Sew What?
By K. K. Shaulis
"How'd you get so domestic, big brother?"
Joe Cartwright boosted his behind up on the top of the kitchen table that his oldest brother Adam was using to iron his white shirtfront.
"Self preservation, kid," Adam stuck his tongue out of the corner of his mouth, concentrating on one of the intricate ruffles. "When I was in college, I had to learn a lot of things I never thought I would ever have to," he turned and plunked the heavy flatiron down on the top of one of the stove's burners.
"Like for instance?" Joe raised his eyebrows looking at him over the rim of his cup.
"Oh," Adam carefully folded his shirt, "Like sewing on buttons, darning socks, patching holes, ironing," he held up the shirt as a 'for instance.' "In fact," he put the shirt on top of the basket of neatly stacked laundry that he had been working on for the last hour, “Sheriff Coffee thought I was so good, he named me Official Housekeeper for Virginia City." He flipped a towel over his shoulder, picked up the iron like it was a shooting one, not a pressing one, and adopted a fearsome stance and expression.
Joe studied him critically. "Too bad your expertise doesn't extend to coffee," he frowned and made a face indicating his opinion of his oldest brother's culinary efforts.
"Perhaps you could do better?" Adam sniffed indignantly, returning
the iron to the stove with a clang.
"Cochise could do better using water he got from the trough outside,"
Joe teased referring to his coffee-loving steed. "Better stick to being
the Official Seamstress/Laundress," he advised slapping him on the
back. "I'm sure you've got that competition sewed up," he cackled,
jumped off the table and ran out the door before Adam could whip the towel
from his shoulder and catch Joe's backside with a snap of it.
The End -- but not Joe's.
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Many thanks to David Dortort for his creation of Bonanza in general and
the Cartwrights and the Ponderosa in particular. The author does not claim
ownership of any of the aforementioned characters. This story is not intended
to infringe on any known copyrights. The author gratefully acknowledges
the work of Jerry Adelman (“No Less A Man,” Season 5) and John T. Dugan
(“The Crucible,” Season 3) for certain elements used in this story. ALL
INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED