{"id":3331,"date":"2010-09-10T11:56:25","date_gmt":"2010-09-10T15:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3331"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:23:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:23:41","slug":"first-day-nerves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3331","title":{"rendered":"First Day Nerves (ljlover2001)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: Written for Chaps & Spurs September Challenge<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe has to face his greatest challenge since losing his mother \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ (1,670 words)
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

First Day Nerves<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe had only been awake a few minutes,<\/strong> but already he\u2019d decided that today was going to be a bad day. The six year old was not a morning person and his father had just entered his room to wake him up. As far as Joe was concerned, it was still the middle of the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Little Joe, rise and shine. It\u2019s a fair way into Virginia City, and you\u2019ve got to get washed, dressed and have your breakfast, before we leave,\u201d said Ben, smiling at his youngest son.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Ben was speaking, he was pulling back the covers from the little boy. Joe grabbed hold of the blanket and was equally determined to keep them over him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBrr, Papa, it\u2019s too cold. Don\u2019t pull off my covers, I\u2019ll catch my death. And I can\u2019t go outside, cos it must be even colder out there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe Cartwright, don\u2019t start playing up, young man. It\u2019s not that cold; it\u2019s a lovely September morning and it\u2019s the beginning of the new school year. You don\u2019t want to be late for your first day of school, do you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Papa, I don\u2019t wanna be late; I wanna be absent. I\u2019m not well, so I can\u2019t go,\u201d and Joe pulled the covers back up the bed, and over his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Up until the night before, whenever the subject of school had been discussed, Joe had sounded quite keen to go, but now the day had actually arrived, he wasn\u2019t so sure about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing the matter with you, little boy, and we don\u2019t have time to play silly games, so up you get,\u201d said Ben, with a slightly, sterner edge, creeping into his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know nuffing is the matter with me?\u201d said a rather indignant Joe. \u201cIt\u2019s my tummy that\u2019s hurting, not yours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, because I have already gone through this day, with your big brothers, and the tummy ache is just because you fear the unknown. You have never been to school, before, and you don\u2019t know what to expect, and that is what is making your tummy hurt. It\u2019s just first day nerves and once you get to school and find out what fun it is, your tummy ache will go away. Trust me, I know about these things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHumph,\u201d said Joe, sitting up in bed, and crossing his arms. \u201cMy tummy ache won\u2019t go away when I get to school. It\u2019s real bad and I havta stay here and rest,\u201d and he lay down again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMmm, well in that case, I will go and ask Hop Sing to bring you up some of his special medicine for poorly tummies, and then I will ride into town with Hoss, and fetch Doc Martin here to check you over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe knew that Hop Sing\u2019s medicine tasted awful, and he was never happy about having to see the doctor, as he, too, had a lot of nasty tasting medicines in his bag, so he had a change of heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cW\u2014e\u2014l\u2014l, I guess it might just be one of them nervous tummies you was talking about, Papa, so I don\u2019t fink I havta have medsin, or see Doc Martin, after all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good to know, Little Joe,\u201d said Ben, smiling at his little son. \u201cUp you get, then, and wash up. I\u2019ve brought you some warm water.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With Ben\u2019s help, Joe was soon washed and dressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy, don\u2019t you look smart?\u201d said Ben, forcing down the lump that had appeared in his throat, when looking at his baby, all ready for school. The thought that kept filling his head was how much he wished Marie was there, to witness this special day, with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two made their way down the stairs, where both Adam and Hoss were already sat at the breakfast table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou look real grown up, little brother,\u201d said Hoss, who was also fighting back tears at the thought of his baby brother going to school.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll ready to go and learn lots of new things, eh, little buddy?\u201d said Adam, in a rather forced, cheerful tone. Adam always maintained that he was far more practical, and not as emotional, as his father and younger brothers, but when it came to Little Joe, Adam was just as much of a softy as the other two were.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing, who was just about to enter the dining room with a bowl of scrambled eggs for Little Joe, could tell that emotions were beginning to get out of control, and so walked in, to try and diffuse the highly charged moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere we go, Little Joe. Hop Sing make your favourite. Eat before it go cold.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sat down and Ben tucked a napkin under his chin, as he wanted to avoid Joe getting egg down his shirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

The little boy didn\u2019t feel much like eating, as the tummy ache had reared its ugly head, again, but he didn\u2019t want to upset Hop Sing, or the family, and so managed a few mouthfuls. He also drank about half a glass of milk, and then declared he was full.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Joe was eating, Hoss went outside, with Adam, to saddle up the horses. Ben was going to accompany the two boys to school, so Joe was going to ride on Buck, with his father. Hoss placed Joe\u2019s lunch and his slate in his father\u2019s saddlebags and then looked over at his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo ya reckon Joe will be okay when we git to school, Adam?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI expect so, Hoss,\u201d said Adam. \u201cIt\u2019s like Pa always says, the anticipation is usually worse than the event itself. Once he gets there and sees Mitch and the other children he knows, he will be fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so, cos iffen he gits upset, I won\u2019t know what ta do, and Mr Lawson\u2019s bound ta tell me ta sort him out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t dispute this, as he knew that Hoss was right. When he and Hoss had been the two Cartwright brothers attending school, the teacher always expected Adam to deal with Hoss, if ever the boy was upset.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Hoss, I\u2019m sure he will be fine,\u201d and Adam patted his brother on the back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI sure wish you were still goin\u2019 ta school, Adam,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cYou\u2019d know jest what ta do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you will, too, if the need arises. You\u2019re a pretty terrific big brother, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss smiled his lovely gap toothed smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Adam, and so are you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The ride to school passed by, uneventfully and by the time they arrived, Joe was feeling much happier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben helped him down off Buck, and Joe took off across the yard, as he saw his best friend Mitch standing with his older brother and sister.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss went to the stable, to take care of his horse, and Ben set off after Joe, in order to give the boy his slate and his lunch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere you go, Little Joe,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAdam will be here to pick you up, this afternoon, so you can ride home on Sport.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Papa,\u201d said Joe. \u201cLook, Mitch is here and Sara\u2019s over there, and that\u2019s Johnny just coming in the gate wiv his Mama. All my friends are here, so\u2019s I\u2019ll have lots of people ta play wiv.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you will, Joseph, but don\u2019t forget, you are also here to do lessons, so remember to listen to the teacher, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will, Papa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Just then, Mr Lawson appeared on the steps of the school house and rang the bell.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on children,\u201d he said. \u201cTime to come inside.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss was now back from the stable and he went and stood next to his little brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go in, Little Joe,\u201d said Hoss, placing an arm across Joe\u2019s shoulders, and steering him towards the schoolhouse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked up at his father, and Ben could tell that the little boy was fighting hard to hold back the tears, now that the moment had arrived to leave his father<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOff you go, now, boys, enjoy your day,\u201d said Ben, determined to keep the parting as light as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBye, Pa,\u201d said Hoss, and Joe just waved, as he walked away with his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben, too, had to hold back the tears, as he returned to his horse, leaving his little boy at school, for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n

He rode into town and decided to stop off and have a cup of coffee and a chat with his old friend, Roy Coffee, as he had some time to kill before attending his appointment with his lawyer.<\/span><\/p>\n

As he walked along the boardwalk, towards Roy\u2019s office, Ben found the need to blow his nose, as he couldn\u2019t get Little Joe\u2019s face out of his mind. The boy had walked across the schoolyard, looking like he was about to face his executioner.<\/span><\/p>\n

He walked into the office, still using the handkerchief to wipe his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello there, Ben,\u201d said Roy.<\/span><\/p>\n

When he saw what Ben was doing, he said,\u00a0 \u201cAre you okay, old friend? Have you caught a cold?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben looked puzzled for a couple of seconds and then realised why Roy had asked him such a question.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no, I haven\u2019t got a cold,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI have the constitution of an ox.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what\u2019s the matter, then?\u201d said Roy. \u201cWait a minute, I know what it is. You\u2019ve just left Little Joe at school, haven\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I have, but that has nothing to do with me wiping my eyes,\u201d said Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, of course it doesn\u2019t, Ben,\u201d said Roy, and the two men laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

THE END<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe forever<\/span><\/p>\n

Lynne<\/span><\/p>\n

September 14th 2010<\/span><\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Summary: Little Joe has to face his greatest challenge since losing his mother \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ (1,670 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":3707,"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_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[39,23,30,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chaps-spurs","category-drama","category-prequels","category-challenges","wpcat-39-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id","wpcat-40-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1783,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/class-room.jpg?fit=400%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2979,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2979","url_meta":{"origin":3331,"position":0},"title":"Captain Joe (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"November 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0This story is in response to November's Chaps and Spurs Challenge. 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