Written for the 2016 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament.
Summary: a missing scene from “Forever”
Rated: K+ Word count: 971
The Funeral
A few wide clouds crossed the blue sky on this early afternoon. A light breeze carried the birds’ chirping over the glade. Large pines towered majestic along the clearing. In its center a small group of men stood together, heads bowed.
It should have been raining. Weather should have been the worst at that hour. Maybe it would have helped to stand the pain. There was no reason for the sun to shine at all.
The funeral was arranged nearby the place where Joe had built the house for his family. A family that didn’t exist any more. Stolen from life by a tragic fire.
Only in the smallest circle the service was held. The bereaved wouldn’t have been able to handle a big ceremony. While the pastor was talking about to find comfort in the knowledge that the loved ones were in God’s kingdom now, it was obvious that none of the mourners were able to do so. Least of all Joe Cartwright.
After he had said his words, the pastor left and Ben, Jamie and Candy followed slowly some moments later. None of them spoke while they walked down the meadow. As they reached the horses and climbed into the saddles Ben turned around and watched his son still standing beside the gravestone. Joe’s shoulders moved up and down indicating the man’s heavy breathing in a desperate fight to retain his composure. Even though staring at the monument, the picture of the stony cross didn’t reach Joe’s consciousness. The father sensed his son’s blank mind.
Like some time ago beside another gravestone at another spot on the Ponderosa, Joe remained paralyzed by the life’s turn, shocked by the event that had happened.
After the loss of Hoss it had taken months for Joe to find his way back into life. For weeks, he’d not been capable of carrying out any ranch work. He tried but broke down repeatedly. Those days he had be able to turn toward his father to overcome his grief and had accepted Ben’s help because their relationship to the lost family member was nearly the same. This time, Ben could feel Joe was further out of reach for him.
As the father watched his son, he fought the rising fear of losing Joe because of his sorrow. The pain consumed his boy and he as a father was excluded like never before. Ben had lost his middle child recently and was separated by miles from his first-born. The rancher knew he wouldn’t stand remaining on the Ponderosa without his youngest. If only Joe could … What? Forget her? Get over it?
How was it with Bens’ grief after the loss of his wives? He’d run. All three times. He’d strapped his belongings to a burro’s back and run away from the places and people that reminded him of the loved ones he had lost.
Joe was different. He didn’t have the sense to run or turn his back on challenges. He always faced trouble, often he actually was looking for it. Every now and then Joe’s emotions had to fly high. Afterwards he mostly threw himself into work.
When Adam left, Joe immediately took over a lot of the responsibility the Ponderosa demanded. Everyone had noticed how fast Joe had grown up and improved in his sense of accountability during that year. Joe wasn’t a runaway. Joe was straight forward. Maybe that was the reason he also had to savor his grief the fullest.
Due to Hoss’ death both remaining family members had been worn out. With the death of Alice who was so close to Joe and also the death of the unborn child, Joe had aged incredibly during the last few hours. It was as if they’d shot an already badly hurt animal without killing it off. The pride in Joe’s posture was gone. His shoulders were hanging, the glint in his eyes had disappeared and his sight was lost somewhere in the distance.
As Joe was finally moving by the tomb, Ben was relieved and expected his son to join them. But Joe didn’t make his way toward his waiting father. Instead, he slowly slid to the ground and sat down beside the gravestone. Legs pulled to his chest, he laid his arms on top of his knees and dropped his head. It didn’t seem the man was willing to leave that place in the foreseeable future.
Ben started to descend from his horse but was stopped by Candy’s objection.
“Sir, I think we better leave him alone for a moment,” the foreman said.
As Ben ignored the words, Candy grabbed the father’s arm.
“Give him time. He’s sitting in a boat and lingering in an ocean of sorrow that’s so much larger than the one he was in after Hoss’ death. You won’t be able to reach him as long as he doesn’t set the sail himself and decide which way to go.”
Candy recognized the fear rising in Ben’s eyes. He knew how close that family had been and how shattering it must feel for the father to see it crumble.
“He’s your son, Mr. Cartwright. He’ll come back to you. Maybe it will take time but his home is and will always be the Ponderosa, even more when he sees that you don’t cling to him in desperation. Give him time.”
Ben’s eyes watered and he bit his lips. He couldn’t watch his son suffer like this but Candy was right. If he stuck to Joe, his youngest would probably withdraw even further away. He had to be patient and sensible for the moment until Joe was ready to share the burden.
The End
Words drawn: burro, ocean, boat, funeral, (Joker)
What a beautiful and heartwrenching scene you’ve created. It would have fit perfectly into the episode. Sometimes it takes an outsider to see the correct path, and Candy’s wisdom is just what Ben needed. Candy is right that Joe is in his own world of hurt and eventually he’ll find his way home. I’ve a feeling Candy will quietly make himself available to both Ben and Jamie during the days that follow, being the wise and loyal friend that he is.
Thank you for you note. Some time has passed since I wrote this story. I am happy people still find pleasure to read it.
Silver Sven
What a lovely insight into what was already a very emotional scene. Seemed like Candy was a much deeper character than some people thought.
Your note reached me out of the blue as a heartwarming reminder that I once wrote that short story.
Thank you for reading and leaving a commend.
silver sven
Ben’s natural instinct is to go to his son, but Candy is there to tell him he can’t reach him at that moment. Joe is far away even if physically present. You’ve described Joe’s sorrowful state so well that I can picture it perfectly. He has to find a reason to live again which is well described by Candy analogy to finding his way by setting the sail.
It’s been a while since somebody commented my story.
Thanks BettyHT for letting me know “The Funeral” is still worth reading.
Sure needed tissues for that one! Well done, Sven.
Thank you, Juanita, for reading my story and leaving a comment.
Thank you all for reading my story and leaving a comment.
As soon as I received my words for this poker tournament this storyline grow in my head. The only thing I had to do was to type it down.
You and Candy mastered this sad situation very well!
well done candy was a great help I couldn’t watch that episode without crying, so reading it was hard also very good use of the words you had
The missing scene definitely fits into Forever and should be part of the tale. When Joe grieves, he grieves deeply.Candy offered great advice to Ben.
Thanks so much, Ruth. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I has been a while since I read through my own story. However, it gives me a feeling of home reading your words.
Thank you for the time you spent with me on Brand.
Ben was very lucky to have Candy there to give him good advice – let Joe grieve alone and later he would return to the Ponderosa. Very sad story but well done.
I felt Ben’s anguish as he watched his youngest son grieve. Good thing Candy was there with words of wisdom. Well done!
People need to deal with grief in their own way, so Candy was a wise man to let Joe grieve in the only way he could. A harrowing missing scene, well written.
Wise words at the right time, hard to follow but the right thing to do.
Good advice offered at a difficult moment and spoken from the heart. Well done.
Well done
The opening struck a chord with me as I remembered it was sunny on the day of RFK’s funeral and I couldn’t understand then why the heavens didn’t weep. The words you drew played so well in Candy’s advice (sitting in a boat and lingering in an ocean of sorrow) to Ben. Well done!
Beautiful imagery evoking raw emotion. Well done.
Well written. I could see it play out in my mind and would have easier been accepted as part of the original script.
With the help of friends and love of family, he will eventually reclaim the road to Forever; the journey of a life lived. Tomorrow is not promised, so hold onto and cherish the memories, and allow the past to settle in your heart.
It was difficult to watch Ben and Joe in the shell of the home, this scene would have been a perfect closure, before Joe set out.
It’s so hard watching a loved one overcome with the pain of grief and not being able to take it away.
I can feel Ben’s helplessness, and Candy had a very deep and wise side to him, which was invaluable in this situation.
A very poignant story, and you managed to get a very meaningful point across.
Very well done!
As an outsider, Candy never said much, but voicing his opinion here was a very smart move. Well done.
Very well done. The imagery was perfect. You evoked so much emotion in so few words.
So much said in so dew words! Well done. Candy proves to be much more than a foreman: he’s a very good adviser here, and Ben wise to heed his counsel.
I can feel the depressing feeling in this picture. The missing scene fits well.
the words you were given were not easy to use. You described a terrible moment in Joe’s life; For Ever is an episode I can’t watch. It’s too painful.
YOur story is beautiful, very touching; Joe in the middle of his life’s drama.
This is a disquieting, disturbing story, reminding us so effectively that things don’t always work out the way we want them to. Joe and Alice didn’t get their “Forever.” There’s also a lot of truth in the tale. I remember thinking it should’ve been raining for my son’s funeral, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Somehow that made it even worse. And of course Ben’s natural instinct would be to go to Joe and try to take care of his son. Candy know the futility of such a gesture; Joe is a man now and while crying on Pa’s shoulder may help, it won’t make the pain go away this time. Joe has to be true to his character and face the grief head-on.
Very well done, a lot of insight in this.
Thank you for your detailed comment. I’m sorry to hear about your tragedy.