Seedlings Challenge, April 28, 2014

the sentence is “When he looked at his hand, it appeared to belong to someone else.”  I made a few changes, because I decided those words would be connected with a woman.

Rating:  T  (1,680 words)

You go fishing, son ?

« hey Adam, you can go. Promise me, you’ll be careful.

-Yes mam, » replied the young boy.

Adam left  with his hat and his bag. In the bag, bread and cheese, and the fishing rod he had  received on Christmas. Springtime was there for a month and the sun was brighting in the sky. It was a lovely day. The long journey was soon over, so families might have some break a few days. Covered wagons were in circle to provide protection and create some special atmosphere. Men and women were working, some had repairing to do, women had to wash clothes and children had some learning to do with Mrs Jackson, who had chosen to teach them the basics. Adam was a smart boy, his homeworks were done for a long time. So he could  have some fun.

“You go fishing, son ?

-Yes pa.

-Have a good time. Do mum and I have to prepare the pan ? You bring big fishes ?

-I’ll try, pa. I’ll try.”

********later

Adam came home with 3 big fishes. He was happy, it has been a good time and a good fishing. He was happy when he could bring food at home. Even if was only 7 he wanted to help,  to do his share, providing food for the family, just like his pa.

*********the day after
« Adam, you can go fishing, but I want you to be home at three. I need some help.

-Yes mam, I’ll be there. I promise. »

Like every day Inger was working hard. She made and mended all the clothing, cook the food, raised the children, and doctored the sick. As a woman pionneer, she could also fire a gun, or fix anything that could have been broken. On that day she had to dye some cloth. Mr and Mrs Jenkins had died during the journey. They had been sick and before they had died, they had offered the cloth from their wagon. Each family had received a part of it to make some new clothes for children. Inger wanted to sew a new shirt for her husband and for Adam. But on that day  she had to reach for water, a lot of water for the preparation. The buckets were small and she needed a lot. Ben wasn’t here to help, he was hunting in the forrest with others men to bring some meat and fruits. On the evening, the families would eat together. Mr Boowmacker would take the guitar and Mr Owen would take the violin. They would sing and the wind of the night would answer. That happened every time they did that. Adam loved that kind of party, so he could dance with Daisy Boowmacker. She was a lovely young lady and Adam liked being with her.

*********Near the wagon.
Inger brought the last bucket : she knew, she had to bring 15 buckets to fill the big pot with hot water. She had almost burnt her legs.  And when she had looked at her hand, it had appeared to belong to someone else. Her hands were red and swollen ; and she had naughty bruises. Bruises had been caused by carrying the buckets.  As she came back from the river, she saw her husband coming to meet her.

“Hey darling, give me that.

-Oh thanks, Ben; It’s so heavy. I don’t understand, Adam should be there. He promised, he would help me. But he didn’t come.

-Where is he ?

-He went fishing. But I told him, to be here at three.

-Inger, do you know, how time is it ?

-No, I didn’t have any time to look at.

-Inger, it’s almost five”. Ben angrily said. “And I just found his rod behind the big stone, there.” He pointed another direction, near the forest, where he was hunting.

Ben couldn’t  hide the anger he was feeling inside. He looked at the tracks in the direction where Adam had gone. He wasn’t at the river, or else Inger would have seen him.

“do you know, where he went fishing, hem, I mean, where he left ? He asked, thinking about the fact, that his son surely hadn’t been fishing.

-No, he just left.

-There he is now. He had better have a good explanation, Ben said, putting his hands in his pockets and walked towards his son.

Ben and Inger exchanged an “oh boy” look, Inger could feel her husband’s anger becoming bigger and bigger.

« Oh ma, may I help ?

-MAY YOU HELP ? bellowed Ben. “Where have you been ? Your mother was waiting for you. »

-I guess, I lost time.

-YOU LOST TIME ? »

For the second time Ben repeated a sentence. That was the sign that he was very angry. Ben starred long and hard at his son, then he asked him

« Why are you late ?”

Adam gulpped, his mouth as dry as the hot desert.

« I lost my rod, I tried to find it, pa, believe me. »

-You’re telling me, you lost your rod. Is this one ? With a A curved here ? »

Adam nodded vigorously, he just realized his father would only have to check to catch him in a lie.  Ben Cartwright hated lying worse than any other wrong his boy could commit.  It had been made very clear to him that any punishment he might receive for a misdeed would be increased dramatically if he was caught lying about it.  So Adam decided to tell the truth.  He took a deep breath and looked up at his father, who seemed particularly tall and imposing when he was standing there with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

« Yes pa, it’s mine. I didn’t go fishing, I went for a walk with Daisy.

-Didn’t you hear your ma say to come home at three ? »

Adam didn’t know if he had to look down or if he had to look at his father.
“Yes,” he says in a barely audible tone.

“I didn’t hear your answer.  Did you hear what your mother said?”

Adam looked up.

“Yes, Pa.  I heard her.”

Ben uncrossed his arms and placed his hands on his son’s shoulders.

“Son,” he says, and paused a moment, “you are in big trouble.”

Inger walked to the wagon.  She stopped and turned back to Adam.

“Adam, you know, I’m not even angry with you , I’m just disappointed in your behavior this afternoon,” is all she said.  « you promised to help me ».

“I suppose, you and I should have a very necessary talking. Inger, excuse-me my dear, I have to deal with this young boy of mine. » Ben interjected, pointing his finger down at the head of his son. “I want to take care of this now and get it over with.”Ben added, running a hand through his hair, disillusioned.
Ben took Adam with him to a private place, far away from the wagons. As Ben left, Inger realised how her husband looked troubled.  He came around her and said quietly. « trust me to handle that fast. Tell the others we won’t be long. I know everyone wants to have fun with dinner and music and dance. »
Ben sat on a big stone and pulled the child between his legs. He bowed his head for a moment, he needed to think about it to find the right words to say to Adam. He cleared his throat, then raised his head.

« Son, I’m very angry with you. But I’m ready to listen. Tell me what happened . Be honnest, please.

-Pa, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise, I was late. I didn’t mean it. I … I just forgot. I was playing with Daisy.

-Well, I understand. But you still have to be punished. Ben says.

-Pa, I know, I deserve it. I know, it won’t hurt me as much as what Mama just said.”

Ben looked up in surprise.

« I beg your pardon ? What do you mean?”

-“I mean a spanking will hurt for a little while. But Ma said I disappointed her.  That hurts me inside for a long time,” the child answered guilelessly.

Ben looked at the boy in front of him, standing straight and patient.

“So it’s important to you not to disappoint your mother?”

– Pa. I’m sorry I disappointed ma and you. I had fun with Daisy and I just forgot my promise. I’m really sorry. Adam said, with tears in his eyes.

At this moment, Ben realised that his son was speaking from his heart.  He wasn’t trying to avoid a spanking. He put his hand around Adams shoulders and talked with a soft voice :
« Son, I appreciate what I just heard. I wasn’t proud of you for having broken a promise you did to your ma. But you realised, how wrong you did. You have to be punished but I won’t spank you. Spanking are for children who desobey on purpose, and you didn’t. As you said, you just forgot. You’re a brave boy, I know, I can count on you everytime I need some help. But you’re still a kid and I can’t expect from you to be perfect. You did wrong, but I forgive you.

-thanks Pa.

-Don’t forgive to apologize to your ma. And tonight, no party for you. You’ll stay in the wagon with paper and pen. You’ll write a long letter to your mother, is that clear, son ?

-Yes sir.

-You just make sure do your best not to disappoint her or me anymore, all right?”

-I’ll pa. »

Ben opened his arms and hugged Adam before letting him go to the wagon.

Epilogue
Ben and Inger had a pleasant time with the families around the campfire. When they came back they fand Adam asleep in the wagon. He had written a nice short letter to Inger, to apologize. Ben put a cover around him and kissed him tenderly. Oh yes he could be proud, very proud of his boy. Not perfect but conscious of his wrong steps. A good boy.