Summary: \u00a0Away on business once again, Joe writes a letter home, accusing his father of purposely sending him away on every holiday.<\/p>\n
Rating: \u00a0G\u00a0 (1,900 words)<\/p>\n
Happy Father’s Day, Pa<\/p>\n
Dear Pa,<\/p>\n
I stopped by the attorney\u2019s office and picked up those papers you needed, just like you asked me to do. Mr. Millard and I got to talking, and he said something about this Sunday being Father\u2019s Day. I had forgotten about it until he mentioned it and then I got to wondering\u2026do you send me away on business every holiday on purpose, or am I just imagining it? Wasn\u2019t I in San Francisco on Mother\u2019s Day?<\/p>\n
I think I remember Adam saying that I should be the one to handle this account for you, and now that I think about it, Hoss seemed mighty willing to go along with big brother. Is there a conspiracy going on behind my back? And are you part of it, Pa?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m just teasing you Pa, I know it was my turn, but now that I see that I\u2019ll not be home for Father\u2019s Day, I sorta wish we could have put this off for a few days. I want you to know that I\u2019d give anything to be able to spend the day with you, come Sunday. I hate to miss such an occasion, celebrating with my brothers, our father\u2019s special day. I\u2019d like to be there in person to honor you, to tell you face to face how much I love you and respect you. I hope you already know that, but just in case you\u2019ve forgotten, I\u2019ll say it again.<\/p>\n
Thanks Pa for all the special things you\u2019ve done for me over the years. Not for the \u2018things\u2019 but for all the love that you\u2019ve shown me, even when I didn\u2019t deserve to be loved, because I\u2019d nearly driven you to your wit\u2019s end. And thanks for all the advice you\u2019ve given even when I thought I already knew everything. Thanks for being so understanding, even when I couldn\u2019t understand myself, you always seemed to know what I needed, when I needed it and why, and you always came through for me.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know how I would have managed sometimes without you; I don\u2019t even like to think about where I might have ended up if you hadn\u2019t always been close by to make sure that I chose the right path. Thanks Pa, for being such a great leader, even when you led from behind instead of in front of me.<\/p>\n
And thanks for being so patient with me when I couldn\u2019t decide between what was right and what was wrong, you always waited, I know with bated breath most of the time, knowing deep within your heart that I\u2019d make the right decision. I have you to thank for those times because I can recall the hours you\u2019ve spent trying to teach me how to make those kinds of decisions and why I had to go one way when I really wanted to go the other way. Thanks Pa for mapping out the way so clearly, even if the road at times was hard, I knew you\u2019d always be there for me, cheering me on and giving me your support.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re the greatest pa that a kid could have\u2026not that I\u2019m still a kid. Ha\u2026I can still remember those times when Adam would call me a kid or boy and how mad I used to get at him for it. That was a long time ago, wasn\u2019t it Pa?<\/p>\n
I know what you\u2019re thinking right this minute, you\u2019re thinking, \u2018son, no matter how old you get, you will always be my little boy\u2019. I\u2019m right, aren\u2019t I, Pa? Were you thinking that? I thought so! And it\u2019s okay with me Pa, cause truth being what it is, I\u2019ve always liked being your little boy, I still do. There\u2019s just something about being your son that makes me proud, not of just me, but of you and who you are, what you stand for, and most importantly, how you came to be those things. You did it with truth and honor, faith in God and courage born of generations of Cartwrights that were made to endure suffering and hard work to get where they were going.<\/p>\n
Yes sir, Pa, I\u2019m proud of being your son, but I\u2019m more proud of you, for being my father. How\u2019d I get so lucky anyway? What must God have been thinking when he said, \u2018Here Benjamin, here\u2019s something to try your patience.\u2019<\/p>\n
I know I\u2019ve not been the perfect son, but I know that you understand that. There\u2019s only one perfect son, and one perfect father, isn\u2019t that what you\u2019ve always told me? And didn\u2019t you say that you and I could never fill those shoes, but that together we could be as good as we tried to be? Well, I know you\u2019ve tried Pa, cause I\u2019ve tried you. I guess when I was born, God must have thought you pretty close to perfect, cause he gave you a son that would put you through all the tests there might be to earn you your stars and crown in heaven. Ha, ha, you\u2019ll probably outshine most of the angels, cause you\u2019ve sure earned plenty as far as I\u2019m concerned!<\/p>\n
Well, Pa, I\u2019ll close for now. I have to meet with Mr. Millard again, he\u2019s invited me to his home tonight for supper, and to meet his daughter, but don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll be on my best behavior. I won\u2019t do anything to embarrass the Cartwright name that I was born with\u2026you\u2019ve worked too hard to make it a name to be proud of, and I am, Pa\u2026I\u2019m proud of you\u2026and\u2026I love you\u2026Happy Father\u2019s Day, Pa.<\/p>\n
Respectfully, your son,<\/p>\n
Joseph Francis Cartwright.<\/p>\n
Ben folded up the letter and put it back into the envelope, holding it within his hands for several minutes before slipping it into his vest pocket. How many times had he read the letter since being delivered two days ago, five, ten, possibly as many as fifteen, and each time he read it, he still felt the tears sting his eyes, wishing that his youngest son was here, with him, on Father\u2019s Day?<\/p>\n
He remained sitting in his leather chair, staring into the fireplace. There was no fire, for nearly mid-June, the weather was entirely too hot and the house too warm to warrant a fire. But the warmth that engulfed Ben was from within; it stemmed from the love that he\u2019d felt in his heart as he read the words written to honor him, from his youngest son. Ben smiled, Joe was his pride and joy, though he loved each of his son\u2019s equally, Joe had, upon his birth and many times since, tapped into a hidden root, deep within his heart and soul that held something special for the boy. Boy, laughed Ben lightly, his son knew him well. \u2018Yes Joseph,\u2019 smiled Ben, \u2018you will always be my little boy, regardless of how old you become. But then, I will, until I draw my last breath, be your father, an honor for which I am proud to hold.\u2019<\/p>\n
Ben stood up and slowly walked to his desk where he picked up the picture of his third wife, Marie, Joe\u2019s mother. With his fingers, he gently caressed the image of her lovely face, and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod surely did bless us, didn\u2019t He, my love?\u201d whispered Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa, ya ready for our toast?\u201d called Hoss, coming from the kitchen, Adam following closely behind.<\/p>\n
Ben set the picture down and turned, smiling at his two older sons, suddenly wishing that he had put off for a few days, the business that had taken from him, his youngest son.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d smiled Ben, accepting the tiny goblet from Adam and holding it steady while he poured the brandy. He waited, patiently, smiling as he recalled Joe\u2019s message, for Adam to pour Hoss and himself a glass.<\/p>\n
When Adam set down the decanter and raised his glass, Hoss, and then Ben followed suit. With three goblets clinging gently, Adam smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the best father ever, we love ya, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben took a sip, Adam swallowed, and Hoss downed half of his goblet\u2019s contents, each man smiling at the others.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, if you may, I want to make a toast,\u201d said Ben, raising his goblet once more and waiting for his sons to join him.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo my sons, all three of them, for without them, I could not be honored with the title of Father. I love each of you, Adam, Hoss and where ever you might be on this night Joseph, I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben clanged his glass against those of his son\u2019s and downed the remainder of his brandy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s nice Pa, thank you,\u201d smiled Adam.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah Pa, thanks,\u201d added Hoss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made a decision, boys,\u201d Ben said, setting his glass on the wide boarded table and then facing his sons.<\/p>\n
Adam and Hoss swapped questioning looks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat decision, Pa?\u201d they said at the same time.<\/p>\n
Ben snickered, \u201cCome July 4th, no one is going away on business, or on the holiday after that, or the one after that or\u2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we get the picture\u2026you miss him, don\u2019t you Pa?\u201d Adam said seriously.<\/p>\n
Ben pinched his lips tightly together, \u201cYes son, I miss him\u2026I should have thought before sending him away, I should have all my sons with me tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
The front door suddenly burst opened. All three heads turned to see what had happened, and stood in total surprise, mouths opened wide in wonder.<\/p>\n
\u201cHappy Father\u2019s Day, Pa,\u201d giggled Little Joe, stumbling into the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoseph!\u201d shouted Ben, gleefully as he crossed the room and engulfed his son in a welcoming hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat on earth happened to you? You look as if you\u2019ve been dragged up and down the Truckee River, you\u2019re a mess!\u201d laughed Ben, gently pushing Joe back and looking him over from head to toe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Pa, I nearly was\u2026I\u2019ve ridden for two solid days,\u201d laughed Joe and then quickly turned serious. \u201cI just couldn\u2019t stand the thoughts of not being here, not today, not on Father\u2019s Day, so I decided to come home\u2026one way or another. I wanted to be here\u2026I wanted to be with\u2026you Pa\u2026to tell you, face to face\u2026I love you, Pa\u2026Happy Father\u2019s Day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe smiled, his eyes had filled with tears and when they rolled silently down his face, they left tiny little white tracks through the dust and dirt that had, over two days of hard riding, covered the boy\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
Ben stepped forward and slipped his arms about his son for the second time. \u201cThank you son, thank you,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t buy you anything\u2026there wasn\u2019t time before I left cause I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need a present, I have all I want, right here,\u201d Ben said, cutting off the remainder of Joe\u2019s sentence. \u201cI have my sons, my most treasures gifts of all.\u201d<\/p>\n
The four had grown suddenly quiet, briefly lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly Joe pulled free of his father\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cSay, let\u2019s have a toast,\u201d he said, turning to his brothers, \u201cto celebrate Father\u2019s Day\u2026to honor Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just did that, short shanks\u2026but let\u2019s do it again, that ain\u2019t bad brandy, ya know!\u201d suggested Hoss.<\/p>\n
They laughed, all of them, for they were together again, and Ben was happy with his lot in life\u2026God had made him a father\u2026a proud one, he surmised, as he watched his three sons together.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy little boys,\u201d he smiled, \u201cmy sons!\u201d<\/p>\n
THE END<\/p>\n
FATHER\u2019S DAY 1862<\/p>\n
(2003)<\/p>\n
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