Summary:\u00a0 There are a few simple rules for growing up Cartwright:\u00a0 1. Never underestimate your father.\u00a0 2. Don\u2019t forget the first rule.<\/p>\n
Rating: K
\nWord Count: 1195<\/p>\n
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\u201cPa, Little Joe says he\u2019s dyin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben looked up from his newspaper, raising an eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cIs it really that serious?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI dunno, hard to say.\u00a0 But he\u2019s askin\u2019 for you again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben stood up, yawned, and stretched before ambling toward the stairs. \u201cHold on son, I\u2019m coming!\u201d\u00a0 He called, ascending slowly with heavy steps and a sigh.<\/p>\n
Little Joe was propped up among the pillows of his four-poster bed, his favorite Indian blanket tucked up around his chin so that only his cherubic face under a mass of unruly yet adorable curls was visible.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you feeling, son?\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked plaintively at his Pa and spoke through trembling lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot too good, Pa. I feel as weak as a kitten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s that bad, is it?\u201d Ben placed a practiced hand on his son\u2019s forehead, which was just as cool as the last time he checked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I seem to be able to do is lie here and watch my life flash before my eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben sent him a tender fatherly gaze with all the sympathy he could muster in the moment. In other words, not so much.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, now, let\u2019s not get carried away. Did you take the special remedy Hop Sing prepared for you?\u201d<\/p>\n
A glance at the bedside table proved clearly that he did not.<\/p>\n
\u201c<\/strong>Yech. \u00a0Heck no.\u00a0 I mean, no sir.\u00a0 Pa, I\u2019ve tried, but it\u2019s no use; my stomach just won\u2019t take it. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u00a0 Well, I guess there is nothing more we can do.\u00a0 Unless you think a spoonful of sugar might help it go down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr maybe some of that fine Irish whiskey Nellie Lynch sent over from the old country?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve told you, that\u2019s for special <\/em>occasions,\u201d Ben reminded him.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe a little brandy would do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. Pa, I\u2019m so hot. I feel like I\u2019m burning up.\u201d Little Joe whimpered.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a little warm myself. I think I should open the window.\u00a0 And let\u2019s get that blanket off of you… that\u2019s better, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess so. Pa, we\u2019ve had some good times, haven\u2019t we? Remember?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s been quite a ride.\u201d\u00a0 Ben sat down on the edge of the bed, thinking of Little Joe as a colicky baby, a precocious toddler, a rambunctious and clever boy, and finally, a stubborn, rebellious yet totally lovable young man who always found a way to be the center of attention.<\/p>\n \u201cHave I ever disappointed you, Pa?\u00a0 If I have, I hope you\u2019ll forgive me.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t want that on my conscience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, I can\u2019t say that you\u2019ve ever really disappointed me, at least not until now.\u00a0 I am disappointed that you\u2019ve given up so completely and won\u2019t even try anymore. That\u2019s not the Cartwright way, and certainly not how I raised my sons.\u201d<\/p>\n A tiny tear trickled from one of Little Joe\u2019s hazel-green eyes that he inherited from his beloved New Orleans mama, now his guardian angel forever.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry I let you down, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo am I, son.\u201d\u00a0 Ben reached into the drawer of the side table and pulled out a pair of scissors.<\/p>\n Little Joe stopped sniffling, bewildered at first. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Then his eyes widened as realization set in.\u00a0 \u201cPa, wait, don\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold still, Little Joe.\u00a0 Not that it will make any difference to you, but I don\u2019t want to send you off looking like a riverboat gambler. I\u2019m sure your mother would not approve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, all right!\u201d he squeaked. \u201cI\u2019ll take the remedy!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d\u00a0 said Ben.\u00a0 \u201cHere, let me help you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u00a0 I\u2019ll do it myself.\u201d Little Joe picked up the cup and held it under his nose, contorting his face into a mask of disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTry harder.\u201d Ben snipped the scissors in the air for emphasis.<\/p>\n Little Joe gulped, took a swallow, and grimaced.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of it.\u00a0 There, now that\u2019s a good boy,\u201d said Ben, helping him tip the cup to drain the last few drops. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t so bad, was it?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s response was a gag and a shudder.<\/p>\n Ben set the cup back on the table. \u201cYou just rest easy for a bit.\u00a0 I\u2019ll send Hoss up with some of that peach ice cream you like so much.\u201d He smiled, giving his son\u2019s shoulder a reassuring pat. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll be fit as a fiddle in no time.\u201d<\/p>\n Alone, Little Joe leaned back against the pillows with a moan and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cBravo.\u201d\u00a0 Adam applauded from the doorway.\u00a0 \u201cThat was quite an impressive performance, but unfortunately, not good enough to get you out of haying season this time. Nice try, though.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe frowned.\u00a0 \u201cHar dee har har.\u00a0 And where are you going all dressed up, if I may ask?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou may.\u00a0 I\u2019m off to San Francisco.\u00a0 I took your turn last year, remember?\u00a0 So have fun, because I intend to. Oh, here\u2019s a little something for you.\u00a0 Just in case.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Adam set a chamber pot on the floor next to the bed.\u00a0 \u201cSee you in a couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Hoss looked up as Adam came downstairs, whistling.<\/p>\n \u201cThink you\u2019ve got everything you need?\u201d\u00a0 asked Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cLocked and loaded.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, have a good time, son.\u00a0 All work and no play, you know what they say.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get those contracts signed and still have plenty of time to see a certain young lady I met on our last trip.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned, winking at Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cYou know the one.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss appeared at sea, his brow furrowed as he tried to recall.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou mean that skinny gal?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smirked. \u201cTrue, she\u2019s as thin as a rail fence on the outside, but she\u2019s like whiskey in a teacup in the ways that really matter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded approvingly.\u00a0 \u201cHe means you can\u2019t judge a book by its cover.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a thud overhead, followed by a scrambling Little Joe making a mad dash down the stairs and out the door.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sure was quick,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cI had Hop Sing make up a double dose this time,\u201d said Ben, looking wise.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, how I hate to break up a party, but I do have a stage to catch.\u201d\u00a0 Adam gave a mock salute in farewell.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want some ice cream, Pa?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you can save mine for Little Joe.\u00a0 Though it may be a while before he\u2019s ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReckon he\u2019s learned his lesson?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure it\u2019s one he won\u2019t forget.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, like I\u2019ve heard you say. \u2018All\u2019s well that ends well,\u2019 ain\u2019t that right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but I have a feeling your little brother is going to be mighty disappointed when he finds out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFinds out what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s still getting a haircut.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***The End***<\/p>\n Author\u2019s Note:\u00a0 Written for the 2025 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament. The game was 7-Card Stud and we had to use at least five of the seven cards dealt, each of which represented a word or phrase.\u00a0 My words\/phrases were:<\/p>\n