{"id":14178,"date":"2002-02-16T18:42:35","date_gmt":"2002-02-16T23:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14178"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:05:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:05:05","slug":"bens-birthday-by-vickieb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14178","title":{"rendered":"Ben’s Birthday (by VickieB)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Synopsis: <\/strong>Ben is alone at the Ponderosa on his birthday, but his special day has not been forgotten by his sons.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (1,870 words)<\/p>\n

From Bonanza1 site: \u00a0If the plot seems familiar and overdone, you have been reading other stories on this page. I wrote this story as part of a writer’s challenge on a list. We posted the stories anonymously, then tried to guess who had written each one by the “writer’s voice” in the story. It was fun to try to identify the writer by the style but harder than you might think.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben’s Birthday<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben rolled over and opened one bleary eye. He could tell from the slightly brightening light in the room that it was almost dawn. It was still too dark to see the clock on his dresser, but light enough for the promise of a new day. He considered. \u2018Time to get up and set an example for the boys about early rising. Time to get up, get ready and get down to one of Hop Sing\u2019s delicious breakfasts.\u2019 Except, the boys were all away on business trips; Hop Sing was taking a few days off and Ben Cartwright was alone, totally alone in the house.<\/p>\n

\u2018Happy birthday,\u2019 he thought as he turned over and went back to sleep. \u2018No examples to set, no meal to appear for. Just a few more hours of snatched leisure for the birthday boy.\u2019<\/p>\n

When he finally rose, the clock displayed half past nine in the morning, an unheard of hour to be making an appearance. Ben washed, shaved in cold water, and got dressed. He had made arrangements with Slim the night before for him to do the barn chores in the absence of all three sons, so no one had any idea of the lateness of his wake-up time. \u2018No wonder Joe is so hard to get up, \u2018 Ben mused. \u2018Sleepin\u2019late could get to be a habit.\u2019 Walking down the upstairs hall, Ben noticed the half open door to Joe\u2019s bedroom. Glancing in, he noted that his youngest son had not improved his housekeeping habits as he got older. The bed was thrown together, not made, and clothes dotted the floor. The one incongruity was the fancy green, ruffled shirt hanging on the door of the open wardrobe. Ben thought the shirt made Joe look like a riverboat gambler, but Joe loved it and could hardly wait to wear it for the next dance. Adam had given it to Joe for his last birthday, even as he made fun of Joe\u2019s dandy ways. It hung ready, mute testimony to Joe\u2019s intention to be home in time for the harvest dance on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head at the poorly made bed, but he realized that Joe had not had the intense training Marie had given Adam and Hoss about a properly prepared bed. Neither of those two would ever dare leave a bed unmade, though Marie had been dead some fifteen years.<\/p>\n

Next he glanced into Hoss\u2019s room, seeing the neatly-made, very over-sized bed there, along with bits of wood and leather that his middle son used for his “fiddlin\u2019 and makin” stuff. Another one of Adam\u2019s gifts, this one a gift to a brother grown too big for a regular bed. Ben remembered Adam\u2019s astonishment when he had returned from college, at seeing how big Hoss had gotten. Before Adam left for college, Hoss had been almost as tall as and broader than Adam, but when Adam had come home, he had been greeted by a “little” brother who was several inches taller and weighed fifty-plus pounds more. The first thing Adam had done was order a new bed for his brother\u2019s birthday, an extra long, extra wide bed that had become Hoss\u2019s pride and joy. He claimed it was the only place he could completely stretch out and get comfortable. He certainly snored loudly enough, sleeping in that bed.<\/p>\n

As usual, Adam\u2019s bedroom door was closed tight. Ben wondered if that habit stemmed from his oldest son\u2019s extremely private nature or was based on past experience with a younger brother who had felt free to wreck havoc on others\u2019 belongings. Ben and Marie had taught Adam the hard way to respect a closed door; and Joe, too, had been made to know at a very early age not to enter a closed room without permission, though he had a habit of forgetting to remember that fact. So, Adam\u2019s door was closed and Ben respected that privacy, even though he loved his glimpses into Adam\u2019s private domain, filled with books, drawings, and pictures. He knew that bed was perfectly made and the room neat.<\/p>\n

Downstairs, Ben went into the kitchen and stirred the banked fire in the cook stove. He threw together the makings for coffee, rummaged in the pantry until he found a crusty loaf of bread to slice and some jam to smear on it. Putting bread slices on his plate, he carried the jam and a knife past the dining table to the table in front of the settee. He put the breakfast makings down and walked back to the kitchen for a cup of hot coffee. \u2018Sheese, I made this stuff strong enough to bend a spoon\u2019 he thought as he tasted the brew. Adding several spoons of sugar and a touch of water, he checked again and decided it was drinkable.<\/p>\n

Knowing full well that he would have had a fit if he caught any of the boys eating in the front part of the house, he settled down on the settee with the latest copy of the newspaper and prepared to enjoy a leisurely read. With his boots on the table, he read the first couple of pages of the paper and polished off the bread and coffee. He took his utensils back to the wash tub and put them in the cold water there. Hop Sing had left things ready so that Ben would not have too much to do in the kitchen. And he would either eat at the bunkhouse, take stuff for sandwiches out of the cold box or go to town for an evening meal.<\/p>\n

Ben turned toward his desk and stopped with surprise. There, in the center of the desk rested a box, the kind they used to carry supplies from the store. “What on earth,” he mumbled as he walked to the desk. “How did that get here?” The box had not been on the desk when he went to bed the night before. Today was his birthday and the boys had all been a little upset not to be present for the occasion. He had insisted that ranch business came before celebrations, so they had gone their separate ways reluctantly. “Bet that box is from them. Wonder who put it there,” Ben speculated aloud, just to hear a voice.<\/p>\n

Grinning at the thoughtful sneakiness of his sons, he reached in and took out a heavy, gleaming bottle of brandy. He could tell by the label and appearance that this was a truly fine offering of the liqueur he preferred. Attached to the neck was a note which read Happy birthday, Pa,<\/em> and was signed by all three boys. \u2018Bet Adam picked this out.\u2019 Ben thought. Hoss and Joe preferred the cold beer of the saloon or a shot of whiskey to the brandy Ben drank. Only Adam appreciated a snifter of brandy with conversation after a meal. The other two would take an occasional drink with Ben, but it was not their liquor of choice.<\/p>\n

Rummaging again, Ben drew out a fancily wrapped package that he recognized as a box of elegant chocolate candies from that new confectionery in San Francisco, named Ghirardelli\u2019s. There was no name on the gift, but Ben knew the identity of the giver. He lifted the lid, selected a piece and popped it into his mouth. The bite of bittersweet chocolate and orange cream caressed his tongue and Ben understood Hoss\u2019s love of these sweets. So like his middle son to share food with his father.<\/p>\n

Again he put his hand into the box without looking. \u2018Rather like a grab bag exercise,\u2019 he thought. This time he came up with a paper-wrapped odd-shaped gift, again no name. Opening it, he found it contained a beautiful, hand-carved pipe, with scroll-work and a curved stem. Included were several small bags of aromatic tobacco. Ben smiled tenderly at the thoughtful gift from Joe. “Only Joe truly associates me with a pipe and tobacco,” he mused. When Adam and Hoss had been small, Ben had rolled and smoked an occasional tobacco weed, but it had been Marie who had introduced him to what she considered the more acceptable pipe. Cigars she had despised, saying they stank. But she had loved his pipe, and Joe had always known the loving embrace of a father who smelled of bay rum and pipe smoke. He had several pipes Joe had given him over the years, and he treasured each one for its individual character and for the love of the giver.<\/p>\n

He knew there was one gift left, the one from his oldest son. Adam’s gifts tended to be unusual, and generally perfectly suited to the receiver and the occasion. He drew out a small package wrapped in a deep burgundy-colored cravat. The tie was luscious silk and most unsuitable for a man of his age. Ben loved it. The box was made of polished wood, meant for a dresser knick-knack. Opening it, Ben saw a tiny perfume vial, empty now, but still emitting a scent of roses. He recognized instantly the donor of the bottle. He had, after all, given it to her. Below the bottle rested a rose-colored note with the words Come see me<\/em> in a graceful, feminine handwriting. The address was a luxury suite at the Palace Hotel in Virginia City, finest in the town.<\/p>\n

Ben’s mouth dropped open. \u2018How did …? Where did Adam…?\u2019<\/p>\n

He knew that only Adam could have met Joy at her exclusive San Francisco “club”; only Adam would have the impudence to invite her to Virginia City for a tryst with Ben on his birthday. Ben shook his head at his oldest son’s nerve, ingenuity, and style. Perhaps he needed to check into those San Francisco business trips Adam made; it seemed Adam was doing more than ranch business there. He fingered his gifts for a minute. He could wear the silk scarf; he could share the chocolates and brandy following dinner, and Joy had always liked the scent of his pipe. \u2018Mid afternoon,\u2019 he decided. Time for a bit of work on the ranch, then home to pack a few things. He would go to the barber, then to the bathhouse in town for a good hot soak. He could change at the bathhouse, then answer the summons to visit. He would escort her to the Cattlemen’s Club for dinner, then they would return to the suite for brandy and good conversation. There would be time to ask how Joy had met Adam. Or, maybe, there would be more important things to discuss . . . or do!<\/p>\n

\u2018Happy birthday, Ben!\u2019 he exulted as he left the empty house to do a few chores before HIS party.<\/p>\n

The End<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Ben Cartwright<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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Synopsis: Ben is alone at the Ponderosa on his birthday, but his special day has not been forgotten by his sons.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (1,870 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10416,"featured_media":13010,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1125,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Ben-1.jpg?fit=234%2C234&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14252,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14252","url_meta":{"origin":14178,"position":0},"title":"Birthday Boy (by faust)","author":"faust","date":"April 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Celebrating Adam's birthday was always a somewhat strained affair. But the new addition to the family didn't know that, and so something new happens that has everyone holding their breaths. 870 words, rated K","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\/2014\/04\/WoF-37Edengirl.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/WoF-37Edengirl.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/WoF-37Edengirl.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/WoF-37Edengirl.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3482,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3482","url_meta":{"origin":14178,"position":1},"title":"Killing Cartwrights (by freyakendra)","author":"freyakendra","date":"October 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Total, inane, silliness, prompted by Inca challenging writers to do what no one--or mostly no one, anyway--wants to do: actually kill a Cartwright! 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But the Cartwrights don't realize it's someone else's birthday too ... and he has a secret wish of his own. Rated:\u00a0K \u00a0WC 3300","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\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21977,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=21977","url_meta":{"origin":14178,"position":3},"title":"A Special Day (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"May 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary - Ben has a special day planned for Adam. 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