Summary:  It was just an April Fool’s Day prank gone wrong.

Rating: General    Word count: 897 

---

 No April’s Fool

 

It had just been a prank, and a little prank at that.  He had only meant for his ever so dignified elder brother to look clumsy and feel a little foolish.  He had meant to laugh with everyone else protected by the presence of an audience and tradition.  The first of April held protection from any retaliation except a prank in kind, and Little Joe Cartwright would have only a few hours to tread lightly and avoid any hastily constructed plot to gain revenge.  Oh, Adam was clever, but he played by the rules.  April Fool’s revenge could be exacted only on that day, and Adam would be hampered by the presence of their guests.  Little Joe had prepared with confidence.  That confidence had been well-placed actually.  He had carefully prepared the soles of Adam’s dress boots.  First, he made the surface as slick as possible.  Then he sealed them temporarily with a mixture of gritted wax unnoticeable unless you inspected the bottom of the shoes directly.  Little Joe knew the heat of Adam’s feet and the friction of the shoes against the floor would slowly melt the wax and, at some point in the evening, it would become impossible for Adam to stand.  Little Joe knew it would work because he had tested the mixture out himself.  Joe even stationed himself in Adam’s room chattering as the eldest Cartwright son finished dressing for the business dinner their father was having that evening.  Adam had automatically jerked on his boots while answering one of his little brother’s incessant questions.  Yes, everything had gone as planned except no one had laughed because elder brother had not landed on his behind or even his back.  He had been headed back up the stairs to retrieve some papers when he lost his footing.  He had fallen forward hard and struck his head on the edge of a higher step.  He had not lost consciousness, but both the cut at his hairline and his nose had bled profusely. 

Careful not to make any sound that would attract attention, Little Joe slipped from his room and made his way down the dark hall to Adam’s door.  Easing it open, he stopped to listen. 

“I’m awake.”  Adam’s voice was soft and calm, but it seemed to fill the silent room. 

Little Joe ventured inside and closed the door behind him as Adam lit a lamp.  He stopped halfway to the bed as he caught sight of the white bandage on his brother’s head along with Adam’s swollen and bruised nose.  His eyes dropped and fixed themselves on the wooden floor. 

“I’m real, real sorry,” Joe muttered and then turned back toward the door. 

“Joe, come here.” 

Little Joe turned and walked like a condemned man to the side of Adam’s bed. 

“I accept your apology, Joe; I accepted the ones you gave me earlier.  I know you didn’t mean for me to get hurt.” 

“You did though,” Little Joe accused himself. 

“I’ll look a sight for a bit, but I’ll heal soon enough.” 

Little Joe raised his eyes to Adam’s face.  “Why did ya stop Pa from tanning me?” 

“Because it was April Fool’s Day, because if I had landed on my backside Pa would have laughed with the rest of you, because you’re my baby brother, and . . .”  A wry grin appeared on Adam’s face as he finished, “And it was very clever, Joe, and very neatly done.” 

“You’re not mad?”  Little Joe was still puzzled by his brother’s reaction. 

“I wasn’t at first because pain is very distracting.”  Adam saw Little Joe wince as if he had been struck.    He reached out and drew his little brother onto the bed.  “I’ve hurt worse after one good bounce off a horse.” 

“Are you still hurting too bad to be angry?” 

“No.  I’m not angry now because I don’t need to be.” 

“You don’t need to be?” 

“You regret what you did, Joe.  I think maybe next time you’ll think what might go wrong and make a better choice.” 

Little Joe crumpled against Adam’s chest and whispered into his nightshirt, “I feel so guilty.” 

“Because I’m aching, and you’re not?” 

Little Joe’s throat was too full of tears to answer, so he nodded. 

Adam swallowed and put his arm around Little Joe’s shoulders.  He spoke softly into the boy’s ear, “Well, we could still get Pa to fix that problem.”  He knew Little Joe could hear the teasing in his tone. 

Little Joe sat up and looked at his brother.  Then he bit his lower lip and twisted the cloth of his nightshirt.  Adam read his words from his lips more than he registered them with his ears, so faint was Little Joe’s response.  “Maybe we’d better.” 

Adam took Little Joe’s chin in his hand, “Naw.  If I manage to get angry later, I’ll see to it myself.”  He released Little Joe’s chin.  “It’ll be fine between us, little brother.  Now, get to bed.” 

“I’m in a bed,” Little Joe declared softly with a trace of a smile. 

“That you are.  Well, then blow out the lamp, and let’s get some sleep.”  Adam shifted, and Little Joe slid under the covers to settle next to him. 

“Adam, I’ll groom Sport and clean his stall for two weeks.” 

“And I’ll let you,” Adam replied.  They both shut their eyes and were asleep in five minutes. 

 

 

 Tags:  Brother, family, prank