Summary:  Adam and Hoss Cartwright reflect on the memory of an old ranch hand.

Rating:  K+  WC 800

 

Old Man Dizzy

This was done for the April Chaps and Spurs Challenge. We had the old world sayings below:

Scarce as hens teeth, pulling a kite, hobble your lip, hair in the butter, nail me to the counter and velvet couch.

 

 

Adam and Hoss Cartwright stood solemn alongside a fresh dug grave as they paid their last respects to old man Dizzy. Walter Dizzy came to the Cartwrights when Adam was eleven and Hoss just five years old. He was the typical hard working ranch hand that all the men looked up to and admired. But, he also loved children and spent many hours “keeping an eye” on Adam and Hoss as their father worked hard to establish himself and set up a functioning ranch.

“Never could understand him much,” Hoss softly spoke as he placed his hat back on his head. “…All that old world mumble jumble.”

“He did have a unique way of talking,” Adam agreed as he put his arm around his brother’s shoulder and the two started walking away toward their awaiting horses.

“I just wish we could have gotten here in time to a least say goodbye to him,” Hoss stopped and turned once more toward the grave. “He was sure good to us, wasn’t he Adam?”

Adam simply nodded as his mind drifted back to his first meeting with old Dizzy…

~~~~

“Boys, I like you to meet Walter Dizzy,” his father announced boldly.

“Please to meet you, sir,” Adam responded respectively, while nudging his brother to mimic his actions.

“Pwease to meet you,” the younger Cartwright blurted out as his wide eyes scanned upward at the ominous looking man in front of him.

Old Dizzy realized the awe in the young boy’s face and squatted down before him.

“I can tell you’ve got two mighty fine fellas here, Mr. Cartwright… mighty fine indeed. Know how to act proper, too.” This brought a big smile to Hoss’s face.

“Well, thank you, Dizzy. I must say I’m very proud of them myself.”

“I’d say these two are ‘bout as scarce as hen’s teeth in your book I figure.” Dizzy then ruffled young Hoss’ hair and once again stood upright.

Suddenly, young Hoss’ face construed up into a frown and Dizzy immediately noticed.

“Now hold on there, young fella. No need to be pulling a kite. What’s troubling you?”

“Well…” Hoss stopped and looked down to the ground in hesitation. He then mumbled softly, “I was just wondering is all.”

Dizzy was unrelenting. “Now there’s not need to hobble your lip with old Dizzy. Speak your mind, sonny.”

Adam could tell his brother was a little shy at speaking aloud to a stranger.

“Go ahead, Hoss. It’s all right,” he encouraged.

Hoss remained quiet, but glanced over at his brother nervously.

Dizzy pretended to think hard. “Hmmm, it seems like we found a hair in the butter, Mr. Cartwright.” He then took a long pause before adding, “And, in my book there’s only one thing to do about it.”

Without warning, Dizzy squatted down in front of Hoss and started tickling him in the ribs. Hoss let out a shriek of delight as he backed away just out of the man’s reach.

“Well, I think that should just about cure it, don’t you?”

This brought a round of laughter from all.

“Now, young fella, why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind.”

Hoss’s smile faded from his face as he once again looked down in hesitation. “Well, with all due respect, sir. Hen don’t have teeth.”

Everyone let out a loud laugh.

“Oh they don’t do they?” Dizzy cackled. “Ben, I do believe your boy here is trying to nail me to the counter.”

 

Adam Laughed out loud as the childhood memory faded from his mind and he was brought back to the present.

“I don’t see anything worth laughing about, Adam.” Hoss was quick to scold.

“Oh, I was just thinking about the first time we met Dizzy, Hoss.” Adam chuckled once more. “You spent an entire week trying to catch a chicken just to look in his mouth to see if it had teeth.”

This time, both brothers erupted in laughter, reliving the memory. They then stood in communicable silence, staring back sadly at the grave of their friend.

As they turned to walk away, Adam put his arm around his younger brother and bowed his head as if in prayer. “May you rest comfortably, Dizzy, on God’s velvet couch.”