{"id":12116,"date":"2003-04-14T11:30:48","date_gmt":"2003-04-14T15:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12116"},"modified":"2026-07-31T08:39:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:39:20","slug":"between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-by-debbieb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12116","title":{"rendered":"Between a Rock and a Hard Place (by DebbieB)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong> \u00a0 Caught between squealing on a friend or keeping silent, Joe learns that its not always in his best interest to turn a deaf ear.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong> \u00a0G (10,270 words)<\/p>\n

Between a Rock and a Hard Place<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben cupped the quivering chin in his hand. The hazel eyes had filled with tears and they rolled slowly down the dirty cheeks, leaving tiny white tracks in their wake. Ben felt his heart flutter at the pitiful sight of his youngest son. The pout on the boy\u2019s face made Joe look more like ten than twelve, and Ben couldn\u2019t help but brush away the dampness from the boy\u2019s face and offer his son a smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, don\u2019t cry son, everything will be fine,\u201d encouraged Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean for it to happen, Pa\u2026really, it just did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben swallowed the lump that had unexpectedly grown in his throat as he pulled his son into the folds of his arms. \u201cI\u2019m glad to know that it was an accident and that you didn\u2019t do it on purpose, son,\u201d muttered Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He could feel his son\u2019s body becoming rigid within the folds of his embrace and heard Joe sniff.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an accident\u2026honest,\u201d whimpered Little Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t doubt you son,\u201d Ben stressed. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we sit down and talk about it? You can tell me how all of this mess got started in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben pulled Joe back from the embrace and gently guided him over to the settee. \u201cGo on, sit down,\u201d he ordered gently and then sat down next to his son, once Joe had settled himself onto the couch. He offered Joe his handkerchief so that the boy could wipe away the remainder of the tears from his face. Ben had to smile for the dampness only served to smear the dirt that remained on his son\u2019s face, that much more.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow Joe, why don\u2019t you explain to me what happened?\u201d encouraged Ben. \u201cStart from the very beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe sniffed and swiped the sleeve of his shirt under his nose, glancing up at his father when he heard Ben groan lightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, that is what the handkerchief is for.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, sorry Pa,\u201d said Joe meekly and then used his father\u2019s handkerchief to blow his nose. When he finished, he handed it back to his father. \u201cYou keep it son, for now,\u201d Ben smiled sickly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe held the handkerchief in both hands and nervously began twisting one corner around with his fingers. When he glanced up, his father was watching him and Joe could see the skepticism shining in his father\u2019s dark eyes and he wanted nothing more than to throw himself into his father\u2019s arms and cry.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben watched the way in which Joe\u2019s eyes studied his face, and knew instantly that Joe was contemplating just how much he should admit to his father. Ben suppressed a smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, why don\u2019t you tell me your version of what happened?\u201d Ben requested for the second time. His voice became soft when he saw the slight hesitancy in his son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPromise ya won\u2019t yell at me?\u201d muttered Joe, casting worried eyes up at his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben groaned inwardly. Six words and already his stomach had started to churn. He recalled other times when his youngest son had been in some sort of a fix and had begun explaining situations with the familiar opening phrase.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, I can\u2019t promise anything, until you tell me what brought all of this about,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe took a deep breath and looked at his father. \u201cIt was that ole Lucas Tatum. He\u2019s always gettin\u2019 me trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, really Pa, he is\u2026and I\u2019m always the one who gets a wallopin\u2019 or restricted. It\u2019s the same at school too, I\u2019m always the one who ends up in the corner or havin\u2019 to stay after class, and he never gets caught. Ole\u2026ere I mean, Miss Jones, she don\u2019t never believe me when I tell her what really happens and half the time she never even listens to me when I try to explain about things. She just starts yellin\u2019 at me and tells me to get in the corner.\u201d Joe looked sadly up at his father as his eyes began pooling with unshed tears.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think she likes me much, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s throat constricted and he was forced to swallow several times to relieve the thickness. \u201cI don\u2019t really think that the teacher dislikes you, son\u2026\u201d started Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut she does\u2026dislike me, I mean. She\u2019s always askin\u2019 me why can\u2019t I be more like Adam. Adam was always such a pleasant child, and once she even told me that she understood why your hair was so white, cause of me\u2026that\u2019s what she said, Pa.\u201d Joe swiped his shirtsleeve under his nose again and glanced up at his father. \u201cIs that the truth, Pa? About your hair being that color? Did I cause that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben ran his opened hand across his mouth to cover the smile that threatened to expose him. \u201cNo son, it was a combination of many things, years mostly,\u201d Ben answered and smiled for real this time when he saw the look of relief flood his son\u2019s young face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe returned the smile with one of his own. \u201cI didn\u2019t think she knew what she was talkin\u2019 about Pa, cause even I couldn\u2019t have been that worrisome to ya.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This time, Ben could do nothing to retain his laughter and he laughed for several moments before regaining control of himself. He tousled his son\u2019s thick mass of curls. \u201cNo son, even you have not been that worrisome.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow, will you please explain to me what led up to my being summonsed to the sheriff\u2019s office this afternoon? With all of that shouting everyone was doing, I\u2019m still confused by what led up to the school being destroyed.\u201d Ben asked as he tried to turn the conversation back to how his son had come to be in the middle of all that had transpired.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe dropped his head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben placed his hand gently under the boy\u2019s chin and tilted it upward. Joe was trying to divert his eyes from his father\u2019s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, I\u2019m waiting, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe finally met his father\u2019s gaze. \u201cI got a lickin\u2019 today\u2026but it wasn\u2019t my fault\u2026honest Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben seemed puzzled, he had never heard of Miss Jones giving one of her students a whipping and with her away, Ben knew that the paddling had to come from the substitute teacher, Mr. Edison. Ben\u2019s temper began to simmer for the thoughts of the pretentious man putting his hands on Joseph, made him furious.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, please tell me why Mr. Edison paddled you? I\u2019m confused because in all of my years of knowing Miss Jones, I\u2019ve never heard of her doing something so dramatic, yet with his man\u2026I\u2019m sure he is capable of doing most anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, she didn\u2019t do it, Pa. It was the substitute teacher that walloped me. If\u2019n Miss Jones had been there, she\u2019d ajust made me stand in the corner or keep me after school. But Mr. Edison was there, and he\u2019s real mean. He don\u2019t like me either, Pa, he even said so.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m aware of all that son, just tell me what he said, but first, tell me about the whipping,\u201d instructed Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell it all started the first thing this morning, the bell had just rung and everyone was going inside. Lucas Tatum was the first one to go in and I was behind him. He went straight to the desk and started to mess things up. I told him he better stop or he\u2019d get in trouble. He just laughed at me and kept right on doing it, he slung papers and books all over the floor and then ran to his seat. I was trying to pick things up and put them back on the desk before the teacher got in, but he caught me with some of the books and papers in my hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe stopped and sniffed at his nose. He glanced up at his father to check Ben\u2019s reaction. Joe let the wind expel from his lungs; his father didn\u2019t seem to be getting mad at him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened then, when Mr. Edison saw you with the papers and books?\u201d inquired Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe stomped over to the desk. Boy was he mad too. He started yellin\u2019 at me, just like Miss Jones, only he could yell lots louder. He wanted to know what I was doin\u2019 and I started to tell him that all I was doin\u2019 was pickin\u2019 up things for him what had fallen in the floor.\u201d Joe took a deep breath. \u201cThere\u2019s lots more, ya wanna hear it all?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEverything, son. Just take your time and tell it exactly like it happened,\u201d encouraged Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, this is what he said after he stomped over to the desk where I was still holding the papers.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe inhaled deeply, watching his father\u2019s face. When Ben smiled at him, Joe continued\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph Cartwright, are you trying to tell me that you are just picking up those papers?\u201d shouted Newell Edison, the substitute teacher that had been sent to replace Miss Abigail Jones. Miss Jones had been called away due to an emergency with her family and would be gone for several weeks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Jones warned me about you!\u201d he continued in a sharp tone of voice that caused the young boy to tremble slightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHonest, I was just pickin\u2019 em up,\u201d stammered Little Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey weren\u2019t on the floor just a few minutes ago when I went out to ring the bell. So how do you explain how they managed to be in the floor now?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s eyes sought Lucas\u2019 but the other boy was refusing to look at him. \u201cI\u2026I\u2026I don\u2019t know, sir,\u201d Joe continued to stammer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Edison snatched the papers and books from the trembling hands and slammed them down on the desk. He reached across in front of Joe and grabbed his thick ruler and then grabbed the boy\u2019s left hand, startling the boy as he clasped his long thick fingers around Joe\u2019s wrist.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOpen your hand young man,\u201d Edison ordered, glaring angrily at Joe who stood dumbfounded at the man before him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Joe questioned as he tried to free his hand from the teacher\u2019s vise like grip.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The teacher was taken back by what he considered the boy\u2019s insolence. His eyes flashed black. In a low tone, he muttered. \u201cBecause I said to, now do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe gulped and opened his hand. He was totally shocked when the substitute teacher slammed the thick ruler down several times against the palm of his hand. He struggled to control his tears for the last thing he wanted was to start crying in front of the whole class. The palm of his hand now stung and when Joe looked down, he could see the redness that caused the stinging sensation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019d ya do that for? I didn\u2019t do nuthin\u2019,\u201d he moaned and jerked his hand free of the teacher\u2019s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, don\u2019t play the innocent with me Joseph, Miss Jones told me all about you before she left. And, I might say, she was correct in her assumption of you. Now, finish picking up this mess and then return to your seat. You will stay inside today during the noon break,\u201d the teacher ordered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe finished doing as he was instructed and quickly hurried to take his seat. He glared at Lucas on his way down the aisle and wished more than anything that he could wipe the smirk off the other boy\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe was silent during the rest of the morning. He concentrated on finishing his assignments, but with the pain in his left hand, he knew that he would be taking part of the work home. His hand hurt more than he cared to admit and he couldn\u2019t help but worry about what his father would say when he read the note that Edison was sure to send home with him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the noon break, Joe\u2019s stomach had started to growl. Having forgotten that he was to remain inside during the break, he jumped to his feet when the teacher called time. He grabbed his sack lunch that Hop Sing had prepared for him and hurried to catch up with his friends who were all filing out through the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just where do you think you are going, Joseph?\u201d a voice from behind said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe felt the fingers pressing into his shoulder and stopped in his tracks. When he turned to look up, he saw the dark angry eyes glaring down at him; it was at that second that he remembered he was not to be joining his friends.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, sorry,\u201d he stammered, \u201cI forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Edison pointed to the far corner of the room, indicating the place where Joe was to stand. Joe dropped his head and started for the appointed place. Mr. Edison grabbed the sack from Joe\u2019s hand, catching the boy off guard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d snapped Joe. \u201cThat\u2019s my lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot any more it isn\u2019t. You will stand in the corner as instructed for your misconduct this morning. Lunch is not an option for you,\u201d the teacher smirked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not fair!\u201d Joe shouted. \u201cMy Pa won\u2019t like it, me not being allowed to eat lunch,\u201d Joe dared.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not worried about what your father likes or dislikes. Personally, I would tend to think that your father is much too lenient with you. What you need, young man, is the seat of your pants warmed. Now, I would suggest that you do as instructed or you will find sitting very uncomfortable for the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s mouth dropped opened but he fought the urge to make a snappy comeback. He spun around on the heels of his boots and stomped to the corner. How dare that despicable man speak ill of his father? Joe glanced back at the teacher and when he was sure that Mr. Edison was not looking, he stuck out his tongue at the man. Mr. Edison held Joe\u2019s lunch in his hand and walked out of the classroom. Joe sneaked a peek out the window and watched as the man tossed the boy\u2019s sack lunch into the trash barrel outside. His mouth dropped opened in surprise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDadburnit,\u201d he said, using a familiar term often used by his middle brother. \u201cAnd Hop Sing sent me a piece of chocolate cake, too,\u201d he grumbled to himself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Just then, the back door opened and Lucas slipped inside. Joe spun around shocked at the daring older boy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doin\u2019 in here?\u201d whispered Joe, glancing out the window to see Mr. Edison talking and laughing with a group of his students.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I just thought I\u2019d see how ya was doin\u2019 Cartwright,\u201d laughed Lucas.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou better get outta here before Mr. Edison comes in and catches ya,\u201d warned Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lucas laughed, \u201che ain\u2019t gonna catch me, he\u2019s talkin\u2019 to them girls. Hey, Little Joe thanks for not squealin\u2019 on me this mornin\u2019. I owe ya one, pal,\u201d Lucas said and then moved to the teacher\u2019s desk. He pulled opened first one drawer, prowled inside and then slammed it shut, moving to the next one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, get outta there. What\u2019d ya think your doin\u2019?\u201d questioned Joe, watching Lucas with suspicion. \u201cYou better leave his things alone!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAw\u2026I ain\u2019t gonna bother nothin. \u2018Sides, I just wanna help ya out some, ya know, get even with the old man for what he done to ya this mornin\u2019. Boy, I bet that hurt, him hittin\u2019 ya with that ruler and all,\u201d Lucas said, pulling a beautifully bound book from the bottom drawer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey lookit this,\u201d smiled Lucas, holding the book up for Joe to see. \u201cThe Complete<\/em> Works of William Shakespeare<\/em>,\u201d he read.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPut that back! Now!\u201d Joe shouted, forgetting about the teacher just outside the partly opened window.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Lucas refused to do as Joe had suggested, Joe made a grab for the book. Lucas burst out laughing, holding the book high over his head where Joe could not reach it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTake it easy Cartwright. I\u2019ve got the perfect way to get back at ole\u2019 smartie-pants.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lucas reached into his coat pocket and pulled out several juju beans. He opened the book at random and began dropping the soft candies between the pages of the book.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes widened in horror, and he grabbed the other boy\u2019s arm in an attempt to stop the boy from destroying the beautiful book. Joe knew about books such as Lucas was holding, for Adam had several just like it and they were valued and prized possessions of his oldest brother. Joe had been taught that all books, were to be treated with care, for there was much to value and learn from the written words within the pages.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cStop!\u201d snapped Joe, \u201cYou\u2019re going to ruin it!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lucas pushed Joe\u2019s grappling hands away and snickered. \u201cWho cares, Cartwright? It\u2019s just an old book, and besides, old man Edison won\u2019t find out who done it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lucas snapped closed the book, squishing the sticky candy between the pages as he shoved the book back into the drawer. \u201cSee ya later,\u201d he laughed as he slipped out through the back door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe stood motionless, scared to move and not knowing what to do. He thought about taking the book and perhaps hiding it until he could see how much damage Lucas\u2019 nasty trick had done, but he was scared that he might get caught. He thought to just leave the book as it was and hope against hope that Mr. Edison would not take the book out and find the mess within the golden embossed pages.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe turned back to his corner, the noon break was almost over and he still had not decided what to do about the book, which he now knew must surely be ruined beyond repair. A noise at the front of the room drew Joe\u2019s attention to the door. Mr. Edison could be seen through the opening, pulling on the rope that was attached to the big bell. Almost immediately, students began making their way inside to their desks. Joe caught a glimpse of Mitch Devlin, his best friend, as the boy made his way past. Mitch cut his sparkling blue eyes over at Joe and paused for a split second.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cKeep moving, Mitch,\u201d the teacher scolded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch shrugged his shoulders at Joe and went on his way. Joe pressed his forehead against his corner wall and fought back the tears that threatened to fill his hazel eyes. \u2018Ain\u2019t fair, I didn\u2019t do nuthin\u2019,\u2019 he mumbled under his breath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you say something, Joseph?\u201d inquired Mr. Edison, as he pulled his desk chair out and sat down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe glanced over his shoulder in the teacher\u2019s direction, astonished that the man had heard his muted remark. \u201cNo\u2026no sir,\u201d Joe said in a soft voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood, now, press your nose against the wall and do not move from that spot until I tell you too,\u201d the teacher ordered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was getting harder and harder for Joe to fight back the tears, but he took a deep breath and did as instructed. The day seemed to drone on and on as Joe stood silently with his nose pressed against the wall. His back ached from having to lean forward and the backs of his legs had begun to cramp. Joe fought back the tears, he felt himself nearing the brink of breaking down and asking the teacher for leniency, but his pride would shoot forth from deep within at the last minute and stop him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was nearing the end of the day when he heard the sound that he had been dreading all day. He glanced over his shoulder at Mr. Edison who had his back to him and stared in horror as the substitute teacher pulled the book of Shakespeare from the bottom drawer of his desk. Joe cast a quick glance toward the back of the room where Lucas Tatum was also watching the removal of the book. The other boy caught Joe\u2019s slight movement and unseen by the teacher, mouthed a daring warning to Joe that he best keep his mouth shut.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Edison cleared his throat and scooted back his chair. \u201cClass, if I may have your attention. I have in my hand a most delightful book that I aim to share with each of you. It was a gift from a very trusted and loyal friend of mine who has now passed away. It is one of my most cherished keepsakes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From his corner, Joe groaned, as his heart grew heavy with dread for Lucas. Though he didn\u2019t really care for the boy, he didn\u2019t necessarily hate him either, and the thoughts of what Mr. Edison would do to Lucas once he found out that the boy had destroyed his book, were weighing heavy on Joe\u2019s young heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Edison, smiled, something that Joe thought possibly the man rarely did. Joe peeked from under his arm and saw the teacher open the book. The man froze, his face drained of all color and for just a split second, Joe thought the tall heavyset man might faint. Joe heard the man\u2019s breath expel from his lungs and was totally caught off guard when the man\u2019s deep-set bronzed colored eyes turned to look at him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph Cartwright,\u201d growled the man in a voice that though very low and deep, sent spasms of fear racing through his veins. \u201cCome over here\u2026now!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The voice was so calm and collected that he was sure that he was the only person in the class, except for Lucas Tatum, that knew just how angry the teacher really was. Joe glanced up once again into the man\u2019s eyes, judging his anger and rating it on a scale of one to ten, a sure twenty. Joe gulped and slowly turned to face the enraged man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you want me?\u201d Little Joe asked in a tiny, wee voice that started the classroom of children giggling. Joe had his pointer finger pressed into his chest, worried, for he had no idea that Edison had judged him at fault for the horrendous condition of his valued book.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The teacher turned dark angry eyes at his class, bringing an immediate halt to the laughter and then turned back to face Little Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The teacher snapped his finger and pointed at a spot on the floor directly in front of him, but said not a word. Joe inched closer little by little until he stood exactly where Mr. Edison had indicated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYessir?\u201d stammered Joe, his voice quivering as he spoke.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you know about this?\u201d Edison demanded, pointing with his free hand to the pages where the juju beans had squished between the pages. Slowly, the teacher turned a few more pages, finding more jujus as he thumbed through the book.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes were opened wide. The candy treats had certainly ruined the highly regarded treasure. Joe moved his head ever so slightly and glanced back at Lucas. Lucas had allowed his body to slump down into his seat, making himself almost invisible behind the bigger boy who sat directly in front of him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Without warning, Edison slammed the book shut, making a loud noise and causing Joe to jump. \u201cI asked you a question!\u201d he roared and flung the book on his desk.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026I\u2026I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cStop babbling, you simple minded little fool, and answer my question!\u201d the teacher requested in a sharp tone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe bristled at the name he was just called and from somewhere deep within his inner self, Joe found the courage to speak up. \u201cWho you calling a fool? I ain\u2019t no fool, you old\u2026you old\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe stopped suddenly for the man had turned and picked up his thick wooden paddle. \u201cI asked you one simple question, and you cannot even give me an answer. I will give you five seconds to tell me who and why my book was destroyed and after that, you will get a thrashing like you have never had before. And\u2026you had better not lie to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe began to panic, his eyes sought Lucas\u2019 and they begged the other boy to own up to what he had done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOne\u2026two\u2026three\u2026four\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes filled with tears and his chin quivered as he chewed on his bottom lip.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFive\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026honest\u2026Mr. Edison\u2026I don\u2019t know,\u201d cried Joe, taking a step back from the advancing man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cA lying tongue will send you straight to hell, young man. Hasn\u2019t your father ever taught you that lying is one of the seven things that the Lord doth hate? Or doesn\u2019t your father care?\u201d shouted Mr. Edison.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe cares\u2026\u201d stammered Joe. \u201cHe\u2026taught me that it\u2019s wrong to lie\u2026you stop saying mean things about my Pa\u2026ya hear me?\u201d shouted Joe as he pressed his back up against the wall.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Edison reached out and grabbed Joe by the upper arm and yanked him forward. Joe could see the man\u2019s nostrils flaring as he spoke and the red fiery sparks from the man\u2019s eyes. Joe chanced a quick look at the top of the man\u2019s head, half expecting to see horns sprouting from under the man\u2019s thining hair. Surely this man was the devil, come to wreak terror in his heart believed Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou did this!\u201d ranted the man, pulling Joe forward to face the front of the class.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cME?\u201d screamed Joe, suddenly terribly frightened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edison was waving the paddle around in the air with his free hand and Joe had to duck to keep from being whacked in the head by the flailing object.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t do it\u2026honest Mr. Edison,\u201d pleaded Joe inbetween sobs. \u201cI\u2019d never destroy a book, my pa taught me better\u2019n that\u2026honest, it wasn\u2019t me,\u201d stammered Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Newell Edison yanked hard on Joe\u2019s arm, pulling him up on his tiptoes. He leaned his face down, close to Joe\u2019s. \u201cThen who did it and when? There hasn\u2019t been another person in the classroom while I have been out except you, at the noon break. Not only are you responsible for destroying another man\u2019s property, but you are also a liar,\u201d snorted Newell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe was shaking his head back and forth; the tears ran from his eyes and dripped off his quivering chin. \u201cNo\u2026no\u2026it wasn\u2019t me\u2026it was\u2026it was\u2026I don\u2019t know\u2026who it was,\u201d he lied.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Newell Edison dragged the trembling boy over to his desk and forced him to lean across the front, his backside facing the frightened children who sat and watched, too terrorized to say or do anything.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLearn well children. This is what becomes of an unruly, sinful, willful and disrespectful son of Satan, whose father is more engrossed in amassing a fortune than in teaching his wayward son the ways of the Lord,\u201d shouted Newell as he swung back his arm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRepent sinner, for the wages of sin is death!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The paddled landed hard against the backside of the young boy. Joe\u2019s body jerked forward in a natural reflex, attempting to escape the next blow. Again, the paddled connected with the fleshy part of Joe\u2019s anatomy. Joe bit down hard on his lip to keep from crying out loud and giving the raving man the pleasure of hearing him weep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Three more times Joe felt the thick wooden board across his bottom. The fiery sensation that he felt through his clothes sent an outpouring of immense pain shooting upward into his upper body, and downward through the backs of his legs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe heard his own voice as he cried aloud for the man to stop. One final blow was delivered to the devastated youth. His legs buckled and Joe would have fallen to his knees when Edison stepped back, had it not been for Mitch Devlin who had left his seat and rushed to the front of the room to grab his friend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch turned tear filled eyes up at the substitute teacher. \u201cYou\u2019re a monster, you\u2019re the devil, not Little Joe. You just wait until Ben Cartwright finds out what ya done to his boy!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch pulled Joe to his feet, but Joe, heartbroken as well as humiliated at having been called a liar, and whipped to tears in front of the entire class, jerked free of his friend\u2019s grasp and fled the classroom. Mitch glared up at the teacher and ran off after his best friend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once out into the open, his vision blurred by the tears that filled his eyes, Joe ran. He wasn\u2019t aware of the direction in which he ran, but none the less he ran. Mitch stood on the tiny porch and shading his eyes from the sun\u2019s bright rays, searched ardently for his friend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJOE?\u201d he shouted as he caught a glimpse of Joe\u2019s jacket as Joe dashed into the woods. \u201cWait up!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe ran for what seemed like an eternity before his legs gave out on him and he crashed to the ground. Joe lay face down in the dirt, weeping, not fully able to believe that the teacher actually believed that he had been responsible for putting the juju beans in the treasured book.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch spied Joe just yards ahead, lying on the ground and he rushed on until he dropped to his knees beside of his friend. He could hear Joe crying and the sound tore at his heart. He knew that his friend had been disgraced and humiliated in front of everyone, and then to break down and cry in front of his friends had been the last straw for the proud youngest Cartwright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Mitch whispered. \u201cYa all right, buddy?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch heard Joe sniffing his nose. \u201cGo away\u2026just leave me alone,\u201d Joe grumbled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAw\u2026come on Little Joe\u2026I\u2019m ya best friend. I seen ya cry before, shoot, you\u2019ve even seen me cry,\u201d Mitch said hopefully.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t that\u2026it\u2019s\u2026it\u2019s\u2026what he said about my Pa\u2026now go away\u2026please,\u201d sobbed Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGO AWAY\u2026I DON\u2019T WANT YA HERE!\u201d screamed Joe raising his head just enough off the ground to glance at his friend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch stood to his feet and began slowly backing off from where Joe laid. He continued until he was better than ten feet away and out of Joe\u2019s range of sight. He sat down on a log and waited.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe refused to move or get up, he remained on the ground for better than fifteen minutes before raising his head once more and looking around him. He could not see Mitch behind him and thinking he was alone, pulled himself up to sit on his knees. He groaned loudly as the pain in his backside intensified. Slowly he hauled himself up to his feet and stretched before turning around.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the?\u201d he stammered as his eyes met Mitch\u2019s. Mitch smiled a crooked little smile and then laughed, standing to his feet and moving to stand next to Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYa didn\u2019t think I\u2019d really leave ya out here all by yourself, did ya?\u201d the blue eyed blond smiled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe wiped the dampness from his face and giggled. \u201cNo, I should have known you\u2019d be close by. You\u2019re worse than my brothers, ya know that?\u201d Joe grinned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, we\u2019d better get back and get our horses, old man Edison should be gone by now.\u201d Mitch fell into step beside Joe and together the two friends walked slowly back to the schoolhouse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it hurt?\u201d Mitch asked a little while later as he watched Joe limp along.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe cut his eyes over at Mitch. \u201cWhat do you think? Hell yes, it hurts! My butt feels like someone set a branding iron to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch couldn\u2019t help but giggle and when he did, Joe stopped and folded his arms across his chest. \u201cSo, ya think it\u2019s funny, do you? Well, you just wait until you get home and your pa finds out what you said to the teacher. You\u2019re butt is gonna be hurtin\u2019, same as mine!\u201d declared Joe and then giggled when he saw the color drain from his best friend\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think about that,\u201d stammered Mitch. \u201cYa reckon Mr. Edison will go visit our fathers?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d bet my life on it. I can just see him now, yelling at my Pa about what a misguided son he has and how if I don\u2019t change my ways, I\u2019m doomed to hell.\u201d Joe stopped and looked at Mitch. \u201cPa\u2019s gonna be really mad at me this time, Mitch. I\u2019ll probably never be able to sit down again, not after Pa gets finished with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mitch who had stopped along side Joe started walking again, \u201cBut ya didn\u2019t do anything\u2026did ya? Now, don\u2019t go getting\u2019 mad at me, I\u2019m just asking\u2019,\u201d said Mitch when he saw the sudden anger flash in Joe\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYa didn\u2019t really put those juju beans in his book, everyone knows that the only person at school that likes those things is Lucas Tatum. But what about this morning? Who threw old man Edison\u2019s papers and things in the floor?\u201d Mitch asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLucas, he thought it was funny. I was just trying to get everything put back on Mr. Edison\u2019s desk before he saw what happened. I just got caught, that\u2019s why he blamed me, like always,\u201d groaned Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen during the break, Lucas slipped in through the back door and said he had the perfect plan to get even with the teacher for what he did to me. He started going through the desk and then when he found the book, he started stuffing the jujus between the pages. I was so scared, Mitch. I didn\u2019t know what to do, I thought about taking the book and hiding it until I could see if I could clean it up, but I knew that if I did happen to get caught with it, it really would look like I was the guilty one.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe snickered softly, not really finding the situation funny in the least. \u201cDidn\u2019t do me much good, I still got blamed and that darned old teacher wouldn\u2019t even believe me. It ain\u2019t fair Mitch, when I get home, I\u2019m still gonna be in trouble, and I didn\u2019t do nothin\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The boys had reached the small stable where the horses where housed during the school hours. Joe glanced up toward the schoolhouse and was glad to see that Mr. Edison had left for the day. He sighed, he knew it was just a matter of time before the man confronted his father about what happened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The boys hurried to saddle their horses and lead them from the barn. Joe gave one last look at the school and then stopped in his tracks. It appeared that someone had left the door standing opened. Hesitating, Joe debated about going to shut the door or to just let it be. He knew the right thing would be to secure the building, but a resentment toward the teacher in question and about whether he really cared that someone might come in and steal things from the school, fogged his thinking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLook,\u201d said Joe, pointing to the opened door. \u201cMr. Know-it-all forgot to shut and lock the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I see. What\u2019cha goin\u2019 to do about it?\u201d Mitch wanted to know, as he stood ready to mount his horse. \u201cYa ain\u2019t gonna do him a favor, are ya, not after what all he done to ya today?\u201d Mitch stated flatly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe pushed back his hat and scratched his head. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t\u2026but I\u2019d hate for anything else to get ruined. As much as I dislike Miss Jones, it wouldn\u2019t be fair to her, to find all her stuff messed up or stolen when she comes back. Stay here Mitch,\u201d ordered Joe handing his friend the reins to his horse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He limped his way back to the front of the building and reached for the knob to pull the door closed. The door was just about closed completely when Joe\u2019s ears picked up on a rustling sound from inside. Glancing back at Mitch, Joe put his finger to his lips, giving his friend a silent signal to be quiet. He then wiggled his pointer finger at Mitch, motioning for him to join him. Mitch dropped the reins and hurried to Joe\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d whispered the boy, trying to look around Joe to get a peek at what was happening.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone\u2019s inside,\u201d whispered Joe. \u201cCome on, but be quiet,\u201d he ordered and then eased the door opened another inch or two.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The racket inside grew in volume as the two boys pushed opened the door. Joe moved his head around the edge of the door to get a better look. He stopped suddenly, causing Mitch to plow into him and sending him stumbling into the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two frightened boys whirled around, startled by the blundering pair that had discovered them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Cartwright, what the hell are you doing back here? I thought you went running home to your daddy!\u201d laughed Lucas Tatum, when he saw that the intruder was none other than Joe Cartwright.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are YOU doing in here? Looking for something else to destroy and blame on me?\u201d retorted Joe, angrily.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care who gets the blame for this. Timmy and I plan of wreckin\u2019 the place. I hate school anyway, so if we do a good \u2018nough job, the school board will have to shut it down. That\u2019s one way of getting\u2019 rid of the nasty ole teacher. What\u2019ll ya think, Cartwright? Wanna join us?\u201d laughed Lucas as he began turning over desks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, and you better stop Lucas before it\u2019s too late,\u201d Joe demanded as he glanced at Mitch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you goin\u2019 to do, Joe?\u201d Mitch said in a whining voice. \u201cYou can\u2019t stop them, look at them, they\u2019re nuts!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe was watching, and what he perceived, was making him sick to his stomach. Lucas and Timmy were turning over every desk in the room and had started slinging chairs about in the air. Some were breaking apart and one had already been tossed through the window, shattering the glass. Joe and Mitch watched in horror as the other two boys yanked and pulled on the chalkboard until it had fallen from its hinges that held it in place on the long wall. When the team of destructive boys began stomping on the board and breaking it to pieces, Joe had seen enough.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSTOP IT, RIGHT NOW!\u201d he screamed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His voice had cracked and sounded shrill, but it had the desired effect.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s goin\u2019 make us?\u201d taunted Lucas, stepping across large pieces of the chalkboard and coming to stand in front of Little Joe. \u201cYou ain\u2019t gonna do it, cause you\u2019re a crybaby,\u201d laughed Lucas and was soon joined by Timmy who stood in front of Mitch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The four boys had never liked one another. Lucas and Timmy were a year or so older than Mitch and Joe and had always dubbed it their duty to make school life as miserable as possible for the two younger and somewhat smaller boys. They had tangled many times over the years, usually it was Joe and Mitch who came away looking the worse for wear and had never really taken the others in a fight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be so sure of that Tatum. I might cry, when beat like an animal, but I\u2019ll never be afraid of you, never,\u201d he said in a voice barren of fear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lucas studied the face of the younger boy and for the first time ever, saw something in the hazel eyes that he had never seen there before, and he took a step backward.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cClean up this mess,\u201d Joe ordered, sensing that Lucas had seen the deep embedded resentment that had built over the course of the long day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMake us,\u201d taunted Timmy and then laughed. \u201cCome on Luke, let\u2019s get the teacher\u2019s desk.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Timmy turned and stepped away, Lucas did the same but was stopped by Joe, who had grabbed his shoulder. \u201cOh no you don\u2019t,\u201d he said and threw the first punch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That was all it took, chaos broke out in the classroom. Bodies were slung about the broken debris but each time that one boy landed on the floor, he sprung to his feet. Lucas and Joe were locked together, swapping blows. Blood had begun to seep down the faces of both boys but still the two fought. They had inched their way closer to the door; Joe tripped and fell on his back. Lucas jumped through the air, hoping to land on Joe who lay sprawled among the rubbish, but Joe rolled out of the way and Lucas landed with a thud on his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe heard the boy scream in pain and paused, just long enough to give Lucas time to turn over. Blood spurted from the boy\u2019s nose, his wailing brought Timmy and Mitch to their senses and both stumbled their way over to where Joe stood over Lucas who continued with his loud shrieking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLookit what ya done, now! Ya broke my nose!\u201d sobbed Lucas, holding his hand up to his face and glaring at the boys who stood over him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMe? I didn\u2019t break ya nose, ya tried to jump me and landed on your face!\u201d snapped Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLiar, ya hit me\u2026just wait \u2018til I tell my Pa!\u201d Lucas shot back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust wait until I tell all of your Pas!\u201d shouted Roy and Clem from the doorway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All four boy\u2019s heads snapped around and stared in frightened surprise at the sheriff and his deputy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy surveyed the room, his disgust written all over his face. His eyes searched each face of the now silent boys, but slowly made his way back to Joe\u2019s. Joe had dropped his head, making if difficult for the sheriff to see the unbridled fear in his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy stepped up to Joe and stood silent for just a second. \u201cJoseph Cartwright, what is the meaning of this? What in Sam Hill do you think you\u2019re doing, runnin\u2019 with the likes\u2019 of them and wreckin\u2019 this here school?\u201d Roy had pointed at Lucas and Timmy when he had seen Joe raise his head a bit and look at him. \u201cJust what do you think Ben Cartwright will say when he hears about this?\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy turned to Mitch and shook his head. \u201cAnd you\u2026why you should be ashamed of yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cClem, let\u2019s take\u2019em all over ta the jail.\u201d Roy pointed with his chin for Clem to lead the way. The deputy had a tight hold on Lucas and Timmy\u2019s arms and was practically dragging the pair of ruffians from the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy nodded for Mitch and Joe to move on out and he followed behind his best friend\u2019s son, shaking his head sadly and wondering what in the world had gotten into Ben\u2019s youngest son that he should mingle with hooligans like the Tatum boy and his side-kick, Timmy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was hours later that the fathers of the four boys had been sent for. Each man grumbled and complained about having to report to the sheriff and post bail for their sons as if their child had been a common criminal. All but one and that one sat stone silent in a chair, waiting for his own son to be released to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Tatum and Timmy\u2019s father were most vocal, just like their loud-mouthed sons. Lucas and Timmy had started right in, once they were hauled off to jail about how everything had been Joe and Mitch\u2019s fault and how it was them that had happened upon the other two tearing apart the classroom and why Joe had deemed it his right. The ranting and raving had continued even after all four fathers, and Mr. Edison had entered the jailhouse. Roy and Clem were hard put to bring an end to the ruckus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Joe and Mitch sat solemnly and quiet, each boy eyeing their fathers from downcast eyes, and lashes laden with the dampness of tears.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben heard Joe sniff his nose and watched how his son squirmed about in his chair. On more than one occasion, he watched a troubled and frightened young boy wrestle with an unknown pain that seemed to have settled in the lower part of his son\u2019s anatomy. Yet Ben had held his tongue, he would save what he had to say, for the privacy of his own home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deep within his heart, he knew that Joe would never take a part in the shenanigans that he was being blamed for. Yet the boy had been caught red handed, by the sheriff and his deputy, but Ben still refused to make a judgment call until he had heard his son\u2019s side of the story.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And then there was Newell Edison, Miss Jones\u2019 replacement teacher. Ben watched how the man continually cast his eyes at Joe and how the boy seemed to cringe each time that he felt the man\u2019s eyes on his face. Ben listened as the teacher described the events of the day and he watched Joe\u2019s face and the troubled eyes that filled with tears that dripped slowly down his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe too was listening, he seemed shocked by the way that the teacher told his side of what happened and was even more stunned when the teacher had failed to tell the sheriff and his father about the wicked things that had been said to him. Joe wanted to run to his father and blurt out everything, even the way that Mr. Edison had beaten him with the paddle, but he had seen his father watching him and Joe was unsure of the expressions that he had seen come across his father\u2019s face. Therefore he held back, and waited, with dread.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ve heard just about enough,\u201d Roy said at long last. \u201cYou four men, get these boy\u2019s out of here. Take them home and make darn good and sure, they stay there!\u201d ordered Roy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEdison, you make a list of all of the damages and when you\u2019ve finish, turn it in to the school board. Or better yet, give it to Ben, he\u2019s head of the board,\u201d said Roy and then had to turn from the teacher to hide the smile that threaten to give away his amusement at the teacher\u2019s sudden inability to close his mouth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s what?\u201d the teacher stuttered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, Ben Cartwright is head of the school board. Is there something wrong with that?\u201d Roy said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edison\u2019s eyes darted to Joe\u2019s face and the tiny smile that he saw twitching at the edges of the boy\u2019s mouth angered him beyond reason. \u201cWELL!\u201d he shouted. \u201cI MIGHT OF KNOWN!\u201d he yelled and all but ran from the office, slamming the door on his way out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy just shook his head, \u201cGet goin\u2019. I\u2019ll be in touch with you tomorrow,\u201d groaned Roy as he opened the door and allowed the fathers to file out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, it was Cartwright\u2019s fault, lookit what he done, he broke my nose!\u201d grumbled Lucas, glaring down at the smaller boy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAw\u2026shut up, hell, ya probably deserved it. Now get ya butt on that horse and get home afore I break ya dang fool neck!\u201d growled Mr. Tatum as he gave his son a solid swat to his behind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe glanced up at his father and noted Ben was watching him. The boy gulped and lowered his head as he untied the reins from around the hitching post. Joe pulled his aching body up and using care to protect his blistered bottom he lowered himself into the saddle. When Ben was mounted, he allowed his horse to fall into step next to his father\u2019s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was a quiet ride back to the ranch. Joe kept going over the events of the day in his head and trying to think just how he would explain himself to his father. If need be, he reasoned, he would ask, beg if he had too, for his father to wait until his backside was better before giving him the thrashing that he knew was due.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was after dark by the time that Joe and Ben finally arrived home. Adam and Hoss were sitting on the side porch and hurried to greet their father and brother. One look at the long face their father wore and the red rimmed eyes of their youngest brother told both, Adam and Hoss that something bad had happened.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll take your horses for you,\u201d offered Adam when Ben had dismounted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks son, and please, you and Hoss find something to keep you busy for a spell. Joe and I have some things to talk over, don\u2019t we son?\u201d Ben stated, watching how Joe\u2019s chin had suddenly began to quiver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYessir,\u201d Joe said meekly, glancing sideways at his brothers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben placed his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder, taking the boy by surprise and causing him to jump. Ben\u2019s heart lurched at the way this son\u2019s body stiffened at his touch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go inside, Joseph.\u201d Ben gently nudged the boy forward and slowly Joe made his way to the house. He paused and waited as his father opened the door and led the way inside. Ben stepped aside, allowing Joe to enter and then closed the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe jumped again; it had sounded overly loud in the empty house and made him feel as if he had just been locked away for the remainder of his life. Joe swallowed the lump that had suddenly produced itself within the confines of his throat and turned to his father. The sudden fear of telling his father and his frayed emotions caused him to shiver and his eyes pooled with tears, even before meeting his father\u2019s steady gaze. He struggled to form words, to be the first to speak, but when he opened his mouth nothing came out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben cupped the quivering chin in his hand\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s the whole story, Pa\u2026like I said, it wasn\u2019t my fault and it was an accident. I never meant for the school to get demolished like it did\u2026honest,\u201d cried Joe, who by now was wrapped in his father\u2019s loving arms, as he and Ben sat together on the settee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d whispered Ben as he placed a kiss on top of the unruly curls. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry son, that you had such a horrible day.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t your fault Pa. But Pa, what\u2019s gonna happen now\u2026about Mr. Edison and the school? Will the board have enough money to put the school back the way it was before Lucas and Timmy broke everything?\u201d questioned Joe, his head resting against his father\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure son, I suppose we\u2019ll have to have a meeting and see what we come up with,\u201d Ben explained.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Lucas and Timmy? Will they have\u2019ta go to jail?\u201d Joe turned his head up, just enough so that he could see his father\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI hope not Joe. They\u2019re just boys, unruly boys mind you, but boys just the same. I\u2019d hate to think of them having to spend time in jail, but that\u2019s not saying they shouldn\u2019t be punished. They should, but then that\u2019s up to the school board, as to whether or not they file charges,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The front door opened then and Hoss and Adam came in. \u201cSorry to bother you Pa. I know you said you wanted time alone with Joe, but you have some visitors.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stepped aside and allowed the visitors to enter the room. Ben had stood to his feet, Joe stood next to him and when he saw the small group of individuals, he gasped loudly. Ben\u2019s attention immediately turned from the door to his son and saw how quickly Joe had lost all color in his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben slipped his arm protectively about the boy\u2019s shoulders and cringed when he felt the tremors that raced though his son\u2019s body. \u201cIt\u2019s okay Joe, I\u2019m right here,\u201d he whispered softly so that only Joe could hear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe looked up and when he saw his father smile at him, he relaxed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRoy, Mr. Edison, Tatum, what brings you gentlemen out, this time of night?\u201d questioned Ben, moving to make room for the men to sit down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When they all had been seated, Ben moved to his red leather chair and sat down. Joe watched with frightened eyes and when Ben motioned for him to join him, Joe stepped over the mass of feet and sat down on the arm of his father\u2019s chair. Instantly, Joe felt the pressure of his father\u2019s fingers as they gently squeezed his leg where the comforting hand rested.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright, perhaps I should begin,\u201d stated Edison. \u201cYou see, I had been told certain things about your son, Joseph. I was led to believe that he was\u2026.how should I put it? A troublemaker\u2026However\u2026I have been corrected on that assumption. Rather pointedly as a matter of fact,\u201d the teacher said as he squirmed in his seat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI must admit, I owe the boy an apology. I\u2019m sure he has by now, told you all that has transpired today in my classroom?\u201d he hinted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben glanced up at Joe and smiled. \u201cYes, he has told me everything\u2026including what was said.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Edison hung his head. \u201cI am so very, very ashamed of myself.\u201d He glanced up at the men in the room. \u201cI have never, in the twenty years of teaching, never, ever treated a student of mine in the manner that I have treated your son. I am most sorry, Mr. Cartwright, Joseph, most sorry indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben stood to his feet, leaving Joe to lower his body into the chair as he watched Mr. Edison fidgeting with the button on his coat. Joe could feel all his anger slowly leave him. He stifled a laugh; he shocked himself by admitting that he actually felt sorry for the poor man, as his father stood over the nervous teacher.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI would think that you should be sorry. From what my son has told me, I have every right under the law to have you arrested for assault and battery. Or did you forget that Joseph is just a minor?\u201d Ben stated in a voice that spoke none of the inner turmoil he had been feeling just minutes before, when his broken hearted son had wept and related to him how he had been abused by the very man who now sat in his living room making excuses for his own behavior.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Edison stood to his feet as well. \u201cMr. Cartwright, to be perfectly honest with you, when I saw what had been done to my treasured book, I did not stop to think about anything other than the fact that something that was very dear to my heart had been ruined. By\u2026what I believed to be an unruly, disobedient young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBen,\u201d said Mr. Tatum, who had been sitting quietly, listening to the proceedings. \u201cMr. Edison was right in thinking what he did. Everything that he said was correct; an unruly, disobedient young man did ruined his treasured book. But it wasn\u2019t your son who did it; it was mine, Lucas. Mr. Edison\u2019s only mistake was punishing the wrong boy. He was misinformed, Ben, can\u2019t you understand that he\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can understand the mistake in identity, what I cannot understand is his method of punishment. My son will carry the mark of this man\u2019s paddle for a very long time. And for that I am not happy. No man has the right to abuse a child in such a manner. And that was what it was, abuse, plain and simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben turned to Newell Edison. \u201cAs head of the school board, I\u2019m going to ask the board to vote for your dismissal. I\u2019m sorry Edison, but under the circumstances, I don\u2019t think you are fit to teach. I understand what it is to lose a very treasure item, but to turn that loss into something so violent that it endangers the life or lives of someone\u2019s child? No, I cannot permit it, I have to speak my mind, I have to stand up for the rights of the innocent, for the children who witnessed your behavior today in that classroom. What will they suffer in the days ahead, when they try to lay their little heads down at night only to be waken by a nightmare, seeing before their eyes a lunatic waving around a paddle and beating young boys?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow get out of my house, before I change my mind and have you arrested for beating my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Newell dropped his head and turned away. Roy stood to his feet and smiled at Ben. \u201cThat took a lot of guts, old friend. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded his head and followed the sheriff and Mr. Tatum to the door. Mr. Tatum turned to Ben. \u201cBen, I\u2019m very sorry for what my son did. And I\u2019m very ashamed of him. He caused a lot of people a lot of misery today. What can I say? I don\u2019t rightly know cause I guess I\u2019m still in shock.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben placed his hand on the other man\u2019s shoulder. \u201cTatum, everyone makes mistakes. We don\u2019t always like what our sons do, but we can always hope that they learn from their mistakes and try never to make the same ones twice.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tatum laughed lightly. \u201cLuke told me what really happened and then he wanted to go tell Edison the truth. I thought we\u2019d best take Roy along with us, and after Luke spilled his guts that\u2019s when Edison wanted to come here, to tell you he was sorry. I can\u2019t say I\u2019m happy with Luke, but his owning up to his part in the whole mess was a step in the right direction at least.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben nodded his head in agreement. \u201cIt sure is, and you have to remember, he\u2019s still just a boy. Give him time, lots of love, but most of all, understanding and compassion.\u201d Ben glanced over his shoulder at Joe who had fallen to sleep in his chair. \u201cWorks every time, Tatum, every time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks Ben,\u201d smiled Tatum, following Ben\u2019s eyes. \u201cBest get that boy in bed, he\u2019s had one hell of a day\u2026and look, he\u2019s still smiling.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben, Adam and Hoss all turned to look at Joe\u2019s face. The boy was sound asleep and snoring softly, but it was true\u2026a smidgen of a smile tugged at the sleeping boy\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben leaned down and gathered his son into his arms and carried him upstairs. Adam led the way and quickly turned back the pile of blankets and waited until his father had placed Joe into the bed before pulling the covers up to Joe\u2019s chin. He stepped back, watching as Ben sat on the side of the bed, tenderly stroking the side of the cherubic little face with his callused yet gentle hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded to Hoss and together they left their father alone with Joe. When they had gone, Ben leaned down and placed a kiss on his son\u2019s brow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood night Precious.\u201d Ben smiled. \u201cI know you think you\u2019re too old for nick names, but I can\u2019t help myself. It\u2019s times like this that I am reminded of just how much I love you,\u201d whispered Ben as his hand moved to gather Joe\u2019s smaller one into his own.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben noted the scrapes that dotted his son\u2019s knuckles from where Joe had been fighting. Ben detested fighting, especially when the fight was over something foolish. But this time, smiled Ben as he kissed the back of the bruised fingers, his son had been fighting for something that he knew was right, something that Joe had believed in, and amid the confusion, Joe had somehow come out the victor and had, unknowingly, proved his point.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having been stuck between a rock and a hard place, meaning that Joe could either choose to speak up or remain silent and pay the consequences, Joe had unwittingly gotten his point across to the other person. Hadn\u2019t Lucas Tatum come forth and admitted the truth about what he had done and allowed Joe to carry the blame? Ben smiled and placed Joe\u2019s hand under the blanket. Both boys had learned something today\u2026it\u2019s wrong to let another person shoulder the responsibility for something you have done, and it\u2019s wrong not to speak up and tell the truth about who committed the wrong-doing. It was a costly lesson for both boys, for neither would be sitting comfortably for several days.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lucas had agreed to help with repairing the chairs and desks, along with Timmy who had learned that it\u2019s not always wise to be a follower, but better to pick and choose more carefully when asked to tag along after someone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Edison had learned a lesson today as well, a very costly lesson. The price of a treasured item can never be measured in comparison with the cost of a child\u2019s life. A treasured item is just that, an item that can be bought for a price, but a child\u2019s life is priceless, and once shattered, can never really be what it had once been when still innocent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben leaned down and gave Joe one last goodnight kiss. The long lashes fluttered and seconds later, Ben found himself staring down into the sleep-laden eyes of his son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGo back to sleep sweetheart,\u201d whispered Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing, Pa?\u201d muttered Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben smiled and brushed back a stray curl. \u201cJust watching you sleep, that\u2019s all, and counting my lucky stars.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLucky stars? How many ya got?\u201d Joe smiled slightly and then closed his eyes again as he drifted off to sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, I\u2019d estimate\u2026about three.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE END<\/strong><\/p>\n

April 2003<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0 Caught between squealing on a friend or keeping silent, Joe learns that its not always in his best interest to turn a deaf ear.<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0G (10,270 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9052,"featured_media":9517,"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_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/brothers.jpg?fit=399%2C299&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12116","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\/9052"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}