Even the genius asks questions.
Me Against the World by Tupac Shakur
Adam leaned into the chair and scrubbed a hand over his face. He was tired and wanted nothing more than to crawl into his own bed. Instead, he sat where he was and watched as his brother shifted once more in his sleep and his thumb slipped out of his mouth. It had taken the better part of an hour to get Joe to be quiet and stop asking questions and Adam worried that he would awaken if he moved too soon. He had wanted to shut the whole conversation down much sooner, but he’d promised his pa and Marie that he could manage a four-year-old for a few weeks and he wasn’t about to be proven wrong by said four-year-old. Of course, he had Hop Sing to help with the job, but he still felt the weight of the responsibility his father had entrusted to him.
As he stared at his brother’s curls spread against the pillow, he barely resisted the urge to ruffle them with his fingertips. He clenched his fingers together and shook his head at his own thought. Waking Joe intentionally was not a good idea! His mind wandered back to the questions his brother had earlier strung together into almost one interminable sentence and he found himself frowning at the memory. He’d complained more than once to his father that Joe’s curiosity was insatiable and his questions were endless. His father, with his usual wisdom, had reminded him of just how many questions he himself had asked as they had travelled from Boston towards the West and something that happened many years ago. It was a night that still stood out in his memory because a fellow traveller on the wagon train had rebuked Adam for asking too many questions. It was Inger who had leapt to his defence and told the man what she thought. She had told him that even the genius asks questions and the man had snorted at her, saying something about snot-nosed brats who didn’t know when to be quiet and that he wasn’t no genius. Adam smiled at the memory as Inger seemed to have an answer to that comment too.
Once again, Joe shifted in his sleep and murmured into his pillow. Adam leaned forward and waited to see what his brother would do. He didn’t think he could handle any more questions. He had once joked that if a person’s intelligence was directly tied to how many questions they asked, then Joe was going to be a certifiable genius.
If only he could fob off his own questions as easily as he had deflected Joe’s. His brother trusted him when he said that Hoss was going to be just fine. That his arm would heal straight and strong after the special surgery that Doc Martin said he needed. That the doctor in Carson City knew exactly what he was doing.
Adam had always taken a certain pride in his own intelligence. How he wished for ignorance.
I enjoyed all of these in the forum, but it’s nice to have them together in one place where library readers can also enjoy. Every bit is a testament to your word skills and character insights which makes it really hard to pick a favorite, but you know I have great fondness for the way you write Roy Coffee, and I especially loved the conversation with his old friend Ben Cartwright. 🙂
I think that’s one of my favourites too as Roy is such a great character to write. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed reading them all again.
This gives a glimpse of what Paul really goes through. I love Jake’s relaxed manner about life.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on each one. These are such fun to write and some of them are bubbling away as possible extended stories. I’m glad you have enjoyed them.
I enjoyed this…Adam doing what he has to for his little brother, ignoring his own need for sleep. But then keeping Joe sleeping would bring a bit of peace.
Happy to see these here! Remembered most of them as I was reading through — fun stuff! I still want to know about Hoss’s broken arm … ??
Thanks as always for writing and posting!
I’m still waiting for him to tell me the story. He’s been very sheepish about it! As soon as I get the scoop, I will write the rest of the story.
Love how Roy’s calm eventually gets to the root of the problem with Morgan. A dangerous situation diffused.
Sad existence for a man but maybe now he’ll get some help to find himself again.
Adam is blessed to have two paths to follow, but that doesn’t make it any easier to choose.
Oh I do love this one. Ben and Roy sharing crazy and insane memories. Perfect use of the quote.
Oh, so funny. That’s Joe. All his lies are always wishes. No wonder he never saw lying as wrong.
Candy and Joe are a dangerous combination. They get each other into trouble or get each other out of it. The problem…it could go either way. *smirk*
Great use of the prompt. Marie certainly was balancing on that wire until Ben tipped her life to the side of love.
Love the sentimentality here. “Like running into an old friend.” Warm memories fill the heart.