Summary:\u00a0 Hoss turns to a trusted friend for advice when Adam is due home from College.<\/p>\n
Rating: G\u00a0 (1,245 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Roots and Wings<\/strong><\/p>\n The kitchen was stifling from constant use with almost a week\u2019s worth of cooking and baking completed in one hot August day.\u00a0\u00a0 Though sweat was rolling down Hop Sing\u2019s face and back, he all but pranced around the small room making sure each edible was perfectly delicious.\u00a0\u00a0 There were only a few things left to do, and a shorter amount of time to do it in.<\/p>\n Honorable Number One Son was coming home!<\/p>\n It was strange how time managed to fly over the past four years that his oldest (well, SECOND oldest) boy had been thousands of miles away in Boston educating himself.\u00a0\u00a0 It seemed as just yesterday he was a small seedling, grasping for roots in the soil.\u00a0 With his ever present shadow toddling behind, barely beginning his second decade of life, the boy poured sweat and blood into every inch of the developing Ponderosa Empire.<\/p>\n Overnight his babies were becoming mighty Ponderosa Pines like the ones that surrounded their home.\u00a0 Tall, sturdy\u2026 majestic<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI found some more, Hop Sing!\u201d\u00a0 Honorable Number Two Son\u2019s unmistakable voice interrupted his thoughts.\u00a0 The side door slammed and Hoss Cartwright clomped through the kitchen, a towel-full of eggs in front of him.\u00a0 Only sixteen, he towered over nearly every other adult on the ranch. Though well meaning, he was still settling into his new frame and often fumbled and tripped over his own hands and feet.<\/p>\n \u201cVery good, very good!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing praised.\u00a0 He quickly clapped the flour off of his hands before grabbing a small work bowl and placing it on the table in front of Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cPut in here.\u00a0 Make hard for lunch tomorrow, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely, Hop Sing!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss grinned, just as he usually did around food.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be awful hard to wait for \u2018til tomorrow though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHa!\u00a0 You wait, Greedy Belly!\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing waggled a finger under Hoss\u2019s nose.\u00a0 \u201cEggs seem like slim pickings against today\u2019s feast!\u00a0 No time for foolishment!\u00a0 Need to finish celebration supper tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cC-can I help, Hop Sing?\u201d\u00a0 It took everything in Hop Sing to hide the grin playing on his face.\u00a0 This nearly full grown man was looking down at the floor, the toe of his boot sheepishly scuffing the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cCrack three egg in here.\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing pointed at the work bowl.\u00a0 \u201cStir good.\u00a0 Rest, put over here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYessir!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss immediately set to work.\u00a0 He gave the first egg a good thwack on the side of the bowl and carefully separated the gooey inside from the shell.\u00a0 With a practiced flick of the wrist he threw the shell into Hop Sing\u2019s garbage bowl before reaching for the next egg.<\/p>\n Hop Sing reached for his big carving knife and turned toward the counter.\u00a0 He grabbed a hunk of leftover bread and began to cut it into cubes, giving himself a moment to think.\u00a0 Hoss was a frequent visitor to his kitchen, usually to sneak a doughnut or an extra helping of dinner.\u00a0 But during the past four years his visits became extended.\u00a0 It started by offering to clean green beans or peel potatoes for dinner, but then evolved into watching something on the stove, or adding an ingredient when Hop Sing\u2019s hands were full.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere Little Joe?\u00a0 He stay out of mischief?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI reckon so.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss said with a chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cHe can\u2019t decide if he wants to run around in circles from excitement or go sulk in the tack room.\u00a0 Wanted to go into town to meet the stage worse than bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy Father say he not go?\u201d\u00a0 He scooped up the medium chunks of bread and spread them evenly in one of his cake pans.<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged as he picked up a fork to whisk the eggs together.\u00a0 \u201cReckon he figured there were a few chores we could do around here, finishing touches to make sure everything looks perfect. \u00a0\u2018Sides, it ain\u2019t like they won\u2019t be coming straight here.\u201d<\/p>\n Unless you were watching, you wouldn’t have noticed the slight pause and the pointed look from under suspicious eyelids as Hop Sing reached for the jug of milk on the table.\u00a0 He had a feeling a certain middle son planted a few chores in Honorable Father\u2019s ear to keep both younger brothers home while he collected his oldest, giving them the first moments with each other and time to catch up with undivided attention.\u00a0\u00a0 Quickly, Hop Sing held a measuring cup of milk out to his sentimental and thoughtful helper.\u00a0 \u201cHere.\u00a0 You mix milk in.\u00a0 Stir good.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a long while before Hoss spoke again, his arm moving in slow, absent-minded circles.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t even notice as the cook slipped in a measure of sugar into his bowl.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing?\u201d He said with a cautious voice.\u00a0 \u201cDo you reckon-?\u00a0 I mean\u2026.\u00a0 Adam always seemed happy in his letters.\u00a0 Goin\u2019 on about this new class, or his new friends, or what he and his Grandfather were doing that weekend.\u00a0 Do you think-?\u00a0 Will he be happy without those new things?\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing paused, giving Hoss a pointed look. \u201cWhat you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss narrowed his eyebrows in thought.\u00a0 \u201cIn Boston, he could go to fancy parties and had new books and friends within walking distance.\u00a0 Always something new to learn or do or see.\u00a0 Do you think\u2026\u00a0 Will we be enough?\u00a0 Do you think Adam will still love us even though we\u2019re not Boston?\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing put his spoon down, his lips in a thin line as he thought carefully about his response.\u00a0 He knew that Boston gave Number One Son the adventure of a lifetime, a chance to grow and learn not only about his past, but about his future.\u00a0 However, Hop Sing knew the boy\u2019s heart was planted deep in Ponderosa soil just like his father and brothers.\u00a0 This Eldest Son would always be a wanderer, but wherever his family was he would ultimately return.<\/p>\n \u201cHonorable Fathers give sons two things.\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing said slowly, grasping for the correct words.\u00a0 \u201cRoots for strength. \u00a0Wings for freedom.\u00a0 Wings spread far and wide.\u00a0 Take many places.\u00a0 But roots always planted with family.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019s eyes were fixed down on the table, seeing nothing as his mind turned Hop Sing\u2019s words around.\u00a0 Slowly, the corner of his mouth twitched in a smile of understanding. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cAnd Cartwright roots are on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBoy put eggs in here.\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing pointed to the chunks of bread in the pan, not acknowledging Hoss\u2019s comment.\u00a0 \u201cLickity split, need time to soak.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss complied with the order as a grin split his face.\u00a0 He gave the chunks of break a short toss in the egg mixture as Hop Sing sprinkled just a touch of cinnamon on the top.\u00a0 Honorable Number Two Son walked over to the sink with the dirty bowl in his hand.\u00a0 Suddenly, he stopped mid-step, his ear tilted toward the window. \u00a0Hoss practically threw the bowl down as he raced for the door.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s here!\u00a0 Little Joe, get out here!\u00a0 It\u2019s Adam!\u00a0 He\u2019s home!\u00a0 Hey, everyone!\u00a0 Adam\u2019s home!\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing laughed to himself.\u00a0 He gave his dessert one last shake before picking it up and walking it to the large stove to bake.\u00a0 Yes, all Cartwright roots were most definitely planted on Ponderosa soil, and those roots ran as deep as the mighty ponderosa pines themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cHu\u0101ny\u00edng hu\u00ed ji\u0101.\u00a0 Welcome Home, Honorable Son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 College Years,\u00a0Hop Sing,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright<\/p>\n