Summary:  It’s a special birthday for a very special young man.
Rating: G, Word Count: 757

 

Little Joe’s Seventh Birthday

 

“Adam, do ya know what day it is tomorrow…do ya?”

“Well now, let me see…sure, that’d be…er…Friday, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess,” said Little Joe, bitterly disappointed at the reply.

As far as Little Joe was concerned there were two devastating things going on in his life at this moment in time. Firstly, his Pa had been away for well over a week. He missed him so much it hurt, and nobody seemed to know when he would be home..

Secondly, no-one realised it was his seventh birthday tomorrow and what’s more, they didn’t even appear to care.

Although the boy was very young, he knew from listening to grown up conversations that his Pa was worried about something and he had to go somewhere far away to try and sort it out. He’d heard his Pa say that things were “Dire”. He didn’t know what that meant but he knew it was something his Pa was very worried about. He hated his Father being away from the ranch. He’d been gone for what seemed to the young boy to be ages, he’d even missed Thanksgiving, that’s what had really upset him. He remembered the dinner last year with the big ole fat turkey that Hop Sing had chased for hours and recalled how he felt a bit sorry for the bird when it finally surrendered due to its extreme turkey fatigue. They’d had a wonderful meal with all the trimmings. Everyone had been happy then, but not so this year. 

Adam had tried to make things the way it was as if his father had been at the head of the table, but it wasn’t the same. The thing that made it special was missing, and that was his Pa, whom he adored. Adam had tried so hard to carry out his Father’s wishes, to keep things normal, to make it nice for his brothers. After ‘doing a deal ‘ with Hoss, he’d even let his pain of a little brother get the wish bone so he could make a wish, which he did, but even that hadn’t worked…..not yet anyway!

“Adam, when IS Pa comin’ home, it’s not fair. Even if YOU don’t know what day it is tomorrow, Pa does.” said the desperate six year old.

“I told ya Shortie it’s Friday. Hey, I know now what you’re meanin’. Sorry little brother, I almost did forget, good job you reminded me. Wouldn’t wanna forget somethin’ as important as that would we?”

“Oh Adam . I knew you were only joshin’. I really thought…. “

“Yep…gotta make sure the hands get their wages tomorrow. Jeesh..how popular would I have been if I’d forgotten pay day. Thanks brother, I owe ya,” said Adam smiling to himself. “Hoss is here now, wash up ‘Joseph’ “ said Adam trying unconvincingly to sound like his Father, “then we’ll eat.”

“Hoss, do you know what day it is tomorrow?”

“Sure Buddy, it’s your birthday, ain’t got nothin for ya though. You know how things are with money an’ all. Maybe I could do some of yer chores. What d’ya say to that?”

“I guess so,” said Little Joe, thinking how unfair life was. It was to be his seventh birthday, with no presents, and no Pa. He decided there and then that there was little or no justice in his six, going on seven unfair little world.

“Sorry little brother, I forgot all about your birthday, with everything else going on. Pa bein’ away an all. I’ll get you someth’n real nice next year,” said Adam. “Now eat your food, before it gets cold.”

That night Little Joe slept soundly, unaware of the ‘goings on’ downstairs.

He woke bright and early as he always did but unlike ‘always’ he stayed in his bed.. He saw no point in going downstairs yet when today was going to be like any other day – no presents, no nothing – he thought!

Little Joe heard some movement downstairs.

“Seven-year-old,” shouted Adam, “get your scrawny butt down here. We got someth’n for ya.”

The ‘seven’ year old leaped out of bed, ran onto the landing and skidded to a halt.

“Pa!” he yelled. “Pa…you’re back. It worked, it worked.”

“What worked son?”

“The wishbone. I wished you’d come back for my birthday, and you did….it worked!”

“Yes, I guess it did. You didn’t really think I’d be away from home on your birthday now did you son? Besides, if you made a “Thanksgiving Wish”, well they always come true!

~The End

 

Author’s Note:  This is a story I wrote many years ago. Thought you might like to read it. It’s just a bit of a fun birthday story.

 

Brandsters Note:  This story was originally posted on BonanzaTrailRiders.  We are happy to provide this story with a new home.