Summary:\u00a0 Little Joe isn’t the only Cartwright who confounds Dr. Martin.
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (1,300 words)
\nWritten for the 2022 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar<\/p>\n
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Ping\u2019an Ye (or Peaceful Night)<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019ll talk ta Pa for ya Shortshanks,\u201d seventeen-year-old Hoss assured his brother who sat the other side of the checker board, legs crossed under his night shirt while sitting on his bed, \u201cbut I ain\u2019t promisin\u2019 ya he\u2019ll agree to ya comin’ downstairs today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss knew how miserable his little brother felt and saw the longing in his expressive green eyes.\u00a0 They\u2019d sparkled earlier in the morning when Hoss described how the great room looked all decorated for Christmas, which was less than a week away.<\/p>\n
Several days earlier, Ben Cartwright had allowed his two sons to go out on their own to find the \u2018perfect\u2019 Christmas tree; unbeknownst to him, Little Joe had been hiding signs that he was coming down sick.\u00a0 The youngest Cartwright had known if his father or Hop Sing found out he wasn\u2019t hale and hearty, he would be prohibited from venturing out.\u00a0 As for Hoss, Joe knew he could bluff his way around any worry his brother may have had, but still kept quiet.<\/p>\n
With a voice lacking any volume, eleven-year-old Joe answered, \u201cI just tired of being stuck up here. I wanted to help decorate the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYa shoulda told us ya weren\u2019t feelin\u2019 good.\u201d Knocking over the piles of checker pieces as he reached forward to ruffle his younger brother\u2019s head.<\/p>\n
Giving a half-hearted scowl, Joe lowered his head knowing he really had no one to blame but himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf ya eat the rest of the oatmeal Hop Sing brung, as I said, I\u2019ll ask Pa about grantin’ ya a reprieve.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’ll be cold,\u201d complained Joe while reaching for the still full bowl on the nightstand and dipping the spoon into the bowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd whose fault is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Scrunching his face, Joe ate a spoonful and smiled; the oatmeal had been topped with molasses sweetened with honey, so even though it wasn\u2019t as warm as it was earlier, it tasted better than he\u2019d expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss?\u201d came out more as a breathy whisper.<\/p>\n
\u201cYa Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think Ad\u2026 he\u2019ll\u2026\u201d\u00a0 It had been four long years since he or anyone in the family had seen Adam.<\/p>\n
Hoss knew who Little Joe was referring to, but decided to take the conversation a different direction, \u201cSaint Nick?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI ain\u2019t a baby no more Hoss.\u201d\u00a0 Making a face and moving his right hand to his throat, he whispered, \u201cPa told me over the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Standing up from where he\u2019d sat on the side of the bed.\u00a0 \u201cYou can still believe in \u2018im by carryin\u2019 St. Nick\u2019s spirit in your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome in,\u201d Joe tried to shout out in answer to the knock on his door, only to groan and rub his throat at the pain caused by calling out.<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
Hoss slowly made his way down the stairs a short while later, head down with hands pushed into the front pockets of his pants until stopped by his thumbs.\u00a0 Yes, the room was decorated, but not the tree.\u00a0 It stood in stark reminder of how ill the youngest member of the family appeared when the brothers returned home with their prize.\u00a0 Joseph Francis Cartwright\u2019s flushed face was from more than just the cold winter wind.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can come down, Hoss,\u201d Ben answered without waiting for the request.<\/p>\n
\u201cShortshanks is gonna be surprised the tree is still bare.\u201d\u00a0 With pleading eyes, \u201cHe really gonna be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Dr. Paul Martin spoke as he came from the dining room carrying a fresh cup of coffee.\u00a0 \u201cYou just need to keep him indoors for a few more days, besides his throat will keep him from causing too much trouble.\u00a0 Turning his attention to Ben, \u201cI spoke with Hop Sing about additional foods he can fix for young Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stopping at the small round table at the end of the staircase, Hoss reached for an apple and proceeded to shine it on his shirt sleeve, \u201cYou think lettin\u2019 him come downstairs is gonna give us a, a ah, Ping\u2019an Ye, like Hop Sing talked about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou say that vely well,\u201d Hop Sing spoke having followed the physician from the kitchen, carrying a pot of coffee and a stack of two cups and saucers to where Ben sat in the alcove area that served as his office.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think letting the boy come downstairs will cause him any harm; it was just a case of tonsilitis, a fairly bad case, but he\u2019ll be okay,\u201d Paul explained, taking a seat in front of Ben\u2019s desk.\u00a0 \u201cYou should be thankful I recently attended a lecture in San Francisco and Dr. Paul Jones allowed me to participate in several surgeries while I was there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Setting his own cup and saucer on the desk after watching Hop Sing serve his employers, \u201cWhat was that you said\u2026?\u201d miserably failing to pronounce the word.<\/p>\n
\u201cPing\u2019an Ye, it is Chinese,\u201d answered Hop Sing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow does that figure into allowing Little Joe to come down stairs?\u201d Paul inquired, settling back into the chair, crossing his left ankle over his right knee.<\/p>\n
Clearing his throat, \u201cIf I remember correctly, Ping\u2019an Ye, means a safe and peaceful night.\u201d\u00a0 A twinkle of merriment appeared on Ben\u2019s countenance. \u00a0\u201cTheir interpretation of silent night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh,\u201d Paul answered in understanding.\u00a0 There was nothing, \u2018silent\u2019 about the youngest Cartwright; the lad was in perpetual motion, issuing a cackling laugh or lovingly teasing his older brother.\u00a0 Then there were times the whirlwind rushed in from outside, slamming the front door into the credenza before running across the wooden floor and up the staircase, automatically shouting, \u201cSorry, Pa!\u201d to Ben\u2019s \u201cJoseph!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPingguo?\u201d Paul responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is apple,\u201d Hop Sing replied.<\/p>\n
Looking to the houseman, with a slight shake of his head Paul stated, \u201cI can\u2019t tell the difference between the two words.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giving a slight bow before continuing, \u201cMost do not.\u00a0 To us, \u2018pinggou\u2019 is an apple and \u2018ping\u2019an ye\u2019 means silent or peaceful.\u00a0 Chinese believe in\u2026\u201d cocking his head sideways as he tried to translate the word his heart knew to English.<\/p>\n
\u201cSymbolism,\u201d offered Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sym-bol-is-m,\u201d replied Hop Sing.\u00a0 \u201cWe gift apples on Christmas, wishing all a \u2018silent night\u2019 and as a way of offering blessings for one\u2019s safety since the words sound close.\u201d<\/p>\n
Glancing about the room, his eyes settling on the small table with the bowl of apple, Paul asked, \u201cIs that why there\u2019s always a bowl of apples over there?\u00a0 Is it an effort to keep that young man upstairs safe or quiet?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither,\u201d Hoss answered before noisily biting into the fruit.\u00a0 \u201cPa believes in the proverb.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProverb?\u201d Paul inquired, now totally confused. \u201cI thought we were talking symbolism, how\u2019d we get to proverbs?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m surprised at you, Paul.\u201d Ben laughed, \u201cDon\u2019t you remember a few years back when Joseph complained about you coming out so many times to examine him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Pausing, Paul lowered his booted foot to the floor before reaching for his cup of coffee and took a sip.\u00a0 Sitting back, \u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of times I\u2019ve made frequent trips for that boy upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drinking his own coffee, Ben wrapped both hands around the cup for warmth, leaned forward to rest both forearms on the edge of the desk, \u201cI remember you distinctly telling Joseph \u2018An apple a day will keep the doctor away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t seem to be workin\u2019 too good, does in?\u201d Hoss answered with another crunch of apple.<\/p>\n
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Merry<\/span> Christmas<\/span> Everyone<\/span>!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Author’s Notes:<\/p>\n Character I chose:\u00a0 Ben Cartwright <\/p>\n Per Wikipedia:<\/p>\n “An apple a day keeps the doctor away<\/b>” is a common English-language\u00a0proverb\u00a0that appeared in the 19th century, advocating for the consumption of apples, and by extension, “if one eats healthy foods, one will remain in good health and will not need to see the doctor often.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For those curious about my 16-word, first draft as mentioned in the Forums:<\/p>\n Ben quoted Dr. Martin when he told Joe, ‘An Apple a day keeps the doctor away!’\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n .<\/p>\n
\nItem given:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Apple
\nSecond character received:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paul Martin<\/p>\n