Summary:\u00a0 Ben explains to each of his sons why he and their mothers chose their names.
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 4,250 words<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What\u2019s in a Name?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Hoss glared at Joe across the table as his younger brother reached out and deftly speared a large baked potato onto his fork. \u201cI was gonna have that big one!\u201d he said crossly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cToo late,\u201d replied Joe, before stuffing the potato whole into his mouth. \u201cYa gotta be quick,\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wonder what\u2019s keeping your brother?\u201d mused Ben as he picked up his knife and fork.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not like him to be late for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s most likely stopped to have a drink at the Silver Dollar,\u201d said Joe through a mouthful of potato.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben frowned at his youngest son. \u201cDon\u2019t talk with your mouth full please, Joseph,\u201d he said sternly. \u201cHow many times have I told you that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed before replying. \u201cSorry Pa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBesides, I\u2019m sure you\u2019re wrong,\u201d continued Ben. \u201cAdam knows better than to drink in the middle of the week. He has too much of a sense of responsibility to do that when he\u2019s supposed to be working.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pointed his fork at his father. \u201cYou might be surprised,\u201d he said, knowingly. \u201cOlder brother ain\u2019t quite so responsible as he always seems. Just because he\u2019s in town getting supplies don\u2019t mean that he \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His word was cut off by the sound of the front door opening. \u201cSorry I\u2019m late,\u201d called out Adam as he put a saddlebag on the credenza and then began taking off his hat and jacket. \u201cI got held up in town.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe winked at his father in a conspiratorial fashion, but when Ben chose to ignore the gesture he turned and winked at Hoss instead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBusy in town?\u201d asked Ben as Adam sat down.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure is,\u201d replied Adam as he helped himself to some beef. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d he added crossly as Joe leant towards him and sniffed the air furtively.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNuthin,\u201d said Joe, trying to sound casual as he sniffed again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI got the mail,\u201d added Adam to his father. \u201cStop it!\u201d He swatted Joe, who was still sniffing, away. \u201cHave you got a cold or something?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour brother has decided that you\u2019ve been drinking in town,\u201d interjected Ben as he glared at Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rolled his eyes and then turned to breathe heavily in Joe\u2019s direction. \u201cSatisfied?\u201d he asked, sarcastically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked momentarily abashed as he muttered something under his breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that?\u201d asked Ben, sharply.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI said that he coulda been,\u201d countered Joe, a touch defensively.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I wasn\u2019t, so shut up about it,\u201d said Adam and Joe slunk down in his seat and said nothing as he continued to eat. \u201cMillie Simpson\u2019s had her baby,\u201d announced Adam after a moment or two. \u201cAnother girl.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d said Ben. \u201cI wonder what they\u2019ll call this one?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAbe was in town and I spoke to him. Seems that they\u2019re going to call it Gertrude after her Millie\u2019s mother,\u201d replied Adam as he picked up his knife and fork.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGertrude!\u201d said Hoss with a wry expression. \u201cPoor kid!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe spluttered into his coffee cup before snorting softly. \u201cFunny name,\u201d he agreed. \u201cI wonder why they give all their kids such funny names?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGertrude is a perfectly respectable name,\u201d said Ben primly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell it might be respectable, but you\u2019ve got to admit that it\u2019s kinda funny,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNames are subjective,\u201d observed Adam mildly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d said Hoss, looking puzzled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot everyone is bound to agree on names,\u201d his brother continued. \u201cTake your name for example \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou leave my name outta this!\u201d muttered Hoss, his expression turning to a frown. \u201cIt\u2019s jest a nickname and you know it. As a matter of fact, Pa told me that you\u2019re the one responsible fer giving it to me in the first place, older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot quite true,\u201d said Adam. \u201cI remember it well and all I did was remind Pa what your Uncle Gunnar had said.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d interjected Ben. \u201cIt was your Uncle Gunnar who told us what the word Hoss<\/em> meant \u2026 a big friendly mountain man.\u201d He patted Hoss\u2019 hand where it lay on the table next to his. \u201cAnd it suits you well,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss grinned at his father. \u201cThanks Pa,\u201d he said, nodding slightly. \u201cI don\u2019t mind it at all \u2026 in fact, I\u2019m kinda fond of it.\u201d He turned to Adam again and pointed towards him with his knife. \u201cBut I won\u2019t have anyone making fun of it neither,\u201d he added, meaningfully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t making fun of it,\u201d countered Adam quickly. \u201cIn fact, if you had let me finish what I was about to say without interruption, I was talking about your real name.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEric?\u201d said Hoss. \u201cWhat about it?\u201d He gave his brother a puzzled look, for it wasn\u2019t often that any of the family used his given name \u2026 except for his father \u2026.. and that was only when he was extremely angry with him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam tried again. \u201cWell your name \u2026. Eric \u2026\u201d he continued. \u201cIt\u2019s not a very common name around these parts and lots of people maybe wouldn\u2019t like it because it sounds a bit different to them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI like it,\u201d said Hoss quickly. \u201cIt\u2019s not my fault if it ain\u2019t a popular name.\u201d He thought for a moment. \u201cPa? How come you gave me a name that no one else in these parts has, anyways?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour mother and I never even stopped to consider if the name was common or not,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI\u2019m a firm believer in choosing names because you like them \u2026. Not because they\u2019re popular or not.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell how come ya did choose it?\u201d persisted Hoss. \u201cIt not being well-know and all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, it wasn\u2019t my choice. Your mother chose it,\u201d replied his father. \u201cIt\u2019s a Scandinavian name \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd her being from Sweden and suchlike I can understand her choosing it then,\u201d interrupted Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c \u2026 and it was her father\u2019s name,\u201d finished Ben. \u201cShe was very close to her father and wanted to honour him by naming you after him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded thoughtfully. \u201cWell then, I don\u2019t have a problem if it\u2019s a popular name or not,\u201d he said. \u201cI guess it\u2019s a right honour to be named after someone. Specially a relative.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, that depends who you\u2019re being named after, I guess,\u201d said Adam. \u201cWould you have wanted to be named after your Uncle Gunnar?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss made a face and nodded. \u201cI reckon not,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d agreed Joe. \u201cI sure am glad that your father had a decent name like Joseph, Pa. Otherwise I could have ended up with a real stinker.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLike Francis?\u201d asked Adam sweetly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his brother a dark look. \u201cDon\u2019t you call me that!\u201d he said angrily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d It\u2019s your name, isn\u2019t it?\u201d asked Hoss with a chuckle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy middle<\/em> name,\u201d said Joe, giving his other brother a dark look as well. \u201cAnd you know I don\u2019t like anyone calling me that!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFrancis is a fine name,\u201d said Ben soothingly. \u201cYou should be proud of it, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, sorry as I am to upset you Pa, I just can\u2019t stand it,\u201d said Joe, in a milder tone. \u201cI can\u2019t for the life of me think why you ever chose it for my middle name.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d replied his father easily. \u201cYour mother did. And if you don\u2019t like it, just be thankful that she didn\u2019t get her way and give it to you for your first name instead.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his father a horrified look. \u201cYou ain\u2019t serious!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam chuckled. \u201cHe is,\u201d he said, obviously enjoying the look on his brother\u2019s face. \u201cNow if I remember rightly, she actually wanted to call you Francois, little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s jaw dropped as he stared at his father and brothers in silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d added Hoss. \u201cIt was gonna be Francois Joseph<\/em> until Pa talked her out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFrancois was her father\u2019s name,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cI finally got her to agree that instead of the French form, Francis was more appealing for an American boy and \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t appealing for anyone!\u201d interrupted Joe quickly. \u201cHow could you let her Pa? How could you agree to it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t know your Ma the way we did,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cShe had a real way of getting what she wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe sure did,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cYou should be grateful to Pa for getting her to change her mind that much, instead of blaming him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe considered the remark. \u201cWell, I suppose it\u2019s OK as long as most people don\u2019t know about it,\u201d he said. \u201cAll I know is that I\u2019d much rather be know as Joe than Francis \u2026 or Francois \u2026. or anything else.\u201d He eyed off his brothers cagily for a moment before adding. \u201cDo Hoss and Adam have middle names Pa? I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever heard em.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey certainly do,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAdam is named after me \u2026. Adam Benjamin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHmm,\u201d said Joe, in a disappointed tone. \u201cWell, that ain\u2019t bad. How about Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss\u2019 middle name is John after my brother,\u201d said Ben. \u201cEric John. His mother and I thought it had a nice sound to it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss beamed at his younger brother, secure in the knowledge that he didn\u2019t have anything to worry about when it came to his middle name.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo. I\u2019m the only one who got lumbered with a rotten middle name then?\u201d said Joe grumpily. \u201cThat don\u2019t seem fair.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shrugged. \u201cOh, I don\u2019t know. It seems fair to me,\u201d he said happily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cWell, you can talk,\u201d he said. \u201cGetting named after a book character ain\u2019t exactly anything to be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam is named after more than a character in a book,\u201d said Ben quickly. \u201cHe\u2019s named after the first man \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know, I know,\u201d sighed Joe, putting up his hand to silence his father. \u201cYou\u2019ve told it all before Pa. His Ma liked some funny book \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cParadise Lost<\/em>,\u201d said Adam, primly. \u201cIt\u2019s a fine book.\u201d He spoke without much conviction in his voice, however, for upstairs in his room was that very same book which he\u2019d tried to read many times over the years without success. It seemed to him that his mother had indeed had very strange taste in literature, but he would never had admitted that to anyone \u2026 least of all his youngest brother who would never have let him forget the admission.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes took on a faraway look. \u201cShe certainly loved to read,\u201d he said wistfully. \u201cAnd Paradise Lost<\/em> was indeed one of her favourite books. He cleared his throat and looked somewhat contrite. \u201cNot that I ever read it right through,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI must say that I found it rather dry in parts.\u201d Adam made a face, but said nothing. \u201cIf you had turned out to be a girl son, we intended to call you after your mother \u2026. Elizabeth,\u201d Ben added, somewhat as an afterthought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d said Adam, sitting up straight in his chair and staring at his father. \u201cI don\u2019t think you ever told me that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled at his eldest son. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd a lovely name it is too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t that have got a bit confusing?\u201d wondered Hoss. \u201cI mean \u2026 if Adam\u2019s Ma had lived and all \u2026 having two Elizabeths in the same house?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe intended to shorten it,\u201d replied Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cElizabeth!\u201d said Joe, looking at his brother with a wicked glint in his eye. \u201cThat\u2019s a great idea! We coulda called him Betty!\u201d He and Hoss giggled as Adam now found it was his turn to give both his brothers a dark look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, we were considering Beth,\u201d said Ben, ignoring his two youngest sons. \u201cI think that\u2019s rather pretty for a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI prefer Betty,\u201d giggled Joe. \u201cBetty Cartwright!\u201d His voice took on a high-pitched tone. \u201cYoo Hoo! Miss Betty! Over here!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what was Joe going to be called if he was a girl?\u201d mused Adam out loud, giving his brother a challenging look. \u201cLet me think \u2026 what was it now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face instantly fell. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said quickly. \u201cIt had better not be something bad.\u201d He gave his father a pleading look. \u201cPlease tell me it weren\u2019t something bad Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben tried to hide the look of amusement on his face. \u201cActually, your mother was convinced that you were going to be a girl,\u201d he said. \u201cIt came as quite a surprise to her that you turned out to be a boy in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy did she think I was a girl?\u201d asked Joe incredulously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2026. I suppose because I already had two sons \u2026 she was hoping to finally give me a daughter,\u201d said Ben. \u201cNot that I minded,\u201d he added quickly as he saw Joe\u2019s face fall. \u201cWhen you were born we were both thrilled with you and it made no difference whether you were a boy or a girl. In fact I kept telling your mother all along that she was wrong and you were a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBecause you never stopped wriggling, even before you were born,\u201d said Ben with a fond smile at the young man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you ain\u2019t never stopped since,\u201d added Hoss with a chuckle. \u201cSo what was Joe gonna be if he was a girl?\u201d he persisted. \u201cI don\u2019t remember Ma and you talking about it when I was a young\u2019un.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAngelique,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAfter your mother\u2019s favourite teacher when she was growing up. Sister Angelique taught her at the convent in New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAngelique,\u201d mused Joe. \u201cThat ain\u2019t bad. Sounds a bit like an angel.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo even if you\u2019d been a girl, they would have had to change it,\u201d said Adam with a grin. \u201cOne look at you and everyone knew you weren\u2019t an angel.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMore like a devil,\u201d agree Hoss gleefully. \u201cWhat was my name gonna be iffen I was a girl Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMore beef son?\u201d said Ben, picking up the platter of beef and holding it out to Hoss. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty left.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks Pa,\u201d said Hoss, taking some. \u201cSure is good.\u201d He took a couple of bites and then asked again. \u201cSo? What was my name gonna be?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ll see if Hop Sing has any more of these delicious baked potatoes in the kitchen,\u201d said Ben, evasively. \u201cHop Sing?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing\u2019s head appeared around the corner of the passageway that led to the kitchen. \u201cWhat for you all time yell?\u201d he demanded crossly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre there any more of these baked potatoes left?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cThey are truly delicious. You\u2019ve outdone yourself tonight with the meal.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing\u2019s expression softened. \u201cI bring,\u201d he said and his head disappeared again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou never said what Hoss\u2019s girl name was Pa,\u201d Joe reminded his father, helpfully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t I?\u201d said Ben vaguely. He turned to Adam. \u201cSo what was in the mail today son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNothing exciting,\u201d said Adam, giving his brothers a meaningful look. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you didn\u2019t have a name picked out for Hoss if he was a girl Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cN \u2026 no,\u201d admitted Ben slowly. \u201cWe had a name picked out, all right.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re acting like I won\u2019t like it or nothing,\u201d said Hoss, giving his father a curious look. \u201cWas I gonna be named after someone awful?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot at all,\u201d his father assured him. \u201cYou were going to be named after your mother\u2019s mother and mine .. in that order,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd their names were?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy mother\u2019s name was Martha,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence for a moment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s pretty,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cAin\u2019t nothing wrong with that. What was my Ma\u2019s Ma\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSon, you\u2019ve got to remember that I loved your mother very much,\u201d said Ben quickly. \u201cI would have done anything for her … and she had her heart set on naming you for one of her parents.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn other words, just be grateful you was a boy,\u201d said Joe cheekily. \u201cHis Ma\u2019s Ma\u2019s name must have been a real bad one, eh Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot something I\u2019d necessarily choose,\u201d admitted Ben, with a shrug of his shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI gotta know it Pa,\u201d insisted Hoss. \u201cThem two know their girl names so it\u2019s only fair.\u201d He took a deep breath. \u201cI can handle it,\u201d he said. \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben swallowed. \u201cBrunhilde,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence for a long while. Adam and Joe gave Hoss sympathetic looks, but said nothing, while Hoss simply sat with a faraway look on his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour mother thought it was a beautiful name,\u201d said Ben finally.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The silence deepened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s also Scandinavian,\u201d added Ben, beginning to sound desperate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow could you do it to him Pa?\u201d asked Adam, finally. \u201cYour own son!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s the whole point,\u201d said Ben, a touch defensively. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t a girl in the end \u2026. and I must say I did breathe a sigh of relief when I found out that he wasn\u2019t \u2026 so I never had to face naming him \u2026 I mean her \u2026 that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you was gonna!\u201d said Hoss, sounding quite miffed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI thought you said you could handle it?\u201d asked Joe cheekily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss glared at his brother. \u201cYou wanna be know as Francis for the rest of yer life, little brother?\u201d he threatened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe quickly shut his mouth and said nothing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss patted his father\u2019s hand. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cIt never happened, so we\u2019ll just all ferget about it, I reckon.\u201d He looked at both his brothers meaningfully. \u201cAdam nodded and Joe, after a moment\u2019s hesitation, did the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d said Ben, in a much brighter tone. \u201cThat\u2019s the best thing to do.\u201d He smiled at Hop Sing as the man came into the room carrying a plate of baked potatoes. \u201cThank you Hop Sing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey Hop Sing,\u201d said Joe, as he speared yet another potato. \u201cWe\u2019ve been talking about names and suchlike. How\u2019d you get your name?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop is common name in Old China,\u201d replied Hop Sing proudly. \u201cMany Hop in China.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMany hop in China!\u201d said Joe, laughing at the joke. He looked at Hop Sing\u2019s expressionless face and the smile quickly drained from his face. \u201cWeren\u2019t you making a joke?\u201d he asked, genuinely puzzled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Hop Sing, glaring at him. \u201cIs true. Many Hop in China. Family name go back many generations.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d said Hoss. \u201cAin\u2019t Hop your first name?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d explained Hop Sing. \u201cHop family name. My uncle Hop, my cousins Hop, everyone in family Hop.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey all hop!\u201d snorted Joe in spite of himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d said Ben. \u201cControl yourself please or leave the table!\u201d Joe tried to stop his laughter by putting his hand over his mouth, but only succeeded in smothering it a little.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the Chinese custom,\u201d Adam explained to Hoss. \u201cThe family name comes before the person\u2019s individual name.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs right,\u201d said Hop Sing, crossing his arms over his chest and nodding his head. \u201cSing my own name \u2026 Hop my family name.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d said Hoss thoughtfully. \u201cSo is Sing a popular name in China too?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d replied Hop Sing. \u201cMany Sing in China also.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMany sing in China!\u201d giggled Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d said Hop Sing, glaring at the young man. \u201cMany Hop and many Sing in China. Why that funny?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMany hop and many sing in China!\u201d giggled Joe delightedly. His shoulders began to shake with the effort of trying to keep the laughter inside himself and his face began to turn slightly red.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d snapped his father. He turned to Hop Sing. \u201cPlease excuse Joseph, Hop Sing,\u201d he said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t mean to be rude.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing glared at Joe for a moment, then picked up a spoon and hit him on the side of the head with it before flouncing from the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d said Ben again. \u201cNow look what you\u2019ve done! He\u2019ll probably be threatening to go back to Old China for the next week!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell if he does, I hope he\u2019s prepared to hop and sing a lot while he\u2019s there,\u201d giggled Joe. He looked around the table at his father and brother\u2019s and shrugged. \u201cIt was a joke,\u201d he explained. \u201cYou see \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe get the joke,\u201d interrupted Adam. \u201cWe just don\u2019t happen to think it\u2019s funny.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe made a face and then shrugged his shoulders. \u201cWell, I did,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey Pa?\u201d said Hoss suddenly. \u2018Seeing as how we\u2019re talking about names, what does the name Cartwright mean?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be stupid,\u201d interrupted Joe. \u201cCartwright is just a name. It don\u2019t mean anything.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call your brother stupid young man!\u201d snapped Ben, causing Joe to jump slightly in his seat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d he mumbled, looking at the tablecloth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually that\u2019s where you\u2019re wrong, younger brother,\u201d said Adam. \u201cEvery name means something.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d countered Joe, looking up again. \u201cWell if that\u2019s so, then what\u2019s it mean professor?\u201d He gave his brother a challenging look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not quite sure,\u201d replied Adam mildly, \u201cbut my guess would be that it most likely originated from something to do with carts. It probably means a cart maker or something similar.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019d suit me then,\u201d said Hoss in a satisfied tone. \u201cI reckon I\u2019d enjoy making carts.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an English name originally,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo did your Pa come from England then?\u201d asked Joe, looking interested at the thought of it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot my father,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cHe was born in America, as was his father before him. I suppose that one of his ancestors did, way back though. Cartwrights have been around for many generations.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t told us about your name Pa,\u201d piped up Joe suddenly. \u201cWere you named after anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI certainly was,\u201d answered Ben. \u201cI was named for my father\u2019s brother \u2026 my Uncle Benjamin. Unfortunately though, he died when I was quite young and I don\u2019t really remember him at all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat about a middle name?\u201d asked Adam. \u201cDo you have one?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben hesitated a moment before answering. \u201cYes,\u201d he said shortly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d prompted Adam. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence as they all looked at their father expectantly. When Ben said nothing, Joe finally broke the silence. \u201cAin\u2019t you gonna tell us Pa?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d persisted Joe. \u201cDon\u2019t ya like it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot particularly,\u201d replied his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The three brothers exchanged glances around the table. \u201cI still think you should tell us what it is,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d agreed Joe. \u201cHow come you get to know all our names and we don\u2019t get to know yours? That ain\u2019t fair!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shot his younger brother a withering look. \u201cHe\u2019s the one that gave us the names, remember?\u201d he said sarcastically. \u201cOf course he knows em!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah,\u201d said Joe weakly. \u201cI reckon.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPrecisely,\u201d said Ben, a touch defensively. \u201cMy name is my own business and I expect the three of you to respect that. There are some things that a father gets to keep to himself if he chooses to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow. \u201cWell, no offence Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cBut do you think that\u2019s practical? After all, one day we\u2019ll need to know it to \u2026. well \u2026 to put on your tombstone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s face darkened. \u201cI will not lie for all eternity under that name!\u201d he snapped. \u201cA simple Benjamin Cartwright<\/em> will suffice, thank you very much!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut Pa \u2026.\u201d began Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut Pa, nothing!\u201d snapped Ben as he stood up from the table. \u201cAnd that is an end to this discussion boys. My middle name is my own business and no one else\u2019s!\u201d\u00a0 He glared at each of them in turn. \u201cIs that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Each of the boys nodded their heads. \u201cSure thing Pa,\u201d said Adam quickly. \u201cWe didn\u2019t mean anything by it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben glared at each of them again and then strode from the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMust be a real stinker,\u201d mused Joe after a moment or two.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll say,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cI mean \u2026 if he was willing to call Hoss Brun \u2026. I mean … the name we won\u2019t mention, then his own must be far worse.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shot Adam a grateful look for not mentioning the name, before adding, \u201cYeah, must be a real bad\u2019un. I wonder what it is?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face took on a crafty look. \u201cI\u2019ll bet we can find out,\u201d he said. \u201cMaybe Pa\u2019s got his birth certificate hidden away somewhere? We could look for it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam frowned. \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s a very good idea,\u201d he said. \u201cYou heard what Pa said \u2026. It\u2019s his own business. I suppose if he doesn\u2019t want to share it, then we shouldn\u2019t pry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAw, come on Adam!\u201d said Joe in a frustrated tone. \u201cDon\u2019t you wanna know what it is?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2026 yes,\u201d admitted Adam. \u201cBut \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome on Hoss,\u201d said Joe, ignoring his eldest brother as he sprang to his feet. \u201cYou check out the attic and I\u2019ll go through his dresser drawers in his bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss grinned at Joe, shrugged his shoulders in Adam\u2019s direction and then got to his feet as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam watched as his two brothers left the room, Joe scampering quickly up the stairs and Hoss following at a slower pace. After a moment, he held up his hands in a gesture of defeat before muttering to himself, \u201cI guess I\u2019ll check his study then.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As Adam stood up and left the table, a face appeared from around the passageway leading to the kitchen. \u201cHmph!\u201d said Hop Sing crossly as he surveyed the now-empty room. \u201cHave feeling Mr Ben very angry with sons tomorrow. Hop Sing best go back Old China and stay away from all yelling!\u201d His face split into a wide grin as he added in a playful tone, \u201cMaybe hop and sing while there too!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked up at the sound of the soft laughter from the direction of the dining room table, but saw nothing. He shrugged as he opened the top drawer of his father\u2019s desk \u2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Summary:\u00a0 Ben explains to each of his sons why he and their mothers chose their names.The End<\/span><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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