A
Sight That Approaches Heaven
Itself
PART ONE
Dr Paul
Martin
slunk down the stairs with slow, heavy steps. His
gray head hung down, shoulders
sagging, he
carried his black medical bag
like a stone. Adam rose slightly
stiff and
leaned against the velvet
chair near the stair case. Adam met
Dr
Martin with a dark expression,
one eyebrow raised quizzically; he
said...
nothing Dr Martin looked
sadly with eyes clouded over from
son to
son. Hoss, near the fire place,
his forehead beading sweat, waited
hopefully
for the doctor to speak.
Joe paced, his nose flared
anxiously. Hoss
spoke up for all of them
"Well doc, we want to hear it,
straight
out."
Dr Martin spoke through gritted
teeth.
"Your father has had a huge blow
to his ego, boys." Adam waited
pensively
for the rest. "I'm afraid there
is no cure!" The only thing I can
suggest is that you boys will have to
pay my enormous medical bill and
indulge
your father's last wishes."
Adam injected darkly "And if we
don't? What's the consequences?" "Well,
boys he could suffer more and his
delicate
mental state
could drive him over the edge."
"What would be the worst in your
opinion, doctor?" Adam insisted . Joe's eyes misted over as he listened
intently, his lips quivering. Hoss
placed
his mighty arm around his
little brother.
"Well, if I were a man suffering
from a
huge blow to my ego and if I
were your Pa, I'd throw you all out
of this
big, cushy house right on
your keisters
and
have you fend for yourselves." Hoss' eyes lit up like
a Christmas tree as visions of a
bachelor
pad came to mind. "Exactly
what might send our Pa over the
edge,
doc?" Hoss asked curiously. "Well,
Hoss, in your case it would be
spending a
million dollars for violin
lessons at the Vienna Conservatory
of Smaltz" Hoss grinned, a vision of
playing the entire Lawrence Welk library for Pa replete with champagne
bubbles danced before his eyes.
Doc Martin solicited the brothers
help.
"If you want your Pa to recover, there's a couple things you'll have to
do. First, do anything he asks.
Failing might
cause more serious harm to
his ego and another thing,
boys..." the doctor paused dramaticaly
"...don't call him
from one to the other then walked to
the
door.
"I'll be back to check on your Pa
and
leave you my huge bill."
Adam sighed leaning
heavily
against the blue chair. Hoss rubbed his
hands together gleefully mentally
creating a
want ad which read
...wanted :
bunnies
for Gerby Royale
Hotel
apply within. Costumes
provided. A tear trickled down Joe's
cheek
as he whispered "Pa"
Pa, lying fitfully in
his bed,
dressed handsomely in his burgundy
satin lapel robe, called his sons to
him one
by one.
"Adam, son, I'm counting on you to
help
me carry out my plan"
"Hoss, you've never let me down, I
know
you'll do as I ask."
"Joe, Joe, my pride and joy. It's up
to
you, too, to carry the flag for
the Ponderosa."
Joe was overcome. "You know I will,
Pa" he cried.
Two weeks
later...somewhere
near Texas
The Cartwrights came
upon the
Four H Ranch
Like their Pa asked
them to do,
the four Cartwrights strode shoulder
to shoulder, carrying the flag for
the
Ponderosa walking proudly, naked
as the day they were born.
"Sons, you know I always wanted
daughters. Now's our chance to fulfill a
dream! Sons! Go forth and multiply!"
Pa put his arm around Adam's manly
shoulders
"Adam, use your head well,
son and erect a Cartwright dynasty."
Pa drew his arm around Hoss' broad,
manly
shoulders. "Hoss, you have a
big heart. Let your love grow."
Pa hugged Joe's handsome shoulders
"Joe, carry the name of Cartwright
high, son"
to be
continued...
Blue Velvet