Summary:  Virginia City is temporarily left without a schoolteacher, and everyone at The Ponderosa feels the effects of it.
Rating:  G   11,390 word

---

 

School’s Out

 ‘Hey Pa!’  Little Joe Cartwright opened the door with a bang and came hurtling through it, with an excited expression on his face.

 

Ben looked up from the letter that he was reading, with an annoyed expression on his face. ‘Joseph!’ he said. ‘How many times have I told you not to enter a room like that?’

 

‘Lots I guess,’ said Little Joe, unabashed.

 

‘Go back over there and close that door please, young man,’ instructed his father.

 

‘But Pa …. I got great news to tell ya!’ declared his son.

 

‘The door please, Joseph!’

 

Little Joe sighed before doing as he was bid.  Sometimes he just couldn’t work out his father.  He shut the door and ran back over to the man’s desk and leant on it. ‘I’ve got great news Pa!’ he said again, excitedly.

 

Ben sat back in his chair and smiled at his son’s animated expression. ‘Really?’ he said. ‘Well could you please first explain to me why you are home from school at this hour young man? If you’ve been in trouble again ….’

 

Little Joe shook his head furiously, his curls bouncing. ‘No I ain’t in trouble,’ he assured his father. ‘But I’m home cause of the great news!’

 

Ben crossed his arms, an amused expression on his face. ‘Well then you’d better tell what it is,’ he said.

 

Little Joe sighed again. Wasn’t that exactly what he’d been trying to do for the past few minutes? ‘It’s old Jonesy,’ he said, his grin getting bigger. ‘She broke her arm, Pa.  Ain’t it great?’

 

Ben’s amused expression turned to one of anger. ‘I beg your pardon?’ he said sternly. ‘Did I hear you correctly?’

 

Little Joe nodded eagerly, failing to notice his father’s facial expression. ‘Yep,’ he said. ‘You sure did!  She fell over in the playground and now its broke, Doc Martin says.  Ain’t it great?’ he hugged himself round the waist in glee and began to jump up and down.

 

Ben leant forward on his chair and gave his youngest son one of his sternest looks. ‘I fail to see what is so good about that poor woman breaking her arm Joseph,’ he said. ‘It’s disgraceful of you to say such a thing.’

 

Little Joe paused momentarily and then smiled again. ‘But you don’t understand Pa,’ he said. ‘They had ta close the school cause there’s no one else to teach us,’ he explained. ‘So ya see, it is great, ain’t it?’

 

Ben shook his head at the callousness of youth. ‘No, it is not!’ he said as he pointed his finger at his son. ‘And I’ll thank you not to carry on while that poor woman is suffering.’

 

Little Joe finally got the message that his father wasn’t too pleased with his news.  ‘But Pa,’ he protested. ‘She’ll be okay.  The Doc says it ain’t real serious or nuthin, but she can’t teach us for a whole month.’  He began to jump up and down again in his excitement.  ‘One whole month of holidays!’

 

Ben tried not to let his dismay show on his face.  He loved his youngest son dearly, but to have him at home twenty-four hours a day for a whole month was just too much to think about.  ‘I see,’ he said. ‘Well, we’ll just see about that.  I can’t imagine how they can expect the district’s children to do without schooling for a whole month.’

 

Little Joe rummaged in his pocket for a moment and then pulled out a very crumpled letter.  He smoothed it out on his father’s desk before holding it out to him. ‘I almost forgot,’ he said with a crooked smile. ‘Doc Martin said ta give this to you.’

 

Ben ripped open the letter and scanned it quickly. ‘They’re calling an emergency meeting of the School Board tonight,’ he said half-aloud.  ‘I’ll need to go in to help see what we can do about this.’

 

Little Joe’s face fell. ‘Pa,’ he said warily. ‘Ya ain’t … ya ain’t gonna make Adam do it like last time, are ya?’  The memory of his last encounter with his big brother as a teacher was still very vivid in his mind and he didn’t want to have to contemplate it happening again.

 

‘No,’ said Ben. ‘Adam is far too busy at the timber camp at the moment, unfortunately.’

 

Little Joe’s face showed his relief. ‘Yeah,’ he agreed. ‘Too bad, ain’t it?’  He chuckled. ‘Doc Martin said there might be no one else, Pa.  He and the other men in town tried real hard to think of someone fore they sent us home. Looks as if I’ll just have ta have a holiday, don’t it?’

 

Ben studied the boy for a moment, trying to think of a solution to the problem, but for the life of him couldn’t come with anything.  He sighed. ‘We’ll see,’ he said.  ‘For now though, young man, you can go outside and get your chores done.’

 

‘But Pa,’ protested Little Joe. ‘It’s too early ta do my chores.  I’ve got lots of free time first.’

 

‘Chores, Joseph,’ said his father. ‘You can use that free time to get them done extra well today and when you’ve finished I’ll have some more to keep you busy.’

 

Little Joe turned away reluctantly and Ben tried not to laugh as he heard him mutter. ‘Some holiday with extra chores.’

 

‘What was that young man?’

 

‘Nuthin Pa.’ Ben smiled as he watched the boy walk slowly towards the front door and close it behind him.

 

 

———-

 

 

‘Are you sure you can’t spare him Ben?’ pleaded Paul Martin. ‘Adam did a really good job last time he acted as a substitute teacher.’

 

Ben shook his head. ‘I’m really sorry everyone, but I just can’t offer him to you at the moment.  We have that timber contract to deliver and without Adam in charge up at the camp we’ll never make it.  Surely there must be someone else?  What about Mrs Harrison?’

 

Roy Coffee shook his head. ‘I’ve already checked,’ he said. ‘She’s leaving on tomorrow’s stage for San Francisco to visit her family.’

 

‘I suppose Emily Markett couldn’t be expected to do it,’ mused Ben.

 

‘She’s only got a month to go until her baby’s due,’ replied Paul. ‘It’s not fair to expect her to.’

 

Ben nodded in agreement. ‘Well, then I can’t think of anyone else. Any other ideas?’

 

No one said anything for a few moments. ‘We’ll just have to close the school down,’ said Roy finally. ‘How long before Abigail will be fit for work again, Paul?’

 

‘At least four weeks,’ replied the doctor.

 

Ben looked at the others mournfully. ‘Well I know one mighty happy little boy who’ll be glad to hear that,’ he said. ‘Little Joe was actually dancing with excitement at the thought of missing school for all that time.’

 

‘It won’t be too bad,’ said Roy Coffee consolingly.

 

Ben lifted his right eyebrow. ‘Only someone who is childless would say that Roy,’ he said. ‘I’d be happy to give him to you for a month if you like.’

 

Roy laughed aloud. ‘No thank you!’ he said as he stood up. ‘I’ve told you before Ben, I’m very fond of that youngest boy of yours, but I’m glad that he is yours and not mine.’

 

Ben acknowledged the man’s laugh with a grin of his own. ‘Well I’d better get going,’ he said. ‘It’s getting late and something tells me that I’m going to need all my strength for the next few weeks.  I need to have an early night.’

 

 

———-

 

 

‘But I don’t understand why it’s going to be so hard Pa,’ said Hoss. ‘He’s had lots of holidays before and we’ve always managed to organise things.’

 

Ben looked at his middle son patiently. ‘That was during the summer vacation, Hoss.  First of all we were organised because we were able to plan ahead and second of all the weather at that time of year means that Little Joe can spend the bulk of his time out of doors with his friends.  This is different.  It’s a busy time of year and we’ve all got our schedules to keep to, plus the weather can be so unpredictable at this time.  We’re likely to be snowed in and you know that it’s not unusual to have a lot of rain either.’

 

‘We’ve been snowed in before and Joe has had to miss days of school,’ persisted Hoss.

 

‘Not a whole month at a time,’ said Adam mournfully. ‘Do you want to be the one who is cooped up in here with him all that time?’

 

Hoss shook his head vehemently. ‘I see what ya mean,’ he said. ‘No way.’

 

Ben stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘We have to have a plan then,’ he said. ‘I’ll need both of you to help, boys.’

 

‘Pa, you know that I’m stretched with work up at the timber camp at the moment,’ protested Adam.

 

‘And I’m helping him,’ chimed in Hoss.

 

Ben put up his hand to silence their protests. ‘I know, I know,’ he said. ‘And I’ve got all those army contracts to finalise as well as the usual things that need to go on around here.’

 

‘Maybe Hop Sing could supervise him,’ suggested Adam.

 

Ben shook his head. ‘I’m sure that Hop Sing will help,’ he said. ‘But it’s not fair to expect him to have Joseph all the time.  He has a lot of work to get done around here, you know.’

 

‘Then what are we going to do?’

 

Ben thought for a moment. ‘We’ll all have to share the load,’ he said. ‘If I can manage to spend my mornings doing my paperwork here, then Joseph can spend the time with me doing his schoolwork.’

 

‘What schoolwork?’ asked Adam.

 

‘The schoolwork you are going to set for him,’ replied his father. ‘You can organise it each night and then check it the next. That would leave you free during the days to get on with your work.’

 

Adam shrugged. ‘I suppose I could manage that,’ he said. ‘As long as you agree that I’m in charge of it.  I don’t intend to have that brat talk you into letting him get out of any of it.’

 

‘You have full say of what he needs to do,’ agreed his father. ‘I won’t interfere.’

 

‘What about the afternoons, Pa?’ asked Hoss.

 

‘I’ll see if Hop Sing can keep him busy with some extra work around the house,’ replied Ben. ‘A couple of hours each day shouldn’t be too taxing on Hop Sing and it would do Joseph good to experience what housekeeping is all about.  Then, if you can spare Hoss for a couple of hours after that Adam, he can supervise Joseph doing some extra outdoor work until it’s time for his afternoon chores.’

 

‘That should be okay,’ said Adam.

 

‘What sort of outdoor work, Pa?’ asked Hoss warily.

 

‘I’m not sure son.  We’ll work that out as we go,’ replied Ben.

 

‘Joe ain’t gonna like any of this,’ muttered Hoss.

 

‘I don’t really care whether your brother likes it or not,’ said Ben. ‘This shouldn’t be a holiday for him after all and from what I hear from Abigail Jones, he could use some time to catch up on a bit of the work he doesn’t usually get done.’

 

‘That boy fools around too much in class,’ said Adam grimly. ‘It’ll be a challenge to get him up to standard.’  He stood up and stretched. ‘Well I’m going up to my room,’ he said. ‘I’ve got some schoolwork to organise for tomorrow.’

 

‘Night son,’ said Ben. ‘You going too, Hoss?’

 

‘Sure am Pa,’ said Hoss, getting up as well.

 

Ben watched as his two boys climbed the staircase. He picked up his pipe and began to fill it, staring into the fire as he did so. ‘God give me strength,’ he said quietly. ‘I think I’m going to need it.’

 

 

———-

 

 

 

Little Joe looked appalled. ‘But Pa!’ he said. ‘None of the other kids will have schoolwork to do on their holiday!’

 

‘This is not your holiday, Joseph,’ said his father firmly. ‘And you are not the other kids.’

 

Little Joe scowled at the man. ‘But I was planning all sorts of fun things to do,’ he protested.

 

‘Well, you can just unplan them,’ said Ben firmly. ‘As well as your schoolwork each morning you will be helping Hop Sing in the house after lunch each day and doing extra work with Hoss after that.  Adam will correct your schoolwork each night and then set you more for the next day, so you won’t have time for any of your plans except on weekends as usual.’

 

Little Joe slumped down in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest in disgust.  He stared at the tablecloth in front of him. ‘Ain’t fair!’ he muttered.

 

‘I beg your pardon?’ asked Ben.

 

‘Nuthin,’ muttered the boy.

 

‘Good,’ said his father. ‘Well then, I suggest that you finish your breakfast and get to your schoolwork.  Adam left it for you on my desk before he left early this morning.’

 

‘Yes sir,’ muttered the boy and gave his father another dark look.

 

‘Hurry up,’ said Ben, trying to hide his amusement from the child. ‘Knowing Adam, he’ll have given you lots to get through.’

 

‘Bet I could count on that,’ muttered Little Joe as he picked up his fork and reluctantly began to eat.

 

Ben sipped his coffee and studied the child over the rim of his cup. ‘Lord, give me patience,’ he said to himself.

 

 

———-

 

 

‘Put your chair there at the end of my desk,’ instructed Ben.  You can work at that end while I use over here.’

 

Little Joe did as he was bid and frowned at the pile of books and papers that Adam had left for him.  He sat down and fingered them gingerly. ‘What are you gonna do, Pa?’ he asked, looking over at the pile of papers on Ben’s end of the desk.

 

‘I’m getting some contracts ready for the army deal,’ said his father. ‘Now get down to work please.  We’ve both got a lot to do.’  He began to leaf through his pile of papers and prioritise them.

 

Little Joe sighed and began to go through his papers and books as well. ‘Adam left me too much!’ he whined, after a moment. ‘I can’t get all this done.’

 

‘Get started and stop whinging about it,’ said Ben absently, as he picked up his pen and began to write.

 

Joe studied his father for a moment and when he realised that the man wasn’t taking any notice of him, he began to shuffle the papers again and picked out some arithmetic to do.  With another dramatic sigh he picked up his pencil and began to write his name on the page before studying the problems that his brother had written. ‘Pa?’ he said after a moment. ‘I can’t do the first one.’

 

‘Well, do the ones you can first,’ said his father. ‘Come back to it later.’

 

There was silence for a full two minutes before Little Joe spoke again. ‘I can’t do any of em,’ he said. ‘They’re too hard!’

 

Ben gave him an annoyed look. ‘Show me,’ he said and scanned the paper. ‘They’re multiplications.  Surely you can do those.’

 

‘Not hard ones like that!’ said Little Joe indignantly. ‘The numbers is too big!’

 

Ben put down his pen angrily. ‘Well, go through the rest of it and pick out something you can do!’ he said. ‘Hurry up and find something.  I don’t intend to be disturbed by you all morning.’

 

Little Joe went through his papers quickly and picked one out.  ‘I can learn these spellings, I guess,’ he said.

 

‘Good!  Now get to it!’  Ben bent over his work again and commenced to write, but after a few moments he looked up again. ‘Joseph what are you mumbling about?’ he asked.

 

‘I’m learning my spellings,’ replied Little Joe, innocently.

 

‘Well, can’t you do it quietly?’

 

‘I haveta say em out loud to remember em,’ his son replied. ‘That’s the way we do it at school.’

 

‘Why don’t you try writing them?’ asked Ben. ‘See if you can remember them that way.’

 

Little Joe shrugged. ‘Okay,’ he said. He picked up his pencil again and began to write.  Ben shook his head and went back to his contracts again.  After a minute there was an exclamation from Joe. ‘I broke my pencil point, Pa,’ he said.

 

‘Well, use another one,’ replied Ben, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

 

‘I ain’t got another one.  Can I use your knife and sharpen this one?’

 

Ben handed his small pocketknife over. ‘Be careful with it,’ he said.

 

‘Thanks.’

 

Ben tried to focus back on his work again, but had hardly started when he saw pencil shavings flying across his desk and landing all over his papers. ‘Joseph!’ he said angrily. ‘Watch what you’re doing!’

 

‘Sorry Pa,’ said Little Joe.  He stood up and began to brush the shavings onto his side of the table, rearranging his father’s papers in the process.

 

Ben put down his pen with a sigh. ‘Joe, come here,’ he said.  Little Joe bounced over to his father and looked at him expectantly. ‘The whole idea of this is for both of us to get our work done,’ explained Ben. ‘Now find something to do and do it quietly!  Do you understand?’

 

Little Joe nodded and sat down again, aware that his father was beginning to sound angry.  He picked up his now-sharpened pencil and began to write.  Ben closed his eyes for a moment and bent over his own work again.  For five full minutes father and son worked on their respective projects side by side, until Little Joe could stand it no longer.

 

‘Can I get a drink of water Pa?  I’m thirsty.’

 

‘No.  Do your work.’

 

‘I’ve finished writing out them spellings.’  Ben merely looked at the boy and Little Joe hung his head and leafed through his papers again. He pulled one out, frowned at it and then began to write.

 

Another five minutes passed before he spoke again. ‘Pa?’

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘How do ya spell Washington?’

 

‘W-a-s-h-i-n-g-t-o-n-.  Why?’

 

‘I just wondered.  W-a-s-h … what?’

 

‘W-a-s-h-i-n-g-t-o-n-.’  In spite of himself Ben looked up. ‘What are you writing?’

 

‘I havta write bout one of our Presidents. I’m doing bout George Washington.’

 

Ben nodded. ‘Good,’ he said.

 

‘Pa?’

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘How do ya spell Delaware?’

 

‘Joseph, stop asked me how to spell things!’

 

‘But I don’t know how.’

 

‘Spell them the way you think and then Adam can correct them tonight for you.  Now just write quietly please.  I’d like to get some of this done at least.’

 

Ben massaged his temples at he looked at the boy beside him.  Little Joe gave him a grin and went back to his writing again. ‘That is very messy,’ cautioned his father.

 

‘But I can’t concentrate on the spellings and the writing at the same time,’ whined Little Joe. ‘It’s too much to do all together.’  He bent his head again and kept writing.

 

Ben shook his head and massaged his temples again. ‘Lord, give me patience,’ he muttered.

 

 

———-

 

 

‘Ain’t Hoss and Adam coming home for dinner?’ asked Little Joe as he looked at the two empty seats at the table.

 

‘They took their dinner with them’ explained his father. ‘They’re too busy to come home for it. Finish eating please.  You’ve got work to do with Hop Sing this afternoon, remember?’  He sighed to himself as he thought about escaping from the child for the afternoon.

 

Little Joe pulled a face. ‘What are we gonna do Hop Sing?’ he asked as the cook took the plates from the table. ‘Sumthing interesting?’

 

‘We do upstairs,’ said Hop Sing. ‘Hurry and finish milk. Chop chop!’

 

Little Joe downed his milk in one gulp. ‘What upstairs?’ he asked.

 

Ben stood up. ‘Well I’ll be off now,’ he said, trying not to sound too relieved. ‘Hoss should be back at two o’clock Hop Sing.  He’ll take Joseph off your hands then.’

 

Little Joe frowned as he read between the lines of off your hands. ‘I can look after myself!’ he said. ‘I got plenty of things I can do by myself if you’d let me Pa.’

 

Ben pointed his finger at his youngest son. ‘You’ll do exactly as you’re told, young man.  Both from Hop Sing and Hoss.  Understand?’

 

‘Yes sir.’

 

‘Good.  Then I’ll see you at supper.’

 

Little Joe frowned at his father as he left the room. ‘What are we gonna do upstairs, Hop Sing?’ he asked again.

 

‘You see,’ replied Hop Sing. ‘Come with me.’  He led the way up the staircase and stopped at the linen closet. ‘Hold these,’ he instructed Little Joe as he handed the boy some sheets. He motioned to him to follow and went into Adam’s room. ‘We clean here first,’ he said.

 

Little Joe looked around, his eyes bright.  It wasn’t often that he was allowed to come in here and Adam’s room was filled with untold treasures that he longed to get a look at.  He sidled over to his brother’s desk. ‘Little boy come away from there!’ instructed Hop Sing as he began to strip the sheets off the bed. ‘Leave Mr Adam things alone!’

 

‘I ain’t touching anything,’ declared Little Joe, putting his hands behind his back for effect.

 

Hop Sing gave him an appraising look and then picked up the sheets. ‘Come help,’ he said.

 

Little Joe picked up the end of the sheet that Hop Sing threw over to him. ‘We gonna make the bed up, huh?’ he asked.

 

Hop Sing bent down and picked up the chamber pot from under the bed. ‘Yuck!’ exclaimed Little Joe. ‘What ya touching that for?’

 

‘Is need to be emptied,’ explained Hop Sing. ‘Who you think do it all time?’

 

Little Joe shrugged.  He hadn’t really ever thought about it. ‘You?’ he said.

 

‘You today,’ said Hop Sing, holding it out to the boy. ‘Wash it at pump after.’

 

Little Joe screwed up his nose. ‘No way!’ he said. ‘I ain’t gonna do that!’

 

Hop Sing glared at him and thrust the pot at him, so that the boy had no choice but to hold it. ‘Hurry up!’ he said again. ‘Must do all bedroom this afternoon.’

 

Little Joe held the pot as far away from himself as he could and with a dark look at Hop Sing left the room.  He held onto his nose with one hand and the pot with the other and was so busy keeping his face away from the pot that he caught his foot in the rug on the floor and he fell over with a loud bang in the hallway. ‘What you do?’ shouted Hop Sing angrily from the bedroom.

 

‘I fell over!’ shouted back Little Joe as he rolled away from the spreading liquid on the floor. ‘Come quick Hop Sing! There’s a big mess out here!’

 

Hop Sing appeared in the doorway and after one look at the scene in front of him, began to shout in Chinese and wave his arms around. ‘Stop foolishment!’ he yelled in between the string of Chinese phrases.

 

‘I didn’t mean it,’ said Little Joe indignantly as the man reappeared with a cloth and waved the boy away. ‘Honest, Hop Sing!’

 

‘You put sheets on bed while I clean up,’ said Hop Sing angrily. ‘Too much foolishment out here!’

 

Little Joe escaped into his brother’s bedroom, grateful that Hop Sing hadn’t suggested that he be the one to clean up the mess.  He grasped the end of the sheets and lifted them into the air, delighting in the way that they billowed out when they came back down towards the bed.  He giggled to himself and threw them up several more times before bouncing onto the bed and allowing them to billow down on top of him.  Suddenly he felt a slap on his backside and he peeked out from under the sheets to see Hop Sing glaring at him. ‘What you do?’ the cook said angrily.

 

‘I’m making the bed,’ replied Little Joe. ‘Like ya told me to.’

 

Hop Sing pulled him off the bed. ‘Stand there!’ he said and pointed to the corner. ‘He handed the boy a dust cloth. ‘Dust desk and shelves!’ he instructed and pointed his finger at the boy. ‘No more foolishment!’

 

Little Joe glared back at him and began to dust Adam’s desk. He looked intently at the papers and books that were on it as he went and inspecting his brother’s things as he went.  Maybe this housework wasn’t going to be so bad if he got to go through all the bedrooms in this way, he thought.

 

‘Hurry up!’ said Hop Sing as he placed fresh towels on Adam’s dresser. ‘You finish?’

 

‘Yep,’ said Little Joe with a grin. ‘We gonna do Hoss’ room next?’

 

‘Mr Cartlight’s,’ said Hop Sing. ‘Come.’ He picked up the dirty sheets and towels and put them in a basket in the hallway before taking fresh ones from the linen chest and going into Ben’s room. Little Joe followed meekly.  Hop Sing hesitated for a moment and then handed the little boy the dust cloth again. ‘You dust,’ he said. ‘I empty pot this time.’

 

‘Okay,’ replied Little Joe, happily.  Anything to get out of emptying the pot was fine with him.  As Hop Sing left the room, he went over to his father’s small desk and began to dust, picking up each article on it and inspecting it as he went.  His eyes lit up as he noticed a small bottle of ink and a pen and with a quick look over his shoulder, he opened the lid and began to write his name in his neatest writing. It wasn’t often that he had the chance to use ink like this, as he was usually confined to using a pencil or a slate for his schoolwork.  Ink had long held a fascination for the child, as it seemed such a grownup thing to use.

 

‘What you do?’  Hop Sing’s voice behind him startled him and he made a big blot on the paper.

 

‘I’m just trying out Pa’s pen,’ he said. ‘I weren’t hurting nothing.’

 

Hop Sing swatted him on the side of the head. ‘Put away!’ he said. ‘You dust!’

 

Little Joe gave a sigh and began to put the lid on the bottle of ink, but only succeeded in spilling it all over the desk. ‘Oops,’ he said.

 

Hop Sing hit him on the side of the head again. ‘You go out!’ he said angrily. ‘Leave father things alone!’

 

‘But you said to dust,’ replied Little Joe.

 

Hop Sing handed him a broom. ‘You sweep hallway,’ he said. ‘Go!  Chop chop!’

 

Little Joe pouted. ‘Don’t see why I can’t do the bedrooms,’ he mumbled. ‘They’re more interesting than any old hallway.’  He dragged the broom outside and began to push it around aimlessly for a few moments.  Suddenly his face lit up and he took two steps backwards before pushing the broom right down the hallway and sliding with it. ‘Yah!’ he said with a giggle and then pushed it back up the hallway again, running behind it and sliding. This time he found it hard to stop himself and banged into the wall at the end of the hallway with a loud thump.

 

‘What you do out there?’ yelled Hop Sing.

 

‘Nothing!’ called back Little Joe. He ran up the hallway again, this time sliding at such a speed that he couldn’t stop himself, toppled off the end of the stairs and bumped down several before coming to rest on the landing.  Hop Sing appeared at the top of the stairs and glared down at him. ‘What you do?’ he shouted again.

 

‘I just lost my balance,’ said Little Joe, rubbing himself as he stood up. ‘I weren’t doing nothing.’

 

Hop Sing motioned to him to come back up. ‘You take basket down to wash room,’ he said. ‘I be down soon.’

 

‘Okay,’ said Little Joe. He picked up the basket and disappeared with it, before the man could swat him again. As he entered the washhouse he looked around.  He loved the washhouse as it contained so many interesting things to use.  Many times he had sat here and watched Hop Sing while the man stirred the huge tubs of wet washing, or used the mangle to wring them out. Little Joe loved the mangle, but he knew that Hop Sing would never of approve of him using it by himself, so with a sigh he turned away from it.  He put the basket of dirty sheets down and peeked into the tubs.  They were full of something that was obviously soaking and so he sat down and began to stir them around and around as he had seen Hop Sing do, so many times.

 

Little Joe sat quite happily for a full five minutes stirring the clothes around until Hop Sing entered the room. ‘What you do?’ he shouted, taking in the very wet boy and the puddles of water all over the floor.

 

‘Washing for ya, Hop Sing,’ replied Little Joe happily. He grinned at the man, sure that he’d be pleased with his work.  Instead the cook began to wave his arms around and yell again.

 

‘You leave alone!’ he shouted and swatted Little Joe on the side of the head again.

 

‘Why?’ asked the boy indignantly. ‘I’m only trying to help, is all! That’s what I’m sposed ta do, ain’t it?’

 

‘Help, help, help!’ yelled Hop Sing. ‘Much foolishment is not help!’

 

‘What’s going on?’ asked Hoss as he came into the room.

 

‘You take boy now?’ asked Hop Sing pushing Little Joe towards his brother.

 

‘Yeah,’ replied Hoss. ‘He’s gonna come with me now.’  He looked around the room. ‘What happened here?’

 

‘You go!’ shouted Hop Sing, pushing them both out of the door together.

 

‘What did ya do, Joe?’ asked Hoss as they made their way across the front yard together.

 

‘Beats me,’ replied Little Joe. ‘I was jest helping him is all.  ‘Guess he ain’t used ta do much help.  ‘What am I gonna help you with Hoss? Can I chop some wood?’  His eyes drifted over to the woodpile that he was always itching to contribute to.

 

‘No, ya ain’t!’ said Hoss firmly. ‘You know that you ain’t allowed anywhere near that axe.’

 

Little Joe shrugged. It had been worth a try. ‘Well?’ he said. ‘What are we gonna do?’

 

‘I’ve got some animals ta tend to,’ said Hoss as they entered the barn. ‘Ya can help me.’

 

‘Okay,’ replied Little Joe. ‘What do we do first?’

 

‘First we gotta take a look at old Brandy’s leg,’ said Hoss. ‘He’s sprained it.  He sat down next to the horse in the stall and motioned for Little Joe to be quiet, as he felt the animal’s leg up and down. ‘Hmm,’ he said. ‘Still needs some more poultices.’  You stay there Joe while I get some hot water.’

 

Little Joe looked the horse up and down and then felt his leg the way Hoss had done.  He couldn’t feel anything wrong with it, so he went around and felt the other three legs as well.  The horse looked down at the boy and stamped his leg angrily as Little Joe touched it. ‘Sorry fellar,’ said Joe. ‘Does it hurt?’  He reached out to touch the sore leg again and the horse kicked out at him in frustration.

 

‘What are ya doing?’ yelled Hoss as he came back into the barn just in time to see his little brother step nimbly sideways to avoid the kick. ‘Leave him alone!’

 

‘He’s the one kicking me!’ declared Little Joe as he picked himself up from the ground.

 

‘Ya gotta be gentle round sick animals,’ explained Hoss. ‘Now sit down there and be quiet.’

 

Little Joe sat down in a huff and watched as his brother applied hot towels to the horse’s leg. ‘Why are ya doing that for Hoss?’ he asked.

 

‘Ta get the swelling down,’ replied his brother. ‘Now keep still will ya?’

 

‘But I’m bored!’ whined Joe. ‘I ain’t got nothing ta do!’

 

‘Just watch and learn,’ said Hoss absently as he concentrated on the horse. ‘Be quiet.’

 

Little Joe watched for a few more minutes and then quietly got up and walked into the next stall. ‘What are ya doing?’ called Hoss.

 

‘Nuthin,’ yelled back Joe. ‘I’m just visiting Daisy, is all.’  He gave the cow in the next stall a pat on the nose. ‘Hey Hoss?’

 

‘Yeah?’

 

‘When’s she gonna have her calf?’

 

‘Any day now.  Leave her alone.  She don’t like company in her condition.’ Sure enough, Daisy gave Joe a dark look and stamped her foot at him angrily.

 

‘No one wants me,’ muttered the boy. ‘Seems I’m just in the way of everyone round here.’

 

‘Come back and sit down!’ called Hoss. ‘I want you where I can keep an eye on ya!’

 

Little Joe gave a sigh and went back in to the next stall.

 

 

———-

 

 

‘So how was your afternoon?’ asked Ben at supper that night.

 

Little Joe shrugged. ‘I didn’t get ta do much,’ he said. ‘Hop Sing and Hoss wouldn’t let me help much.’

 

Ben raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh?’ he said.

 

‘He was upsetting the animals Pa,’ said Hoss indignantly. ‘I woulda given him something ta do cept he kept upsetting em every time he went near them.’

 

‘I did not!’ declared Little Joe.  He smiled at Hop Sing as he came into the room. ‘Anyways I helped Hop Sing lots, didn’t I?’

 

Hop Sing glared at him. ‘Hmph!’ he said and banged a platter down on the table.

 

Ben raised the other eyebrow. ‘If you’ve finished your supper Joseph, you’d better get your books and show Adam what you did this morning.’  Little Joe slid down from his chair eagerly and ran to get his books from his father’s desk.

 

Adam gave a sigh and went over to the sofa. ‘Put them on the coffee table,’ he instructed. ‘I’ll correct your work before I set tomorrow’s assignments.’

 

Little Joe knelt down next to the coffee table and looked at his brother anxiously. ‘I didn’t get it all done,’ he said.

 

‘So I see,’ said Adam sarcastically. ‘In fact you hardly got any of it done!  What were you doing all morning?’

 

‘The arithmetic was too hard!’ whined Little Joe. ‘Your numbers for them multiplicashions was too big.’

 

‘Nonsense,’ said Adam firmly. ‘You should have been able to do them.  What about your spelling?  Did you learn it?’

 

‘Yep.  Pa said to write em out. Here.’  He handed his brother his paper. Adam looked at it and then laid it down. ‘What about your essay?’ he asked.

 

‘Here.  I done George Washington.’

 

‘You call this an essay?’ said Adam incredulously. ‘You’ve hardly done anything!  And the handwriting is disgraceful!’  He put the paper down. ‘Is that it?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you do any more than that?’

 

‘That’s all I had time for,’ explained Little Joe. ‘My pencil kept breaking.’

 

Adam gave him a firm look. ‘No wonder you’re always in trouble at school,’ he said. ‘I feel sorry for Abigail Jones having to put up with you, if this is an indication of your work!’

 

Little Joe pouted. ‘I can’t help it,’ he said. ‘It was my best.’

 

‘That is absolute garbage Joe and you know it!’ said Adam angrily. ‘Now if I can take the trouble to set you work to do, then you are going to do it properly!  Anything you don’t get done from now on during the day you will finish off for homework under my supervision.  Is that clear?’

 

Joe gave his brother an appalled look. ‘I ain’t!’ he declared. ‘I don’t have to, do I Pa?’  He turned to his father indignantly. ‘Tell Adam I don’t have to, Pa!’

 

Ben shook his head ‘Your brother is in charge of your work,’ he said. ‘You’ll do as he says.’

 

‘Right,’ said Adam spreading the papers across the table. ‘You’ll do this essay again for a start, straight after I go through these multiplications with you.  Now get a pencil and hurry up.’

 

Little Joe sighed as he picked up his pencil and gave his brother a dark look. ‘Ain’t fair!’ he said.

 

‘Well, you might do more tomorrow if you think it isn’t fair doing it at night, mightn’t you?’ said Adam. ‘Now look at these problems and hurry up about it.’

 

Ben smiled. It seemed as if Joseph wasn’t going to put anything over his older brother with his work.  Maybe the boy would even begin to catch up during these weeks?

 

 

———-

 

 

Ben tried not to smile as the boy seated beside him sighed for the tenth time in half an hour. He ignored the noise and kept his head bent, well aware that his son wanted his help with his work yet again. Another dramatic sigh made him put his hand to his face to cover the smile that crept there, in spite of his intentions and he coughed slightly to mask the laughter that threatened to explode from him.

 

It had been like this every day during the past week.  Every morning Little Joe did everything he could to involve his father in his work and thereby get it done quicker and every morning Ben refused to be drawn into his son’s ruse.  However, he had to give the boy points for trying.  He never seemed to give up, even after his father had made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t going to help him.

 

Little Joe began to mumble under his breath. ‘Be quiet please Joseph,’ said Ben, not looking up. ‘I’ve told you before about that mumbling.’

 

‘But I can’t do it Pa!’ whined the boy. ‘Adam makes these sums too hard!’

 

‘So you keep saying,’ replied his father, looking up at last. ‘But your brother keeps telling me that he isn’t giving you anything that you shouldn’t be able to handle.’ Little Joe gave his father a black look. ‘Does Miss Jones put up with you whining like this every day at school?’ asked Ben.

 

‘I don’t whine,’ replied Little Joe as he fiddled with his pencils. ‘And anyways she helps us when we don’t understand stuff.’

 

‘As your brother will help you tonight,’ replied Ben. ‘You’ve been told many times Joseph to get on with the parts that you can do and the rest of it will be done at night under Adam’s supervision.’

 

‘But that means that I get homework ta do as well!’ said Little Joe. ‘It ain’t fair!’

 

Ben simply looked at him until the boy picked up his pencil again with another dramatic sigh.  He smiled to himself and watched the boy out of the corner of his eye as he pretended to do his contracts.  Little Joe stared at the paper for a few moments and then began counting on his fingers.  He scrunched up his nose as he thought about it and then began to write down his answer. Ben noticed how awkward he looked writing with his left hand. No wonder the child’s handwriting was so bad!  When he’d first gone to school a few years ago the teacher at the time had tried to persuade Ben to have him changed over, but Ben had stood firm and refused.  His son was a definite left-hander, and even though he looked awkward when he wrote, Ben was sure that he had made the right decision.

 

The boy beside him began to wriggle on his chair. ‘I need ta go Pa,’ he said suddenly.

 

‘You just went a little while ago,’ said his father calmly.

 

‘But I need ta go again,’ whined Little Joe.

 

Ben put down his pen and gave his son a stern look. ‘You do not,’ he said firmly. ‘Now get on with your work or you’ll have a lot to do again tonight as usual.’  He thought about the battles that his oldest and youngest son had been having each night this week.  Little Joe had insisted that he couldn’t understand the work and Adam had insisted that he could.  It seemed to Ben as he listened to the arguments between the two of them that Adam was right and Little Joe was trying to get out of doing as much of his lessons as was possible.  When pushed to it, the boy knew the answers … he just didn’t seem to want to put in the effort unless he had to.  Ben wondered if he was like this at school and resolved to have a serious talk with Abigail Jones once she had regained her health and everyone was back at school.

 

Ben studied his son as he worked beside him.  His tongue was poking out of the corner of his mouth and his eyes were screwed up as if in intense concentration, but Ben knew the boy well and could tell that it was all for effect.  Sure enough, the child’s eyes opened slightly and he looked over at his father to see if he were watching. When he saw that he was he gave another dramatic sigh and shook his head.

 

‘I’m trying my best, Pa,’ he assured his father. ‘I just can’t seem ta do em though.’

 

Ben shook his own head. ‘Well then you’re going to have a lot of homework again tonight, aren’t you?’ he said, unsympathetically.  Little Joe scowled at the man and began to count on his fingers again.

 

‘Lunch is ready!’ announced Hop Sing from the dining room and Little Joe shut his books with a bang.

 

‘Bout time!’ he said fervently. ‘Least I get lunchtime off from all this work!’

 

Ben walked his son over to the table. ‘Thank you, Hop Sing,’ he said as they seated themselves.  He also felt a huge sense of relief at lunchtime each day, as it meant that his time with the boy was at an end for the day until suppertime.  He had discovered this week that although he loved his son dearly, short doses of the youngster was enough.

 

‘What are we gonna do this afternoon, Hop Sing?’ asked Little Joe warily.  After their first couple of days together his father had suggested that Hop Sing ease the tension between them, by giving Little Joe one large chore to complete each day instead of helping Hop Sing with his routine tasks.  It seemed to have been a better system, as they hadn’t got under each other’s feet so much, even if Little Joe had still managed to get into a considerable amount of trouble with the jobs he’d been given.

 

Not that Little Joe saw it that way.  After all, who was to know that emptying the cold ashes from the fireplace could turn out to be so messy and make all that extra work for Hop Sing the next day?  And the muddied sheets hadn’t been his fault either.  Hadn’t he told Hop Sing that they would be too heavy for him to hang on the washing lines? Just like when he’d had to polish the downstairs furniture.  Hop Sing hadn’t exactly told him how much polish to use, had he?  It wasn’t his fault if the coffee table was now a darker colour with streaks running through it.

 

Hop Sing looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Little boy work upstairs today,’ he said. ‘Hop Sing work downstairs.’

 

‘Doing what?’ asked Little Joe with his mouth full.

 

‘Joseph, chew with your mouth closed please,’ admonished Ben.

 

‘Sorry Pa,’ replied the boy, spraying half his mouthful all over his father. Ben gave him a stern look as he brushed the food off himself. ‘What am I gonna do today Hop Sing?’ Little Joe asked again. ‘Sumthing interesting?’

 

Hop Sing nodded. ‘Something velly interesting,’ he said cagily. ‘Little boy clean out cupboard in bedroom. Is very messy.’

 

Little Joe frowned. ‘Aw!’ he said. ‘That ain’t interesting. Do I haveta?’

 

Ben looked at the boy sternly. ‘You’ll do exactly as you’re told young man,’ he said.

 

‘Great holiday I’m getting!’ mumbled his son.

 

‘How many times do I have to tell you, son?  This isn’t your holiday. The more you whine about it, the more you’ll have to do so you’d better just get on with it.’

 

‘But the other kids are getting a holiday!’ protested Little Joe.

 

‘Are you sure about that?’  Mitch’s father told me that Mitch is doing extra chores at their place as well.  And when I’ve been into town I haven’t seen many children in there doing nothing.  I think you’ll find that most of your friends are in the same boat as you are, Joseph.’

 

Joe scowled at his plate. ‘Well, do I at least get the weekend off?’ he asked dolefully. ‘Tomorrow’s Saturday, ya know.’

 

‘I do know,’ said Ben.  He’d been counting the days down himself eagerly. ‘And of course you get the weekend off. I never said that you wouldn’t.’

 

Little Joe grinned for the first time. ‘Good!’ he said fervently, as he shovelled another mouthful of food in.

 

Ben stood up from the table. ‘Well, I’m going into town this afternoon Hop Sing,’ he said. ‘I’ve got to get to the Bank and do a few other things. Have a good afternoon, you two.’

 

Little Joe and Hop Sing stared at each other as Ben left the room. ‘Hmph!’ said Hop Sing and began to clear the plates from the table.

 

 

———-

 

 

‘Paul!’ said Ben eagerly as he shook the doctor’s hand. ‘I was hoping to run into you this afternoon.’

 

‘Why?’ asked his friend. ‘Someone out at the ranch sick?’

 

Ben shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I was just wondering how Abigail Jones is getting on, that’s all.’

 

‘You and half the town,’ replied Paul with a grin. ‘It seems that Miss Jones’ health has become everyone’s main concern; especially those folks that have school age children.  I’ve been wondering why, personally.’

 

Ben returned the grin. ‘I guess everyone is feeling like I am,’ he said. ‘The sooner Abigail is able to take the responsibility for our children again, the better,’ he said. ‘I’ve discovered that my youngest son can be quite a trial.’

 

‘I thought you knew that already?’ asked the doctor with a twinkle in his eye.

 

Ben shrugged. ‘You know I did,’ he said. ‘But now that he’s home fulltime … well …. Let’s just say I have a great respect for Miss Jones right about now.’  He looked at the doctor eagerly. ‘Is there any chance she’ll be recovered earlier than you had anticipated, Paul?’

 

‘Sorry to disappoint you, Ben,’ said the doctor. ‘It’ll be another few weeks yet.’  He patted the other man on the shoulder. ‘I’m sure you’ll survive.’

 

‘Yes, but will the boys and Hop Sing?’ he said. ‘We’re sharing him around each day, you know.’

 

‘In shifts?’ laughed Paul.

 

‘Don’t you laugh,’ warned Ben, holding up a mocking finger. ‘I’d like to see you entertain one ten year old with as much energy as Joseph has each day.  Not to mention making sure that he does his school work as well.’

 

‘I’m just glad that I don’t have to try,’ replied Paul. ‘But really Ben, you should be used to it.  When Adam was his age he hadn’t ever been to school at all and Hoss didn’t start until he was about eight, didn’t he?  You managed with them all right.’

 

‘Yes, but Joseph is different,’ said Ben. ‘Adam was … well, you know what he’s like.  I only had to suggest he do something and I knew that he would.  He was a very responsible boy, even as a youngster.  And he just lapped up any schoolwork that I gave him.  No, Adam was never a problem.’

 

‘And Hoss?’

 

‘Well, I suppose that Adam was always there to help look after him for me,’ replied Ben. ‘He didn’t seem to get into much trouble at all and even though he didn’t take as easily to the schoolwork, he tried his best. Both those boys were much easier to raise than this one and I didn’t even have a permanent home for them then.’  He sighed. ‘There are times when I think that Joseph is more work than anything else in my life Paul and that includes the entire Ponderosa!’

 

Paul slapped his friend on the back. ‘Well, you get a break from him each afternoon,’ he said. ‘How about coming for a drink old friend, while you have the chance?’

 

Ben smiled. ‘I think I’ll just take you up on that,’ he replied. ‘I like to stay away from the house if I can in the afternoons, so a drink sounds like an excellent idea before I get on down to the Bank.  Lead on.’

 

 

———-

 

 

‘Concentrate!’ said Adam sharply. ‘Now think about it before you write it down.’

 

Little Joe sighed. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Um … 582?

 

Adam shook his head and rolled his eyes. ‘No!’ he said. ‘How many times do I have to tell you to carry the 3?’  He leant over and rubbed out his brother’s answer. ‘Now do it again,’ he said. ‘And think about it this time.’  He watched as his brother counted on his fingers for a moment and then wrote something down again. ‘Better,’ he said, with satisfaction. ‘Now why couldn’t you do that the first time?’

 

‘Cause you was yelling at me!’ declared Little Joe. ‘I can’t concentrate when you keep yelling at me!’

 

‘I am not yelling at you,’ said Adam indignantly. ‘Now do the next one.’

 

Little Joe scowled and began to count on his fingers again. ‘It’s too hard,’ he said after a moment.

 

‘Nonsense,’ said Adam. ‘It’s just the same as all the others you’ve been doing.’

 

‘I’m too tired!’ said Little Joe, rubbing his eyes for effect.

 

‘Well you’re going to be an awful lot more tired before this is over,’ said Adam. ‘You still have to read to me yet.  Hurry up.’ Little Joe finished up the rest of the sums and then sat and waited while Adam corrected them. ‘That’s better,’ said Adam as he ticked the last sum. ‘Now why couldn’t you have done all those this morning?’

 

Little Joe shrugged. ‘I dunno,’ he said.

 

‘You’re just being lazy, Joe,’ admonished Adam as he picked up his brother’s reading book. ‘If you bothered to put in a bit more effort you’d do quite well, you know.’

 

‘You sound like old Jonesy,’ grumbled Little Joe.

 

‘Well, perhaps Abigail is right,’ said Adam smugly.

 

‘Huh?’ said Hoss from his position on the sofa. ‘I never thought I’d hear you say that Abigail Jones was right about anything, older brother.’

 

Adam tried not to look uncomfortable. ‘Well, in this case she is,’ he said. ‘Joe is far too lazy for his own good. I think you should have a talk with her when school goes back, Pa.’

 

Joe shot his father a startled look. ‘I intend to,’ replied Ben from behind his newspaper. ‘I think you’re right, Adam.  Joe seems to be far too lazy with his work, in my opinion.’

 

‘But Pa ….’ said Little Joe. ‘It ain’t my fault iffen I can’t understand all this stuff.  Adam don’t teach it right!’  He gave his brother a smug look. ‘He ain’t a very good teacher, is all.’

 

‘He isn’t a very good teacher,’ corrected Ben.

 

‘See?’ said Little Joe as he poked out his tongue at his brother. ‘Even Pa knows it!’

 

Adam cuffed his little brother on the side of the head ‘Oh really?’ he said. ‘Well, if I’m not a good teacher, then you’re certainly not a good student,’ he said. ‘And now is the chance for both of us to improve, don’t you think? Now open your reader and start where we got up to last night.’ He rolled his eyes at his father as Little Joe began to read falteringly. Ben buried his face behind his newspaper again and tried not to laugh.

 

 

———-

 

 

‘Pa?’

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘You ain’t really gonna talk ta Miss Jones bout me being lazy with my work, are ya?’

 

Ben looked over at his son as he sat chewing the end of his pencil in thought. ‘I most certainly am,’ he said. ‘It seems to me that you spend an awful lot of effort wasting your time Joseph, when you could be studying.  If that’s the way you behave in school, then I think something needs to be done about it.’

 

Little Joe frowned at his father’s words. ‘You don’t need ta talk ta old Jonesy bout it though, do ya?’ he said. ‘She’ll keep on at me about it and  … well … I mean … she already knows anyways.’

 

‘All the more reason for me to discuss it with her,’ replied Ben. ‘Unless I see a big improvement in your attitude to it around here, of course,’ he said.

 

Little Joe gulped as he stared at his father. ‘Oh,’ he said.  Ben smiled as the boy bent his head and began to write furiously.

 

 

———-

 

 

‘This is much better today,’ said Adam with a smile. ‘You’ve got them all right for once.’

 

‘I got all them dates learned too,’ said Little Joe eagerly. ‘You can ask me iffen ya want.’

 

Adam picked up his brother’s history book. ‘All right,’ he said. ‘Let’s see if you know them.’

 

Ben listened as Adam tested his little brother on his history dates.  It seemed that threatening to discuss about the boy’s laziness with Miss Jones had worked miracles and he wondered why he hadn’t thought about it earlier.  It had made their morning sessions much quieter, at any rate.

 

‘Well done!’ said Adam as he closed the book. ‘I knew that you could do it if you wanted to.’

 

‘I done all the work you gave me today too,’ said Little Joe proudly. ‘I ain’t got none to do for homework tonight.’

 

‘Good.  Then I’ll set you some more for tomorrow,’ said Adam. ‘If you can do that much in one morning then I’ll give you some extra to keep you busy tomorrow.’

 

Little Joe gave his brother an appalled look. ‘But …’ he began.

 

Adam looked up at him. ‘Yes?’ he said.

 

Joe hung his head. ‘Nuthin,’ he said in a low voice.  He hoped that not getting into trouble with Miss Jones was worth all of this.

 

 

———-

 

 

Ben looked down at the filthy boy in front of him and frowned. ‘Was it absolutely necessary to give him that job this afternoon Hop Sing?’ he asked. ‘You might have known that he’d end up looking like this.’  He reached out and touched the boy’s hair gingerly and felt the black grime between his fingers as he did so.

 

‘Not tell boy to get so dirty while clean stove!’ declared Hop Sing. ‘Not know what else job him do!’

 

‘Well try to find a less messy job for tomorrow please’ said Ben as he shooed his son through the door. ‘Into the washhouse Joseph and get into that tub straight away.’

 

‘Hop Sing not here tomorrow,’ said the cook smugly. ‘You tell I can visit number three cousin sick in town.’

 

Ben looked confused for a moment. ‘Tomorrow?’ he said. ‘I thought you meant Sunday.’

 

Hop Sing shook his head firmly. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Is tomorrow.  I say last week in two weeks less five days and you say yes.’

 

Ben shook his head. He never could work out Hop Sing’s logic and he’d long since given up trying to. ‘Well, can’t you change it?’ he pleaded. ‘I need you tomorrow to look after Joseph as usual.’

 

Hop Sing shook his head firmly. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Hop Sing need day to not look after little boy.  Hop Sing go back China if look after little boy much longer.’

 

Ben looked worried as the man left the room.  He didn’t for one minute believe that his threat was real, but he knew enough that the man needed a break from the boy.  He knew exactly how the cook felt.

 

‘Adam …. Hoss?’ he said. ‘Could one of you take over Hop Sing’s shift with Joseph tomorrow?’

 

Adam shook his head ‘Sorry Pa,’ he said. ‘But we’ve only got two more days to get that timber in.  In fact I was going to ask you if I could have Hoss for the whole day tomorrow as well.’

 

Hoss looked relieved. ‘It’s okay with me if I help ya Adam,’ he said. ‘I could do with a day away from that kid as well.  Even the timber camp sounds like less work.’

 

‘But I have to go in to get these contracts signed tomorrow,’ said Ben. ‘After all my work on them I can’t miss this meeting with Captain Wilson.’

 

‘Can’t you take Joe with you?’ asked Adam. ‘I could set him some extra work to take in with him.’

 

‘I suppose so,’ aid Ben thoughtfully. ‘I suppose he could behave himself for an hour or two.’

 

There was a yell from the kitchen and Hop Sing came racing into the room. ‘You tell little boy not come in kitchen in no clothes!’ he said, brandishing a knife round his head. ‘Or I chop chop!’

 

Ben sighed. ‘Boys forget what I just said,’ he remarked as he headed for the kitchen. ‘If that boy could manage to behave himself for an hour or two, it’ll be a first!’

 

———-

 

 

‘Now remember what I told you Joseph,’ said Ben sternly as he drew the buggy to a halt. ‘These contracts are very important to me and I don’t need any of your nonsense while I’m trying to negotiate them with the Captain.’

 

‘Yes Pa,’ said Little Joe with an innocent expression on his face.  He was just pleased to get away from the house for the afternoon, even if it did mean having to bring extra schoolwork with him.

 

‘Now you’re to sit quietly and do your work while I’m having my meeting,’ said Ben as he got down.

 

‘Yes Pa,’ said Little Joe again. He stared at the building in front of him. ‘How come we’re going in ta the hotel Pa?  How come your meeting with the Captain is in here?’

 

‘Because this is where the Captain is staying while he’s in town,’ replied his father. ‘Now mind your manners.’

 

‘Yes Pa,’ said Little Joe again.  He clutched his books to his chest as they approached the front desk.

 

‘Captain Wilson’s room please,’ said Ben.

 

‘Number 14,’ replied the desk clerk. ‘He said to go straight on up Mr Cartwright. ‘Hello Little Joe.’

 

‘Hi Mr Alden,’ replied Little Joe with one of his most charming smiles.  He followed his father up the staircase and along the hallway until they got to room number 14.  Ben knocked on it a couple of times and it was opened by a tall greying man in a uniform. ‘Captain Wilson,’ he said, holding out his hand. ‘It’s nice to finally meet you sir.’

 

‘Mr Cartwright,’ said the man shaking his hand. He looked down at Little Joe. ‘And who would this young soldier be?’ he asked.

 

‘This is my son Joseph,’ explained Ben. ‘I’m sorry I had to bring him, but the schoolteacher is sick and they’ve shut the school for a few weeks.  I had no one to leave him with today.’

 

‘I see.’ The man gave Little Joe an appraising look and Little Joe did the same.

 

‘He’s going to do his schoolwork quietly in the corner while we meet,’ said Ben with a meaningful look at Joe.

 

‘That’ll be fine,’ said the man as he ushered them into the room. ‘You can sit over there, young man.’

 

Little Joe sat at one end of the table and watched as his father and the Captain sat at the other. Ben gave him another meaningful look and he opened his books and began to work quietly.  After a while his thoughts began to wander as they usually did and he stopped to listen to his father and the Captain talking.

 

‘So you can see that at that rate we’d be able to deliver enough horses by the end of March,’ said his father. ‘You can check my wording, if you like.’

 

The Captain nodded, as he bent over the papers and began to study them.  Ben gave Little Joe a stern look and the boy bent over his own work again as well.  ‘Well that looks fine,’ said the Captain finally. ‘Now I’d like to talk figures.’

 

‘Of course,’ said Ben as he handed the man a sheaf of papers. ‘See what you make of these.’

 

Little Joe put his head up again and stared at the man seated at the other end of the table. He noticed how he was counting on his fingers under the table. ‘That’s how I do it,’ he said, without thinking. ‘It helps, don’t it?’

 

The Captain looked over at him. ‘I beg your pardon?’ he said.

 

‘Your fingers,’ Little Joe pointed at them. ‘I count on mine too, when I do my sums.’

 

The Captain went red and studied the papers again. ‘Joseph, do your work,’ said his father sternly.  Little Joe shrugged and bent over his papers again.

 

In a while the Captain looked up at Ben. ‘Everything seems to be in order,’ he said. ‘The only thing is the price now.’ He hesitated. ‘You’re asking for more than the army can afford, Mr Cartwright.’

 

‘They’re quality horses Captain,’ said Ben. ‘I can’t take any less than $30 a head for them.’

 

‘That would be $1400 for the full 50,’ mused the Captain.

 

‘It’s $1500,’ interrupted Little Joe. ‘You didn’t do ya multiplicashions right.’

 

Ben hid a smile. ‘Joseph, do your work,’ he said sternly.

 

‘The Captain went even redder this time and glared at the child. ‘Did I say $1400?’ he asked. ‘Of course I meant $1500.’

 

‘That’s okay,’ interrupted Little Joe again. ‘I get my multiplicashions wrong sometimes too.  I reckon you didn’t carry, like you was supposed to.  I could show you how, iffen ya want me to.’  He gave the man a helpful look and was surprised to see that it wasn’t returned.

 

‘Joseph, I said to do your work!’ said Ben sternly. ‘Any more talk out of you, young man, and you’ll be sitting in the corner.’

 

‘What did I say?’ asked Little Joe indignantly. ‘It ain’t my fault iffen he can’t do his multiplicashions right. I was only offering ta help!’

 

Ben gave the Captain a weak smile. ‘Please take your time, Captain,’ he said. ‘Study the figures at your leisure.  He waggled his finger at Little Joe and motioned to his work again.  Joe went back to it with a sigh.  Sometimes grownups were hard to understand.  He glanced over at the Captain again and smiled to see the man counting on his fingers again under the table.

 

 

————

 

 

As Ben was about to get up into the buggy beside his son he hesitated as he saw a familiar sight coming towards him. ‘Miss Jones!’ he said as he tipped his hat to the woman.  He noted the sling that she wore, with a heavy heart. ‘How are you feeling?’

 

‘Not too bad, Mr Cartwright,’ said Abigail, flashing him a toothy smile. ‘Thank you for asking.  And how is young Joseph?  Been keeping up with his schoolwork, I hope?’  She gave the boy a smile, which he didn’t return.

 

‘He certainly has,’ replied Ben. ‘Um … when do you think you’ll be back at school Miss Jones?  I mean … everyone has been missing you.’

 

‘I ain’t,’ mumbled Little Joe from the buggy and Ben reached behind his back with one arm to swat the child.

 

‘How kind of you to say so, Mr Cartwright,’ replied Abigail. ‘As a matter of fact, it should only be a few days now.  I’m on my way to see Dr Martin now and if all goes well he should take off the bandages this afternoon.  A few more days rest and I should be ready to commence school again on Monday.’

 

Ben beamed at the woman. ‘Well, that’s fine news!’ he said fervently. ‘Everyone will be very pleased to hear that you’re going back to school … I mean … that you’re on the mend.’  He tipped his hat again. ‘Good luck with the arm,’ he said.

 

Little Joe scowled as his father got up into the buggy. ‘Trust old Jonsey ta get better quickly,’ he muttered. ‘Even her bones is tough!’

 

‘That’ll do, young man,’ said his father. ‘I don’t want to hear any more remarks like that, thank you!’  He hitched the horses up and they started off down the street, Ben with a huge grin on his face and Little Joe with a huge scowl.

 

 

———-

 

 

‘So it’s back to school this morning, is it?’ asked Adam cheerfully as Little Joe slid into his seat at the breakfast table. ‘Pity.  I was beginning to enjoy our work together.’

 

Little Joe gave him an eager look. ‘Well I can always stay at home and do it like I’ve been doing,’ he said. He glanced at his father. ‘Can I Pa?  Me and Adam can work together instead of me going to school.’

 

‘No,’ said his father firmly. ‘You’re going to school Joseph and that’s an end to it.’

 

‘Besides,’ added Adam. ‘I don’t really have the time, you know buddy. You’re better off in school.  You’ve worked so hard during the past couple of weeks that I’m sure Miss Jones will be pleased with your progress and you might even get to like it, now that you’ll be doing well.’ Little Joe didn’t look convinced.

 

‘Hurry up with your breakfast please, Joseph,’ instructed Ben. ‘You don’t want to be late for your first day at school.’

 

‘I don’t care,’ replied Little Joe, but picked up his spoon as he caught the look in his father’s eye.

 

‘Hurry up,’ said Ben again.  He could hardly wait for the boy to leave, as he was looking forward to his first quiet morning without him for a month.

 

Little Joe looked at his father mournfully as he ate. ‘Will ya miss me at home this morning, Pa?’ he asked.

 

‘More than I can say, son,’ replied his father fervently. ‘More than I can say.’

 

 

———-

 

 

‘And what is this?’ asked Ben sternly a few days later as his youngest son handed him a note.

 

‘It’s from old Jone …. I mean Miss Jones,’ said Little Joe, trying to look and sound casual about it. ‘I dunno what it says.’

 

Ben gave him a suspicious look. ‘Have you been in trouble?’ he asked.

 

Little Joe gave his father an innocent look. ‘Who me?  Heck no, Pa.  I ain’t done nothing!’

 

Ben ripped the note open and began to read. ‘She wants me to come and see her,’ he said as he scanned the letter. ‘Something about your lack of application to your work Joseph.’  He gave the boy a stern look. ‘I thought we’d sorted all that out and you were trying hard now?’

 

‘I don’t even know what a applicashion is,’ said Little Joe indignantly. ‘And I never done it neither!’

 

Ben gave a sigh. ‘Go and do your chores please, Joseph,’ he said. ‘We’ll talk about this later.’  He waited until the boy had left the room, before continuing. ‘I think we might be back where we started,’ he said. ‘He’s a lazy boy when he wants to be.’

 

‘Well, we could always keep him home and have him work here again,’ suggested Adam with a twinkle in his eye.  ‘It seemed to do the job last time.’

 

Ben shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘No matter how lazy he is at school, he’s going … and that’s all there is to it!  I’m not going through a month like that again.’

 

Adam laughed out loud.  I think Hoss and Hop Sing would agree with you, Pa,’ he said. ‘He sure stirred this place up in the last few weeks, didn’t he?’

 

Ben shook his head again. ‘You know, I must remember to send Abigail Jones something special for Christmas this year,’ he mused. ‘The woman certainly has earned it!’

 

 

 

The End