MY DAY AS ADAM CARTWRIGHT
By: Deborah S.
 
 
I awoke to a dark room. I figured the power must have gone out, because I 
couldn’t see the numbers on my clock. I decided o shower, and get that out 
of the way. I walked to where my bathroom should have been, and ended up in 
a hallway. Not just any hallway, but the one on Bonanza. I convinced 
myself, that I must still be dreaming, and this wasn’t happening. I knew 
that allergy medicine was strong, but boy, this was ridiculous. “Well young 
man, there a reason for you to be naked in the hallway?” a deep voice 
asked. First of all, I looked around, for that naked young man. “Adam, did 
you hear me?” the voice asked again. I turned and saw Ben Cartwright 
standing there. “Adam?” he asked again. I kept looking at him, thinking 
that this guy really looked real. It was like, I could reach out and touch 
him, so I did. “Oh my goodness, you’re real, aren’t you?” I asked. My 
voice. It sounded like a baritone. It sounded like Adam Cartwright’s. I 
began to sing ’Early One Morning’. Hey, this was great. I could sing like 
this, and I didn’t even need a CD player. “How cool is this?” I said 
aloud.
 
“It’s probably cool young man, because you are standing out in the middle of 
the hall, with nothing on,” Ben replied. Just then, Hoss and Joe walked 
down the hall, towards the stairs. “Hey wait a minute, you’re Little Joe 
Cartwright, and you’re Hoss Cartwright, right?” I asked. Joe and Hoss 
looked at me, and then at their Pa. “Pa, did Adam get a hold of some bad 
whiskey, or something?” Hoss asked.
 
“Hey Hoss, I remember somebody asking you that, in one of the episodes. I 
can’t remember which one right now. Oh yeah, I think it was ‘Hoss and the 
Leprechauns’. That’s it.” I replied.
 
“Hoss and the what?” Joe asked.
 
Hop Sing walked in the hall. “Why Mr. Adam nakie?” he asked. Ben, Hoss 
and Joe shrugged their shoulders. “Nakie?” I asked. I looked down. “Oh 
my goodness, would you look at that?” I said, smiling a big smile. “This 
is great,” I said.
 
“Hop Sing think Mr. Adam get hold bad whiskey last night,” Hop Sing said.
 
“Adam, let’s go in your room son, and have you get dressed,” Ben said.
 
“Must I?” I asked.
 
“Please do,” Ben replied, leading me into the bedroom, then putting Adam‘s 
robe over me. “Oh you’re no fun. Don’t you have any paperwork to do 
downstairs?” I asked.
 
“Adam, did you get a hold of bad whiskey?” Ben asked, looking at me 
concerned. “I don’t drink,” I replied. Ben led me to the bed, and had me 
lie under the covers. “Now son, you, you just lie down there, and I’ll 
have Hoss or Joe, go into town, and get Doc Martin,” Ben said.
 
“But I don’t need a doctor. Look I’m fine,” I said, getting out of bed, and 
walking over to the mirror. Looking in it, I began to stare. “Oh my 
goodness. What a handsome man. I could just stare at this face all day. 
Oh, look at this gorgeous black hair, and it’s all mine. No toupee. Look at 
these gorgeous eyes, and mouth, and stubble. I love it when Adam has 
stubble. I even have a hairy chest. Oh, I love my hands, and my wrists, 
and arms,” I said, raising my hands in the air. Ben put his hand on my 
shoulder. “Son, I think you’d better lie down again. You’re sick,” he 
said. I realized I must have sounded strange. I straightened up, and 
replied, “I was just kidding Ben,” I said.
 
“Ben?” Ben asked. I cleared my throat. “Did I say Ben? I meant Pa,” I 
replied quickly.
 
“Adam, you were with those Bonner Brothers last night. Now you know how I 
feel about them. Did they get you drunk?” Ben asked. I looked around. 
“Yeah, they sure did Pa. Shame on those bad boys,” I replied.
 
“Well, at least that explains it. Why don’t you go sleep it off son,” Ben 
suggested.
 
“I’m too excited to sleep. Where do I keep my clothes?” I asked. Ben 
pointed, then replied, “In your wardrobe.”
 
“Oh yeah,” I said, then walked over to the wardrobe. I opened it, and 
exclaimed, “Hey, everything’s black in here. This is great. I look best in 
black. Don’t you think I look great in black, or did you prefer the red 
shirt, or that tan? Some even prefer the white, but I still prefer the 
black,” I said. I looked at Ben’s face, and realized, I’d better come down 
to earth, and begin to act like Adam Cartwright. I could do it. I had seen 
enough Bonanza episodes to pull it off. Sure, there was no problem. “Son, I 
think you’d better go back to bed, and sleep this one off,” Ben said, as he 
put me back in bed.
 
I laid in my bed, trying to think, of how this could have happened. I had 
to think, and think hard. I realized then, that I had dreamt, that I was 
Adam Cartwright for a day. Somehow, that dream must have come true.
 
I got out of bed, and proceeded to get dressed in black. I looked in the 
mirror again, loving what I saw. I looked at my face, and realized, that 
Adam Cartwright would have shaved. “Oh my goodness,” I said, as I held the 
straight edged razor in my hands. “I’ll slice my throat, with this thing 
for sure. Help. Wait a minute, I don’t have to shave. No, one day won’t 
be too bad without shaving, hopefully,” I said.
 
I walked downstairs, and saw Ben, Joe and Hoss having breakfast. I walked 
to the dining room, sitting in my chair. That was easy enough. “Decide not 
to shave today son?” Ben asked.
 
“I decided to give my face a break today,” I replied. Ben nodded. “What’s 
for breakfast? For some reason, I have a man sized appetite this morning. Go 
figure, huh?” I said.
 
“Go figure? You want me to work on the books, before breakfast?” Ben 
asked. I realized what I had said. “No Pa, you can wait until after you 
eat. I just thought, you’d like to get going on that paperwork, you’re 
always behind on,” I replied.
 
Hop Sing brought out potatoes, steak, eggs, biscuits, and coffee. After 
breakfast, I began to clear the table. “Adam, that’s what I pay Hop Sing to 
do,” Ben said. Standing there with dishes in my hands, I put them down. 
Hoss and Joe were standing by Ben’s desk, I assumed to get their orders for 
the day. Ben was in his desk chair, moving papers on his desk. Joe and 
Hoss had to repair fences. “Adam, I would like you to go and look for that 
coyote, that has been bothering our cattle. You know where it was last 
seen, so you head up there, and kill it on sight,” Ben said.
 
“Kill it? You mean, like in killing it. Like in dead? Like in shooting 
it?” I asked.
 
“Adam, maybe you shouldn’t use a rifle today. Maybe you should just go into 
town, and get the mail. We haven’t gotten it this week. Can you do that 
son?” Ben asked.
 
“Sure I can do that, and if I see Roy Coffee, I’ll give him your regards,” 
I replied, walking to the door, putting on my black hat.
 
“Adam, don’t forget your gun belt,” Ben said shaking his head. I realized 
right then and there, that they used real guns, and more then likely, real 
bullets in them. I buckled the gun belt, then tied it around my thigh. I 
walked outside, and realized they didn’t have cars. No, they had horses. I 
knew what Sport looked like, but I didn’t know anything else about horses. 
I walked in the barn, holding my nose, as it didn’t smell pretty. “Whoa,” 
was all I could say. I put my nose and mouth in my shirt, trying not to 
breathe the air . I saw Sport, his behind to me. “Turn around Sport,” I 
commanded. “Sport, you aren’t listening. Turn around,” I said again. 
Hoss came up to Sport, and led him out of his stall, then turned him around. 
 I looked at Sport. “Wow, he’s a lot bigger in person, then I thought,” I 
said scared.
 
“Adam, you all right older brother?” Hoss asked concerned.
 
“I guess I’m still feeling the effects of last night. Could you please 
saddle Sport for me. I have to go into town,” I replied. I realized right 
then and there, that I had no idea, where town was. Somehow, I had to get 
Hoss to go with me, but how? How could I get Hoss to go? Food. “Hey 
Hoss,” I said, putting my arm around him. “How would you like to go into 
town with me, and I’ll buy you, the biggest, best meal, that you can sink 
your teeth into? What do you say?” I asked.
 
“Biggest meal?” Hoss asked.
 
“That’s right, and all you have to do, is go into town with me,” Adam 
replied.
 
“Pa wanted me to repair fences today,” Hoss replied.
 
“Well that’s fine. I guess I’ll just have to dine alone,” I said, rubbing 
it in. I could see by his face, that it was working. He was beginning to 
weaken. “Why can’t Little Joe repair the fences?” I asked. Hoss was 
thinking. “Yeah, Little Joe can handle those fences by himself,” Hoss 
replied. “Lets go Hoss,” I said, looking at Sport. “Hey Hoss, could you give 
me a boost up?” I asked at the side of Sport.
 
“A boost up?” Hoss asked, looking at me strange. “Boy, if I were you Adam, 
I’d never go near those Bonner Brothers again,” he said. He interlocked 
his fingers together, so I could get up on the horse. Once up, I looked 
around. “Hey this is pretty neat. It’s much higher then I thought. You 
can see a lot from up here,” I said. Hoss got Chubb saddled, and got up 
on him. “Adam, if I were you, I’d stay clear of any drinking in town, 
except lemonade,” Hoss said. I watched Hoss kick Chubb in the sides to 
make him go, so I did the same. Hey this was fun, until Hoss decided to go 
faster, leaving me in the dust, literally. I coughed, and moved my arms 
back and forth, trying to move the dust away. I brushed the dust from my 
black clothes. I had to do it. I had no choice. I kicked Sport harder, and 
flew, literally.
 
I don’t know how I did it, but I made it to Virginia City. Hoss, and Chubb, 
at my side. Once stopped, I dismounted Sport, and tied him up. My legs, and 
back were stiff, I found it hard to walk. I took a deep breath, and 
gagged. It smelt like horses, and body odor. I realized, right then and 
there, that old book on the west, was true. It stated, if you went back in 
time to a town, the first thing you’d notice, was how awful the air smelt. 
Boy, that author hadn’t exaggerated, unfortunately. I plugged my nose. 
“Adam, why is your nose plugged?” Hoss asked.
 
“Because it stinks. Doesn’t anybody take a bath, or use deodorant?” I 
asked.
 
“What’s deodorant?” Hoss asked.
 
“Never mind, just point me to where the mail is kept,” I said. Following 
Hoss’s instructions, I got the mail. I then went into the general store. 
Oh, there were all these antiques, that I would pay a lot for now. They 
were all new, and cheap. I just stared at them, not wanting to leave 
without them, but I knew, I couldn’t take them back with me. This was 
torture. Hoss walked in. “Adam, what about lunch?” he asked.
 
“Are you hungry? After that breakfast, I won’t be hungry for a week. Go 
buy yourself the meal of your choice, and have them put it on my tab,” I 
replied.
 
Two hours later, I went looking for Hoss. I peeked in the saloon, and saw 
him. Oh, oh. This was where the fist fights, and gun fights started. I 
walked in, and sat next to Hoss, who was drinking a beer. “Have a good 
lunch?” I asked.
 
“Yep,” Hoss replied.
 
“Good, now can we go?” I asked. Right then, I felt hands on my shoulders. 
“Why are you in such a hurry, big boy?” a feminine voice asked. I jumped 
out of my chair. “Hoss, let’s get out of here, “ I said, running out the 
door, and right into Sheriff Coffee. “Why Adam Cartwright, you should know 
better, then to run out of the saloon like that,” he said.
 
“I’m sorry, but I’m just not myself today,” I replied.
 
“Well, see it doesn’t happen again. How’s your Pa?” Roy asked.
 
“He’s fine. He sends his regards,” Adam replied. I was glad when Roy 
Coffee had to leave, to see who had come in on the stage. I walked back 
towards the general store. “Hi Adam,” a small feminine voice said. I 
turned around. There standing behind me, were Peggy and Laura Dayton. 
“Hello Peggy,” I said.
 
“Hello Adam,” Laura said. I looked away. “Hello Laura,” I said 
unenthusiastically.
 
“We just put my daddy on the stage,” Peggy stated.
 
“Your daddy? Your daddy, Frank?” I asked.
 
“He’s going on a long trip,” Laura said.
 
“Yeah, I’ll just bet he is,” I replied.
 
“Adam, is something wrong?” Laura asked.
 
“Don’t even go there Laura,” I replied.
 
“Well, see you later,” Laura said, walking away.
 
“Not if I can help it,” I replied. I didn’t know it, but Hoss was standing 
behind me. “Adam, boy I think we’d better get you home,” he said.
 
ONCE HOME, I sat in the blue chair, looking at the roaring fire in he 
fireplace. Ben sat in his leather chair. “Adam, would you care to take a 
bath son? Maybe that will make you more feel better,” he said. I thought 
about that one for a moment. “No, I don’t think I‘d better take a bath, 
believe me. I think I’d better steer clear of that one,” I replied. Ben 
got a funny look on his face. “Adam, you just aren’t yourself today, are you 
son?” Ben asked. I looked at him, and smiled. “No, I’m not. I’m sorry,” I 
replied, scratching my face. “Boy, I never realized how itchy whiskers 
were, or how warm hairy chests were. I feel like a human teddy bear,” I 
said.
 
“What’s a teddy bear?” Ben asked. I realized then, that teddy bears 
hadn’t been invented yet. “Nothing. I was just thinking out loud. If you 
don’t mind, I think I’d like to go up to my bedroom now,” I said.
 
“You going to sleep son?” he asked.
 
“First I’m going to admire myself in the mirror some more , and then I’ll go 
to bed. I’m sure tomorrow, when I wake up, I’ll be myself again,” I said, 
walking up the stairway. Halfway up, I turned, and looked at Ben, sitting 
in his chair, lighting his pipe. “Pa, thank you for caring,” I said, then 
continued up the stairs. A few moments later, I came back down, sitting in 
the blue chair. “Pa, Joe and Hoss are out for the evening, and I don’t have 
to be upstairs until later. Would you like to talk?” I asked.
 
“I would like that son. We don’t get to talk alone too often, do we?” he 
replied.
 
“That’s an understatement,” I replied.
 
“What would you like to talk about?” he asked. I thought or a moment, then 
a thought came to me. “Tell me what makes this family so special?” I 
asked. He looked at me, and replied in one word. “Love.”
 
THE NEXT MORNING, I awoke in my own room, in my own body. I looked back on 
my day as Adam Cartwright. I was glad to be home, and with my family, but I 
would think back on that day often. After all, how many other Bonanza fans, 
could say, that they were actually Adam Cartwright for a day?
 
THE END

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