Summary:\u00a0 A tale of a young boy, a frog and the trouble they cause.
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (5,400 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hoppy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Little Joe Cartwright sucked on the stalk of grass and stared at the blue sky through the trees as he whistled softly to himself. As he lay on his back he swung his legs lazily, wishing that he could stay here all afternoon instead of having to go back and have dinner with that stupid girl of Adam\u2019s and her mother.\u00a0 He frowned.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know why Pa wanted him there anyway!\u00a0 Adam didn\u2019t seem to want him and he didn\u2019t want to be there, so he felt it was rather unfair of his father to insist that he was. Joe couldn\u2019t think of anything more boring than dressing up for dinner and trying to remember his best manners for anyone\u2026and a girl at that!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He was sure that Hoss wasn\u2019t looking forward to it either.\u00a0 His middle brother was so shy with girls that he probably would rather have gone without dinner rather than have to sit there thinking of things to talk about and that that was saying a lot considering how much Hoss enjoyed eating. Yes sir!\u00a0 It seemed to his ten-year mind that Adam was spoiling their whole day just because of him and that dumb old girl!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sighed as he sat up and looked at the flowing creek in front of him.\u00a0 He dabbled his bare toes in the water and giggled as he felt the cold creek water tickle them. It seemed to him that ever since Adam had returned from college he had caused problems for them all. Do this Joe, do that Joe!<\/em> He never let up about how Joe should get all his chores done and how he should pay more attention in school.\u00a0 No sir!\u00a0 Older brother Adam certainly wasn\u2019t his favourite person in the world by any means!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe squinted as he caught a movement beside him and shot a look sidewards.\u00a0 He grinned to see a large green frog sitting on the grass next to him returning his stare. Joe loved frogs!\u00a0 He often came down to this little creek for no other reason than to watch them and once he had raised a whole crop of tadpoles in a bucket that he had spent hours observing.\u00a0 That was until they started hopping out and got into the kitchen and Hop Sing made him return them to the creek again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He reached out a tentative hand and touched the frog. \u2018Hi there feller!\u2019 he said softly. \u2018Come ta say hello have ya?\u2019\u00a0 The frog kept staring at him as if sizing him up and down. \u2018You\u2019re a nice feller ain\u2019t ya?\u2019 asked Joe as he continued to stroke his back.\u00a0 It was amazing how the animal wasn\u2019t moving, but seemed to welcome the boy\u2019s touch.\u00a0 \u2018Ya like me hey?\u2019 asked Joe happily. \u2018How about you and me being friends then huh?\u2019 The frog took a small jump forwards and nearly landed on Joe\u2019s leg. \u2018Hey you\u2019re a good hopper too ain\u2019t ya?\u2019 said Joe. \u2018I think I\u2019ll call ya Hoppy. Do ya like that name?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just at that moment Joe heard a voice from up above calling him. \u2018Joe! Joe!\u2019\u00a0 He slithered up to the top of the embankment and poked his tousled head over it.\u00a0 His brother Hoss was standing near the back door calling to him. \u2018Joe! Pa says ta come in now ta get washed up fer the company!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m coming!\u2019 called back Joe.\u00a0 He slid down the embankment again and frowned at the frog. \u2018They ain\u2019t my company,\u2019 he said as he pulled on his socks and boots. \u2018Don\u2019t see why I haveta get washed up!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The frog took another jump forward and this time landed on Joe\u2019s leg. \u2018Hey ya wanna come with me huh?\u2019 he said delightedly as he picked Hoppy up and looked at him closely. \u2018Well, if ya do ya haveta behave yaself OK?\u2019\u00a0 Frog and boy stared at each other for a moment before Joe popped the animal into the jacket of his pocket.\u00a0 He finished pulling on his boots and scrambled to the top of the embankment again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Come on Joe!\u2019 called Hoss again. \u2018Pa\u2019s waiting!\u2019\u00a0 The boy ran towards the back door of the house quickly with his newfound friend tucked securely in his pocket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Joseph keep still!\u2019 said his father in an exasperated tone as he wet the hairbrush again and tried to slick down his son\u2019s unruly locks.\u00a0 Try as he would, the boy\u2019s hair just wouldn\u2019t behave itself and the curls kept springing up all over his head. \u2018Well, that will have to do,\u2019 said Ben with a sigh as he put down the hairbrush. \u2018Honestly!\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how you could possibly get so dirty in the hour you had between coming home from Church and getting ready for dinner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his father a painful look. \u2018It was easy,\u2019 he said. \u2018I was down at the creek.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well, I wouldn\u2019t have thought a complete change of clothing was necessary after only an hour,\u2019 said Ben severely. \u2018You give Hop Sing an awful lot of washing to do you know.\u2019\u00a0 He turned his son\u2019s head sideways to inspect his ears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ow!\u2019 said Joe as he tried to move his father\u2019s hand away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Keep still,\u2019 said Ben as he picked up a washcloth and cleaned his son\u2019s ears and neck again. \u2018I thought I told you to wash properly.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I did,\u2019 said Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Not good enough,\u2019 said Ben giving him a swat on the side of his head. \u2018Not for company anyway.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re not my company,\u2019 said Joe in a sulky tone. \u2018Don\u2019t see why I haveta wash anyhow.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben pointed a finger at him. \u2018Because I told you to!\u2019 he said angrily. \u2018They\u2019re your brother Adam\u2019s company and you\u2019ll behave yourself young man.\u00a0 Do you understand me?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes sir,\u2019 said Joe with a frown.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Now get downstairs and sit in the living room,\u2019 said his father. \u2018I don\u2019t want you to move a muscle until our guests arrive. What are you doing?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Nothing Pa,\u2019 said Joe as he reached for his jacket. \u2018I\u2019m just hanging this up.\u2019\u00a0 He put his hand into the pocket and drew out Hoppy furtively.\u00a0 The way he figured it, the frog might be the only decent company he got all afternoon. He transferred him quickly into the pocket of his pants without his father noticing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Get!\u2019 said Ben. \u2018Go on!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe scampered out of the bedroom and down the stairs quickly.\u00a0 He sat on the sofa next to an equally glum Hoss and waited in silence. The two brothers looked at each other, their faces saying everything that each other needed to know about their thoughts. \u2018I sure ain\u2019t looking forward ta this,\u2019 said Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Me neither,\u2019 declared Joe. \u2018Who is this girl anyways?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Madeleine Smith,\u2019 said Hoss. \u2018Adam\u2019s gone on her.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Adam\u2019s gone on every girl he meets,\u2019 said Joe. \u2018Don\u2019t know why he likes girls so much.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well, he\u2019s gonna be real mad iffen ya cause any trouble this time,\u2019 said Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What do ya mean this time? I ain\u2019t caused any trouble before!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss snorted. \u2018Ya cause trouble every time we have company!\u2019 he declared. \u2018Ya don\u2019t even know ya\u2019re doing it half the time.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glared at his brother and punched him on the arm. \u2018Joseph!\u2019 said his father as he reached the bottom of the stairs. \u2018Behave yourself!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018If he doesn\u2019t, I\u2019ll give it to him!\u2019 said Adam, glaring at him from behind his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe glared at his oldest brother and then smirked. \u2018Oooh!\u00a0 Look at Adam Hoss!\u00a0 Ain\u2019t he fancy?\u00a0 Who ya trying to impress Adam?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam glared at his little brother. \u2018You were just told to behave yourself!\u2019 he said angrily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are ya gonna kiss that Madeleine when she comes?\u2019 asked Joe unabashed. He put his hand up and kissed the back of it noisily. \u2018Like this?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked at his father pleadingly. \u2018Pa!\u2019 he said. \u2018Does he have to be here?\u00a0 Can\u2019t he eat in the kitchen?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Joseph behave yourself!\u2019 said his father angrily. \u2018If you cause any trouble today for your brother, you\u2019ll answer to me for it.\u00a0 Understood?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lowered his head. \u2018Yes Pa,\u2019 he said quietly.\u00a0 He waited for the man to move away, then put his head up and poked out his tongue at Adam who continued to glare at him.\u00a0 Hoss looked quite amused at the whole interchange.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re here,\u2019 said Ben as he glanced out of the study window. Adam leapt to the front door and ran out.\u00a0 Ben pointed at Hoss and Joe on the sofa. \u2018Don\u2019t you two get up from there!\u00a0 Understood?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes Pa,\u2019 they both chorused innocently and watched their father leave the room as well.\u00a0 Joe grinned at Hoss and kissed the back of his hand several more times as he rolled his eyes and giggled.\u00a0 Hoss grinned back at him, but then turned his expression into a serious one as their father re-entered the room followed by Adam and two ladies.\u00a0 Both boys stood up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Boys, this is Mrs Smith and her daughter Madeleine,\u2019 said Ben as he indicated the two women behind him. He motioned for Hoss to come forward. \u2018This is my middle boy Eric and this,\u2019 he beckoned to Joe, \u2018is the youngest Joseph.\u00a0 Say hello to the ladies boys.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hello,\u2019 they chorused in their politest tones.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hello there,\u2019 said Mrs Smith with a big smile. \u2018You\u2019re very grown up Hoss.\u2019\u00a0 Hoss grinned at her. \u2018And Joseph here is quite the little man, aren\u2019t you dear?\u2019\u00a0 She reached over and pinched Joe on the cheek.\u00a0 He took a step back and scowled at her. If there was one thing he hated above all others, it was being pinched on the cheek by old ladies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat. \u2018Well, please sit down,\u2019 he said politely. Adam jumped forward, escorted Madeleine to the sofa and sat next to her.\u00a0 Ben seated Mrs Smith in an easy chair and took one himself, leaving Hoss and Joe to stand to the side.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018This is a beautiful house Mr Cartwright!\u2019 exclaimed Mrs Smith. \u2018Truly beautiful!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Thank you,\u2019 said Ben with a smile.\u00a0 He gave Joe a meaningful look as he noticed his son hopping from one foot to the other. If he had known the real reason for this he would have given him more than a meaningful look, however. Hoppy was getting restless, having been in the boy\u2019s pants pocket for a good ten minutes and was trying to escape.\u00a0 In doing so, he was tickling Joe on the upper thigh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tried to steady himself and took a step away from the group. Hoss looked at him sideways. \u2018Keep still!\u2019 he whispered as Hop Sing came into the room with a tray of drinks.\u00a0 The grownups were all engrossed in a boring conversation, which didn\u2019t interest Joe in the slightest, and he found himself more and more concerned with how to keep Hoppy still.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly he heard his name. \u2018Huh?\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I asked you if you were all right dear,\u2019 asked Mrs Smith anxiously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked up to see everyone\u2019s eyes upon him. \u2018Yeah, I\u2019m fine,\u2019 he mumbled. Adam gave him a warning look. \u2018I\u2019m just\u2026\u2019 Joe stopped as Hoppy gave an exceptionally large wriggle and Joe tried to stop a full-fledged giggle. \u2018I\u2019m just\u2026\u2019\u00a0 He hopped from one foot to the other and clutched at the front of his pants.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Joseph if you need to go outside then please do it!\u2019 said his father, trying to keep the anger out of his voice and looking embarrassed. Joe turned and fled outside, slamming the front door in his haste.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As soon as he got outside, Joe reaching into the pocket of his pants and pulled out his frog. \u2018Whatcha go and do that for?\u2019 he said angrily. \u2018Now they all think I needed to pee!\u2019<\/p>\n Hoppy croaked back at him as if to apologise and Joe smiled. \u2018Aw that\u2019s OK,\u2019 he said. \u2018You couldn\u2019t help it could ya?\u00a0 Musta been a bit cramped in there.\u00a0 Here!\u00a0 Have a hop around for a bit.\u2019\u2019 He put the frog on the ground and watched as the animal took a couple of jumps.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Feel better?\u2019 he said as he picked him up again. \u2018Maybe I\u2019d better find you a place ta stay while we eat huh? Otherwise, Pa will have my hide.\u2019\u00a0 He looked around for a place to store his friend and spied just the thing by the side of the kitchen door.\u00a0 It was a metal bucket and just cried out as the perfect spot for a homeless frog.\u00a0 As Joe scampered towards it with Hoppy in his hand, he was suddenly pulled to one side by his ear. \u2018Ow!\u2019 he said and looked up to see Hop Sing standing there with a cross expression on his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing waved an arm at him, while keeping a firm grasp on his ear with the other hand. \u2018What little boy do?\u2019 he said angrily. \u2018Everyone waiting inside for eat! Papa angry enough without little boy make more angry!\u2019\u00a0 He pulled Joe inside the kitchen and glared at him. \u2018Hurry in!\u2019 he said, gesturing to the dining room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe backed up against a bench, Hoppy still in his hand which was now behind his back.\u00a0 As Hop Sing turned to picked up a platter of meat, he searched around frantically for somewhere to put the frog where he would remain safe and lifted up the closest thing that was available.\u00a0 It was a large dish covered with a silver top and Joe managed to slide the frog underneath it without Hop Sing noticing. \u2018I\u2019m going!\u2019 he said, relieved to have found just the spot for his friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe scampered ahead of Hop Sing down the short passageway that led to the dining room and slid into his place next to his father. He kept his head down, figuring that it was the safest thing to do considering the look he got from his father when he entered the room. For the next half hour, he tried to remain as unobtrusive as possible while the adults around him carried on their boring conversation.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t speak, apart from the pleases and thanks yous that were necessary when he was passed a plate of food.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the time the coffee was being poured, Joe was bored senseless and itched to get away from all the boring talk around him.\u00a0 He tried to catch Hoss\u2019 attention, but his brother was still engrossed in making sure that every platter on the table was empty.\u00a0 Adam of course was still making those goo-goo eyes at ugly Madeleine and his father was politely engaging Mrs Smith in some boring talk of his own. So it was that no one saw the expression of horror on Joe\u2019s face when Hop Sing entered the room bearing a large plate with a silver cover. \u2018Dessert!\u2019 he announced as Joe\u2019s face went pale with the thought of just what they might be having for their last course.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He watched with trepidation as Hop Sing removed the cover proudly and a large green frog made a leap for freedom across the table and landed right on Madeleine\u2019s bosom.\u00a0 The girl shrieked loudly and tried to shake it off, but Adam got there before her and reached out to catch the slimy green visitor.\u00a0 Unfortunately, just as he did so, Hoppy jumped once more and all Adam succeeded in grabbing was an ample handful of Madeleine\u2019s breasts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everyone stared in horror as Hoppy jumped right into the middle of Mrs Smith\u2019s coffee cup and splattered the drink everywhere before disappearing under the table with another huge jump.\u00a0 Little Joe immediately slid down from his chair and crawled across the floor towards his friend, scooping him up in his hands and sitting crouched down low while he waited for the inevitable yells from above.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sure enough, it took less than a fraction of a second before he heard his father\u2019s voice thundering down upon him. \u2018Joseph!\u2019 Ben yelled. \u2018Get up here this instant!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe crawled to the other side of the table and emerged as far away from his father as was possible.\u00a0 He gulped to see Madeleine standing clutching her chest which displayed a large red mark much the shape of his oldest brother\u2019s hand.\u00a0 Adam stood next to her holding his cheek which bore a similar mark just the size of Madeleine\u2019s hand.\u00a0 Mrs Smith was staring open-mouthed at the two of them, while Hoss was quietly scooping out the remainder of the dessert which hadn\u2019t been trampled by Hoppy before anyone could stop him.\u00a0 Hop Sing was waving his arms around while uttering a string of Chinese phrases and his face was all red.\u00a0 But it was his father\u2019s expression which made Joe take a step backwards and clutch Hoppy to his chest defensively.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben pointed at his youngest son, words failing him for a moment. \u2018You!\u2019 he yelled. \u2018You … get that frog out of here \u2026 now!\u2019\u00a0 He advanced upon Joe who took another step backwards and clutched Hoppy even tighter to his chest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018But Pa \u2026\u2019 he began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Not another word Joseph!\u2019 spluttered Ben. \u2018Get it out now!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned and fled from the room taking Hoppy with him, leaving a scene of chaos behind him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sat miserably on the edge of the water trough and stared at Hoppy in his hand. \u2018Weren\u2019t your fault feller,\u2019 he said consolingly. \u2018You couldn\u2019t help jumping away like ya did.\u2019 He stroked the frog gently and was rewarded by a large croak from the animal.\u00a0 He smiled. \u2018Yeah, well you ain\u2019t the one gonna get it for this are ya?\u2019\u00a0 He worried about how quiet it had gone inside the house, which was certainly a bad sign as far as he was concerned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly the front door was flung open and Mrs Smith and Madeleine emerged, followed by his father, Adam and Hoss.\u00a0 Mrs Smith\u2019s face was a mask of pure anger and Madeleine had obviously been crying because her eyes were as red as the mark which was still obvious on her chest. Ben was trying to placate the women. \u2018I am so sorry Mrs Smith,\u2019 he said anxiously. \u2018I assure you the boy will be punished.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The woman kept walking with her head high. \u2018I would hope so Mr Cartwright!\u2019 she said angrily. \u2018Come Madeleine, we are leaving!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stood up and backed away from the adults as they approached him. Ben glared at him furiously. \u2018I told you to get rid of that frog!\u2019 he said. \u2018Now drop it!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gulped and let go of Hoppy, who took a few jumps away from the group of people. Adam followed Madeleine to the buggy, trying to make amends. \u2018Madeleine, I so sorry!\u2019 he said desperately. \u2018Please listen to me!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You keep away from my daughter young man! Don\u2019t you touch her!\u2019 said Mrs Smith as she climbed up into her buggy. \u2018You\u2019ve done enough groping for one day! Come along Madeleine!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Madeleine made to follow her mother up into the buggy, but unfortunately Hoppy took that very moment to jump towards the buggy which startled the horse that was tied to it.\u00a0 He stepped out of the frog\u2019s way, taking the buggy a good two feet forward and Madeleine missed her footing and ended up falling on her backside in a small pile of manure that was on the ground next to her. \u2018Madeleine!\u2019 said Adam, reaching forward to pick her up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Get your hands off me!\u2019 she shouted angrily as she picked herself up and surveyed the back of her skirt which was liberally smeared with horse manure. \u2018Don\u2019t you touch me Adam Cartwright! I\u2019ve had enough of you and …\u2019\u00a0 she glared at Joe who was bending down stuffing Hoppy in his jacket pocket where he would be safe, \u2018you and your family!\u2019\u00a0 With a parting slap across Adam\u2019s other cheek, she got into the buggy and the two women rode off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam turned to face Joe, his look one to make the boy instantly put his hands over his backside and run across the yard towards the kitchen. \u2018Get back here!\u2019 called Adam, his voice trembling with anger. \u2018Get back here you!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stepped forward and held onto his son\u2019s shoulders. \u2018Steady on son,\u2019 he said. \u2018I\u2019ll deal with him.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam tried to shake himself free of his father\u2019s grasp. \u2018I\u2019ll kill him!\u2019 he yelled. \u2018Let me at him! He\u2019s dead!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben continued to hold onto his oldest son. \u2018Joseph get into the house!\u2019 he yelled. \u2018Straight to your bedroom young man!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe needed no further instructions and hurried to obey his father.\u00a0 One look at Adam\u2019s face was enough to make him sure that he wasn\u2019t safe out here at the moment. As he ran through the open doorway, he could still hear his brother\u2019s yells from the yard out side.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Let me at him Pa!\u00a0 I\u2019m going to kill him!\u00a0 Let me go!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sprinted up the stairs and closed his bedroom door behind him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sniffled once more and wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his jacket.\u00a0 His recent encounter with his father had not been a pleasant one and had turned out to be rather painful to say the least.\u00a0 He rubbed his sore bottom as he knelt by his bed and felt very sorry for himself. After all, it wasn\u2019t his fault if Hoppy had jumped right at the wrong moment!\u00a0 Pa had told him to put the frog down and he had only been obeying instructions!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He wondered what his father would say if he knew that Hoppy was at this very moment in the bottom drawer of Joe\u2019s dresser. He made a face as he decided that it was probably best if he didn\u2019t think about that. But what else was he supposed to do with him?\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t have left him out there to be trampled on by the horse and given Adam\u2019s current mood he was just as likely to have thrown the frog against the wall of the barn.\u00a0 No, Joe decided, the way he looked at it he had saved the frog\u2019s life by bringing him upstairs the way he had.\u00a0 Tomorrow morning before school he would let him go when everything had calmed down again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave his sore bottom another rub as he considered just how long it might be before things did settle down again.\u00a0 He was grateful that his Pa hadn\u2019t let Adam near him and he suspected that it would be quite some time before his older brother would be safe to go near again.\u00a0 Stupid old girl! The way Joe saw it, Adam should be thanking him for getting rid of her. Any girl who carried on like she did about one little frog wasn\u2019t worthwhile knowing about in his mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He scrunched up his face as he thought about his older brother. It was all Adam\u2019s fault, he decided. If it hadn\u2019t been for him and that dumb old girl of his, Joe wouldn\u2019t be in trouble in the first place.\u00a0 He\u2019d probably right this minute be down by the creek enjoying the afternoon with Hoppy and not up here with a sore bottom. He frowned as he considered his brother and all the problems he\u2019d brought with him since he\u2019d returned from college a few months ago.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Him and Hoss and Pa had had a nice quiet life during the time Adam had been away.\u00a0 They hadn\u2019t had to put up with any old girls and their mothers hanging around The Ponderosa in that time!\u00a0 But now that older brother was around Joe had to put up with his bossing and his girls and … a grin spread across the boy\u2019s face as a thought occurred to him.\u00a0 He\u2019d show that Adam!\u00a0 He show him just what happens to brothers who poke their noses into his business.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He reached over and pulled open the bottom drawer of his dresser and picked up Hoppy. \u2018Hiya feller!\u2019 he said as he stroked the frog. \u2018Had a hard day ain\u2019t ya?\u00a0 Never mind\u2026I\u2019m gonna give you a nice warm place to stay for a while where you can have a good sleep.\u00a0 you\u2019ll like that\u2026won\u2019t ya?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stood up and walked across the room, the frog still in his hand.\u00a0 Carefully he opened his bedroom door and peeked out into the hallway, pleased to see that there was no one around.\u00a0 As quietly as he could, he crept across to his brother Adam\u2019s room and entered it. He went quickly over to his brother\u2019s bed, pulled back the covers and placed Hoppy at the bottom of the bed before replacing the covers once more.\u00a0 With a cheeky grin, he went back the way he had come, giggling to himself. \u2018That\u2019ll teach ya older brother!\u2019 he said softly. \u2018Ya can\u2019t mess with Joe Cartwright and get away with it!\u2019 He left the room as silently as he had entered it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a<\/p>\n Ben sat wearily in front of the fireplace and sighed as he puffed on his pipe.\u00a0 It had been a very difficult day and one that he would rather forget when all was said and done. After the fiasco at dinner, he had spent the afternoon picking up the pieces with everyone around him and he was well and truly sick of the whole incident by now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not that he blamed Adam for being so angry with his brother, for he felt that the boy had every right to be.\u00a0 At one stage Ben thought he wouldn\u2019t be able to convince his eldest son to leave the disciplining of Joseph to himself and it took all his strength to hold the young man away from his brother. He shook his head. Poor Adam. He had really been ready to do damage to his brother and considering how long he had been trying to get Madeleine Smith interested in him, Ben wasn\u2019t surprised. He stifled a laugh as he remembered the look on Mrs Smith\u2019s face at the sight of Adam\u2019s hand groping her daughter\u2019s breast, but stopped himself as he then switched his thoughts to Adam\u2019s discomfort.\u00a0 Yes, the boy had every right to want to kill his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then there had been Hop Sing and his anger at his ruined dessert.\u00a0 The cook had taken special pains to make sure that everything had been just right for Adam\u2019s guests and he certainly hadn\u2019t appreciated his dessert being ruined in that way.\u00a0 He too had been ready to kill Joseph and was even now banging pots and pans around the kitchen and muttering about going back to China as he usually did when he was upset.\u00a0 Ben had borne the brunt of his anger as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His thoughts drifted to the small boy upstairs and he shook his head as he thought about just how much trouble he had caused in one short afternoon.\u00a0 It was beyond him how one child could cause so much mischief and it wasn\u2019t as if it was an unusual occurrence.\u00a0 It seemed that every time he turned around his youngest son was in some sort of trouble and Ben just didn\u2019t know how to cope with the boy at times like this.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He had given his son a very stern talking too of course and the usual tanning, but he was beginning to wonder if such measures did any good at all.\u00a0 Joseph was just incorrigible and Ben sighed again as he wondered what the boy would have in store for him next.\u00a0 One thing was for sure, he\u2019d have to keep his eldest and his youngest sons away from each other for the next few days, or the youngest one might not ever have the chance to do anything ever again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed as he stood up and stretched wearily. \u2018I\u2019m getting too old for this!\u2019 he said out loud and began to climb the stairs. He was desperately looking forward to his bed this night.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As was his usual custom, he checked in on each of his sons on his way down the hall.\u00a0 Hoss was sleeping on his back, snoring soundly.\u00a0 Ben smiled at the sight of his middle son.\u00a0 Nothing every seemed to worry Hoss and the boy had accepted the day\u2019s events with his usual calmness.\u00a0 He had been the only one at supper who had shown much of an appetite and had polished off the remains of the dinner, including the leftover dessert that the frog hadn\u2019t squashed. Ben and Adam had watched him, amazed.\u00a0 Joseph of course hadn\u2019t been allowed to the supper table, but had been given a tray in his room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next, he checked on the culprit in question and wasn\u2019t surprised to see his youngest son totally uncovered with arms and legs sprawled all over the bed.\u00a0 Ben shook his head as he bent to straighten the boy up and re-cover him again.\u00a0 He patted the unruly hair and studied the child in the bed for a few moments. Why was it that this child always looked so angelic in repose, but caused so much mischief when awake? It was a mystery to Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As he continued down the hallway, he saw a light from under Adam\u2019s door and assumed that his eldest was once again reading in bed.\u00a0 He put his head around the doorway and smiled to see his eldest son asleep on his back with a book on his chest. Ben moved over quietly and picked the book up.\u00a0 Just as he was placing it on the dresser a movement caught his eye and he glanced across to see the cover distinctly moving around the area of his son\u2019s upper thigh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben blinked a couple of times, flushed a deep red and coughed quietly with embarrassment as he watch the covers continue to wriggle.\u00a0 He felt his gaze fixated against his will on the object in question as his son\u2019s body seemed to take on a life of its own and the covers swayed back and forth with rhythmic consistency. He swallowed as he backed away.\u00a0 After all it was only a natural occurrence and he didn\u2019t know why he should be embarrassed, but in spite of him he couldn\u2019t help but be.\u00a0 He glanced at Adam\u2019s face and noticed the faint smile that lingered there and supposed the boy was dreaming about his girl.\u00a0 He quickly turned and left the room, wishing that he hadn\u2019t entered it in the first place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Under the covers Hoppy was desperately trying to escape from his confinement and was wriggling one way and then the other to find a way out.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s smile grew wider as the frog tickled him in a very delicate spot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a\u263a<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stared mournfully at Hoppy and then glanced up at his father who stood beside him with his arms folded. \u2018Hurry up,\u2019 said the man threateningly. \u2018Do it now!\u2019 After the day he had had yesterday, not to mention getting up at the crack of dawn today after hearing the yells coming from Adam\u2019s room when he had found the blasted frog sharing a bed with him this morning, he was in no mood to tolerate any more nonsense from this youngest son of his.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave the frog one last mournful look and dropped him into the creek. Hoppy surfaced for a moment and stared at the boy before flipping his legs and swimming away.\u00a0 Joe turned to his father, his hands instinctively covering his backside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben pointed up the embankment. \u2018Now get!\u2019 he said angrily.\u00a0 He pulled his son by the arm up the slope as he spoke. \u2018And don\u2019t forget young man I\u2019ll be picking you up from school this afternoon and taking you over to Mrs Smith\u2019s house to apologize!\u2019 There was the sound of a large hand making contact with a small bottom as Ben marched his son towards the back door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes Pa. Ow!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018And you\u2019ll get straight home to do those extra chores after that!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes Pa. Ow!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018And if I ever catch you in your brother\u2019s room again, you\u2019ll get more of the same!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes Pa. Ow!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Now get in there and put your jacket on!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes Pa!\u2019 Ow!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sound of the back door slamming blocked any further noises from the boy and his father. In the creek a large green frog swam lazily away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary:\u00a0 A tale of a young boy, a frog and the trouble they cause.The End<\/span><\/h1>\n
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (5,400 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":41001,"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_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_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},"categories":[23,1007,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id","wpcat-30-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\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63909","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=63909"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63909\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=63909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=63909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=63909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}