Summary: Ben recalls a bittersweet moment from the past when a special gift from Little Joe caused a big misunderstanding. (A rare shorter story)<\/p>\n
Rating T\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 WC 2,568<\/p>\n
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Remember When<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n ** Remember when we vowed the vows and walked the walk. Gave our hearts, made the start, and it was hard. We lived and learned, life threw curves. There was joy, there was hurt. Remember when?** (From the song \u201cRemember When\u201d written by Alan Jackson)<\/span><\/p>\n Ben frowned as he slowly walked down the long staircase and buckled his belt. He couldn\u2019t understand why his youngest son never seemed to learn like his two eldest had. The fourteen year old had been a challenge his whole life and now it appeared that his teenage years were going to be no different than when he was a toddler and had his share of temper tantrums. Ben eyed the brandy decanter and then the grandfather clock. *** Only five o\u2019clock and the kid\u2019s driving me to drink! ***<\/b><\/i> He thought to himself as he walked to his desk and pour two finger\u2019s full of brandy into his glass. Ben walked over to his red leather chair next to the fireplace and settled there with his drink. After fourteen years he couldn\u2019t quite understand why he had to feel so guilty for simply punishing his youngest since the boy more than had it coming to him. Sighing deeply his mind went back to the way Joseph\u2019s chin had quivered when he had gotten back off of the bed and turned to face his Pa. It had been enough to see the tears in Joe\u2019s eyes he sure hadn\u2019t needed the way that quiver went right to his father\u2019s heart! Next had come the just above a whisper stammer of \u201cPa, I\u2019m sorry \u2013 I really really am!\u201d Ben groaned and set his glass onto the coffee table and looked up towards where his boy now lay upstairs probably crying over the tanning he had gotten a few minutes earlier. *** I\u2019m not going up there! He\u2019s got to learn about lying to me \u2013 I\u2019ve got to be the parent \u2013 I\u2019m all that he\u2019s got. *** <\/b><\/i>Ben tried to convince himself to remain both strong and aloof for the boy\u2019s own good.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d the soft voice called from the landing there on the stairs.<\/p>\n Ben had to shake himself out of his thoughts as he turned to glance over at his son. He fought to put on a stern countenance. \u201cJoseph, I thought I\u2019d told you to stay up in your room?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe looked down at the step and broke eye contact with his father. \u201cPa \u2013 I said that I was sorry — but I didn\u2019t explain why I lied.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLying is enough of an explanation in itself,\u201d Ben called across the room gruffly. *** Don\u2019t you dare let him get to you, Ben! Stay strong \u2013 even if that chin starts quivering again! *** <\/b><\/i>Ben continued to fight his feelings towards the boy who he loved more than his own life.<\/p>\n \u201cI know \u2013 I know that, Pa. But \u2013 well \u2013 this time I had a good reason to kinda fib a bit. Will you just let me tell you? Please, Pa? I don\u2019t like it when you\u2019re mad at me.\u201d<\/p>\n *** Oh no! He\u2019s crying and wiping his eyes on his sleeve now! He\u2019s GOT to know how that gets to me and is using it against me! *** <\/b><\/i>\u201cOkay \u2013 you can come over here in front of me and say your peace but then it\u2019s right back up to your room and serve your time. Understood, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Little Joe whispered and, somewhat hesitantly, he drew closer to where his father sat in his chair. He looked down at his Pa\u2019s glass and could tell that he had brandy inside of it. Joe cast a quick look at the clock and realized that Pa rarely drank before supper. He knew that it was a bad sign and that it meant that Pa was still angry with him.<\/p>\n \u201cPa \u2013 you see \u2013 I didn\u2019t want you to know where I was —so I made up that story about helping Mitch\u2019s pa at their place,\u201d Little Joe stammered nervously.<\/p>\n \u201cI KNOW<\/b> that, which is why you just got a tanning, Boy! I warned you a couple of weeks ago what I\u2019d have to do if I\u2019d caught you lying to me again, now didn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded solemnly and looked down at the floorboards. He had to mop his tears off on his shirt sleeve once more and then looked back into Pa\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Reading the displeasure still there in them, the boy abruptly turned for the front door only to hear Pa calling over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph! Don\u2019t you dare try and run off now \u2013 you\u2019re in enough trouble with me!\u201d Ben stood from his chair and advanced across to the door where his son stood.<\/p>\n \u201cI \u2013 I wasn\u2019t going nowhere, Pa \u2013 I – I was just getting something,\u201d Little Joe stuttered and reached inside his jacket sitting there on the credenza. He pulled out a small brown paper bag and apprehensively stared up into his father\u2019s angered eyes. \u201cHere \u2013 this is for you, Pa,\u201d He said and handed it up to his father.<\/p>\n Ben looked surprised and wondered just what the boy was up to now. \u201cFor me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d The boy whispered nodding his head.<\/p>\n Ben pulled the sack open and found a pipe inside. He drew it up and gave it a quick once-over. \u201cWhere did you get this, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you I\u2019d been helping Mitch\u2019s pa with his new chicken coop\u2013 that\u2019s where the lie came in, Pa. I was really helping Mister Woods paint his old barn. He\u2019d told me that he\u2019d give me the two dollars if I finished by Friday. And since I\u2019d finished on time \u2013 well — I went and bought you that today. I was gonna give it to you and then I was gonna tell you why I had to fib about being over at Mitch\u2019s place. I knew that you wouldn\u2019t be too happy with me doing all of that painting since I hurt my ribs a few weeks back and you said I had to take it easy. But \u2013 well \u2013 I didn\u2019t have no money when it was your birthday because old Doc Martin made me rest after my fall from Cochise. I was planning on doing some extra work to get money so\u2019s I could get you a present but \u2013 well \u2013 I didn\u2019t have any time, Pa. When I was finally able to get out of my bed \u2013 it was your birthday so it was too late. I felt really bad when Adam and Hoss gave you all of those swell presents and all I could do was just draw you a picture. I just wanted to get you something you\u2019d like \u2013 you know something that I could see you use? I just wanted to get you something special so\u2019s you\u2019d know how much I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben went down to his knees and pulled his son into his arms. He hugged his youngest close to his chest as tears burnt at the corners of his eyes. \u201cOh, Joseph! You should\u2019ve told me — before I punished you.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shrugged his shoulders helplessly and whispered, \u201cI didn\u2019t really have the chance, Pa \u2013 you were pretty mad — \u2018sides I did lie to you \u2013 even though I was gonna tell you the truth once I gave that pipe to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben combed his fingers through his boy\u2019s unruly hair and tried to gather himself a bit, but he was failing miserably. He wished that he had taken the time to ask the boy why he had lied after learning he hadn\u2019t been at the Devlin ranch all week like Little Joe had told him. Pa\u2019s heart was aching over the tanning he had given Joseph, especially now that he knew the facts of the matter.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Pa \u2013 I had it coming for lying,\u201d Little Joe admitted after witnessing the look of guilt and remorse spreading across his father\u2019s face. He wrapped his arms around Pa\u2019s shoulders and hugged him, trying to show his father that he was okay with what had happened upstairs. \u201cBut \u2013 but do you like it, Pa?\u201d He asked, his bright hazel eyes staring anxiously up at his father.<\/p>\n Ben gazed lovingly into the questioning eyes of the little boy who was growing up far too fast. But then again, in his mind and heart Joseph would always be his little boy, even when he was old enough to have kids of his own someday.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is absolutely the grandest pipe I have ever seen in my life, Son!\u201d Ben announced exuberantly. He broke into a broad smile as he hugged the boy tightly. Pa pulled Little Joe back a bit and tenderly took his chin into his hand. He leaned forward and softly kissed the boy\u2019s cheek. \u201cI love you, Joseph \u2013 thank you for working so hard just to give your father the most wonderful gift I\u2019ve ever received!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you,\u201d Little Joe whispered, and hugged his father\u2019s neck. \u201cHappy birthday, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n ***************************<\/p>\n \u201cPa? Pa \u2013 are you awake?\u201d Joe called over to his father who sat in his red leather chair in front of the fireplace with his eyes closed.<\/p>\n Ben shook himself from his thoughts and stared up into the eyes of his eighteen- year- old son. He stretched his arms and yawned. \u201cYes \u2013 I wasn\u2019t sleeping \u2013 just daydreaming I guess, Joe. I thought you\u2019d gone to bed?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sat down on top of the coffee table and smiled over at his pa. \u201cNo, Sir \u2013 I just came down to talk to you a minute. Did you like your surprise party, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and reached over and patted the boy\u2019s arm. \u201cIt was great \u2013 you boys sure got your old man this time!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the presents, Pa? Did you like them?\u201d Joe continued.<\/p>\n Again Ben nodded, \u201cYes, they were wonderful. You boys spent way too much! That rifle you gave me must have cost a great deal, Joseph — but I\u2019ll sure get a lot of use out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned pensive and then dropped his head down, looking a bit dejected. Ben picked up on his son\u2019s sudden change in demeanor.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph? Is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n Sighing deeply Joe frowned and then answered, \u201cYeah \u2013 Pa \u2013 I\u2019ve got a confession to make. You\u2019re not going to like it — but I need to fess up since it\u2019s been bothering me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben moved to sit next to his son on the coffee table and draped an arm around his shoulder. \u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell— I haven\u2019t exactly been honest with you \u2013 about where I\u2019ve been the past week. I know I said I was up at the timber camp marking those trees for cutting \u2013 but \u2013 well I lied.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben thought on what his son had divulged and wondered what was going on with him. \u201cWhy? Why did you lie about being up there?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shrugged his shoulders and then stood abruptly and began to walk across the living room to the front door. \u201cIt\u2019s like this \u2013 Pa — I ran into Mister Woods \u2013 and well– he\u2019s getting up there. We got to talking and he said that old barn of his sure needed a good coat of paint– since it\u2019s been four years now since the last time.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben grinned and stood as he watched Joe\u2019s performance. The kid wasn\u2019t as good an actor as he thought that he was. \u201cOh? So you were painting a barn for Mister Woods instead of marking trees for your father?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded, his head bowed trying to appear remorseful. \u201cYes, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben advanced to the front door and lifted his son\u2019s chin to try and get a good look into Joe\u2019s eyes and to see just how far he was going to take his story. He imagined his son was just making up a whopper of a lie in order to amuse him. \u201cOh? Did he pay you the usual fee of two dollars— like last time?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head as his eyes finally met his father\u2019s. This time there was a mixture of sincerity and satisfaction in the young man\u2019s gaze. \u201cTo tell you the truth \u2013 the REAL<\/b> truth this time, Pa– well \u2013 he couldn\u2019t afford to pay me. He couldn\u2019t afford the paint neither. So —,\u201d Joe trailed off.<\/p>\n Beaming with pride, Ben pulled his son into his arms and hugged him. \u201cSo \u2013 you not only did the work for free, but you also paid for the paint. Why Joseph, you amaze me at times,\u201d He whispered. \u201cI\u2019m very proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not mad that I lied about being up at the timber camp?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben pulled Joe back a bit and cast a knowing smile his way. \u201cJoseph– I may be a year older, but you still can’t pull one over on me!\u00a0 And besides, Hoss already reported into me that you never showed up there.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed and shook his head. \u201cI see \u2013 you were just giving me enough rope to hang myself again, huh, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course!\u201d Ben chuckled. \u201cBut \u2013 seriously \u2013 that was awfully nice what you did for Mister Woods. It even makes up for that little fib you told me.\u00a0 And I learned years ago to get to the bottom of any lie you happen to tell me before getting angry with you.”<\/p>\n “Oh, trust me, Pa, I remember that painful lesson!” Joe insisted smiling wryly.<\/p>\n Joe reached over to the credenza and grabbed up his jacket.\u00a0 Rummaging through the pockets his hand finally fell on the brown paper sack inside.\u00a0 “Here, Pa — this is for you,” Joe announced and handed it over to his father.<\/p>\n Ben patted his son\u2019s shoulder and grinned as he pulled out a pipe. He inspected it and smiled over at his son. \u201cCost you two dollars of your own money this time \u2013 did it, Joe?\u201d Pa asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa — the price has gone up \u2013 this time it was two and a quarter. But \u2013 nothing but the best for my pa!” Joe quipped.\u00a0 “The one that I gave you when I was fourteen has seen better days you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed and closed his eyes and for just a moment he could still see the young boy standing there at the door four years previously holding up his treasure.<\/p>\n \u201cPa? Pa — do you like it?\u201d Joe asked when several silent minutes passed by.\u00a0 He wondered what his father was thinking about at the time as he seemed unusually quiet.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the grandest pipe I\u2019ve ever seen in my life, Joseph!\u201d Ben exclaimed, pride showing all over his face. It heartened him to know that his youngest had done a very kind thing for someone in need and yet he had still taken the time and trouble to give his father a very meaningful gift.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s laughter filled the room. \u201cC\u2019mon, Pa! You said that very same thing four years ago. You remember when I gave you that old pipe? Those are the exact words you used!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded, \u201cI remember when, Joseph— and I remember you sort of lied back then too as I recall.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay— so you gotta choose Pa \u2013 now which one is the grandest pipe?\u201d Joe continued, insisting on an answer to his question.<\/p>\n \u201cWell—- if you must know — I\u2019d say \u2013 both<\/strong> of them are the grandest pipes I\u2019ve ever seen in my life,\u201d Pa answered, his eyes brimming with sentimental tears aimed at the eighteen- year- old young man standing there before him and the remembrance of the fourteen- year- old boy who had grown up far too fast.<\/p>\n Joe reached over and hugged his pa’s neck and whispered, \u201cI love you, — happy birthday, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n by Wrangler<\/p>\n August 2025<\/p>\n (Dedicated to a surprise package from a friend, and to my story consultant Rob)<\/p>\n