{"id":13179,"date":"2014-07-28T06:12:17","date_gmt":"2014-07-28T10:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13179"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:11:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:11:39","slug":"half-brothers-by-no1butjoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13179","title":{"rendered":"Half Brothers (by No1ButJoe)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 Joe asks Adam the meaning of the words \u201chalf brother\u201d. Can Adam explain it correctly so a ten-year old Joe can understand?<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count: 1250<\/p>\n

Disclaimer – I don\u2019t own Bonanza or any related characters. No monetary gain is being made from this.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Half Brothers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright was the first to notice the change in his youngest brother. Normally a cheerful, happy-go-lucky boy, ten year old Little Joe Cartwright had recently become subdued, only speaking when being spoken to. He rarely ever smiled and, surprisingly, did his chores without even being asked. It confused Adam for several reasons, but it also worried him a great deal. He vowed to get to the bottom of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, can I ask you something?\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe had just gotten home from school two hours ago and was working on his homework from Miss Jones when he spoke. Sitting in the blue chair by the fireplace reading a book, Adam looked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d he replied, setting the book aside.<\/p>\n

Little Joe dropped his pencil onto the paper he had been writing on before sliding out of his chair and walking slowly over to Adam. A frown was on his face, as if he was thinking long and hard about something. Adam waited patiently for his question. Finally, Joe looked up at his older brother and took a deep breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cW-What\u2019s a half brother?\u201d he asked, his voice soft and shaky.<\/p>\n

The question startled Adam for a moment. Out of all the questions Joe could\u2019ve possibly asked him, he hadn\u2019t even considered that one. He remained silent for a moment or two, pondering how he\u2019d answer without upsetting Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did you hear about that?\u201d he asked, instead.<\/p>\n

Little Joe looked down at his boots, fidgeting a little and placing his weight on one foot, then the other. Adam knew this was a sure sign that Joe was nervous.<\/p>\n

\u201cM-Miss Jones said it,\u201d he replied, quietly. \u201cS-She said that you, me, and Hoss are all half brothers. W-What does it mean, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sighed and closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cA-Adam?\u201d Joe\u2019s voice came again, causing him to look up once more.<\/p>\n

Tears were beginning to form in the younger\u2019s eyes as he struggled to hold them back. Adam didn\u2019t say anything, but a frown appeared on his face as he wondered what was wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cD-Does being half brothers m-mean that we\u2019re n-not really brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n

All of a sudden, it dawned on Adam. He knew what had his little brother so upset and quiet lately. He had been keeping this inside of him all this time, unsure of what was true and what wasn\u2019t. Sitting up a little in the chair, Adam turned to Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Little Joe,\u201d he replied to the question. \u201cYou, Hoss, and I are all brothers. Nothing can change that.\u201d<\/p>\n

A sniff came to his ears as Joe wiped his nose with the back of his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cT-Then why did Miss Jones say-\u201d he started to protest, but Adam interrupted him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Miss Jones doesn\u2019t know what she\u2019s talking about, Little Buddy,\u201d he said, smiling a little. \u201cJust because someone says something doesn\u2019t instantly make it true. Why did you wait so long to ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I was afraid that you\u2019d tell me she was right,\u201d Joe answered, looking down at the floor.<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, she isn\u2019t,\u201d he repeated firmly. \u201cYes, you and I are half brothers and so is Hoss, but that\u2019s just a title. It means that we all have different Ma\u2019s but the same Pa. Do you understand, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t answer from the longest time. He was still looking down at his boots, as if the answers were there.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cS-So it\u2019s t-true?\u201d came his little brother\u2019s choked up voice. \u201cW-We\u2019re only half brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam took a deep breath. This is what he had been afraid of. That Joe would misunderstand what he said. Silently, he wished that Miss Jones had never said anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, listen to me,\u201d he ordered, gently.<\/p>\n

He waited until the boy was still, a sign that he was listening.<\/p>\n

\u201cHalf brothers is just a title,\u201d he started to explain. \u201cJust like \u201cBank Teller\u201d or \u201cSheriff\u201d. It\u2019s just a way to describe something differently than it was originally described. Now, let me ask you a question. Do love Me, Pa, and Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s head jerked up at that question, a hurt look in his eyes as well as surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I do!\u201d he practically shouted.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded and smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought so,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of question was that, Adam?\u201d Joe demanded, anger lacing his words.<\/p>\n

\u201cA necessary one,\u201d came the reply. \u201cJoe, do you remember Stanley Barret?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face scrunched up into a frown as he tried to think back. Finally, he nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cStan? Yeah, I remember him. Why?\u201d he asked, confused as to where his brother was going with this.<\/p>\n

Adam smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you remember how he was adopted by the Wilkersons?\u201d he questioned again.<\/p>\n

Again, Joe nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing half brothers is kind of like that, Little Joe,\u201d Adam went on. \u201cThe Wilkersons loved Stan like he was their own. They didn\u2019t treat him any different than their other children, did they?\u201d<\/p>\n

This time, Joe remained thoughtful. After a few moments, he shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey loved him, Little Buddy,\u201d his older brother spoke, softly. \u201cJust like Hoss and I love you. You are<\/em> our little brother, regardless of us having different mothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam could clearly see the tears appearing in Joe\u2019s eyes and freely running down his face. Unlike before, these were tears of joy, not sorrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cY-You mean it, Adam?\u201d he asked, eagerly and expectantly. \u201cYou ain\u2019t joshing me, are ya?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam placed a hand on Little Joe\u2019s head, ruffling the curls sitting there.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not joshing you,\u201d he reassured him. \u201cNot about something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hug that came next was unexpected, but Adam smiled as Joe squeezed him tight.<\/p>\n

AJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJ<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Jones, may I have a word with you?\u201d Adam asked, politely.<\/p>\n

Last night had ended well, but the oldest Cartwright brother felt it was necessary to have a little chat with Joe\u2019s school teacher about it. Abigail Jones practically blushed when he addressed her and, after excusing herself from the classroom where the children were hard at work, she followed him outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can I do for you, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d she asked, smiling broadly.<\/p>\n

Adam explained the situation as best he could. Once he finished, Miss Jones frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what the problem is, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d she stated. \u201cAll I did was tell him the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s gaze was cold, but his voice was calm and collected.<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Jones, after you said what you did, Little Joe went around believing that Hoss and I weren\u2019t really his brothers,\u201d he explained further. \u201cWhy did you think you needed to announce it to the whole class?\u201d<\/p>\n

The far away, dreamy look that had been in Abigail\u2019s eyes vanished at the sudden question. Flustered, an angry look appeared on her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was giving the children an example,\u201d she defended. \u201cHow was I to know that young Joseph wasn\u2019t aware of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ask, Miss Jones,\u201d came the curt reply.<\/p>\n

Without another word, the school teacher huffed and stormed back into the school house.<\/p>\n

Later that day, Adam witnessed a boisterous Little Joe ride into the yard, followed by a new friend from school, Timmy Barns. While the two boys dismounted their horses, Adam could clearly hear their conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Little Joe,\u201d Timmy called out. \u201cWho\u2019s that man standing there on your porch?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam could feel his youngest brothers eyes on him and a smile came to his face at the answer he heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s just my older brother, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/u> All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Joe asks Adam the meaning of the words \u201chalf brother\u201d. Can Adam explain it correctly so a ten-year old Joe can understand?<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count: 1250<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2618,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/bonanza-1.jpg?fit=193%2C140&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7582,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7582","url_meta":{"origin":13179,"position":0},"title":"Doctor’s Orders (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Ben and Adam face off over the doctor\u2019s orders. Rated:\u00a0K+\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a0887","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adam_11.jpg?fit=796%2C638&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adam_11.jpg?fit=796%2C638&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adam_11.jpg?fit=796%2C638&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adam_11.jpg?fit=796%2C638&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10352,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10352","url_meta":{"origin":13179,"position":1},"title":"Chopped (by bahj)","author":"bahj","date":"October 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: It's a race against the clock as the three Cartwright brothers use whatever's on hand to prepare a dinner for twenty! Rated: Family Friendly\u00a0 Word count: 1800","rel":"","context":"In "Humor"","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/brothers.jpg?fit=399%2C299&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7728,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7728","url_meta":{"origin":13179,"position":2},"title":"I’ve Got A Secret (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Little Joe knows a secret Adam would rather he did not tell. Rated: K+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a01085","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14392,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14392","url_meta":{"origin":13179,"position":3},"title":"The First Born Returns (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"January 12, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Clay Stafford returns to the Ponderosa. Rating: \u00a0T \u00a0(2,500 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7668,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7668","url_meta":{"origin":13179,"position":4},"title":"Stampede (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0A cattle drive, a stampede, and one guilty Cartwright make for a simple little tale. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+\u00a0 Word count:\u00a0 1211","rel":"","context":"In "Action\/Adventure"","block_context":{"text":"Action\/Adventure","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/cattle-drive.jpg?fit=357%2C267&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25624,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=25624","url_meta":{"origin":13179,"position":5},"title":"Christmas Spirit (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"December 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Little Joe learns something special about Christmas, with the help of his brothers. Rating: T, WC 947","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/St.-Nicholas.jpg?fit=600%2C539&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/St.-Nicholas.jpg?fit=600%2C539&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/St.-Nicholas.jpg?fit=600%2C539&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13179","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\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13179\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}