Summary:  Ben wants to indulge Adam by giving him the one present he requested, but wherever does one buy a battery for a thirteen-year-old?
Rating:  G  2,325 words

Written for the 2024 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar

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Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 1 *

What He wanted for Christmas

My son wants a battery for Christmas. No, he is not in the army and doesn’t desire artillery. Voltaic piles and their advancements are becoming known as batteries. Batteries generate electricity. If you’ve sent a telegram, you’ve made use of them. Of course, my Adam doesn’t expect a whole array of batteries that you’d find operating a telegraph. He wants a smaller, but professional, version. Why? He said he wants to conduct experiments. So, now I, Ben Carwright, must scour San Francisco for a battery for sale and manage to convey it in one piece over the Serra Nevada Mountains to my ranch on Lake Tahoe; for, I assure you, there are no batteries for sale in any settlement within a hundred miles of the Ponderosa.

Of course, just because he wants a battery doesn’t mean he has to have one, but you must understand: he asked for it. Adam is my eldest. He knows, has known since he began walking and talking, that one does not always get everything one desires. There were times when he was still a little boy that I could give him only necessities. In truth, there were a few times when I struggled to provide those. Adam learned very young to appreciate what he is provided and to accept not having what is not. He seldom asks for anything specific, and his requests have always been reasonable. So, when my intelligent, mature, and reasonable son asks for something, my heart is moved to a least consider obtaining it for him. I assure you that I do not believe in spoiling children or being overly indulgent, but now that my finances are stable, and I can admit to being a prosperous man, I enjoy indulging the ones I love from time to time, my wife and children being foremost upon that list.

That I shall be able to search San Francisco for a battery is due to the fact that I have indulged my wife Marie’s desire to visit the city- though I do have legitimate business reasons for being here. Marie grew up in the city of New Orleans and misses many of the delights to be found in one. I know she will treasure this visit, and a man is wise if he lets his wife know that he understands her desires and cherishes her enough to take them into account. We arrived in the city two days ago with a list of purchases to be made. The majority of that list is very practical and includes necessities for the ranch as well as the family, but with the limited options in the general stores of our area and the time needed for ordering items from the East, a significant part of that list is Christmas presents to be purchased even though it is some months before the holiday. We must make our purchases early as the passes over the mountains close in winter and make travel impossible for that part of the year.

Some of the items on our list I look forward to seeking out even though I do not normally find shopping the adventure that Marie does. My youngest son wants a horse, and, no, he is not getting one. He will be just a little over two years old come Christmas so even a small pony must be a gift for the future. No, we shall find a rocking horse with actual mane, tail, and little leather saddle of proper size and good durability for Little Joe. His brother Hoss just received a pony for his eighth birthday, and actually if we were purchasing for Hoss alone, a trip to the city would not be needed. I shall look for a small rifle for him, not so much for hunting, but with him riding about on his pony and spending as much time as he does in the woods, I have convinced Marie that a light rifle would be a safety measure. I think Hoss’s excited statement at dinner about a month ago that he had come across the tracks of a bobcat not that far from the house was what ended her opposition. Hoss is an obedient child, responsible for his age, who has been well-trained in firearms safety, and he shall be well and frequently reminded of what he was taught once the gift is received. Yes, Marie has withdrawn her opposition to the rifle, but she refuses to be involved with the shopping for it or for the battery. She has made those my responsibility. I fear that trying to find a battery for sale will be an arduous task. Where does one buy a battery, I wonder? I hardly know where to begin looking. Still… well, I remember Adam’s eyes when he asked.

“Pa?”

“Yes, Adam.”

“May I speak with you? I don’t want to disturb you.”

“You won’t be disturbing me. What is it you want to speak to me about?”

“Well, um, on your and Marie’s trip to San Francisco… Well, I know that … well, along with supplies and such for the ranch that you’ll probably be doing at least most of the Christmas shopping. I mean it stands to reason.” He paused, drew in a deep breath, and shifted in his chair.

“Is there something you want to put on the list?”

“Well, yes… well, if … I mean…”

“Is there something you would like Santa to bring you, son?” I smiled, and he returned that smile with a cheeky one of his own. He had explained to me when he was seven that he knew all about Santa but would go along with the adults and not say a word to Hoss. “What should I tell the old gentleman you want?”

He shifted again, dropped his head, and then looked at me through his lashes. “I know it might not be possible or too expensive or …”

“Tell me what it is, son.”

“A battery.”

“A battery?”

“A battery. I read about them in this pamphlet. It was packing in the box Grandfather sent last.” He drew a wrinkled and tattered set of papers from his pocket. “They make electricity.” He handed me the paper. “I know, well, if I can’t have it; if you can’t get one, well, that’s okay. It’s just… well, you usually ask us what we want, and, well, this year I’d like a battery.”

“Why?” I couldn’t imagine a reason.

“To do experiments.” He sounded so matter of fact as if a thirteen-year-old boy wanting a battery to do experiments was nothing out of the ordinary.

I raised my gaze from the pamphlet in my hand and looked into his eyes. I saw the desire in them. The fact that Adam has his mother’s eyes was not the reason I was swayed. This was not a whim. “I’ll make sure Santa knows to put it on the list.” His smile showed his dimples at their deepest.

“Thanks, Pa.”

So, tomorrow I start my search for a battery.

######

I have been successful, much to my own surprise. Marie says she is the reason. Each time she attended mass which has been daily- one of the reasons she was willing to leave the boys was her need to attend mass and receive communion in a Catholic church- she lit a candle and prayed that we would find a battery for Adam. This is not surprising. Marie would overindulge all three of the boys if I did not keep a strict watch and a firm resolve. A clerk in the hotel heard of my search and made some inquiries. With a lead from him, I located a man with a battery for sale though it did take three days, and now it sits in our hotel room next to a small rifle and a rocking horse. I also ordered a book on electricity that the booksellers will forward to the ranch. Marie has put herself in charge of packing the battery for the return trip. The functioning part of the battery is encased in glass, and the journey home is a rough one. It is almost a certainty that at least one of the more fragile items will be broken, but Marie assures me it shall not be the battery. I’m certain she will light a few more candles and say as many prayers for its safety as she shall for our own. When the battery was carried into our room, Marie’s eyes danced with such joy. Her pleasure in Adam’s gift, as well as my own satisfaction, has already made the expensive price worth every dollar even though we shall not see Adam’s joy for months. That is if we can manage to keep our purchase a secret from my astute eldest son.

######

Adam studied every box, barrel, and tarp-wrapped bundle unloaded from our wagon. In fact, he most eagerly volunteered to help unload the wagon immediately upon our arrival home. I allowed him, but only because the battery was no longer in the wagon. We had stopped and hidden it safely away in a Cartwright line shack where it and also the wooden horse and the rifle shall remain until Adam has given up his search. Then, when I can assure that none of my sons will be watching, those items will be moved into Hop Sing’s room. None of the boys would dare to enter Hop Sing’s sanctum without his express invitation, so I am comfortable that all of my sons will be truly surprised with Santa’s gift.

######

Success is very, very sweet as I sip my brandy-laced eggnog and reflect on this Christmas day, especially the opening of gifts this morning. Adam sat on the settee with Marie and me, feeling very grown-up and adult. Hoss took charge of delivering the gifts that Little Joe pointed out one by one. They had all been boxed, wrapped, or draped with a covering and much ado was made of each revelation. There were many shouts and exclamations of joy and even some tears when the boys presented their gift to Marie and me. Santa is not here to take a few bows, so I shall have to take a few for him. I did well if I say so myself. Little Joe is much taken with his horse. He has named it Boder which is his word for brother. Perhaps it is because he has ridden so often on his brothers backs and shoulders. It is also possible it is because he loves that horse already as much as he loves them. With the rifle in his arms, Hoss feels very mature and trusted. He has promised Marie repeatedly that he shall take great care and be safe, but for a while he will only carry it when either I, Adam, or Old Ned are with him. This would have fretted Adam when he was younger; it does not fret Hoss. Ah, yes, Adam! My eldest opened the book on electricity first as the box with the battery was tucked in the corner behind the tree. He was pleased and smiled sincerely, thanking Marie and me. He had thought for some weeks, I’m sure, that a battery had been too expensive or simply unattainable and accepted the book and the possibility of making a homemade version as an adequate substitute. When all the other presents had been claimed, I told Little Joe to search and make sure Santa had left nothing else. He crawled around the bottom of the tree and shouted to Hoss when he sighted another draped box. Hoss managed to drag the box to Adam while Marie cautioned him to be gentle. Adam sat for many seconds in still amazement and then began carefully but enthusiastically opening his present. His cries still ring in my ears.

“Is it? It can’t be! I… It is! It is! Oh, thank you! Thank you!” His eyes glowed as if he himself had been filled with electric fire. He came and hugged us both. Hugs from Little Joe and even Hoss are delivered regularly, but Adam is more reserved and as he has grown older his hugs have tapered off to a trickle, well, except for those demanded by and given daily to his baby brother. His hugs and the shine in his eyes were worth more money and effort than I could ever give.

Adam has expounded on the battery to his brothers, but I am sure neither of them understands much besides Adam’s joy in the gift, it’s importance to their brother, and the dire warnings against their touching it. I have backed his warnings with those of my own, and I think there will be no problems. Adam has promised to make magic with it for them if they are good and wait without touching which means Hoss will help keep an eye on Little Joe.

What is that I see now: Adam, barefoot and in his nightshirt, slipping down the stairs. He comes to me and sits on the arm of my chair. It is very easy to slip my arm around his waist and pull him to me as I did when he was Hoss’s age. Amazingly he leans into me and rests his head against my shoulder.

“I thought you asleep in your bed.”

“I went to bed.” That is a good thing as he had been sent there over an hour ago. “I wasn’t sleeping, I…”

I soften my voice and lightly rub his back. “Could it be that you wanted your pa?”

His voice is even softer and sounds so very young. “Yeah.” With his next words, I can hear his more usual cheekiness. “Almost as much as I wanted my battery.”

“Is that so?”

“Wellll… Pa, truly I wanted to thank you again. It must have been hard to find.”

“I’ll admit Santa didn’t just have one sitting in the back of the workshop.” I feel, as well as hear, his snort.

“And it must have cost quite a pretty penny.”

“Santa gave me a bargain, so you need not concern yourself with that.”

“Was it hard bringing it back from San Francisco? I’ve never seen so much packing around anything before.”

“You have Marie to thank for the packing and the prayers that kept it safe.”

“She prayed for me to have it?”

“She did.”

“Oh. I’ll let her know, well, … She would spoil us all the time, Pa. You know she would.”

“I do.”

“Sometimes you spoil us, too.”

“Would you rather I…”

“No, no, Pa. You go right ahead whenever you feel the need.”

I shake my head; then allow myself a slight chuckle. Adam raises up to look me in the eye. “Pa, I know you went to a lot of trouble to get it for me just ‘cause I said I wanted it.”

“Not trouble, Adam.”

“Effort then. A lot of effort.”

“Some things are worth a great deal of effort, son.”

“Do you always think we’re worth the effort?”

“Always.”

He seems to have grown older in the passing of seconds. “Thank you, Pa.” Simple words but I hear the sincerity.

“Your most welcome.” Adam’s dimples are as deep as I have ever seen them; then his smile changes.

“Pa?”

“What, son?”

“Will you tell me something?”

That new smile has warned me. “What is it you want to know?”

“Where did you hide it?” I shake my head. “I looked everywhere, more than once.”

“You did?” I raise my brow.

“You’re not gonna tell me, are you?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Well, I guess…” There is a different sparkle in his eyes now.

“And don’t you dare ask Marie.” My own look now is stern. “Understand me, Adam?”

“Yes, sir.”

The falling of a log in the fireplace breaks the look between us, and I allow my smile to return. It has been sometime since I last spoke the words to this son. “I love you, Adam.”

The shine in his eyes reappears. “I love ya too, Pa.” I pull his head down and plant a kiss on his curls. He squirms to his feet. “Paaa!” It is an indignant wail meant to remind that he is nearly a young man.

I remind him of something. “You shall always be my child, always, even decades from now.”

He sighs and then grows cheeky again. “Decades? I suppose I shall have gotten you to completely spoil me by then.” I pop his hip with a great deal of sound but no sting. “Pa, did you have a merry Christmas?”

“The merriest! Now, to your bed, boy.”

“Ah, Pa, I thought we might share one of your eggnogs.”

“Bed!” The single word is an order without admonishment. I smile. “After all, you have experiments to do tomorrow!”

The End!

prompt: battery, 1800
Character: Ben

Have a blessed holiday! Here’s hoping you, like Adam, receive your current heart’s desire!

 

Link to Day 2 of the Bonanza Brand Holiday Calendar – Between Forever and Where No One Stands Alone by BluewindFarm