A drabble originally written for youngcurmudgeon.

Ma Cobb. Post-movie. General.

Free for all ages.

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More Than A Hamster --------------------------------

Mother Cobb has spent the day praying and cooking and her bones ache more than usual, creak more than usual, in tandem with the chair that is even older than her.

She is tired, but she is not resting.

On a day like this, when things happen that no one could have foreseen, a woman cannot just sit idly, she cannot just go to bed.

She can also not cry as long as there are still grandchildren running about.

Therefor, the knitting needles are pulled out and put to good use. Green, she chooses, even though the yarn is old. It will be a scarf, to begin with. A matching pair of mittens might follow.

She could knit a blanket.

She could knit an entire town.

The letter has been neatly folded into her worn Bible, after spending a day being shown around to neighbors and family. It bears stains from the celebratory dinner and the littlest grandson took out a chunk on the corner when he nibbled.

It is a letter that will stay with the Cobbs for a good long time to come. The letter and the small bottle of medicine.

"...I send you the enclosed for Mattie. Simon says to take this daily. He is a doctor from the Core. He wrote a list with food Mattie can't eat. Simon says this ought help..."

Mother Cobb's hands are shaking but stay busy at work, like they have her whole life.

She sniffles.

Core doctors don't come to Harvest. They certainly don't come here where no one can pay for their services and where there is no money for paying there is no money for traveling, either.

But her Jayne, he has made his way in the world. He has made a difference.

And so has his friend. Whoever he may be.

A real difference.

She knows she isn't the only woman knitting tonight. Her boy's ship will be getting a lot of post in the coming weeks, that much is assured.

When Mattie Cobb rose from his bed for the first time in two years, Simon earned himself the entire town of Bethany.

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END.