Summary: The Cartwright boys never miss an opportunity to compete, even when it comes to pox spots.

Rating: G-ish, Word Count: 928

Pox Spots

 

“I got twenty two today Hoss, how many you got?”

“Shoot, I was in the middle of countin’, now I gotta start countin’ all over again,” said Hoss.

“I think I got more than you,” said Joe, hoping.

“…..thirty, thirty one, yep, that’s it, I got thirty one today, that’s four more than yesterday,” said Hoss proudly.

“Hooooooss, if I had seventeen yesterday, an’ I got twenty two today…how many did I get extra?”

“Five, you should know that.”

“Yep, did, just checkin’.”said Joe.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Good morning my sons,” said Ben, appearing unexpectedly in their room, “And how are we this fine and beautiful morning?”

“I got 5 more spots today Pa, but I still ain’t got as many as Hoss…he’s got heaps. Show him Hoss, show him.”

“Don’t be silly Joseph,” said Ben, mildly irritated, “I can see them.”

“We’re doin good Pa, be glad when we can come down though. Little Joe never shuts up, he’s drivin me half crazy. Last night before he went to sleep he counted every single spot out loud,” said Hoss, glaring across at his brother.

“Important to keep up the daily count, isn’t it son,” said Ben, ever the alibi for his youngest son.

“Where’d they come from Pa? I stared at ’em for ages, and nothin’ happened, then two more kinda snuck up on me.”

Ben laughed at the childlike naivety of his youngest son, he found it very endearing. Just for a second, he thought to himself how he wished his darling Marie were here, she’d have scooped her “baby” up in her arms and swung him round and round and round, then she’d have kissed his head, before putting him down, like Mothers do. It was almost a year since she passed, yet it seemed only yesterday. It was moments like this that tugged at his heartstrings. Ben was brought back to reality with a start.

“They itch like fleas on a dog’s butt,” said Hoss with all the eloquence of a 12 yr old boy.

“I try not to scratch ‘em like you said Pa, but it ain’t easy,” said Joe, scratching furiously.

“Try not to think about it,” advised Hoss. “Think about somethin’ else. It’ll take your mind off of it.”

“Anything I can get you boys before I go into town?” asked Ben.

“Reckon we got all we need Pa, what time you comin back?”

“In time for supper, with any luck…Adam is downstairs if you need him.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hoss, why don’t Adam get ‘em, y’know chicken spots…?”

“Guess it’s ‘cause he’s not allowed in here. Pa says he’s gotta stay at the door, s’pose that way he won’t catch nothin,” said Hoss.

There was quite a gap between the beds, which was just as well, with Little Joe scratching all the time, and Hoss always on the lookout for new spots to add to his ever growing collection.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hoooss” said Joe, hesitantly. “You got any spots on yer Willie?”

“What?” said Hoss.

“You got any spots on yer Willie?”

“I don’t rightly know, I ain’t looked”

“Well look then,” pleaded Joe.

After much fumbling and tweaking under the covers, Hoss surfaced.

“Yeh, one or two..well, actually three. How many you got?”

“One,” said Joe as he dived in again to make absolutely sure there weren’t any he missed.

“Ahhhha,” yawned Joe, while sliding down under the covers, before drifting into some much needed sleep.

Hoss looked over at his brother, and thought how small he looked, all curled up in bed. He remembered how Little Joe’s Mom used to kneel on the floor between them at bedtime, telling them stories about when she was a little girl, most of it going over Little Joe’s head, and how he always fell asleep within the first five minutes of a story. He remembered what fun she was and could still remember her voice. He got down under the blanket, and pulled it up to his chest. He tried to imagine how his own Mother’s voice might have sounded if she’d been reading to them, and how she might have looked. He held on to those thoughts and subconsciously smiled. He closed his eyes, taking those images with him as he too slipped into a long and dreamy sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“GOOD AFTERNOON,” shouted Adam, for the second time in an attempt to wake his brothers. “And how are my spotty siblings? It was so quiet up here, I thought you were dead, so I thought I’d better come check and see!”

Hoss yawned….loudly!

“You scared me Adam,” squeaked Joe, not yet fully awake.

“Sorry Spotty. How are y’all doin?” He said from the doorway.

“Hoss has got spots on his willie,” said Joe.

“Has he really? That sure is information I could have done without. How many you got, Hoss?”

“Three, if ya must know.”

“I only got one on mine.”

“Well that figures!” said Adam.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Before long Adam too was covered from head to toe with spots.

“You look funny with spots, Adam,” remarked Joe.

“You’ll look funny in a minute squirt, you got nothin better to do than stare at me?”

Hoss appeared at that moment with an inquisitive look on his face.

“I know what you’re thinkin Hoss, and yes I have.”

“How many?” inquired Hoss.

With a devilish smirk on his face and a huge amount of pride in his voice, he smiled and said, “Dozens, brother!”

“That figures….” said Hoss.

 

The End

 

Author’s note:  Mo asked me to repost her favorite story of mine. This is for you, my friend

 

From the Brandsters.  The story was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders site.  Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.