{"id":417,"date":"2009-10-11T23:30:37","date_gmt":"2009-10-12T03:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=417"},"modified":"2026-03-11T07:26:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T11:26:20","slug":"a-fathers-duty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=417","title":{"rendered":"A Father’s Duty (by JoanS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Father’s Duty<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Three discussions between a father and his sons…\u00a0 Just how did they get so smart… \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Rating \u2013 K –\u00a0Intended for general audience 5 years and older.<\/span> (4,725 words)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Father’s Duty<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fourteen years old \u2026<\/p>\n

Ben supposed it was rather early to be having this talk with his eldest son, but Adam was such a mature boy and with his thick dark hair Ben suspected that he was going to have need of a razor earlier than most. As to the rest of it, he had no way of knowing just what the youngster knew and it was his fatherly duty to make sure that he filled in any gaps for him in spite of his reluctance to do so.<\/p>\n

This was something that Ben had not been looking forward to. He had always had such a close relationship with Adam that he supposed it should come easy to him to talk to the boy in this way, but still he was embarrassed and at a loss as to how to express what the boy would need to know. He had steeled himself for this moment and now that it had come he felt quite anxious about it. Still \u2026 a man had to do what a man had to do \u2026 and Ben Cartwright had never been a man to shirk his fatherly responsibilities, no matter how difficult they were. He owed it to his son to have this conversation with him and have it he would!<\/p>\n

Ben took a deep breath before opening the door of Adam\u2019s bedroom. \u201cAre you busy son?\u201d he asked, hoping that the answer might be yes and he would have an excuse to put this off.<\/p>\n

Adam looked up. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just reading.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded and closed the door behind him. He walked over to the window and began to fiddle with the curtains that hung there. Adam watched him silently for a minute. \u201cIs there something wrong Pa?\u201d he asked finally.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he said and then cleared his throat. \u201cI just thought that you and I might have a bit of talk, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam closed his book and looked at his father expectantly, but when Ben began to fiddle with the curtains again, Adam spoke. \u201cHave I done something wrong?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head again. \u201cNo son,\u201d he said. \u201cI just thought that we might talk about \u2026\u201d he cleared his throat again and then came and sat opposite to Adam on the bed. \u201cYou\u2019re growing up fast,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n

Adam grinned. \u201cThanks Pa,\u201d he said proudly.<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0 There was silence for another moment. \u201cWell \u2026 what I wanted to talk to you about is \u2026 um \u2026 well \u2026. when a boy grows up there are certain things that \u2026 well, I thought you and I should have a talk about growing up,\u201d he said. Adam waited, looking somewhat puzzled while Ben cleared his throat again. \u201cThere are \u2026 um \u2026 certain things that you might need to \u2026 well \u2026 know,\u201d he said. He stopped and cleared his throat yet again. \u201cThings about \u2026 well \u2026 about your body to begin with \u2026. and well\u00a0 \u2026 girls and things like that,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said. \u201cI know those things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave his son a strange look. \u201cYou do?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded eagerly. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said. He reached up and took a book off the shelf above his head. \u201cThere\u2019s lots of information in this book,\u201d he said eagerly ruffling through the pages to find it.<\/p>\n

Ben looked somewhat taken aback. \u201cWhat book is that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Adam held it up so that his father could see the front cover. \u201cIt\u2019s a biology book,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the ones that Mr Hudson my teacher lent me.\u201d He continued to look through it. \u201cThere\u2019s some \u2026 here are they!\u201d he said, showing Ben the pages. \u201cSee Pa? These are diagrams of the human body.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cI see,\u201d he said. \u201cBut surely they don\u2019t \u2026 it doesn\u2019t have anything about \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked up. \u201cAbout puberty?\u201d he asked. \u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s called you know Pa \u2026 it says so in the book. No, not really \u2026 but you can work it out if you look at these diagrams here. See?\u201d He thrust the book under Ben\u2019s nose. \u201cThey have adult male and female ones.\u201d Ben nodded feebly, not quite knowing what to say next. Thankfully, Adam didn\u2019t sound the least bit embarrassed about the topic, but Ben wasn\u2019t quite sure that this was the way that this conversation was supposed to go. He suddenly felt as if he needed to take charge of it as a father and guide the conversation. Before he could open his mouth, however, Adam spoke again. \u201cDo you need to know something about this Pa?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou can borrow the book if you like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo thank you,\u201d said Ben quickly. \u201cI know all that son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned sheepishly at his father and gave a short laugh. \u201cYeah, I suppose you do,\u201d he acknowledged.<\/p>\n

Ben cleared his throat again. \u201cI was really wondering if you had any questions about \u2026 well \u2026 reproduction,\u201d he said, for want of another term.<\/p>\n

Adam gave his father a quizzical look. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s fairly obvious, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObvious?\u201d Ben replied weakly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d said Adam. \u201cIf you look at these diagrams and then think about what the animals around here do, it\u2019s obvious.\u201d He gave his father an intense look. \u201cWas that what you wanted to talk to me about Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben blinked a couple of times. \u201cI thought you might need to know some details,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo thanks,\u201d said Adam casually. \u201cI\u2019m fine. It\u2019s all rather logical anyway, isn\u2019t it \u2026 once you put all the information together?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose so,\u201d said Ben, wiping his hand over his face. \u201cYou \u2026 um \u2026 well, there is one other thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked at his father expectantly. \u201cYeah?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I know that fourteen is rather young,\u201d began Ben. \u201cBut you really will begin shaving soon. You\u2019re going to need a \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been using your razor already,\u201d interrupted Adam. \u201cI didn\u2019t think that you\u2019d mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked aghast. \u201cYou\u2019re already \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam ran his hand over his chin. \u201cI guess I could do with my own razor if you don\u2019t want me using yours,\u201d he said. \u201cI just didn\u2019t want to bother you about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was silent for a moment. \u201cYes,\u201d he said finally. \u201cWe can get you one when we go to town next week.\u201d There was silence between them again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anything else Pa?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo son, I don\u2019t think so,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cOnly \u2026 you will ask me if you have any questions, won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d said Adam, opening his book again. \u201cOnly I don\u2019t think I will have any. This book kinda gives lots of information. If I think of anything though, I\u2019ll let you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do that son,\u201d said Ben, gratefully standing up. \u201cWell \u2026 goodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight,\u201d said Adam casually as he began to read again.<\/p>\n

Ben left the boy\u2019s bedroom and walked down the hall to his own room where Marie was rocking their toddler son Little Joe in a chair near the window. \u201cHow did it go?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

Ben sat down on the bed and shrugged his shoulders. \u201cFine,\u201d he said. \u201cI really didn\u2019t need to talk to him at all. He\u2019s got a biology book from his teacher and he says that the rest of it is just logical.\u201d He thought for a moment. \u201cDo you know that the boy is already shaving? He didn\u2019t even tell me \u2026 said he didn\u2019t want to bother me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not surprised,\u201d said Marie with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she said. \u201cYou know what Adam\u2019s like \u2026 very independent and mature. He probably didn\u2019t really feel he needed your help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sighed. \u201cWell, that was the one thing out of all of this that I was actually not dreading,\u201d he said. \u201cA father should have the chance to teach his son how to shave after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie smiled at him. \u201cDon\u2019t look so miserable my love,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019ve still got two more sons to teach yet. I\u2019m sure that they will give you the chance to teach them.\u201d She kissed the now-sleeping Joe on her lap. \u201cStrange to think of this little one ever getting to that age,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled tenderly at the beautiful picture his wife and little boy made. \u201cWell, hopefully by the time I have to have this talk with young Joseph here, I\u2019ll be quite the expert,\u201d he said. \u201cEven if Adam didn\u2019t need me \u2026 at least I\u2019ll have had practise with Hoss by then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d she agreed. \u201cI\u2019m sure that you\u2019ll have had practise with Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

^^^^^^^^^^<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fifteen years old \u2026<\/p>\n

Ben knew that he\u2019d done the right thing by waiting until Hoss was busy in the barn before talking to him, for he sensed that this talk with his middle son wasn\u2019t going to be an easy one for either of them. Ben still felt quite uncomfortable about discussing such topics with his son and he knew for sure that Hoss wasn\u2019t the sort of boy to take this sort of thing easily.<\/p>\n

His middle son was quite shy about many things and Ben sensed that the boy would welcome the opportunity to have something to concentrate on other than his father while they were talking. Hoss was physically such a big boy that Ben had often felt that he should perhaps have had this talk earlier, but inside that large body Hoss was a child still and a quite innocent one at that. Ben was sure that his son needed this talk and he was determined to do his fatherly duty and have it with him \u2026 in spite of the embarrassment to both of them.<\/p>\n

He found Hoss just as expected, doing his chores and raking out the stalls. Ben had asked Adam to take Little Joe to town this afternoon so that the youngster wouldn\u2019t interrupt them, as he knew that it was difficult to get time with Hoss without his younger brother hanging around at the same time. He wanted this time to be special for both of them and intended that they could do some father and son bonding. As a busy father and rancher, he often found it difficult to get some time together with Hoss as the middle son and this was one of those times that he was determined that he would.<\/p>\n

As Ben entered the barn, he picked up a rake and began to quietly work next to Hoss. His son gave him a strange look. \u201cHow come ya\u2019re doing that Pa?\u201d he asked. \u201cIt\u2019s my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know son,\u201d said Ben casually. \u201cBut I just thought that I\u2019d help you for a while.\u201d He smiled at Hoss. \u201cAny objections?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss made a face. \u201cHeck no!\u201d he replied. \u201cI ain\u2019t about ta say no ta anyone who\u2019ll help me with my chores. This ain\u2019t the best job in the world ya know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded as he worked. \u201cI know,\u201d he said. \u201cBut that\u2019s life son. We all have our jobs to do and not all of them are things we enjoy.\u201d He cleared his throat. \u201cThat reminds me of something I\u2019ve been going to talk to you about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d asked Hoss, stopping work and leaning on his rake as he gazed at his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we could have a talk about growing up,\u201d said Ben, trying to sound casual. \u201cAbout you and \u2026 changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kinda changes?\u201d asked Hoss, looking puzzled.<\/p>\n

Ben cleared his throat again and continued to work. \u201cOh \u2026 just changes,\u201d he said. \u201cTo your body.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. \u201cOh,\u201d he said. There was silence for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anything you want to ask me?\u201d ventured Ben.<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. \u201cYeah, there sure is Pa,\u201d he said eagerly.<\/p>\n

Ben swallowed and tried to sound casual as he answered. \u201cOh? What is it son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo ya reckon I\u2019ll ever stop growing?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cI mean \u2026 I\u2019ve always been bigger than anyone else my age, but don\u2019t ya think I should stop growing soon?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked slightly relieved. \u201cWell I can\u2019t say for sure son,\u201d he replied. \u201cI would say that you\u2019ve probably got a bit more to go yet.\u201d He waited. \u201cAnything else?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cIs there something else Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben cleared his throat again. \u201cWell there are certain \u2026. changes \u2026 that a boy goes through around your age,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben concentrated on his rake as he spoke. \u201cBecause you\u2019ll be interested in girls soon and your body \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss went slightly red. \u201cAw heck no Pa,\u201d he interrupted. \u201cI ain\u2019t gonna be interested in no girls!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave his son a piercing look. \u201cYou\u2019re not?\u201d he asked tentatively.<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head firmly. \u201cAw gee Pa, no,\u201d he assured his father. \u201cGirls scare me somethin fierce. I ain\u2019t gonna be interested in em fer a long time yet.\u201d He thought for a moment. \u201cI guess I\u2019m a bit shy round em,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve watched Adam and he gets on fine with em, but I can\u2019t seem ta find any words ta say when I\u2019m round em. I go all hot and sweaty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the changes I was talking about,\u201d he said. \u201cYour body is \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw gee Pa,\u201d interrupted Hoss again. \u201cI don\u2019t wanna talk bout that stuff!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know what I\u2019m about to say?\u201d asked his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re gonna tell all bout getting ready ta mate, ain\u2019t ya?\u201d said Hoss, going red again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I wouldn\u2019t exactly call it that,\u201d said Ben, clearing his throat again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t that what it\u2019s called?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cEvery time we talk bout the animals we call it that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yes,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cFor animals of course we \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss began to rake again. \u201cWell I don\u2019t know what it\u2019s called,\u201d he said. \u201cBut all I know is that animals do it with their \u2026. instincts \u2026\u201d he screwed up his nose for a moment. \u201cI think that\u2019s the word,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if animals have them instincts then I reckon that God woulda given us people plenty as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked at his son in a new light. \u201cI believe you\u2019re right son,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople do have instincts just like animals. \u201cStill \u2026 there are some things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome things a fellar has ta figure out fer himself,\u201d muttered Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome things a father has to tell his son,\u201d corrected Ben.<\/p>\n

Hoss kept this head down and refused to look at his father. \u201cDo we haveta talk about this Pa?\u201d he asked. \u201cI really don\u2019t wanna.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we should son,\u201d said Ben firmly. He drew a deep breath and began to talk while Hoss continued to keep his head down and rake the stalls out. After a few minutes Ben was silent. \u201cDo you have any questions about what I\u2019ve said?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Hoss refused to look up. \u201cHeck no,\u201d he muttered. \u201cI don\u2019t wanna ask no questions.\u201d He frowned. \u201cCept one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ben braced himself. \u201cYes?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you talked about shaving,\u201d began Hoss. \u201cWell \u2026 can I shave my back too?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben tried to keep a straight face as he had a sudden desire to laugh. \u201cYour back?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI mean \u2026. Adam\u2019s got chest hair and stuff, and that\u2019s OK \u2026. But I\u2019m the only one I know who\u2019s got hair on my back. I\u2019ve seen others when we go swimming and it\u2019s true Pa.\u201d He gave his father a mournful look. \u201cHow come I got it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Ben bit his lip before replying. \u201cSome men have \u2026. well, some men are hairier than others,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss scratched his head. \u201cWell how come I gotta be real hairy?\u201d he said. \u201cT\u2019ain\u2019t fair. It\u2019s gonna be real hard ta shave it too, seeing as how I can\u2019t reach round that far.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it might be better to leave it son,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK,\u201d sighed Hoss. \u201cBut ya will teach me how to shave when I need to, won\u2019t ya Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben put his arm around his son and hugged him briefly. \u201cI\u2019ll be glad to son,\u201d he said, smiling at the boy. \u201cI\u2019ll be right glad to.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Joe<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sixteen years old \u2026<\/p>\n

It was really ridiculous. He had to have the talk with the boy at some stage, but if he waited for him to start shaving, then Ben felt that he might never get to talk to him about all of it. He was sixteen and still there was no sign of him having to go anywhere a razor at all! Ben had been in his youngest son\u2019s room the other night though when he was getting undressed and he had noticed the development of his upper body muscles. Joe had always been very skinny, but since he\u2019d begun work full-time on the ranch he was finally beginning to fill out and develop some hardened muscles, a sure sign that he was growing up. The time had come to discuss certain things with his son and Ben wasn\u2019t prepared to put it off any longer.<\/p>\n

He had the distinct idea that Joe had already begun to be interested in girls \u2026 and he knew for sure that girls were already interested in Joe. His youngest son was an extremely handsome boy and he didn\u2019t blame those young ladies really, but Joe needed to know certain things and Ben couldn\u2019t put this off any longer. It was time for his fatherly duty yet again! As he knocked on the door of the youngster\u2019s bedroom, he sighed with relief at the thought that this was the last time he would have to do this. \u201cJoseph?\u201d he asked as he opened the door. \u201cAre you busy son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Pa,\u201d called out Joe and there was instantly a scrambling noise from inside the room. Ben wondered what his son had been up to, but Joe was sitting demurely on the edge of his bed with an innocent expression on his face by the time his father was inside the room \u2026. the expression that always caused Ben to feel suspicious.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat were you doing?\u201d he asked, looking around the room.<\/p>\n

Joe gave his father his best puppy-dog look \u2026 another expression that always caused Ben anxiety, as it usually signalled that his son was plotting some kind of trouble. \u201cMe?\u201d said Joe innocently as he grinned at his father. \u201cI\u2019m not up to nuthin Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben wasn\u2019t so sure that the statement was totally true, but he felt it best to let the subject drop. He sat down on a chair next to the bed and faced his son. \u201cI was thinking that you and I might have a talk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s grin immediately turned to an anxious stare. \u201cI didn\u2019t do it,\u201d he said quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo what?\u201d asked his father, giving the boy a strange look.<\/p>\n

Joe hesitated. \u201cNuthin,\u201d he muttered. \u201cI mean \u2026 whatever you was gonna say I did,\u201d he added after a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t going to say that you\u2019d done anything,\u201d replied his father. \u201cThat sounds like a guilty conscience talking, young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d replied Joe, his expression turning to an innocent one again. \u201cI ain\u2019t got no guilty conscience Pa. What did you wanna talk about?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave his son another suspicious look before commencing. \u201cJust things,\u201d he said casually. \u201cI thought it was about time that you and I had a talk about life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes widened and his grin became wider. \u201cIs this the\u00a0growing up<\/em>\u00a0talk?\u201d he asked excitedly. \u201cAdam said you\u2019d likely be havin it with me soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam said?\u201d replied Ben, surprised. \u201cWhen were you talking to Adam about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe waved his hand casually in the air. \u201cOh sometime back,\u201d he said as he sat up on the bed and settled himself in anticipation. \u201cI always ask him lotsa things and he gives me lotsa answers \u2026 but he said that it\u2019d be best ta discuss some of it with you when you had the\u00a0growing up<\/em>\u00a0talk with me.\u201d He looked at his father eagerly. \u201cIs this it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Ben was somewhat taken aback by the boy\u2019s attitude, but in truth he felt that he should have expected it. Joe didn\u2019t keep much to himself and his thoughts and feelings were usually right out there for everyone to see and hear, so having the\u00a0growing up<\/em>\u00a0talk as he put it really wasn\u2019t the sort of thing to faze him at all. \u201cWell yes,\u201d he replied. \u201cI suppose you could call it that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cGood,\u201d he said happily. \u201cCause there\u2019s an awful lot of stuff that I wanna ask ya Pa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ben swallowed, not at all sure what was going to come out the boy\u2019s mouth next and dreading it. \u201cYes?\u201d he said, trying to sound casual. \u201cLike what son?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe settled himself even more comfortably on the bed and gave his father an eager look. \u201cLike kissing,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve watched Adam when he thought I wasn\u2019t around \u2026. you know Pa, just to get the idea of how ta do it \u2026 anyways, I reckon that he kisses real good. Mitch says that a fellar shouldn\u2019t open his mouth when he does it, but Adam does open his mouth \u2026. I know, cause I\u2019ve seen him and the girls \u2026. There are lotsa them you know Pa \u2026 once I started watching fer it, I noticed that Adam kisses an awful lot of girls \u2026. I reckon he\u2019s right popular. Do ya think that I\u2019ll be popular with girls Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so \u2026. Cause I\u2019m really starting to like em,\u201d continued Joe. \u201cThat Becky is the sorta girl I\u2019d like to kiss \u2026. Anyway, so what is the best thing \u2026 to keep your mouth closed or not? What do ya reckon Pa?\u201d He looked at his father intently.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell \u2026 I think really depends on the girl,\u201d Ben said, not really sure how to answer that one. \u201cI wasn\u2019t really thinking of kissing though Joseph.\u00a0 I thought we could talk about \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd another thing,\u201d continued Joe, unabashed. \u201cDo girls like fellars more with hairy chests? Adam says that they do, but I reckon that just cause he\u2019s all hairy. I don\u2019t think I\u2019m ever gonna get hairy Pa.\u201d He looked down at his own body miserably and then pulled up his shirt for his father to see his bare torso. \u201cSee? I ain\u2019t got one hair at all.\u201d He let the shirt drop again. \u201cCept fer a few other places,\u201d he added as he leant forward towards his father. \u201cYou know where I mean, don\u2019t ya Pa?\u201d He sat back again and crossed his arms over his chest. \u201cIs a hairy fellar better looking to girls?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben cleared his throat, momentarily taken aback by his son\u2019s candour. \u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sure that girls look past a man\u2019s physical \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGee I sure hope so,\u201d interrupted Joe. \u201cCause I reckon I\u2019m bound ta be a bit underdeveloped for a while yet.\u201d He put up his arm and made a muscle of his bicep. \u201cBut I\u2019m coming along, don\u2019t ya think Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes son, you\u2019re \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyways, I heard Adam telling his friend Ross that a fellar with lotsa body hair is just naturally attractive to women. Just cause he\u2019s got it don\u2019t mean that everyone else hasta does it?\u00a0 I mean \u2026 how does he know? \u2026 Hey Pa?\u201d Joe bent down and pulled up on of the legs of his trousers and showed his father his bare leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis hair on my legs is sure coming in thicker right about now. Do ya reckon that\u2019s a sign of things to come?\u201d Joe dropped the trousers again. \u201cI sure hope so.\u201d He gave his father another intense look.<\/p>\n

Ben nodded his head. \u201cI\u2019m sure it is son,\u201d he said. \u201cWhich brings me to shaving \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sighed as he fingered his chin. \u201cI sure hope I start soon,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been watching Hoss and Adam \u2026 just to know what tp do, ya understand Pa \u2026 so I reckon I\u2019ll be OK when I do \u2026 I\u2019ve been practising in front of the mirror with Adam\u2019s razor so I\u2019ll be ready.\u201d He gave his father a defensive look. \u201cI didn\u2019t ask or nuthin, but I know he wouldn\u2019t mind,\u201d he added. \u201cA fellar has gotta be ready for things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was sort of hoping that I could teach you,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n

Joe waved his hand in the air casually. \u201cThanks,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll be right Pa. I think I\u2019ve got the hang of it.\u201d He sat forward again. \u201cCan I ask ya something else?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes of course,\u201d said his father, his head spinning with all the talk coming from his son. \u201cWhat is it son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell \u2026 when people \u2026 you know \u2026. do it \u2026\u201d began Joe. He gave his father a quizzical look. \u201cYou know what I mean, don\u2019t ya Pa?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Ben began to feel somewhat flustered. \u201cWell yes,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s something I thought we should talk about actually Joe. I wanted to make sure that \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh I know all about how to,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI just wanted to ask one thing but.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d asked Ben weakly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell if the people ain\u2019t married or nuthin \u2026 is there a way to make sure that a baby don\u2019t come?\u201d Joe gave his father an intent look and Ben went rather weak at the knees. \u201cI\u2019m only asking cause I thought I should know,\u201d added Joe. \u201cAdam wouldn\u2019t tell me. He said that I should ask you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve talked about this with Adam?\u201d asked Ben, swallowing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell yeah,\u201d said Joe. \u201cI done told ya that before didn\u2019t I?\u201d He looked confused for a moment. \u201cWell I thought I did,\u201d he said. \u201cAnyways, I wondered if there was, cause a fellar should know.\u201d He gave his father an expectant look.<\/p>\n

Ben cleared his throat again. \u201cJoseph, that isn\u2019t something that any decent man needs to know about,\u201d he said. \u201cI would hope that you wouldn\u2019t be concerning yourself about such things until you meet the right girl and decide to settle down and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell yeah,\u201d interrupted Joe. \u201cBut I was just wondering.\u201d He sighed. \u201cGuess you don\u2019t know either then. Well anyway Pa, I was thinking \u2026\u201d Ben swallowed again as he wondered what his son was going to come out with this time. \u201cI was thinking that fellars probably use somethin when they go upstairs with the saloon women huh? Otherwise there\u2019d be lotsa babies being born all the time. Some of them fellars go up there an awful lot ya know Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you know about that?\u201d asked his father sternly. \u201cI hope you haven\u2019t \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHeck no!\u201d said Joe quickly. \u201cNot me! Still \u2026 a fellar hasta be ready, don\u2019t ya think Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt your age I should think that all you\u2019d be worried about is meeting the right sort of girl,\u201d said his father. \u201cNothing more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh I am,\u201d Joe assured his father. \u201cStill, a fellar can\u2019t help but wonder \u2026 you know?\u201d He gave his father an eager look. \u201cIs there anything else I\u2019ve missed out?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d said Ben weakly, feeling that they\u2019d covered more topics that he cared to think about. \u201cI think that about covers it son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d said Joe. \u201cBut you\u2019ll let me know if there\u2019s anything else, won\u2019t ya Pa? I\u2019d hate to have left something out cause I didn\u2019t know to ask bout it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly will,\u201d replied his father, standing up and not at all surprised to find that he was experiencing a rather weak feeling in his knees. \u201cGood night son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNight Pa,\u201d said Joe, grinning up at his father. \u201cI\u2019m glad we had the\u00a0growing up<\/em>\u00a0talk. I learnt a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled rather weakly. \u201cSo did I son, so did I,\u201d he muttered as he left the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Father’s Duty\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Three discussions between a father and his sons…\u00a0 Just how did they get so smart… \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rating \u2013 K –\u00a0Intended for general audience 5 years and older. (4,725 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":379,"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_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1004,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ben-cartwright","category-drama","wpcat-1004-id","wpcat-23-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/bonanza.jpg?fit=295%2C295&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/417","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\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/417\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}