{"id":7359,"date":"2013-07-08T00:02:45","date_gmt":"2013-07-08T04:02:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7359"},"modified":"2026-07-29T14:48:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T18:48:48","slug":"the-invitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7359","title":{"rendered":"The Invitation (by Sibylle)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Pa is away and …. \u00a0A little comedy about fights, the mail, and an old friend. Typically?<\/p>\n

Written for the second round of the Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC 1900<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Story Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you, Sklamb!<\/em><\/p>\n

My cards were: toe, pity, baptism, barbecue, bar mitzvah<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Invitation<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWill that boy never learn?\u201d Adam tossed his hat onto the credenza with his left hand, as he licked the knuckles of his right.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope!\u201d Hoss agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he stomped on my foot with his oversized boot\u00a0 and didn\u2019t apologize or nothing. I can show you my toe, it must be black and blue.\u201d The whine in Joe\u2019s voice increased with each word.<\/p>\n

Nursing his own black and blue eye with his wet handkerchief as he flopped onto an armchair, Hoss exclaimed, \u201cDon\u2019t bother, little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe the size of his boots could have given you a hint, Little Joe, not to start a fist fight with him, \u201c Adam suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

The glare Hoss shot at his brother from his good eye was the ice cold blue of a mountain lake in springtime<\/p>\n

\u201cB.. \u2026.\u201d Joe\u2019s voice faded away.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd maybe you could have recognized him as one of the Murphy brothers?\u201d Adam continued with his tirade.<\/p>\n

After a brief period of silence, Little Joe looked up at his older brothers. \u201cMaybe I did know. But we Cartwright brothers are better fighters than those Murphys, aren\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam rolled his eyes<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go fetch some ice \u2026. Sorry, brothers. \u2026. But it was great, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d Joe\u2019s green eyes sparkled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could be happy that Pa isn\u2019t around,\u201d Hoss said with emphasis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would he do? We are men. I mean \u2026.. \u201c Adam\u2019s sardonic grin slowed Joe\u2019s speech. \u201cI\u2019m \u2026 I\u2019m\u00a0 seventeen now,\u201d he concluded defiantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Adam took pity and let his younger brother off of the hook. \u201cAt least we taught those Murphys some manners. I’ve been wanting to for years.\u201d All three brothers grinned in unison at each other.<\/p>\n

Joe was taking off his green jacket when he froze in his movement. Slowly he opened it button by button, reached into its inner pocket and brought out a sodden lump of paper. \u201cThe mail,\u201d he whispered desperately. \u201cPa will skin me alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA man of seventeen? Do you really think so?\u201d Adam\u2019s grin changed into a smirk.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember what he did to you at seventeen after we came back from our little trip to Carson City,\u201d Hoss commented.<\/p>\n

At that, the heads of both brothers snapped angrily around.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t remind me of that, Hoss. If you two hadn’t been involved in that incident Pa wouldn’t have treated me the way he did!\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were the oldest and responsible,\u201d Hoss shrugged. \u201cBut you\u2019re right; it\u2019s not a pleasant memory at all. For nobody of us three I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not amused by his brother\u2019s talk, Little Joe fumbled to peel individual envelopes out of the lump. Finally he spread six letters on the table in front of the fireplace. \u201cMaybe they will dry off and things will be fine,\u201d he stated hopefully.<\/p>\n

With his head resting against the back of the chair and his good eye fixed on the ceiling, Hoss mumbled, \u201cI can smell the beer on that all the way over here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat darn Mike Murphy spilled a full glass on me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! Blaming others won\u2019t do you any good!\u201d Adam said, carrying a bowl of cold water and a piece of raw meat out of the kitchen.<\/p>\n

After a while Joe said, \u201cI \u2026 I think most of the letters are only a bit crumpled and wet on the edges but this paper \u2026\u00a0 it looks \u2026 pretty bad.\u201d Joe held an elaborately folded sheet of paper in his hand. \u201cAdam, can you help me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had given Hoss the big piece of meat and was finally about to cool his own knuckles but his hand went instead to the bridge of his nose, massaging it. \u201cJoe, you got yourself in this mess\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make puppy dog eyes at me, Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ignoring Adam\u2019s comments Joe continued, \u201cI can read Benjamin Cart \u2026. it must be Cartwright and also Samuel Goldm – m – man. The other writing is gone. Do you remember anyone named Goldman, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa has so many old friends. Sometimes I wonder myself when he met them all. But no, never heard of a Samuel Goldman. Show me the letter.\u201d Adam studied it briefly. \u201cI saw letters folded like that in Boston; they were normally invitations. Look, it isn\u2019t sealed. We should open it carefully and dry it out or it will be ruined forever.<\/p>\n

\u201cOpen it?\u201d Hoss and Joe cried in horror, \u201cPa\u2019s mail?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, or it will glue itself together as it dries and Pa will never know what\u2019s inside.\u201d Adam said, unfolding the paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is the oldest and responsible,\u201d Hoss mumbled towards the ceiling, his open eye the same blue as the water Pontius Pilate washed his hands in.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s not too bad, only the ends of the lines are blurred,\u201d Adam said after a look at the sheet.<\/p>\n

Joe, filled with new hope, was now peering over Adam\u2019s shoulder. \u201cMaybe we can fill in those words, Adam, and fold it back up again. Look, that \u2018Invit\u2026\u2019 must mean \u2018Invitation\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and this must be \u2018San Francisco,\u2019\u201d Adam\u2019s passion for riddles kicked in.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and the invitation is for a \u2018ba\u2026\u2019. A \u2018ba\u2026.\u2019. Must be \u2018a ball!\u2019\u201d, Joe smiled. \u201cPa is invited to a ball in San Francisco. Maybe he\u2019ll take us along. I hear there\u2019s lots of pretty girls at balls in San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would doubt that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut San Francisco is a real big town; there must be \u2026.”<\/p>\n

\u201cPa didn\u2019t take you along this time and he won\u2019t the next time. But maybe he will ask me. It\u2019s my turn.\u201d Hoss nodded his head so vigorously that the hunk of steak threatened to fall from its place. \u201cOuch!\u201d Hoss rearranged the slippery meat and sat motionless again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe space is too big to be such a short word, I meant,\u201d Adam stated dryly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Joe studied the paper intently again. \u201cA barn dance, it could be a barn dance then?\u201d he exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate barn dances,\u201d Hoss grumbled closing both his eyes in disgust. \u201cBarn dances and cheese!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA barn dance in San Francisco?\u201d Adam\u2019s sarcasm extinguished Joe\u2019s excitement.<\/p>\n

Adam and Joe bent over the paper once more mumbling, \u201cba … ba…..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBarbecue,\u201d Hoss contributed, glaring with his bad eye at the steak that covered it again.<\/p>\n

\u201cBa-ptism,\u201d Adam jabbed his index finger at the sheet. \u201cThis could be a \u2018m.\u2019 That’s it! A baptism. The fine paper, the elegant invitation. A baptism! Joe, go and get me a pen and some ink.\u201d<\/p>\n

At that moment the front door burst open.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou deaf? I water garden behind house and hear. Fathel back early. Come help Hop Sing set\u00a0 table. I cook \u2026\u201d Hop Sing hesitated for a moment when he saw Hoss. \u201cWhat you doing with my filet you \u2026. you\u2026\u201d Hoss was glad he couldn\u2019t understand the flood of Cantonese that followed but he was pretty sure what it meant anyhow.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Hop Sing!\u201d Hoss winced as the irate cook snatched the meat off his eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cI go back to China!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d a deep baritone rumbled from the doorway.<\/p>\n

All three sons flew to their feet and looked wide eyed at their father, who had just entered the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill somebody enlighten me\u00a0perhaps<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hi Pa; you\u2019re home early. We didn\u2019t expect you today,\u201d Joe tried to smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow nice,\u201d Adam added lamely.<\/p>\n

Ben scrutinized his three sons, well aware of their injuries.<\/p>\n

\u201cOut with it, what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

When Adam felt the intense gazes of his brothers on him he cleared his throat, \u201cPa, it\u2019s a long sad story. – But there is something good too. You are invited by a man named Samuel Goldman \u2013 an old friend I guess \u2013 to\u2026\u201dAdam\u2019s right hand tugged his left earlobe. \u201cTo a \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cBall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBarbecue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBaptism.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA baptism,\u201d Adam repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cA ball to honor the baby,\u201d Joe smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a big barbecue afterwards. You know, with steaks, tenderloins, spare ribs, maybe beef filets\u2026\u201d Hoss, wedged between his Pa and Hop Sing, looked like a one-eyed owl trapped in the daytime.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? To a baptism?\u201d Ben Cartwright glared at his oldest, arching his right eyebrow. \u201cAnd a barbecue with spare ribs?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss felt like twelve again under his father\u2019s glare.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd a ball?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded slowly.<\/p>\n

Their father leaned forward to look down at the table. Each of his three sons held his breath, but Ben aimed directly for the wet sheet and picked it up without hesitation. The three brothers exchanged anxious glances as Ben raised it to his nose and sniffed.<\/p>\n

When their father lowered the paper and took a deep breath all three tried to close their ears inwardly but without success.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will tell you something, boys,\u201d Ben shouted, his voice growing louder with each word. \u201c Look at me!\u201d He waited silently until all five eyes are on him before letting the thunder roll again. \u201cYou can be glad you are men now or I would at least send you to bed without dinner.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice became dangerously low. \u201cYou know whom I met in San Francisco?\u201d They all knew no answer was expected and waited for their father to continue even though they already suspected what was coming. \u201cMy old friend Sam Goldman. I got a wire in Virginia City the day I was leaving from there. He sent it fearing the mail would maybe miss me. And he was happy I was able to attend the \u2013 bar mitzvah of his son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that rules out a baptism,\u201d Adam mumbled sheepishly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd spare ribs, I guess.\u201d Hoss added.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut not a ball, Pa. Were there pretty girls?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d All three boys looked down again, waiting for a new outburst, but it remained silent.<\/p>\n

When they dared to look up again they heard Pa\u2019s voice from the kitchen, saying, \u201cDo you think you can rescue this fine piece of meat, Hop Sing? I\u2019m so happy to be home. I\u2019ve been looking forward to a decent meal for the past two weeks. Nobody can cook like you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing will.\u201d The cook\u2019s voice was gentle and firm at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you know what, sons?\u201d Ben came in from the kitchen again. \u201cOn my way back I ran into that Mr. Murphy. He complained about you three and most particularly about the giant lout who bullied his poor innocent boys. And one word just led to the next and then somehow \u2026. Well, I certainly showed him what a right hook looks like. – As for you, Hoss,\u201c Ben\u2019s gaze went slowly to his middle son. \u201cDon\u2019t drop your guard or duck the next time!\u201d Ben strode towards the fireplace, slapping Hoss\u2019s stomach lightly with the back of his hand as he passed. Looking at all three of his sons\u2019 incredulous faces Ben stated, \u201cI think I can use a drink before dinner. What about you, boys?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

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

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