{"id":1293,"date":"2013-08-05T07:12:40","date_gmt":"2013-08-05T11:12:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1293"},"modified":"2025-08-01T13:29:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T17:29:18","slug":"out-of-boredom-comes-fishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1293","title":{"rendered":"Out of Boredom Comes Fishing (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0<\/strong>It’s only been a few months since Adam left the Ponderosa; this story finds Hop Sing and Little Joe\u00a0in the kitchen, talking.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

A Seedling’s Challenge inspired story.\u00a0 — Rating K (590 words)<\/span><\/p>\n

The final page contains reviews left under the old BonanzaBrand library.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

OUT OF BOREDOM COMES FISHING<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Lit\u2019le Joe do?\u201d asked Hop Sing as he entered the kitchen after gathering eggs from the chicken coop.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothin\u2019,\u201d Little Joe answered as he sat on the stool, elbows on the countertop, chin resting on his hands, legs swinging back and forth in boredom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy you not help father?\u201d Hop Sing asked in his stilted English, having forgotten Ben was spending the afternoon working on his ledgers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how ta do my numbers; Adam said Papa’s books are im-por-tant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy you not help Hoss?\u201d Hop Sing asked as he carried the water-filled pot from the sink pump to the stove.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe an Pete rode to check on them cows,\u201d Joe mumbled, crossing his arms onto the countertop and laying his head sideways upon his arms.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing, when will Adam come home?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNumber one brother go to college, come home when learn plenty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI miss him,\u201d Joe stated, his legs still swinging under the stool.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy you not write him letter?\u201d Hop Sing asked, his back to the little boy as he placed the eggs into the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Papa\u2019s busy, can\u2019t help me,\u201d Joe sighed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI help, I get paper and pencil for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A few minutes later, Hop Sing returned with the necessary items.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do I write?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not tell brother you miss him and what you do while he gone,\u201d suggested Hop Sing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNa, Papa and Hoss done that in their letters,\u201d Joe stated as he tried to pick the pencil up in his right hand in mirror of his father, but gave up when he couldn\u2019t figure it out.\u00a0 So he switched the pencil to his left hand and began his letter.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You think of something,” Hop Sing encouraged.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking over his young charge\u2019s shoulder, Hop Sing smiled as the boy began to draw pictures over the sheet of paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

Time had passed; Hop Sing Hop Sing removed the pot with the boiling water and eggs from the stove to the sink.\u00a0 As the cook turned back to face the boy he asked, \u201cWhat you tell brother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe pointed to his drawings as he read his letter.\u00a0 Across the top of the page there were several circles within another shape that Hop Sing didn\u2019t recognize, then a heart, followed by an abstract cloud with a head and legs, vaguely looking like a sheep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe explained the circularly thing was an eye and the heart meant love; \u201c I love\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy tell brother you love sheep?\u201d Hop Sing inquired with a startled tone.\u00a0 \u201cPonderosa cattle ranch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s not a sheep, it\u2019s a ewe,\u201d Joe pronounced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smiling at the boy\u2019s inventiveness in not knowing how to spell the words, he drew pictures instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

After drawing to tell his brother that he loved him, Joe had drawn a house, a barn, the Ponderosa brand, and four stick figures holding something \u2018somewhat\u2019 straight with squiggly lines going to a large, ill-shaped circle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you tell Adam here,\u201d Hop Sing asked as he pointed to the drawing that took up the bottom half of the sheet of paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI tell Adam to come home to the Ponderosa so Pa, Hoss, and me can go fishing with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

~The End<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s only been a few months since Adam left the Ponderosa to attend college, it appears its going to be a very long time to Little Joe before his brother comes home.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Story Tags: Hop Sing, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The following are reviews\/comments left by readers under the old BonanzaBrand Library:<\/span><\/p>\n

Reviewer: JoaniePaiute<\/a><\/span>
\n Date: 26 Aug 2013 08:18 am Title: Out of Boredom Comes Fishing<\/span><\/p>\n

What a sweet story, Bluewind! I love Hop Sing’s wise encouragement here, and his relationship with Joe. Also love the way you show us how smart and creative Joe is. I’m honored that a Seedling challenge inspired this–great job!<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

JoaniePaiute, thank you for creating the Seedling Challenge in the forums, I love how one word can send the various contributors into different thought processes to come up with unique stories.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

And Yes, even at this age Joe is smart, and at times like these I’m thankful that Hop Sing is there for him.\u00a0 \u00a0\ud83d\ude09<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

**********<\/span><\/p>\n

Reviewer: JoeC<\/a><\/span>
\n Date: 08 Aug 2013 12:14 pm Title: Out of Boredom Comes Fishing<\/span><\/p>\n

What a sweet story. I could see Joe sitting with Hop Sing. Wonderful idea to use the oldest “language” of the human race; pictures. Thanx. JoeC<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi JoeC, I took a while to figure out how to have young Joe actually ‘write’ a letter without his Pa or his brother there to help him.\u00a0 At first I had Hop Sing bring Joe one of his ‘alphabet’ books, but then I didn’t know if Hop Sing would even know how to spell in English.\u00a0 So I came up with the next best thing – pictures.\u00a0 And as they say, a picture paints a thousand words (unfortunately, I was limited to 500 as a criteria for this Seedling Challenge).\u00a0 I’m glad you enjoyed.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

**********<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Reviewer: faust<\/a><\/span>
\n Date: 08 Aug 2013 11:43 am Title: Out of Boredom Comes Fishing<\/span><\/p>\n

I can clearly picture the drawings! How sweet!<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi Faust, I’m glad your minds-eye could see the drawings; and anything with a ‘young’ cartwright has to be sweet.\u00a0 Don’t you agree?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

**********<\/span><\/p>\n

Reviewer: jcg Bonanzababe<\/span>
\n Date: 06 Aug 2013 08:46 pm Title: Out of Boredom Comes Fishing<\/span><\/p>\n

Cute story! Thanks<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Jcg Bonanzababe – I’m glad you enjoyed the story and took a moment to leave a review.\u00a0 Thank you<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

**********<\/span><\/p>\n

Reviewer: Sibylle<\/a><\/span>
\n Date: 06 Aug 2013 12:51 pm Title: Out of Boredom Comes Fishing<\/span><\/p>\n

What a cute story! I loved it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Sibylle, thank you for taking the time to read and letting me know you loved it.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Deanne \/ aka BluewindFarm<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

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

Summary: \u00a0It’s only been a few months since Adam left the Ponderosa; this story finds Hop Sing and Little Joe\u00a0in the kitchen, talking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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