Summary:  A found star brings back memories from a past Christmas.
Rating:  A  Words 2,050
Written for the 2022 Bonanza Brand Calendar

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Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 24 *

 

The Found Christmas Star

 

Joe Cartwright was sitting on the floor of the attic going through some Christmas decorations when he came across a star that he had been looking for and that he had made with his mother when he was four years old. Memories flooded his mind. “I can’t believe I found it.” Joe thought to himself as he traced his finger over the screen, closed his eyes, and watched as his mind traveled back in time.

 

Flashback:

Little Joe was sitting by his Ma’s feet as she hummed a happy tune while she was making a star to put on their Christmas tree.
“Joe, help,” Joe said as he tried to grab the star from the table.

“Be careful, Joe; this star is delicate and can break easily.”

“I want to help,” Joe pouted.

Smiling, Marie picked up Little Joe and placed her on her lap. “So you want to paint and decorate the star?”

Joe nodded happily. “I help paint,” he said, clapping his hands happily.

“What color do you want to paint it?”

“Red for you, green for Pa, purple for Hoss, black for Adam, yellow for Hop Sing, and blue for me,” Little Joe, said in an excited voice.

“Are you sure you want to paint it all those colors?”

“Yes, I want to make everyone happy.”

Marie smiled at her sweet and considerate boy. That’s sweet of you. What about Clay?

“Clay, who’s Clay”? Joe asked in confusion.

“Clay Stafford, your half-brother is coming for a visit for Christmas. Did you notice an extra stocking hanging on the fireplace? And the extra presents?”

Joe nodded and replied, “Ok, paint Clay’s color.”

“What is it?”

Marie thought for a few moments before she replied. “I believe it’s sliver.”

“Paint silver for Clay.”

Are you sure you want to paint the star all those colors?”

“Yes, I don’t want to make anyone sad or cry.”

She tried to get Little Joe to change his mind, but he was very determined to have the star painted in several different colors to make everyone happy.

Although it was unusual, she helped Little Joe paint the star in the colors he wanted.

Adam and Hoss came home from school, and Joe proudly showed his older brothers, Adam and Hoss, the star he helped make.

“Look, Adam; look, Hoss; I help.” He said it proudly as he pointed to the star.

“I see you painted it with many different colors,” Adam observed.

“Great job, little brother.” Hoss said as he patted Joe on the shoulder.

Joe beams with pride.

A few moments later, Clay arrived at the Ponderosa Ranch house, looking unsure.

He was a few years older than Joe.

Ben and Hop Sing went to the stage to pick him up and bring him to the Ponderosa Ranch house.

“Clay, you can room with Joe while you are here.” Ben had another bed put in his room.

Clay nodded and replied in a small voice, “Ok.”

“Adam or Hoss, please carry Clay’s belongings to Joe’s room.”

“I will,” Hoss offered, picking up Clay’s two bags.

“Clay, I help with this, and it has your favorite color,” Joe said as he pointed to a couple parts of sliver.

Although he was still a bit afraid, he gave Joe a small smile.

At first, Clay did not say much, but by the end of his first night, he and Little Joe were playing tag and hide and seek while trying to sneak Christmas goodies from the kitchen.

Hop Sing tried to chase them out with a kitchen towel.

“Little boys, save room for dinner.” Have treats after.

“Please, Hop,” Joe said, giving his best puppy-dog eyes. then Hop Sing sighed, “Ok, one each,” as he handed them a cinnamon bun.

“Thank you, Hop Sing, Joe and Clay said it in unison. before they ran out of the kitchen, almost running into Ben.
Joe smiled at the memories.

End flashback:

 

Ben Cartwright was sitting at his desk looking at a catalog, trying to decide what to get his cook and friend Hop Sing, when a knock came on the door. He rose to answer it, revealing Clay Stafford Joe’s half-brother.

“Come on in; you’ll most likely be freezing.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cartwright,” Clay replied, taking off his coat, hat, and gloves. “Is Joe home”?

Yes, he is in the attic. He is trying to find a star that he made with Marie, his and your mother, when he was four years old.

Hop Sing came carrying a tray of coffee and hot chocolate. “Mistah Clay should sit by the fire and warm up,” he said as he sat down the tray and handed Clay a steaming mug. “Hot chocolate is my recipe., a hint of cinnamon.”

“Thank you, Hop Sing,” Clay replied as he took the mug from Hop Sing’s hand.

Hop Sing nodded and said your welcome. “Stay for dinner and spend the night. Storms are coming.” Hop Sing said as he pointed to a darkened sky.

“I didn’t bring a change of clothes, or else I would have taken you up on your offer to spend the night.” Clay replied as he took a sip from his mug. “But I will stay for dinner, but then I have to get going.”

Hop Sing shook his head. “No worries, I am sure we have clean clothes in your size.”

Clay looked out the window and noticed it was snowing heavily outside. Standing up, he set his cup of hot cocoa down on the tray.

“Thank you, Hop Sing, for the hot chocolate. I’m going to see Joe.” Turning to Ben, “you said he is in the attic?”

Ben nodded and replied, “Yes, but he has been up there for a while. If you want, you can go up to the attic.”

Clay nodded and replied, “I think I would.”

The sounds of footsteps coming from below brought Joe back to the present. He stood up, still holding on to the star, and turned to face Clay. “Hi, Clay, what are you doing here?”

“I came for a short visit, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, I don’t mind.”

“Is that the star you helped make with our ma?”

Joe nodded and replied, “Yes, I remember wanting everyone to be happy, so I wanted the star to be painted with all our favorite colors.”

Clay nodded. “I think she suggested one or two colors, but you were determined to make everyone happy.”

Little Joe smiled at the memory.

“Are you going to hang it on the Christmas tree?”

Joe shook his head and replied, “No, it is very delicate, and I don’t want it to break. Making this with our mother was one of my favorite memories of her.

Clay nodded, understanding. “So what do you plan to do with it?”

“I am going to sit it on the coffee table along with Adam’s mother’s Baby Jesus statue and Hoss’s mother’s angel ornament.”

A few minutes later, Joe and Clay came down from the attic, Joe carrying the star.

Ben stood up from his chair and walked over to Joe and said, “I almost forgot about this star; if I remember correctly, it was your idea to have it painted all these different colors”. He said, looking at Joe. “And it was the Christmas you stayed with us,” he said, turning to Clay.

They both nodded.

Just then, Adam and Hoss came in from the blowing snow, each carrying a box of supplies.

“Say, is that the star you helped make with your mother, Marie, when you were barely four?” Adam said he sat the box he was carrying on the dining room table.

“Yes, I already showed Clay, and he remembered how I wanted it painted with all my favorite colors.”

Hoss nodded and said, “So do I. You were very proud to show Adam and I the star your help, Marie, make.”

“I think we all do,” Ben said. He thought for a second about putting the star on top of the Christmas tree, but decided just to put it on the coffee table.

Later that night, while everyone else was in bed, Joe and Clay were sitting by the still-roaring fire, recalling the first Christmas they spent together as the star sat on the coffee table.

“Do you remember trying to sneak into Hop Sing’s kitchen to try to sneak some of the Christmas goodies he was making?” Joe asked as he took a sip of his coffee before sitting the cup down on the coffee table.

“Yes, he tried to chase us out of the kitchen, telling us to save room for dinner and have treats later.”

Joe nodded and replied.” I gave him my best puppy dog eyes look, and he gave in, giving us each a cinnamon roll.”

“Yes, those were fun times, and I am glad that I spent that Christmas season with you all.”

“Me too. Ma was glad that you visited that Christmas. It was almost all she talked about, until the accident that took her life.”

“Did you celebrate that Christmas?”

“Yes, but not like normal. For about a year after the accident, I slept with the star on my bedside table.”

“I think I am going to call it a night,” Clay said as he stood, stretched, and yawned.

“Good night, Joe”

“Good night, Clay.”

After a few minutes, Joe decided to also call it a night. He lowered the fire in the fireplace.

He picked up the star and smiled before sitting it back down and heading up the stairs.

Clay was leaving after spending nearly two weeks with the Cartwright family. Joe told him to wait as he went back inside the Ponderosa Ranch house. He picked up the star that was still on the coffee table. He closed his eyes and pictured his mother smiling, and he thought he could hear her whisper in his ear. “Give the star to Clay.” Joe nodded and whispered, “I will, mama.” He then opened his eyes and went outside. He handed Clay the star.

Clay was shocked and tried to refuse taking it, but Joe told him he heard their ma telling them to give it to Clay.

Clay nodded and took the star from Joe’s hand and whispered, “Thank you. But what about you? Don’t you want something to remember Ma by?”

“I have things to remember our ma by, and I heard her whisper in my ear to give them to you.”

Clay nodded and replied, “Thank you. I don’t want this to break,” he said as he took the star from Joe’s hand.

“Wait here, Mistah Clay, Hop Sing be right back, going back in the ranch house, get the box for star.” Hop Sing said as he walked into the ranch house.

Clay nodded before turning to Joe and saying, “Thank you, Joe, for this.”

Joe nodded and replied, “You are very welcome,” as he hugged his half-brother.

A few minutes later, Hop Sing came back outside, carrying a small but not that small box. that had some cotton inside. “This box with cotton keeps the star safe,” he said as he handed Clay the box. “Won’t break.”

“Thank you, Hop Sing, and thank you, Joe.” Clay said he gave his half-brother a final hug before getting on his horse and riding away.

When Clay was no longer visible, Ben put a hand on Joe’s shoulder.

“Are you sure you don’t mind giving the star you made with your ma”?

“No, she was Clay’s ma as well. Besides I have other memories of her.”

Ben nodded and said, “I believe she is looking down at you. I know she is proud of you.”

Joe nodded as he thought he heard his whisper, “Proud of You.” Joe smiled as he looked up at the sky.

The End

 

Character chosen Joe Cartwright
Item I was given a star.
Character I was given Clay Stafford

 

Author’s Note:  This is An Alternative Universe story.  For one thing I doubt a room called an attic existed in Bonanza time period. If it had I am even more doubtful that The Ponderosa Ranch , would have had one.  Also, I doubt Joe and Clay knew anything about each other,until they meet in The First Born