Summary: Little Joe thinks an ornament is too ugly for the Cartwright tree. Adam has the opposite opinion in this slice-of-life vignette.
Rating: G 610 words

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The Ugliest Christmas Ornament 

 

  

“Don’t, Hoss!  We don’t want that on our tree.  It’s ugly!”  With vehemence Little Joe voiced his opinion of the ornament that his big brother had just taken from the wooden chest where the Cartwright Christmas treasures were kept from holiday season to holiday season. 

“But, Joe. . .” Hoss began. 

Their elder brother reached out and took the misshapen lump with its worn colors from the large hand where it was nestled. A faraway look came into his eyes.  “It’s not ugly, Little Joe.  In fact, I’ve always thought it was one of the most beautiful decorations on our tree.” 

Little Joe snorted and shook his head.  “You must be going blind in your old age, Adam.”  His twenty-one-year-old brother had returned from college the previous spring, and this was the first Christmas since his homecoming. 

“You have been putting it on the tree every year, haven’t you, Hoss?”  Adam’s gaze pierced his brother. 

Hoss shifted nervously and muttered, “Yeah, but, well, I always kinda tucked it in the back.” 

“Well, this year it’s coming out front where I can see it each time I look at this tree,” Adam declared, and placed the ribbon loop so that the ornament hung from a prominent branch just below the golden star. 

Little Joe turned to his father as the ultimate arbitrator. 

“Pa, you ain’t gonna let him hang it there, are ya?  It’s ugly!” 

“Little Joe,” Ben motioned for his youngest to come to his side.  Placing his arm around Joe’s waist, he continued, “Son, you’ve heard people say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Well, in Adam’s eyes that ornament is beautiful.”  Little Joe’s continued frown showed his lack of understanding.  “When love looks on love, it always sees only beauty.  It was a gift of love made by hands that Adam loves dearly.  It will always be beautiful to him.” 

Three minds gazed at the ornament and saw a three-year-old with head bowed and fingers working diligently to shape a lump of clay from the riverbank. 

“What are you making, little buddy?” 

“It’s for the tree, Adam.  Can I use your paints?” 

“I don’t know. . .” 

“Please, please, I won’t spill um, please.” 

“Maybe if I help.” 

The chestnut curls danced as the little boy shook his head, “You can’ts help, Adam, ya can’ts.” 

“But. . .” 

“Can I, Little Joe,” Hoss asked. 

Little Joe’s lips reflected deep thought, “Yeah, you can help, Hoss, just you.” 

Hoss tried to send a message to his elder brother with his eyes. 

“Okay,” Adam agreed, “After it’s dried you can paint it when I paint mine.” 

It was Christmas Eve before Little Joe crawled into Adam’s lap with the finished ornament in his hand.

“It’s for you, big brother.  You made my angel, so I mades one for you!” 

“That’s why you wouldn’t let me help?” 

“You can’ts help make something for you. You like it, don’t ya?” 

“I love it, Little Joe.  It will always be the most beautiful ornament on our tree.” 

Little Joe leaned against his father as he also fixed his gaze on the maligned ornament.  “Did one of his mamas make it?”  Little Joe asked, thinking it unlikely any of his father’s wives could have fashioned such a thing but at a loss as to whom Adam could love so much he would see that blob as a thing of beauty. 

“No, Joseph, it was one of his brothers.” 

“Hoss?”  Joe watched three Cartwright heads shake slowly as grins spread across their faces.  His eyes widened as a blush warmed his cheeks.  Then he smiled in return as something much nicer warmed his heart.