cookie.

"Hope you didn't run up our bill,"Jason teased him, and Jeremy grinned and took another bite from his cookie.

Jason laughed. No, the child wasn't gone, not yet. "Did you buy up all the cookies? Looks good."

Jeremy laughed, shook his head and kept walking.

Jason bought himself a cookie and enjoyed it while he headed to his next destination. Hooray for childhood.

The brothers met at Lottie's for supper, and went back to their place. Jason and Josh had invited friends to come and play cards with them there.

Jeremy kind of wandered around, seeing there was no room at the table for him to play, even if he had wanted to. When more men ventured in, standing around talking while waiting for an empty chair, he kept himself busy making coffee and such. They talked too much, saying nothing, if you asked him.

They kept asking him if he'd skipped out of school because he was missing his little girlfriend.

Jeremy scowled and didn't answer, to no one's surprise. They'd probably have been more surprised if he had answered.

Another knock at the door, and three more men came in, asking if there was room for one more. Not three more; ONE more. Jeremy's lips curled and his jaw set. If his brothers had been paying attention…

"If you don't mind waiting your turn," was Jason's jovial answer. "Help yourself to some coffee if you'd like."

Jeremy headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Jason asked. Yeah, he'd pay attention now, wouldn't he?

" I'm g-going to Lottie's. Since evryb-body's here, m-maybe I can go to sleep there!"

The overfull room went completely silent.

Jason turned completely around to face Jeremy. "What was that?"

Jeremy dropped his eyes and mumbled something.

Jason turned back to the card game, but the men were already gathering their things and getting ready to leave. (They had to wait for Jeremy to step away from the door.)

"Explain yourself."

Jeremy shrugged.

"I. Said. Explain. Yourself."

Josh silently backed away to the corner by the fireplace. He didn't want any part of this. Except to watch it, of course.

"W-wanted to g-go to b-bed."

"There is no reason you couldn't have gone to bed if that's what you wanted to do!"

"T-too m-many p-people."

"They. Weren't. Going. To. Stop. You."

"D-didn't w-want them here."

"Well, I did. I invited them."

"It's my house, too!"

And they were off! Jason and Jeremy shouted at one another, neither listening. Really shouting, rattling the window glass, Josh imagined. Boy-oh-boy were they both mad! And getting madder!

If they were anywhere near the same size, they'd be a perfect match, Josh thought. Or maybe the same age. Or if Jason wasn't so much the big brother and Jeremy so much the baby brother. (Not that he'd thank Josh for using those words.)

It was funny, though, seeing them face-to-face, nose-to-nose even, shouting at one another, not even taking turns anymore.

Until Jeremy screamed wordlessly in Jason's face and covered his (Jeremy's)ears.

Jason took a deep breath.

And another one.

He closed his eyes and took a third.

"Go. To. Bed. Jeremy."

Jeremy opened his mouth to protest.

Jason slammed both fists on the table. "That's what you wanted, isn't it? What started all this? Just – just do it. We can talk this out in the morning."

"It already IS the morning," Jeremy fired back, before turning and getting into bed fully clothed. "That's why I wanted to go to bed!" He curled himself into a ball and pulled the covers over himself.

Jason turned his head so little-mister-get-the-last-word-in wouldn't see him smile. He supposed he should be glad Jeremy hadn't reverted to that favorite word of his when upset: No. That might have been one word too many. He'd been as close as he'd ever been to losing control of his temper with the boy.

He shook his head; he didn't like that. Boys in their teen-aged years liked to argue – and argue was a kind word for the rebellions, sulks, rages, and tantrums of the group. The next three or four years were going to be – explosive.

Speaking of teen-aged boys – he looked around for Josh, who wiggled his fingers at him in a half-wave.

"It's safe to come in now, or out of your corner. Is there any coffee left?"

"Is coffee gonna be strong enough?" Josh filled cups for both of them.

"It will have to do. Spirits don't mix well with tempers, as we all know too well."

"That we do."

"Thank you for staying out of it."

"It wasn't easy. I was coming up with smart aleck remarks to both of you, but I didn't want the two of you ganging up on me."

"And we probably would have, but whether it would be before or after we settled our difference, who knows."

"You have an unfair advantage, you know."

Jason sighed. "Yes. I know." He put his head in his hands. "My god."

Josh patted Jason's shoulder. He was really glad he was neither of his brothers. Sometimes smack in the middle of the family was a good place to be. A safe place.

Jeremy snored dramatically, and Josh and Jason just looked at one another, lips twitching.

Jason went over to the door and sat down and pulled on his boots. "I am going to take a short walk around the block. I hope it will be a short walk." He put on his coat and went out.

Josh cleaned up the mess from entertaining and was himself in bed before Jason, moving slowly, returned. Jason looked so worn out. Josh felt bad for him.