Summary: When Adam begins to doubt his abilities his family bands together to help him keep his dreams alive.<\/p>\n
Rated: Family Friendly \/ Word count: 2200<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Please, Tell Me a Story<\/strong><\/p>\n ~Dark clouds swirled angrily against the night sky. The wind that whipped through the treetops seemed to be whispering frightening incantations to the three exhausted boys huddled beneath the branches of an ancient Cedar. After hours of running blindly through the dark stormy night, the brothers now clung pitifully to each other, too terrified to even think of sleeping. The oldest with his back held tightly against the old tree held onto his brothers as if Satan himself were after them. The middle boy was pale, his large round eyes darting two and fro, watching waiting for the enemy they knew was not far behind. It was then that they heard the sound. A blood curdling screech that seemed to echo through the lonely woods. The youngest began to wail in fear and despair. Out in the night they could feel the vibrations in the earth as the monster approached\u2026~<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHey, Adam, Supper\u2019s ready,\u201d Little Joe called from downstairs.<\/p>\n Adam laid his pen down and rubbed his eyes wearily. This was the fifth one of his short stories for the Territorial Enterprise. Sam Clemens had taken time to read a few of the stories he had written for his brothers when he was a teenager, and had encouraged Adam to write for his fiction column. Adam bounded down the stairs and was pleased to see they were having ham for dinner.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Ben began. \u201cAnd what sort of adventures do you have your three young hero\u2019s facing this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have to wait and find out just like everybody else, Pa,\u201d he answered with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m not like everybody else, son, I\u2019m your father,\u201d he replied with a stern glare.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, well in that case, I\u2019ll bring you what I\u2019ve written so far after dinner,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, can we read it too?\u201d Hoss questioned hopefully.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Hoss,\u201d Adam answered. \u201cBut last time I checked you two were still just my brothers and don\u2019t hold any powers of persuasion over me.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at his father across the table and winked.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the way, Pa,\u201d Joe began. \u201cDid you pick up a copy of the latest edition while you were in town today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a matter of fact I did, Joseph,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes lit up and he quickly exited his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is it?\u201d he questioned excitedly.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, sit down and finish your supper first! The paper isn\u2019t going anywhere.\u201d Ben chided.<\/p>\n \u201cI will, Pa,\u201d Adam answered as he headed for his father\u2019s desk. \u201cI just have to check first.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam quickly picked up the paper and opened it up to the page containing his story. That thrill that he always felt when he first saw his words in print quickly faded when his eyes reached the section for reader\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing,\u201d he said in despair. \u201cFor the fifth month in a row, nothing!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam walked dejectedly back to the table and slumped down into his chair. He no longer had an appetite and proceeded to push his ham and potatoes around on his plate.<\/p>\n Hoss and Joe eyed each other and then looked helplessly to their father.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam,\u201d Ben began softly. \u201cYou have to give it more time. You\u2019re new to writing, people are just probably waiting until you have a little more experience under your belt before they start commenting.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam had heard this speech before. Five times in fact, but truth be told even the more experienced writer\u2019s seldom had comments. It seemed the locals as well as the citizens of Virginia City just didn\u2019t appreciate writers in any shape or form.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, I\u2019m not real hungry,\u201d Adam said rising slowly. \u201cI think I\u2019m just gonna go out to the barn and get some chores done.\u201d Later that night Adam sat quietly on the porch in the old rocker. The desert sky was lit up with hundreds of bright stars, but even this breath taking sight was not enough to fill the void he was feeling. Ben with pipe in hand joined his son and for a few moments neither one spoke, just enjoying the evening and each other\u2019s presence. After awhile Adam finally broke the silence.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that I\u2019m wanting praise,\u201d he stated matter of factly.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that, son,\u201d Ben answered softly.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at least some recognition would be nice,\u201d he continued. \u201cI mean even an \u201cI hated this story; please don\u2019t ever right again!\u201d would at least let me know that people were reading it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, son,\u201d Ben replied again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes a lot of time and effort to get all my thoughts sorted out and onto paper. I just keep wondering if it\u2019s worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, son,\u201d came the repeated answer.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose you would tell me that I should keep writing because I enjoy it, not just so that people will read it, but honestly, Pa, I can amuse myself with all these stories in my head. The reason I write them down is that I hope someone else might be amused by them also,\u201d he said pleadingly.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, son,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess you would be right too. I do enjoy writing and at least we know that a lot of people buy the paper. Whether or not they actually read my stories I guess I\u2019ll never know, but I\u2019m not willing to give up just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam stood and before heading into the house he faced his father one last time.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for talking with me, Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cI think I\u2019ll go upstairs and finish that next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know you will, son,\u201d Ben said as the door closed softly.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Three weeks later Hoss and Little Joe paced the floor in their large living room.<\/p>\n \u201cDad burn it,\u201d Hoss said finally. \u201cWe gotta do somethin\u2019. He\u2019s a real good writer and it would be a downright shame if he quit now!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to tell me that, Hoss, but what can we do?\u201d Joe questioned. \u201cHe says it\u2019s just to discouraging to keep putting himself out there never knowing what people think.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d Hoss questioned as he walked towards his father\u2019s desk. \u201cWhy\u2019s it so important to Adam to hear back from people anyhow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Hoss,\u201d Ben answered slowly. \u201cWhen a person put\u2019s as much time and effort into something as your brother’s been doing, he wants to know his efforts are appreciated. When he writes he tries to convey certain feelings. Some stories are happy, others sad, he wants to know if the reader is getting the message he\u2019s trying to send.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss still looked puzzled so Ben continued.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know the other night when we went to the Oprah House to watch that performance?\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss replied with a huge grin. \u201cThat was the funniest play I\u2019ve ever been to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, son, when a person is in a play they have the satisfaction of getting a response from the audience. The crowd will either cheer, or laugh, or boo letting the performers know that their message is being received. Imagine how they would feel if during the entire performance there wasn\u2019t a single sound. I mean no one at all so much as sneezed. How do you think those performers would feel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGosh, Pa,\u201d he answered. \u201cI guess they would think that nobody liked it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019re right, son,\u201d he answered. \u201cA writer has an audience of sorts too, only he can\u2019t hear their reactions to what he writes. He has to rely on them writing a comment. Your brother has taken getting no comments similar to the way a performer would take the silence ofan audience. And take my word for it, son. No one wants to perform for people that aren\u2019t interested.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll tell you what I think we oughta do,\u201d Hoss answered firmly. \u201cI think we oughta go into town and make some of them folks start writin\u2019 comments, that\u2019s what.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Hoss,\u201d Ben said. \u201cYou can\u2019t force people to say something they don\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, dad gum it, Pa, I thought about writing somethin\u2019 myself, but Adam would say that don\u2019t count, cause I\u2019m family,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it!\u201d snapped Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s it?\u201d questioned Ben and Hoss together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can write up some comments and submit them to the paper,\u201d he answered excitedly.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, didn\u2019t you just hear your brother?\u201d Ben answered. \u201cAdam wants to know what people outside of his family think.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho says he has to know it\u2019s us?\u201d Joe questioned with a gleam in his eye. \u201cWe could all come up with some good comments and then submit them to the paper anonymously.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean, not put our names next to the things we write?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Joe beamed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, Joseph, I think you might have something there,\u201d Ben said. \u201cMaybe if people see a few comments in the paper it might encourage them to add some of their own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I think it\u2019s sure worth a try,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, boys, let\u2019s get writing,\u201d Ben said. \u201cYou can bring me what you\u2019ve written tonight and I\u2019ll take it into town tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe and Hoss both gave a whoop as they scurried from the room. Ben chuckled softly and then pulled a piece of paper from his desk drawer.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see,\u201d he said and then began to write.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cPa! Hey, Pa!\u201d yelled Adam rushing into the house. \u201cPa, where are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOver here, son,\u201d Ben answered coming quickly around the corner. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, you\u2019ve got to see this,\u201d Adam said breathlessly as he shoved the newspaper into his father\u2019s arms. \u201cLook at page three.\u201d \u201cOh, so your new chapter has been added, has it?\u201d he said casually.<\/p>\n \u201cNot that, Pa,\u201d Adam answered in exasperation. \u201cLook at the section below, for reader\u2019s comments.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben tried to hide his smile at his oldest son\u2019s enthusiasm.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, would you look at that!\u201d he exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cSix, Pa! I got six reviews!\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n Just then Joe and Hoss came down the stairs eager to get in on the excitement.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s goin on?\u201d they questioned.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems your brother here has finally gotten some feedback on his stories,\u201d Ben winked at them from behind Adam\u2019s back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll be,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cWhat\u2019d they say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody sit down and I\u2019ll read them to you,\u201d Adam answered excitedly. \u201cThis one\u2019s my favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n ~Dear Author, I have been following each of your stories faithfully and wait anxiously for each new edition of the paper to arrive, so that I can continue your adventures. You are an excellent writer and I find myself continually moved by your stories. Please continue to write. Signed, your loyal reader.~<\/p>\n Adam was a picture of happiness as he looked around at his family. They returned his smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the next one,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt\u2019s short, but at least it\u2019s something.\u201d<\/p>\n ~I love your stories, can\u2019t wait for more!~<\/p>\n Adam read the next three, all different in style and length but each one appreciated just as much as the one before. He paused when he came to the last one.<\/p>\n ~Please, tell me a story!~<\/p>\n \u201cI know that one is pretty short and not very specific,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I think that\u2019s the one I like the best.\u201d<\/p>\n Just as his family had hoped their comments had encouraged other readers to begin writing ones of their own. Some were descriptive and detailed, some were simply a short thank you, but always through the years whenever Adam began to feel discouraged that simple request for him to tell a story would echo through his mind and he would smile.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Many, many years later Hoss Cartwright pulled up in front of the stage office. He turned and told his two young children to wait for him in the wagon as he approached the window.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, James, you got any mail for me today?\u201d he questioned the teller.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a matter of fact I do, Hoss,\u201d he replied. \u201cI think you\u2019re gonna like this one. It\u2019s from your big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss beamed as he took the package, and quickly headed back for the wagon. He waited until he arrived home before he opened it. He gasped when he removed the paper and saw the beautifully bound hard cover book with its shiny gold edging. Over the years his older brother had published many books, which ranged from designs in architecture to a short work of poems, but this particular book was special.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s it say, Pa,\u201d his son asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Pa, open it, please,\u201d his daughter pleaded.<\/p>\n Hoss began by reading the cover. \u201cThree Brothers and their Adventures\u201d A collection of short stories by Adam Cartwright. His large hands trembled slightly as he opened the cover to read the inscription.<\/p>\n Dedicated to my beloved brother Hoss Cartwright, whose five simple words gave me the courage to keep reaching toward my dream. \u201cPlease, tell me a story\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: When Adam begins to doubt his abilities his family bands together to help him keep his dreams alive.<\/p>\n Rated: Family Friendly \/ Word count: 2200<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":3736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[14,15,17,16],"class_list":["post-10376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adamreading.jpg?fit=211%2C223&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10376\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nAs Adam walked away, Ben shook his head sadly.<\/p>\n
\nBen opened the paper and smiled.<\/p>\n
\nI hope this book fulfills your long ago request of\u2026<\/p>\n