Summary: What to get someone who needs more than the Ponderosa?
Rating:    1,085 words

Written for the Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar

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Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 22 *

TO ADD or NOT TO ADD

Ben was excited about his brilliant idea of giving Adam a “Going away gift” early. He was quite pleased with himself. especially since he had managed to get it into the house without prying eyes. Mr. Rader himself was out  with his brothers and more importantly ,out of Hop Sing’s hair. Ben sat in the corner of his room, carefully wrapping the Mechanical Calculator ,his brow furrowed in concentration. It seemed like a great idea; it had just jumped out at him when he found it on his last business trip of the year. Even though Adam wasn’t leaving for Harvard until next year.it would be something useful that he could take with him. He looked around the room to reassure himself that the boys were not around. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust them—- no, he didn’t trust them, it was Christmas. Need more be said ? Ben smiled to himself, imagining the look on Adam’s face when he  sees it.

Ben had just finished taping the last piece of wrapping paper when a knock that can be barely heard, interrupted him. Before he could blink, the door flew open, and Hoss’s broad frame filled the doorway, followed by Little Joe’s eager face.

“What have I told you about entering another person’s room-knock?”

“We did knock, Pa” said Little Joe.

“How about waiting for a ,lets say a ,Come in?” Ben closed his eyes at this ongoing argument.

“What’cha  got there ,Pa?” Hoss asked ,his voice full of curiosity.

Ben stood up “A little something for Adam, not for you two to be concerned about.”

Little Joe crossed his arms  and in an inquisitive tone, said “It sure looks like something big. Are you sure you don’t need help with that?”

“I am fine, thank you. Thank You for offering.”

Hoss leaned in close, squinting at the package “It sure looks small for a horse’s saddle and an odd shape for the rifle”

Ben sighed and rolled his eyes “Does it look like a saddle?’

“Ah, come on Pa, we promise, not to tell” Little Joe stepped forward “What is it?”

Ben gave in, letting out an exaggerated breath, “Oh my goodness, alright, alright, but you are sworn to secrecy, or it is barn duty for the rest of your life, as well as the chicken coop” he continued “It is a gift for Adam, a special one.”

“Special?” Hoss grinned “Sounds like it could be one of those gadgets you find at the fancy end of town. One that does everything. Like a wife.”

Both boys burst into laughter, and Ben stood there, just looking at them, deciding not to go there and where did he hide the gin.

“Something to help Adam with his studies, Ben replied, smiling knowingly,”A mechanical calculator.”

“A What?” Hoss asked.

‘A calculator” Ben repeated as if it should be obvious, even though it was wrapped. “It’s a new invention that helps you do math without doing it by hand.  It’s the latest thing.  People are saying that it is the future.”

“Can I have one?'” Little Joe asked.

“No”

Hoss grinned “But Pa, you haven’t showed us how it works.”

“And I am not, you can see that it is already wrapped, and I am not unwrapping it.” Ben thought to himself “I don’t even know how it works.” But to the two clowns standing in front of him, he said “I am sure he will figure it out, he’s bright.” Fingers crossed behind his back.

After a wonderful breakfast, all the gifts were handed out except for one. Ben moved to the back of the tree, carefully bringing out the mechanical calculator. He held it behind his back for one last moment of suspense.  “Well, now,”Ben began all puffed up,”I’ve got one last gift. Something for you, Adam to take to Harvard.”  

Adam raised an eyebrow, clearly curious, “But that isn’t until next year.”

‘If you don’t want it, I’ll take it,” quipped Little Joe.

“You know what it is?” asked Adam.

“Yes but I would have to live in the chicken coop if I told you.”

“I never said that. Oh, never mind, Adam, here.”

Adam took the gift from Ben’s hands, carefully unwrapping it.

“What in the world?” he muttered. He had to think as to where he might have seen one of those–oh yeah, at the mercantile, in one of the catalogs.

 

All were silent, baffled by the sight of the strange gadget. Little Joe was the first to break the silence, “It looks like some newfangled abacus.” He poked at it with a finger, causing one of the small brass keys to depress with a loud click. The sudden noise startled all of them and before anyone could react, he fumbled with more keys, pressing them in rapid succession. It started to make a series of clicking sounds ,and one of the keys snapped off.

“Whoops! sorry Pa” exclaimed Little Joe ‘I didn’t mean to break it.”

Ben’s eyes widened “Joseph, what did you do?”

Hop Sing bringing in some treats was watching and said “No.16 cousin can fix it and show No.1 son how to use it.”

Later, after Christmas dinner, Adam hoped that the day’s activities would settle down so that he could read the manual to understand how the machine works, before Hop Sing’s cousin arrived.

Hop Sing”No.16 cousin is here” He came in, glasses perched precariously on the edge of his nose as he inspected it.

“Hop Sing already told me about the mishap with No.3 son. Looks like you have a broken key.”

Adam groaned, “Do you think that you can fix it?”

“I will take a look, but it is more than a gift, it is an art. You’ll need the patience to get the hang of it.”

Adam watched as Cousin No.16 tinkled with it, muttering to himself “I am starting to think that I may need more than patience.”

The cousin heard him and said,”Oh you’ll need more than that, you need rhythm. It is like playing the piano, it has that sort of motion, not like a guitar.”

“I can learn and break it in for Adam, I can take it to school,” offered Little Joe.

“NO” came the response from both Ben and Adam.”Thank You for the offer but you have help enough.”

“Sorry, but we had a power outage, just came on.”

 

 My prompt-Mechanical Calculator with Adam.

 

Link to Day 23  of the Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar – Life in a Dimming World by PSW