TALKING WITH MAMA
By: Lynne G.
" Hi mama. It's me, Little Joe. I want to talk to ya for a while. There's so much I wanna say, that I'm not sure where to start."
"We got out of school real early today cos Miss. Jones had something that she needed ta do, so I came here first on my way home."
" Oh mama, I miss you so much. I wish I could remember you more than I do. It's been four years since you went away. I wish that you wouldn't have gone away, but Pa said that God needed you to be with him. Ya know what mama, we need ya too, we really do."
" I hear all the other kids talk about their mama's, and I feel so left out. I guess I'm kinda jealous. I know I shouldn't be jealous, cos being jealous isn't a good thing to be, but I can't help it. Pa is a wonderful Pa, but as hard as he tries to be both a Pa and a mama, it's just not the same as having a real mama with ya. Do ya miss us too mama ?"
" I sorta remember you holding me when I got tired, sick, hurt or just when I really needed to be held, and you always took the time to make me feel so loved. You always smelled so good too, and I really miss that too. Pa holds me when I really need it, and I love that, but it's not the same mama."
" Adam and Hoss tell me lots of stories about you when Pa isn't home, and Pa also tells me stories about you, and I love to hear all about you. I just wish I could remember you more. I'm so happy that Pa and me have photo's of you. You were so pretty mama. Everyone say's that I look just like you, and they also say that I have your temper and endless energy too. I guess that's good too, isn't it?"
" Pa said that you loved horses, and that you loved to ride your horse fast. So do I mama. When I get bigger, I want to break horses, but Pa might not let me, and he sure doesn't like it when I ride fast. He says that I could get hurt like you did mama. I don't wanna get hurt cos I'd have ta stay in bed, and take yucky tastin' medicine. I don't like to stay in bed, except for sleeping."
" I really try to be a good boy mama, but it's so darn hard to be good all the time, but ya know what, I dun't think Pa would like me to be good all the time. He say's that wouldn't be like me to be good all the time. What do ya think about that?"
" Adam and Hoss are really wonderful brothers, but old Adam is too bossy a lot of the time, and that stuff he reads, well it's just so yucky. Miss. Jones loves that kinda stuff to read too. Don't get me wrong mama, I love Adam, but he can so stuck up too....I guess."
" Hoss is so much fun mama. We have such a fun time together. He is so BIG and STRONG ! I wonder if I'll get that big? He picks me up so easy-just like I dun't weigh nuffin' at all. You should see how much he can eat. I can't figure out where he puts it, and he's ALWAYS hungry. I really think that he has has more than one stomach."
" I feel really safe when Hoss is with me, especially when the bigger boys pick on me. They tease me cos I'm so small, but when Hoss is there, they leave me alone. I'm a good fighter when I have ta be. Pa doesn't want me ta fight, but I ain't no coward, so if I need ta fight, I will."
" Hop Sing sure takes good care of us mama, and he is a really good cook too. I like ta help him sometimes. It's fun. I can understand what Hop Sing says when he talks in Chinese. I'm the only one in the family who can speak Chinese too. Sometimes when Hop Sing and me are talking in his language, Pa, Adam and Hoss give us funny looks, so we just smile at em and keep on talking. "
" I dun't like school very much mama. I just wanna stay home and work on the Ponderosa, but Pa said that I need ta go ta school. Hoss still goes ta school, and he dun't like it either, but he lucky cos sometimes when there's lots of work ta do on the ranch, Pa lets Hoss stay home from school to help out. I keep telling Pa that I can help too, but he keeps tellin' me that I'm too little. I wish I was big like Hoss so I could help too."
" I do OK in school with my school work, but I dun't like ta do homework. I dun't know why Miss. Jones makes us do homework, when we do work at school. Sides, I gots lots of chores ta do after school."
" I have lots of friends at school and we hang out together at recess, lunch, and before school-if I get there on time. Mitch is my best friend. He is just a few months old than me. Do you remember Mitch mama? Then there's Seth, Dave, Tim, Bob, James, and lots more friends too. Even though they are all older than me, we still have fun, like goin' fishin', and ridin' together, but fishin' is our favorite thing ta do. I'm a good fisherman mama, and I get lots of fish which Hop Sing cooks up for dinner, and they taste so yummy too."
" Did ya know that all the girls like me too mama? That's awful !! Who wants ta be around yucky girls. They are so yucky !! Now, dun't get me wrong, and dun't worry, cos I'm nice ta girls. They never have fun. They just do girl things, like play house, talk about us boys, and play with dolls. What kinda fun is that anyway?"
" Well
mama, I wish I could stay longer and talk to ya, but I gotta get home and get
my chores done, so Pa doesn't get mad at me. I dun't like it when he's
mad at me, cos he yells and sometimes, he even tans me, and that hurts.
I'm gettin' cold too. Pa said it might snow tonight. I sure hope it
does, so we can make a big snowman in the yard and have a snowball fight
too. Did you like snow too mama? I love it, and I love cold weather
too. When we come in from playing in the snow, Hop Sing gives us hot
chocolate and fresh baked cookies. Adam has coffee and so does
" I'll come back and talk to ya soon mama. I miss you so much mama. I love ya mama. Bye bye."
THE END