{"id":2280,"date":"2009-09-07T05:00:48","date_gmt":"2009-09-07T09:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2280"},"modified":"2026-03-07T18:55:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T23:55:10","slug":"and-so-the-sad-tale-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2280","title":{"rendered":"And So The Sad Tale Begins (by JoanS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Ben comes home to find trouble in the house<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span> K (6,270 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And So The Sad Tale Begins<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright eased himself off his horse slowly and sighed as he straightened up. He rubbed his back thoughtfully as he patted his horse\u2019s muzzle, for it had been a long day and he was aching for a good hot meal and a soft bed to ease himself into. Negotiating those contracts with the army had been hard enough, but having to go to Reno had made it twice as difficult and he was so glad to be home again. Halfway home his weary bones had cried out for rest and he\u2019d regretted the decision not to stay overnight there, but now that he was standing here in the front yard he felt as if it was all worth the effort. There was nothing like coming home, he decided.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The lights of the house beckoned eagerly to him, but years of habit forced him to turn towards the barn instead. Wearily he walked the few steps towards the building, intending as always to look after his horse\u2019s needs before his own. He jumped slightly as a dim figure came out of the shadows towards him. \u201cCharlie?\u201d he said as he recognised The Ponderosa foreman. \u201cWhat are you doing here at this hour?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlie shrugged casually, but Ben noticed that his eyes didn\u2019t meet those of his employer. \u201cJust taking a walk,\u201d he said vaguely. \u201cI\u2019ll look after your horse for you boss. Reckon you\u2019d best get inside.\u201d He grabbed hold of the horse\u2019s reins quickly and began to walk into the barn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHold on there,\u201d said Ben in a puzzled tone. \u201cWhat do you mean by that remark?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlie shrugged again and scratched his chin thoughtfully. \u201cWell it ain\u2019t for me to say,\u201d he said, obviously choosing his words carefully. \u201cOnly \u2026 well I reckon with all the noises that have been coming from the house, that you\u2019d best be getting over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben closed his eyes momentarily, envisaging all sorts of trouble. \u201cI see,\u201d he said, after a moment\u2019s hesitation, although he didn\u2019t really. \u201cThanks Charlie. I am a bit weary and putting up my horse is one thing I can do without.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charlie shook his head as his boss turned away from him and then led the horse into the barn. \u201cGlad that it\u2019s him and not me,\u201d he muttered to the animal under his breath.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben strained his ears as he approached the house, anxious to hear whatever it was that Charlie had been referring to, but the house was deathly quiet. Ben\u2019s blood froze as he considered the possibilities that Charlie might have meant, yet he felt certain that if it had been something serious like a fire or marauding Indians that the man would have said so. Still, he didn\u2019t like to take a chance, so as one hand grasped hold of the front doorknob, the other pulled his pistol out of its holster in readiness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Ben opened the front door, his first thought was that his instincts had been right and marauding Indians had ransacked the house. He stood in amazement at the chaos around him, not knowing where to look first.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two of the light fittings were hanging crookedly from the ceiling, the dining room table was decidedly crooked, there was soot all over the ceiling and walls, something was hanging from the steer-horns above the fireplace \u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shut his eyes before he could see what else was wrong and then opened them again reluctantly as he turned towards the front wall of the house. Over in his study, his normally tidy desk was strewn with papers, the shutters on the far windows were falling off their hinges, the curtains had been ripped at one end, the bookcases behind his desk had fallen over and books were strewn everywhere. Over near the staircase, the Indian blanket that always hung there had been haphazardly thrown onto the floor and on it were piled several guns from the gun rack.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBoys!\u201d he shouted anxiously, fingering his gun as he looked around the room. \u201cAdam! Hoss! Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To his immense relief, a curly head poked up from behind the sofa and Joe\u2019s face smiled tentatively at him. \u201cHi Pa,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben drew a deep breath. \u201cWhere are your brothers?\u201d he asked quickly. \u201cAre they all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cThey\u2019re fine,\u201d he assured his father. He stood up and looked around mournfully. \u201cWe had a bit of trouble,\u201d he said with a sigh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben put his gun back in its holster. \u201cWhat was it?\u201d he asked. \u201cBanditos? Indians? Tell me \u2026 what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe swallowed. \u201cWell, not exactly,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave your brothers gone for the sheriff?\u201d asked Ben, striding across the room towards the fireplace. To his surprise, he kicked up several things on the floor as he walked which could only be described as \u2026. \u201cFeathers?\u201d he said in surprise. \u201cWhere on earth did all these feathers come from?\u201d Joe smiled at his father, but even through his own anxiety Ben noticed that his son\u2019s smile was a mighty anxious one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey came from the chickens,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben tried to get his mind around what his son had said. \u201cChickens?\u201d he said at last. \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFeathers come from chickens,\u201d explained Joe simply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben closed his eyes for a moment and counted to ten. \u201cI know that Joe,\u201d he said, opening them again. \u201cWhat I\u2019m asking is \u2026 what they are doing in the house?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shrugged. \u201cThe chickens or the feathers?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLord give me patience!\u201d said Ben angrily. \u201cYou are making me very angry Joseph! Tell me where your brothers are!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re in the kitchen,\u201d said Joe, taking a step backwards. \u201cHoss is tending to Adam\u2019s back.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHis back?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cWhat happened to his back?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe hurt it when he fell off the table,\u201d explained Joe. \u201cIt was his own fault though cause I told him not to get up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben walked over and sat on the sofa, noting as he did so that Joe edged away from it. He was beginning to think that the havoc that he saw around him might have more to do with his sons that visiting banditos or Indians and the thought made his blood boil. \u201cGet your brothers in here,\u201d he said sternly. \u201cMaybe they\u2019ll make more sense of this than you are, young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I am<\/em> making sense,\u201d Joe protested. \u201cI told you that Adam hurt his back when he fell off the table.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was he doing on the table in the first place?\u201d asked Ben, against his better judgement.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was trying to get a chicken off the light fitting,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI told him it was better to use a broom though, like Hoss was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLet me get this straight,\u201d said Ben. \u201cYour brothers were trying to get chickens out of the house? Pray tell, what were they doing in the house in the first place?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe chickens, or Adam and Hoss?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben took a deep breath. \u201cThe chickens!\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d said Joe, taking a step backwards. \u201cWell, they came in through the kitchen when Hoss left the door open.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell that was a stupid thing to do,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I told him,\u201d replied Joe. \u201cBut I guess he was kinda busy, what with the fire and all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe fire?\u201d asked Ben, looking up at his son weakly. \u201cWhat fire? Where?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIn the kitchen,\u201d said Joe. \u201cOh, don\u2019t worry Pa. It wasn\u2019t a bad one. Nothing much was burnt, except for Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Joe casually. He turned as his brothers came into the room. \u201cHe\u2019ll tell you about it,\u201d he said, indicating a sorry-looking Hoss. \u201cTell Pa about the fire Hoss,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss gave his younger brother a dark look before turning to his father. \u201cHi Pa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you hi Pa<\/em> me!\u201d exploded Ben. \u201cWhat\u2019s this about you and a fire?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked somewhat shamefaced and Ben noticed that his hair had been slightly singed at the front. \u201cAre you all right son?\u201d he asked anxiously.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he said. \u201cJust a bit burnt in a couple of places,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s fine,\u201d said Adam, hobbling across the room and sitting down gingerly on the blue chair next to the fireplace. \u201cI\u2019m the one who\u2019s in pain here. Does no one care?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben stared at his eldest son and noted the large wad of cloth that he held to his back. \u201cYou fell?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he replied. \u201cI must have landed the wrong way and pinched a nerve or something.\u201d He pointed a finger at Hoss accusingly. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t have happened if he hadn\u2019t let those chickens in.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to,\u201d said Hoss indignantly. \u201cAnyway I had my hands full with other things at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe fire?\u201d said Ben. \u201cI still haven\u2019t found out about that yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe fire,\u201d said Hoss with a nod of his head. \u201cWhich this one here caused.\u201d He pointed at Joe accusingly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d squeaked Joe. \u201cThat ain\u2019t true Pa,\u201d he assured his father. \u201cHe was the one that lit the stove in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell it wouldn\u2019t have lit up the curtains if it hadn\u2019t been for you firing that gun!\u201d said Hoss grimly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGun?\u201d interrupted their father. \u201cWhat gun? And why were you firing a gun in the house young man?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt went off accidentally,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe second one did,\u201d said Adam. \u201cThe first one was your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe second one?\u201d said Ben, looking from one son to the other. \u201cWill someone please start at the beginning? I have no idea what you\u2019re all talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are Pa,\u201d said Joe patiently. \u201cYou haven\u2019t been listening.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you say young man!?\u201d Ben exploded. Joe took a step backwards at the look in his father\u2019s eye. \u201cI come home to \u2026.\u201d Ben waved his hands around the chaos in the room angrily. \u201c\u2026 to this!\u201d he shouted. \u201cTell me one good reason why all of this happened?\u201d he said. \u201cI want one of you to make some sense!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCalm down Pa,\u201d said Adam soothingly. \u201cI managed to get control of things and no one was hurt. Well \u2026\u201d he added. \u201cApart from my back and a few superficial burns for Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about me?\u201d demanded Joe. \u201cI count too, you know! I hurt my head and my shoulder when I hit that bookcase!\u201d He rubbed his head mournfully and gave his father one of his best puppy-dog looks, but Ben took no notice of it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was your own fault,\u201d said Adam. \u201cI have no sympathy for you. Sliding over Pa\u2019s desk like that was just plain stupid Joe. You\u2019re lucky that nothing more than the picture frames were \u2026.\u201d He stopped as he realised what he\u2019d said, and stared at his father apologetically for a moment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes flashed with anger. \u201cPicture frames?\u201d he said, sitting up straight on the sofa. \u201cPlease tell me that you\u2019re not talking about your mothers\u2019 picture frames on my desk?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid so,\u201d said Adam, when it was clear that neither of his brothers were going to speak. \u201cJoe knocked them to the floor when he slid across your desk.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to!\u201d said Joe quickly. \u201cBesides, they\u2019re just a little bit bent. Honest Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGet them!\u201d demanded his father. \u201cNow!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe walked meekly over to his father\u2019s desk and picked up the three gold frames that were lying on it. He brought them over to his father and handed them to him, keeping himself a full arm\u2019s distance from the man while he did so. \u201cSee?\u201d he said as Ben fingered them gently. \u201cThey\u2019re just a bit bent on one side. They can be fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better hope so Joseph,\u201d said Ben in a steely voice as he hugged the frames close to his chest. \u201cOr your life won\u2019t be worth living, young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGee Pa, I didn\u2019t mean to do it,\u201d said Joe defensively. \u201cIt just all happened so quickly. I had to move real fast when that second shot went off and \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI still don\u2019t understand why there were two gunshots,\u201d interrupted Ben. \u201cWill someone please start at the beginning?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to Pa,\u201d said Joe. \u201cBut you keep interrupting us.\u201d He swallowed at the look that his father gave him and took a step backwards again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe first shot happened when Joe fired it into the floor,\u201d explained Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d shouted Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry Pa,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cIt only made a little hole.\u201d He indicated a small hole in the floorboard next to the fireplace. \u201cIt didn\u2019t hit no-one.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph? Why were you handling a loaded gun in the house in the first place?\u201d asked Ben angrily.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI got it out of the gun rack because of the racoon,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRacoon?\u201d asked his father, not knowing if it was wise to ask.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I couldn\u2019t think of any other way to get rid of it,\u201d said Joe. \u201cAnd if it hadn\u2019t been for Hoss everything would have been fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou were going to shoot it,\u201d said Hoss accusingly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDamn right I was,\u201d said Joe and then clamped his hand over his mouth. \u201cSorry Pa,\u201d he said quickly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben decided to ignore the cuss word under the circumstances.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs if I\u2019d let you shoot a poor defenceless animal,\u201d said Hoss in a huffy tone. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t doing you no harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell he mightn\u2019t have been doing Joe any harm,\u201d interrupted Adam. \u201cBut he sure was wreaking havoc with the walls.\u201d He indicated several scratch marks on the daubed walls that Ben up to this point hadn\u2019t noticed. \u201cYou should have let Joe shoot it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d echoed Joe smugly. \u201cYou shoulda let me shoot it Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss gave both his brothers dark looks and said nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow did a racoon get in here in the first place?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cDid he come in with the chickens?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHeck no Pa,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cHe came in to get some fruit I reckon.\u201d He indicated the bowl of apples on the table as if that explained everything.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFruit?\u201d asked Ben, sitting back on the sofa. He was beginning to feel quite light-headed with all of this.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRacoons like fruit,\u201d explained Hoss simply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben waited, but no one spoke. \u201cSo?\u201d he said finally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I reckon that the racoon just came in to help himself,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI didn\u2019t think that he coulda walked after falling from that tree, but he did.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTree?\u201d asked Ben in a soft voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOutside the back door,\u201d Hoss went on. \u201cI found him on the ground out there and I thought he was dead. I put him in a box just inside the house, meaning to go and bury him after supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhich you burnt by the way,\u201d said Adam accusingly. \u201cAll that fuss in the kitchen and we never did get any supper!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss made a face at his brother. \u201cWell, I\u2019d like to see you cook something with all them animals roaming around the house,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFinish about the racoon first,\u201d said Ben, holding up a hand to silence his sons. \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure Pa,\u201d said Hoss, giving Adam a smug look. \u201cSo anyways, the racoon came back to life \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cObviously it was never dead in the first place,\u201d interrupted Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell duh!\u201d said Joe. \u201cAnyone could have figured that out professor.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPlease!\u201d said Ben. \u201cHoss \u2026 continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. \u201cWell he came back to life and came in here to help himself to some apples I reckon.\u201d He glared at Joe. \u201cBut younger brother here decided to get a gun and shoot him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was scratching all the walls!\u201d said Joe indignantly. He turned to his father and gave him one of his charming smiles. \u201cI knew you wouldn\u2019t approve of that Pa,\u201d he said, but his smile disappeared when he noticed that his father didn\u2019t return it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou could have just shooed him out!\u201d shouted Hoss. \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to try and shoot him!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI did!\u201d Joe shouted back. \u201cI\u2019m not completely heartless you know!\u201d He looked at his father again. \u201cHe just wouldn\u2019t go,\u201d he explained in a quieter tone. \u201cI even held the front door open for him, but he wouldn\u2019t go!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s when the chickens came in?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cWhile you were holding the front door open?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Adam. \u201cThey came in through the kitchen door when Hoss left it open.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I wouldn\u2019t have left it open, only that the smoke needed to escape somewhere,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI thought it made sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cSo we\u2019re back to the fire again,\u201d he said. \u201cHow did that start?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Hoss\u2019 fault,\u201d said Joe, pointing at his brother. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t anything to do with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 mouth dropped open and he gave his younger brother an incredulous look. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said. \u201cWhy you little \u2026.\u201d He reached for Joe, but his younger brother took a sideways step out of his reach. \u201cIt was all Joe\u2019s fault,\u201d said Hoss, turning to his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy fault?\u201d squeaked Joe. \u201cI wasn\u2019t the one who decided to light the stove in the first place. You were the one who had to cook something to eat or die!\u201d He turned to his father triumphantly. \u201cThat\u2019s what he said,\u201d he told the man smugly. \u201cCause Hop Sing ain\u2019t here, he said he was gonna die if he didn\u2019t get any decent food.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben held up a hand feebly. \u201cHop Sing lights that stove every day,\u201d he said. \u201cHow come the moment that someone else lights it, there\u2019s a fire?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell it wasn\u2019t the stove exactly that was the problem,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cIt was more the pan that slid off it and the sparks caught onto the curtains.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd why did the pan slide off?\u201d asked Ben, knowing that he might regret asking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCause of the gunshot,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben put his face in his hands. \u201cThat gunshot again,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYa see Joe was aiming at the racoon,\u201d continued Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I missed it and hit the floor,\u201d interrupted Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank goodness,\u201d said Hoss, glancing at his brother again. \u201cAnyways Pa, the sound of the gunshot made the pan slip in my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And it slid off and then the curtains caught alight,\u201d continued Adam. \u201cThat\u2019s when Hoss opened the back door to let the smoke out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s when the chickens came in,\u201d said Joe. \u201cYou see Pa? It\u2019s all making sense now, ain\u2019t it?\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben glared at his son and said nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThose chickens wouldn\u2019t have come in if you\u2019d shut them in the henhouse like you were supposed to,\u201d said Adam, pointing at Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I was going to,\u201d said Joe defensively. \u201cOnly I was busy with the racoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when the chickens came into the kitchen they started squawking all over the place,\u201d said Hoss mournfully and pointed to the burn marks on his arms and his singed hair. \u201cAnd that\u2019s how I got all burnt,\u201d he said. \u201cI was trying to put the fire out with all them chickens all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d said Ben. \u201cIt\u2019s beginning to make a little bit of sense now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it would,\u201d said Joe, grinning at his father. \u201cYou just needed to concentrate a bit Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben drew a deep breath, but said nothing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd all Hoss\u2019 carrying on in the kitchen then scared the chickens into the living room,\u201d said Adam. \u201cThat\u2019s when I hurt my back.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCause he climbed up on the dining room table,\u201d said Joe accusingly. \u201cStupid thing to do, if you ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo one is asking you,\u201d said Adam, gingerly feeling his hurt back. \u201cSomeone had to take control.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTake control?\u201d said Joe. \u201cYou weren\u2019t taking control! You were just making things worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes narrowed as he glared at his brother. \u201cIf it hadn\u2019t been for me, things would have been a lot worse,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that particular chicken would have put a lot more soot on the roof as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to ask about the soot,\u201d said Ben, sitting up straight and looking around at the blackened walls and the ceiling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting to that Pa,\u201d said Joe, patting his father\u2019s shoulder. \u201cJust be a bit patient and you\u2019ll hear about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his son\u2019s hand off impatiently. \u201cYou watch yourself, young man,\u201d he said in a low tone and Joe instantly took his hand away. He gave his father a tentative smile, but when Ben simply glared at him he turned it into a cough. \u201cGo on,\u201d said Ben, turning to Adam. \u201cTell me about the soot.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere was this one chicken that got into the fireplace,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI hope it wasn\u2019t lit at the time,\u201d interrupted Ben quickly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOtherwise we could have had roast chicken for that supper that Hoss never finished cooking for us,\u201d giggled Joe and then coughed again as his father glared at him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell anyway,\u201d continued Adam, also glaring at Joe. \u201cThe chicken got into the fireplace and was all coated with soot. Then Hoss tried to get it out with the broom.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben held up his hand. \u201cHold on there,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought that Hoss was putting the fire out in the kitchen?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was Pa,\u201d interjected Hoss. \u201cBut this was after I got it under control. I came in to see what the shot was all about.\u201d He glared at Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d said Adam. \u201cSo Hoss was trying to get the chicken out of the fireplace with the broom \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut it flew up and sat on the horns above the fireplace,\u201d interrupted Joe. \u201cI tried to get it down \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBy standing on the coffee table,\u201d said Adam. \u201cAnd you had the hide to then complain when I stood on the dining room table.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe coffee table ain\u2019t nowhere near as high as the dining room table,\u201d said Joe defensively.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cWhy would you climb onto the dining room table to get the chicken when it was above the fireplace?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt started off above the fireplace,\u201d said Adam, giving his father a patient look. \u201cBut when this one \u2026\u201d He jerked his thumb towards Joe. \u201c \u2026. decided to shoo it off, it landed on the light fitting above the dining room table.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd left a whole heap of feathers up there when it did,\u201d said Joe, pointing to the clump of feathers hanging from the horns.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam ignored the comment. \u201cSo I climbed up onto the dining room table and while I was trying to get the chicken down, I fell.\u201d He held onto his back and gave everyone a mournful look. \u201cNo one seems to care that I\u2019m in a lot of pain either.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe never did get the chicken neither,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he cracked a couple of those chair legs when he fell,\u201d added Joe smugly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs if that was my fault!\u201d snapped Adam crossly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell if you hadn\u2019t have climbed up there in the first place then they wouldn\u2019t have got broke!\u201d said Joe triumphantly. He turned to his father. \u201cI told him not to Pa, but he took no notice of me. No one ever takes any notice of me. If I \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBe quiet Joseph!\u2019 snapped Ben irritably.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s jaw dropped. \u201cBut you said you wanted to know what happened!\u201d he said. \u201cI was only trying to help!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike you tried to help when Adam fell,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cYou just made things worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo one around here appreciates me,\u201d said Joe in a huffy tone. \u201cWho was it that stopped the light fitting from falling?\u201d He pointed to the lop-sighted light fitting above the dining room table. \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t jumped up and grabbed hold of that, then it would have fallen on big brother here,\u201d he said, crossing his arms across his chest and giving his two brothers a superior look.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI caught Adam,\u201d Hoss explained to their father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot in time,\u201d snapped Adam. \u201cYou could have been a bit quicker. I managed to land pretty heavily before you reached me.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged. \u201cI did the best I could,\u201d he said. \u201cUnder the circumstances,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCircumstances?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe raccoon,\u201d explained Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAh!\u201d said Ben. \u201cI\u2019d forgotten about the raccoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou gotta concentrate Pa,\u201d said Joe. \u201cYou won\u2019t understand unless you do.\u201d He didn\u2019t seem to notice the look his father gave him, but continued unabashed. \u201cThat raccoon was still sitting there watching everything that was happening,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd Hoss kinda tripped on it while he was reaching for Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo kinda about it,\u201d said Hoss bitterly. \u201cI really fell on it hard. I hope it was OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI saw it run out the front door after you\u2019d half squashed it,\u201d said Joe. \u201cSo I reckon it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI\u2019d hate to think that it had been hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben threw up his hands in dismay. \u201cOh by all means!\u201d he said sarcastically. \u201cWorry about the blasted raccoon when you were in the process of totally demolishing the house!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam caught onto his father\u2019s sarcasm. \u201cIt\u2019s not that bad,\u201d he said, looking around. \u201cNothing that a bit of work won\u2019t fix.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better hope so,\u201d said Ben, hugging the picture to his chest. \u201cI still don\u2019t know how my study got to be in such a shambles,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was Joe,\u201d said Adam, turning to his youngest brother. \u201cHe was responsible for all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe slid over the desk,\u201d added Hoss. \u201cThat\u2019s when the frames got ruined.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe already told him that,\u201d countered Joe. \u201cSides, they\u2019re not ruined,\u201d he said. \u201cJust a bit bent.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy were you sliding on my desk in the first place Joseph?\u201d asked his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of the second gunshot,\u201d said Joe patiently. \u201cI already said that before, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head that was by now beginning to hurt. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe opened his mouth to say something, but the look in his father\u2019s eyes made him close it again quickly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe second shot was me Pa,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah!\u201d countered Joe. \u201cIt weren\u2019t me that time!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou be quiet and let your brother speak,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I helped Adam onto a chair \u2026\u201d began Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhich happened to be one of the broken ones,\u201d interrupted Adam. \u201cAnd I promptly fell onto the floor again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou looked real funny doing that,\u201d said Joe with a slight giggle. Adam reached for him, but Joe easily avoided the contact. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said. \u201cYou did!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d shouted Ben. \u201cBe quiet!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I\u2019d best put all the guns away,\u201d continued Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head again. \u201cAll the guns?\u201d he said. \u201cI thought that Joe only used one? Why were all the guns on the floor?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of the chickens,\u201d said Joe instantly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe chickens,\u201d repeated Joe. \u201cYou didn\u2019t tell him that bit,\u201d he said, turning to Hoss accusingly. \u201cHow\u2019s he gonna understand it all if you keep leaving bits out?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was coming to that part,\u201d counted Hoss. \u201cAll the guns were on the floor cause of the chickens,\u201d he said. \u201cThe one that got in the fireplace kinda spooked all the rest and they started flying around the room.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a couple of em got caught up in the gun rack and all the guns fell off,\u201d finished Hoss. \u201cSo I thought I\u2019d better put em back.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo I did,\u201d said Hoss simply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOnly in the process of putting them back, one of them went off,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAccidentally,\u201d chimed in Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy on earth was it loaded in the first place?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cThose guns are never loaded!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell little brother here was to blame for that,\u201d said Hoss, pointing to Joe who looked somewhat shamefaced at his words. \u201cSeems like he put more than one bullet in the gun when he loaded it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I thought I might have needed more than one bullet,\u201d said Joe defensively. \u201cAnd I did,\u201d he added smugly. \u201cThat first one never went near him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo Hoss nearly killed everyone because you\u2019re a bad shot,\u201d said Adam sarcastically.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI am not a bad shot!\u201d shouted Joe. \u201cThat raccoon was just tricky, that\u2019s all. He moved too fast. Besides,\u201d he added. \u201cI was the only one who nearly got killed. No one else.\u201d He turned to his father. \u201cI was standing just over here,\u201d he said, pointing to the middle of the room. \u201cAnd when the shot went off I had to move real fast Pa.\u201d He gave his father a puppy-dog look again. \u201cI nearly got killed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben muttered something under his breath, but none of his sons caught what it was. \u201cAnd that\u2019s when you slid over my desk,\u201d he said next.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was the only thing I could do to get under cover real fast. The only problem was that the shot went into the bookcase over there against the wall \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the bookcase fell down,\u201d continued Hoss. \u201cAnd a whole heap of them books fell down too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I got hit on the head with a couple,\u201d said Joe, running his head and looking around for sympathy but finding none. \u201cI banged up my shoulder too,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a pity about you,\u201d said Adam sarcastically. \u201cDoes no one care how much pain I\u2019m in here?\u201d He stretched himself tentatively and then winced. \u201cWhat about all of Pa\u2019s books?\u201d he asked. \u201cBook are precious things and shouldn\u2019t be thrown all over the place like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t exactly throw them,\u201d countered Joe. \u201cThey fell.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I\u2019d like to know is how the shutters became broken,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, well that was because I was holding onto em when I fell,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI had to grab onto something to stop from falling,\u201d he added. \u201cBut it didn\u2019t work and I guess I pulled em off their hinges.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd ripped the curtains in the process as well,\u201d added Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell yeah,\u201d admitted Joe. \u201cBut all your other stuff on the wall is OK Pa,\u201d he said, smiling at his father. \u201cSee?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAll I can see Joseph, are the papers that I\u2019ve been working on strewn all over my desk,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you worry about them,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI\u2019ll sort em out for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben pointed his finger at his youngest son. \u201cYou stay away from those papers young man!\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019ve done enough damage!\u201d He put his face in his hands and shook his head. \u201cI just don\u2019t understand it,\u201d he said in a low voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe sat down next to his father and put his arm around his shoulder in a comforting way. \u201cDon\u2019t you?\u201d he said kindly. \u201cI\u2019ll tell it all again then. You see Pa, there was this raccoon \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben looked up and shook his son\u2019s arm away, giving him a steely look. \u201cBe quiet!\u201d he said sternly. \u201cWhat I don\u2019t understand is how three grown men can cause such chaos in such a short time,\u201d he said. \u201cThree \u2026.\u201d He glanced at his sons who stared back at him mournfully. \u201cThree reasonably intelligent young men who \u2026.\u201d He put his hands up, lost for words.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t my fault,\u201d said Joe, after the silence in the room had become unbearable. \u201cIt was the raccoon that started it all, so I guess it was Hoss\u2019 fault for putting him in that box in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cFor once I have to agree with Joe,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was all Hoss\u2019 fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss said nothing, but merely looked angrily at first one brother and then the other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care who started it!\u201d exploded Ben. \u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned you are all to blame!\u201d He stood up and pointed his finger at all of them in turn. \u201cThe three of you are to clean up this mess immediately,\u201d he said. \u201cI need to get some sleep and I can\u2019t be bothered with listening to all this nonsense any longer!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing Pa,\u201d said Joe, smiling at his father. \u201cWe\u2019ll get it fixed up first thing in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou will get it fixed up now!\u201d Ben said firmly. \u201cNot one of you is to go to bed until this house is decent again!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou want me to cook you up some supper Pa?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike you did before?\u201d asked Adam, sarcastically. \u201cWe never did get anything to eat you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss turned on his brother. \u201cThat weren\u2019t my fault!\u201d he said angrily. \u201cI told you before that \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben held up his hands. \u201cThat is enough!\u201d he shouted. \u201cI have heard all I want to hear! You \u2026\u201d He pointed to Hoss. \u201cStay away from that stove. You are all very lucky that Hop Sing isn\u2019t here to see this mess. I can only imagine what he\u2019d say if he saw all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019d probably say that he was going back to Old China,\u201d said Joe mournfully.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cExactly!\u201d said Ben. \u201cNow \u2026\u201d He took a deep breath. \u201cI am going up to bed. I don\u2019t want any supper and none of you are getting any until this house is cleaned up again. Understood?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa, you can\u2019t possibly expect me to clean up,\u201d protested Adam. \u201cI can hardly move with my back and all.\u201d He winced yet again for effect.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I got hurt too,\u201d said Joe. \u201cMy shoulder is right sore.\u201d He moved it tentatively and screwed up his face as if in pain.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care how it gets cleaned up or who actually does it,\u201d said Ben, ignoring both of them. \u201cBut cleaned up it will be! When I come down in the morning I expect it to be back the way it was before and that\u2019s all there is to it!\u201d He turned on his heel and marched up the stairs without another word, clutching the three picture frames close to his chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s three sons all stood and looked at each other for a full minute before Joe broke the silence. \u201cThat went well,\u201d he said suddenly with a grin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam looked at each other. \u201cYou think?\u201d said Hoss, rolling his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said. \u201cI though he\u2019d be a lot angrier than that.\u201d
\nI think he\u2019s in shock,\u201d said Adam. \u201cI suspect that we haven\u2019t heard the last of this though. I have a feeling that our father will be bringing the subject up again in the morning.\u201d He looked around the room. \u201cYou two had better get to work straightening things up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cUs?\u201d said Hoss indignantly. \u201cWhat about you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy back, remember?\u201d said Adam. \u201cI can hardly move.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss held out his arms. \u201cAnd what about these burns?\u201d he asked. \u201cI\u2019m in pain too, ya know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, so am I,\u201d countered Joe. \u201cMy head and my shoulder \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAt least you two can move,\u201d interrupted Adam and then stared at them both helplessly. \u201cOh all right,\u201d he said finally. \u201cI\u2019ll try and sit at Pa\u2019s desk and sort through all those papers while you two get started on the rest of it.\u201d He stood up slowly. \u201cAnd Joe \u2026 make sure there are no more bullets in that gun this time, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe nodded as they all began to move. Suddenly their father appeared at the top of the stairs and they all stopped to look up at him. \u201cForget something?\u201d asked Adam tentatively, trying to smile up at him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben glared down at them all. \u201cThere is a \u2026. chicken<\/em> \u2026. on my bed!\u201d he shouted. \u201cOne of you get up here straight away and get rid of it!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked at Hoss who looked at Joe who looked back at Adam. Finally Hoss sighed. \u201cI\u2019m coming Pa,\u201d he said, stepping forward. \u201cI\u2019ll get it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe looked thoughtful. \u201cI thought there was one missing when I put em back in the henhouse,\u201d he said. \u201cNow I know where it went.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better hope there was only one missing young man!\u201d shouted his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stopped at the top of the stairs next to Ben and looked at his father anxiously. \u201cYou didn\u2019t sit on him or nothing, did ya Pa?\u201d he asked. \u201cOn your bed, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I did not,\u201d said Ben in a huffy tone. \u201cNow get that animal out of my room!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss disappeared around the corner of the staircase, followed by his father. Joe looked at Adam again and shrugged before starting to pick up a pile of feathers on the floor. Adam held onto the side of his father\u2019s desk as he eased himself down on the chair behind it. Suddenly there was a loud bang and he fell to the floor, the chair on top of him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe swallowed. \u201cI guess Pa\u2019s favourite chair musta broke when I fell over there,\u201d he said lamely. He looked down at Adam\u2019s prone body and his brother\u2019s dark eyes glaring up at him from the floor. \u201cI think I\u2019ll just go and check that those chickens are locked up good and tight,\u201d he said quickly and fled from the room before Adam could say a word.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam lay there, pinned under the chair and unable to move without hurting his back even more. Suddenly he felt a movement beside him and he looked up to see a large chicken about to peck him on the forehead \u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0Ben comes home to find trouble in the house<\/p>\n

Rated: K (6,270 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":13015,"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_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1004,23,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ben-cartwright","category-drama","category-humor","wpcat-1004-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-4-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2192,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Ben-and-Adam-1.png?fit=629%2C435&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15595,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15595","url_meta":{"origin":2280,"position":0},"title":"Twins… Separated at Birth (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"November 5, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Oh, please. 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