Rating: K

Word Count=2002

Summary: Adam, away at college, is celebrating his first birthday away from his father and brothers.

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended. Original plot and characters are property of the author. This story is for entertainment and no money was made from it.

Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.

Birthday Blues

Adam woke up and stared at the ceiling for five minutes before he decided he’d best get out of bed. He hated having his feet touch the cold, bare floor after being snuggled deep into his bed. There was nothing to do but sit up, swing his legs over the side of the bed, make contact with the floor, and begin preparing for the day.

As he shaved, he thought about all of the things he had to do today. Besides getting dressed and making it downstairs for breakfast. At 10:00, he had a Classics exam, at 1:30 he had a math test, and at 4:00 he was leading a study group on Roman architecture. 

This was his first birthday away from home and family and he was spending it taking tests. None of his friends knew it was his birthday. At home, there had never been much of a fuss over him on the day of his birth. Nor for Hoss, either, when it came down to it. Big birthday celebrations were reserved for Little Joe. But of course, he was only a little kid, so who could hold that against him?

Staying in Grandfather’s house meant that he’d have company while he ate breakfast. But this was also his first birthday with Grandfather. Would Grandfather even speak to him? Because of his birth, Grandfather’s only child had died. Adam wouldn’t blame the old man for avoiding him.

Coming down the stairs, Adam could smell coffee and hear the sound of a fork on china. He entered the dining room and saw Grandfather tearing into his plate of eggs and sausages. Abel Stoddard looked up and saw his grandson approaching quietly, eyes semi-downcast, looking through his lashes at his elder.

“Good morning to you, lad” said Abel. “I hope you’ve got an appetite. Mrs. Sutton has made a fine breakfast this morning in honor of your birthday.”

“Good morning, Grandfather” answered Adam, taking his seat at the table. 

Mrs. Sutton came into the dining room and placed a glass of fresh milk on the table for Adam. “Happy birthday, Mr. Adam” she said with a smile.

“Thank you, Mrs. Sutton” he replied shyly.

Abel studied his grandson as the young man picked at his breakfast. Adam definitely had the look of Elizabeth. There was a slight resemblance to Benjamin, but there was more the look of Abel’s father, Samuel. Elizabeth had been the perfect blend of Stoddard and Drake in both appearance and personality. Only time would tell if Adam would be more Cartwright or Stoddard in personality. 

“Well, lad, today is your birthday. Any plans?”

“I’ve got tests and a study group, Grandfather. I doubt I’ll have much time for celebration.” Adam then looked down at his plate and let out a soft sigh as he lifted up a forkful of eggs. What wouldn’t he give to have noisy Little Joe come flying down the stairs and shout-sing Happy Birthday so loud that it could be heard as far as Reno? Or Hoss giving him some hand-made present that was only half-finished? Or, most of all, hearing Pa tell him happy birthday?

Abel could see the homesickness in his grandson and wished that there was something he could do to cheer the lad up. He settled for a pat to Adam’s arm and said “Perhaps you’ll find some quiet time today for reflection.”

“Perhaps” was Adam’s only answer. He felt a bit more depressed now, especially since he assumed that Grandfather was implying that his birth had resulted in the death of his grandfather’s only child. Since he wasn’t feeling very hungry anymore, Adam excused himself and went upstairs to finish getting ready.

Coming downstairs, Abel and Mrs. Sutton were waiting in the entryway to see him off. Mrs. Sutton handed Adam his satchel while Abel opened the door. A very morose Adam set off for campus.

His Classics exam had been a bit easier than he’d thought it would be. Fortunately, he’d memorized the Roman colonial outposts in Gaul alphabetically so he was able to list all of them. Lost in thought, he didn’t hear his friend, Remember Runyon, calling for him. “Hey!” Adam finally heard. Turning, he saw Remmy looking indignant. “Sorry, Remmy, I must have been thinking about that math exam that’s coming up.”

“Do you want to go to the Lady Liberty and get some lunch?” Remmy asked.

“Do we have time?” Adam asked. He was always worried about being one moment late for class. Remmy pulled out his watch and checked. “We should. It’s now 11:45.” “Okay” said Adam and they set off for the tavern on the edge of campus.

The two young men entered the tavern and sat down at a table at the back. All of the prized window tables were taken. When the barmaid came by, they placed their order of clam chowder, bread, and ale. “You seem pretty down, Adam” noted Remmy. “It’s not exams is it?”

Adam wasn’t sure whether or not to tell Remmy it was his birthday. He’d never made a fuss about it even though his family tried to. Now he wished his family was here to remind him that it wasn’t just another day. “I’m just missing my brothers, is all” Adam finally answered. 

“I have it on good authority that today is your birthday” said Remmy with a wink. 

“How did you know that?” asked Adam with surprise.

“My parents’ housekeeper, Mrs. Pike, gossips with your Mrs. Sutton at the market every morning. Mrs. Sutton told Mrs. Pike, Mrs. Pike told me, and now I’m telling you. Happy birthday.”

Adam turned red with embarrassment. But he thanked Remmy for the sentiment. “What would you do if you were at home?” Remmy asked out of curiosity. He knew Adam was from out west but assumed that his friend would be lying around the house while the staff did the work.

“I would have gotten up before sunrise, come downstairs, gone to the barn to muck out the stalls, groomed my horse, and then come inside for a large breakfast. Over breakfast, Pa would have told me what needed to be done, whether it was mending a fence or working with a new horse. Then, at the end of the day, we would have had a large steak dinner. And my brothers would have given me presents that they had made. That would be how I celebrated at home.” Adam noticed Remmy’s surprised look and said “Today is just another day.”

For once, Remmy, a well-known talker, was speechless. He couldn’t imagine having to actually work on his family’s country farm. Or not celebrating his birthday with a large group of friends. “We can celebrate later, if you’d like” offered Remmy.

“No, thanks. This math test is going to be exhausting enough and then I’m leading that architecture study group. I doubt I’ll have the energy to do much of anything later on.”

“Does your grandfather have any plans to help you celebrate?”

“I doubt it” Adam said as his eyes teared up.

“What’s wrong?” Remmy asked with concern.

“My mother died shortly after I was born. Somehow I don’t think Grandfather thinks of today as a very festive day.”

Again, Remmy was speechless. His own mother had died giving birth to his youngest sister, Grace, and his father had remarried four months later. No one had ever made Gracie feel that she couldn’t, or shouldn’t, celebrate her birthday. 

“You can’t deny your birthday just because your mother passed on. That’s not fair to your father, brothers, or grandfather. Or even to you. Think on how much your father and grandfather love you, not on how much you think they still mourn your mother.” Adam’s only response was a sigh and the shrug of one shoulder. He didn’t think Remmy could possibly understand.

Adam and Remmy finished up their lunches and headed back to campus. Remmy felt that he should do something to cheer his friend up, but didn’t know what. Maybe he would invite Adam out to the country this weekend so his friend could ride a horse for a while. Perhaps Mrs. Sutton could make a suggestion to Mrs. Pike on what kind of post-birthday celebration he could host for Adam.

At the end of the day, a tired Adam returned to his grandfather’s house. Before the architecture study group, he’d grabbed a bite to eat at another one of the taverns near the college, but was still hungry. He hoped that Mrs. Sutton had kept a plate warm for him.

As he went into the house, he could hear Grandfather talking softly. Quietly closing the door and tip-toeing to the doorway of the parlor, Adam peeked in to see Grandfather standing in front of the fireplace, glass of sherry in his hand, talking to a portrait of Elizabeth. Listening carefully, Adam could hear Grandfather saying “It was a hard trade, lass, you for the babe. But you’d be proud of your lad. He’s a fine, strong man with a mind like yours. No doubt he also thinks of me as a snaggle-toothed octopus. Giving him up for Benjamin’s dream chasing was more difficult than losing you, lass. But your Benjamin weathered the storms and made it to a calm port. The lad has your sense and Benjamin’s spirit. I’m proud of him, lass.”

A sniffle caught the Captain’s ear and he turned to see Adam in the doorway. “Ah, lad, I didn’t realize you had returned home.” He paused for a few seconds and added “Your mother and I have a talk every year on this day.”

Adam wasn’t sure what to say but he crossed the room to his grandfather and flung his arms around the old man’s neck. Startled, Abel didn’t quite know what to do, but found himself embracing his grandson tightly. 

After a few minutes, Adam relaxed enough to pull back. He then wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “You don’t hate me?” he asked in a quivering voice.

“How could I hate you, lad? You’re my flesh and blood. Your mother’s body was weak but her spirit was strong. She made sure that you made it into this world a strong, fine babe. And now you’re a strong, fine man. You make me very proud, lad.” Abel, not used to having such affection shown towards him, paused and sniffed before saying “Mrs. Sutton has kept a plate warm for you, lad. We’d best go get it and make sure you eat your supper.”

Adam went to the table while Abel went to the kitchen to get the plate. He returned with the food and a packet wrapped in plain brown paper. “Mrs. Sutton said this came for you last week but I wasn’t to give it to you until today.” Curiously, Adam inspected the handwriting on the front and saw Pa’s firm script. He tore open the package to see letters from Pa, Hoss, and even Little Joe. 

Abel placed his hands on his grandson’s shoulders and asked “Would you like for me to leave you with them?” “No, Sir” answered Adam. “I want to share them with you tonight.” Abel sat down in his chair as Adam read the letters aloud between bites of his supper. By the time Adam went to bed, he thought that this was one of the best birthdays he’d ever had.

The End
May 2007