" A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT "
By: Lynne G.
Ben
Cartwright was angry, very angry as he rode home one afternoon in March from
It seems that his youngest son hadn't been paying attention in class lately, or doing all his school work and not doing all of his homework either. Ben was embarrassed by the way his son had been acting and he was going to make sure that the boy would change his ways or else.
The other thing that made Ben angry was that Little Joe was suppose to have waited for him while he was in the meeting with Miss Jones, but his son chose to disobey him by leaving.
Ben arrived home and took Buck straight to the barn to take care of him. He noticed that Cochise, Little Joe's pinto wasn't in his stall and that added to Ben's anger as well.
As Ben walked into the house and slammed the door shut, Hoss and Adam both looked up at Ben and they could see that he was very angry.
" What did Miss Jones have to say this time ?" Adam asked, almost afraid to hear the answer, but he had an idea of what had taken place at the meeting.
Ben sat down and sighed, but he didn't say anything for a couple of seconds. Hop Sing had brought Ben a much needed cup of fresh coffee, which Ben gratefully accepted. " Thank you Hop Sing," Ben said. Hop Sing smiled, nodded and went back out to the kitchen.
" What happened Pa ?" Adam asked again. Ben went on to explain what Miss Jones had to say about Little Joe.
" I just don't understand that boy anymore," Adam replied as he was getting upset with the way his little brother had been acting lately. Hoss didn't know what to think, so he just kept quiet.
A few minutes later, Little Joe walked into the house and he was greeted with angry glares from his family, and he knew why too.
" Joseph, where were you after school ? Didn't I ask you to please wait for me ?" Ben angrily asked as he was trying very hard to control his temper.
" I dunno," was all Little Joe said. " Oh little brother that was the wrong thing to say," Adam thought to himself. Ben slowly counted to ten in his mind before speaking again.
Ben took a deep breath before continuing. " Joseph, why is it that you don't pay attention in class ? Why don't you do your classroom work, and why don't you do your homework ? I want answers NOW !" Ben loudly inquired.
As Little Joe looked at the floor, he began to explain. " I pay attention, most of the time, and I do most of my work and homework too, but it's just that school is so boring, sir."
" BORING ! Education is NOT boring !" Ben shouted. Little Joe wished the floor would open up and swallow him right then and there. " Well it is the way Miss Jones teaches it," the boy mumbled.
" From now on, you are to come STRAIGHT home after school ! You WILL do your chores, and you WILL do your homework. When your homework is FINISHED, you WILL have either Adam or myself check to see if it is correct. If it isn't, you WILL redo it until it is correct ! Do you understand what I have just explained to you ?" Ben loudly and slowly told the youngster.
Little Joe continued to look at the floor and he mumbled, " Yes sir ." NOW, you GO straight out to the barn and do your chores. When you are finished with that, you WILL go up to your room and do your homework, and don't forget that it will need to be checked for mistakes !" Ben said.
Little Joe nodded and he went out to the barn to do his chores. " I think I made it that perfectly clear to him, and he had better do that if he knows what's good for him !" Ben stated.
" Hopefully Pa, he will think about what you have just told him while he does his chores," Adam suggested. " I hope you are right about that son," Ben added.
" Ya know Pa, little brother just doesn't think before he acts, and for his own good, he had better start to change his ways. I hate to see him in trouble," Hoss said. Ben smiled at Hoss and he nodded his agreement to what Hoss had just said.
Little Joe spent most of the evening doing his homework, and he wasn't happy about that. " Dadburnit that old Jonesy, why dunt she know I got lots of chores ta do at home and I ain't got time for stupid homework. DADBURNIT !!!!!" Little Joe said out loud.
As he was told, Little Joe let Ben check his homework and to his surprise, he had not made one single mistake. " You did a good job of your homework son. I didn't find any mistakes. Now that wasn't so bad now was it?" Ben asked as he handed the homework back to his son. " If you say so," the boy softly replied. Ben decided not to make a comment on what the boy had just said.
The next morning as Little Joe was ready to leave for school, Ben reminded him to please come straight home from school so he could do his chores and homework. The boy nodded back as he rode off.
As school let out for the day, Seth and Jake, Little Joe's friends, who were three years older than the boy, had asked Little Joe to come down to the lake with them.
" I can't. I was ' ordered ' ta come straight home from school to do chores and then homework," Little Joe explained.
" Golly Little Joe, why do you let your Pa order you around like that, and why can't your older brothers do the chores? My Pa don't do that !" Seth told the younger boy. " Yeah, neither does mine ," Jake added. " Come on Little Joe, come with us for a few minutes," Seth begged.
Little Joe looked at both Seth and Jake, wishing he had all the free time that they did. " Sure, ok, I'll come with ya, he replied. " Good, lets go," Jake said, as the three boys rode off towards the lake.
" I see Little Joe has choosen to disobey me again !" Ben declared as he went to the barn to saddle Buck and go look for his wayward son. Ben had a feeling as to where to find his son, so he rode towards the lake.
" Why can't little brother ever do what he told to do?" Hoss asked Adam. " Because he is spoiled little brat, and he thinks that he can what ever he wants to do !" Adam declared.
" So, do ya want to go fishing with us on Saturday then Little Joe ?" Seth asked. " Yeah, that sounds like fun," Little Joe replied.
" Uh oh, don't look now Little Joe, but here comes your Pa and he sure don't look very happy !" Seth warned. Both Little Joe and Jake turned to see a very angry looking Ben get off his horse.
" Bye Little Joe, see ya at school tomorrow ! Hi Mr. Cartwright," both Seth and Jake said as they ran past Ben, who just nodded at them. Little Joe stood there looking and feeling very nervous, and knowing the he was in big trouble again as he looked at the ground that had become very interesting to him suddenly.
" Do you mind explaining to me why you didn't come straight home after school like I asked you to do? Will you please look at me when I am speaking to you !" Ben shouted as he grabbed his son's upper arm.
" Ooch, that hurts !" Little Joe declared, as he tried to get away from Ben. ANSWER ME NOW !" Ben again shouted, but only a little louder this time.
" Pa look, I've been in school all day and I know that as soon as I get home, I got chores and homework to do. So I just wanted ta relax a bit is all. I was getting ready ta come home when ya got here," the boy tried to explain.
" You wanted to relax did you? Well, you can relax AFTER chores and homework ! Is that clear ? NOW, get home if you know what is good for you young man !" Ben angrily said as he let go of his son's arm.
As Little Joe walked towards Cochise, he rubbed his arm. Father and son rode home in total silence.
For the next several afternoons, Little Joe didn't come straight home after school and he didn't do all of his chores either. He was tired of his friends teasing him about the way Ben ordered him around, so he decided to disobey his father.
Ben was fit to be tied. He had never been this angry with any of his sons before as he was this time with his youngest son. He had even put the boy on restriction, but even that didn't seem to make any difference to Little Joe.
As soon as the boy had arrived home late again, Ben drug the boy into the house where a very heated argument took place.
Usually Ben didn't punish his sons when he was this angry, but by now he had lost all patience with his twevle year old son, and he didn't think about what he was shouting at the boy.
Little Joe didn't say anything as the hurtful words were shouted at him and they tore his world apart. The boy stood there crying while his body trembled.
Little Joe knew that all this hurt was his own fault and he realized that he deserved some kind of punishment, like a tanning or a longer rectriction, but not what he was hearing.
Without thinking about what he was doing, the boy ran out of the house in tears. He wanted to get away from the all the anger in the house, so he jumped on his horse and quickly rode out of the yard at full speed.
Ben ran out in the yard after his son, as he yelled, " JOSEPH GET BACK HERE NOW !" Sadly, Ben walked back in the house and he sat down.
" I don't know where I have gone wrong with that boy. I gave him more responsibilities because he asked for them, but he doesn't do them. I thought he would be glad to have more responsibilities, but I was so wrong. I feel like I have lost control of my son," Ben sadly stated.
" Pa, you haven't done anything wrong with Little Joe. He says he wants to be grown up, but at the same time, he continues to act like a little boy. I don't understand little brother anymore," Adam replied.
Hoss didn't know what to think. He hated to see his younger brother in so much trouble, but he couldn't even get the youngster to do what he asked either.
" Boys, you never went through anything like this, well maybe you did Adam, but not as bad as Little Joe. Do you two think I expect too much from your little brother ?" Ben asked, as he was tired by all the anger that he had felt.
" No I
don't
" I never gave that any thought Hoss, but I do know that Seth and Jake have too much free time on their hands. You could be right about that son. I don't think that we had better mention that to Little Joe though. He's upset enough as it is," Ben suggested. Both Adam and Hoss agreed.
Little Joe
rode to his favorite place at the lake, his mother's grave, which always seemed
to bring him some much needed peace when he really needed it the most. It
had a very calming affect on the boy as he looked out at the crystal blue water
of
After arriving at his mother's grave, Little Joe tied Cochise's reins to a tree branch and he slowly walked over to the grave, where he collasped down on his knee's, in tears.
He sadly looked at the tombstone as his warm salty tears began to run down his face again.
" Hi Mama. I dunt even know where to start at what's wrong. I know it's all my fault that I make everyone so mad at me and I'm mad at myself fer it too !" the boy cried.
" Oh Mama, I need you so bad. I wish I could feel yer lovin' arms around me now. I know ya could help me and make me be a better son ta Pa, and a better brother ta Adam and Hoss too."
" I feel so ashamed of the way I have been acting lately. I know Pa gave me more responsibilities ta do cuz I'm older and I asked him too, but I just wanna be more like my friends. They dunt have hardly any chores ta do, and they get ta do fun things."
" I guess I'm just jealous of em all, which I know ain't right, but Mama, how can I change and be the kinda son Pa wants me ta be? Please Mama, please help me ta be a better son !"
" I know that I'm a big disappointment ta my family, but if'n ya could please help me, I know I can be good and make ya proud of me Mama. Oh Mama, please help me, please !" Little Joe pleaded as he was now crying hard. A few minutes later the distraught boy fell into a restless sleep.
About an hour later, Little Joe suddenly woke up. He was surprised that he had fallen asleep. He slowly sat up, rubbed his eyes and yawned. He looked at the grave again and he softly said, " Thanks Mama. I love ya so much."
He stood up and walked over to Cochise and he headed for home. The thought that bothered him the most, was how disappointed his family was with him.
" I'll show em that I can work, and I will work and I will do what I am told to do Cooch," he told his beloved pinto. He was deeply hurt at the words Ben had shouted at him, even though he didn't say anything to Ben at the time. He was now deperate to prove to his family that he wasn't a disappointment to them.
As soon as Little Joe arrived at home, he took Cochise in the barn and he took care of him. He knew that it was just about time for dinner, but he wan't hungry at all. So he began to his barn chores, plus thoughs of his brothers as well.
As the family sat down to dinner, they kept looking over to where Little Joe usually sat, but his place was empty.
" Pa, after dinner, would you like Hoss and me to go look for Little Joe" Adam asked. Ben looked sadly at them and he said, " Yes, if you don't mind. I thought that he would have come back by now."
After dinner, Adam and Hoss headed for the barn to saddle their horses. " Adam, where should we look first ?" Hoss asked. " How about Marie's grave. He always goes there when he is upset," Adam suggested. Hoss agreed.
As they walked into the barn, they were very surprised and very relieved to see their little brother hard at work. Little Joe was concentrating so hard on what he was doing, that he didn't realize that his older brothers had come into the barn and were standing there watching him.
" I wonder who this new hand is who is doing chores?" Adam questioned. Little Joe stopped working and looked over at his two brothers. He didn't appreciate the comment he had just heard. He didn't say anything to his brothers and he went back to work.
" Hey Punkin, are ya alright ?" Hoss asked after he had glared at Adam. Without looking at Hoss, Little Joe replied, " Hi Hoss. I'm fine. I dun all yer barn chores."
" Thanks little brother, but ya didn't have to do my chores," Hoss said as he was surprised at the boy's answer. " Did you do mine too ?" Adam asked. " Yes I did," the boy mumbled. " Thank you little buddy," Adam replied as he looked at his brother.
" Punkin, why don't you come in and get some dinner ?" Hoss suggested. " No thanks. I ain't hungry Hoss," Little Joe replied as he went back to work. Both Adam and Hoss shook their heads and they left the barn and returned to the house.
Ben looked up from his newspaper as soon as he heard the front door open. He was very surprsied to see Adam and Hoss walk back in the house.
" I thought that you two were going to look for Little Joe ?" Ben inquired. " Pa, little brother was in the barn doing the evening chores, including all of our chores too, and he said he wasn't hungry either," Adam explained.
Ben was surprised at what Adam had just told him. " How did he seem to you ?" Ben asked as he was concerned about his youngest son.
" I guess he seemed fine, but he did look rather tired. He sure didn't say much to us," Hoss replied.
" I think I'll go and have a talk with him," Ben said as he stood up, ready to go to the barn. " Pa, I don't think he wants us out there," Adam suggested. Ben thought about that statement, then he decided that that was probably a good idea.
About an hour later, a very tired Little Joe walked into the house. The boy didn't say anything to his family as he headed straight up the stairs. He didn't even look at his family either.
Ben wanted to say something to his young son, but when noticed the expression on the boy's face, he kept quiet. Hoss wanted to go upstairs to see his little brother, but changed his mind when he noticed Ben shaking is head.
All Little Joe wanted to do was to go to bed. He was still upset about what had happened that afternoon, and with Adam's comment in the barn an hour before, plus he had school that next day.
As soon as Little Joe had put his nightshirt on, he climbed into bed and as he laid there thinking about the day, he started to cry into his pillow. It wasn't long before he fell into a very restless sleep.
After about an hour, Ben couldn't stand it any longer, so he went up to his son's room. He quietly knocked on the boy's door and he waited for an answer.
At not hearing any reply to his knock on the door, Ben opened the door and walked into the room. He looked down at his sleeping son and he could see the tear stained face of the boy which was breaking his heart.
Ben gently sat down on the edge of the bed as he gently brushed the curls from the boy's forehead. Ben couldn't figure out why his young son would have been crying. He told himself that he would find out about that in the morning.
Ben kissed his son's forehead, straightened out the blankets, and turned down the wick on the lamp. Then he left the room and went back downstairs.
Both Adam and Hoss looked up as soon as they heard Ben coming down the stairs. " Is he alright Pa ?" Hoss asked. " He was sleeping and it looks like he cried himself to sleep," Ben sadly said.
" Did one of you say anything to him when you were in the barn that might have upset him ?" Ben asked. Adam looked at Hoss, then at Ben, and he said, " I said, I wonder who this new hand is who is doing the chores ? I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said that to him. I think that comment hurt him."
Ben gave Adam an angry look. " Son, why did you have to say something like that for ?" Ben asked. " I really don't know. I guess I was just surprised to see him working out there," Adam admitted.
Little Joe got up very early that next morning so he could do the morning chores before school. Hop Sing was very surprised to see the boy up so early, since the boy was so hard to get out of bed in the mornings.
" Morning Little Joe. What you do up so early?" Hop Sing asked. " Mornin' Hop Sing. Gotta get all the barn chores done before school," Little Joe answered.
" You sit and I make you breakfast. You no eat dinner last night. Boy need to eat," Hop Sing said. " I really ain't hugry Hop Sing," Little Joe softly told Hop Sing.
Hop Sing wouldn't take ' no ' for an answer. He handed the boy a piece of toast and poured him a glass of milk. " You drink milk and eat toast before chores and school," Hop Sing suggested. " Thanks Hop Sing," Little Joe replied as he didn't want to argue with Hop Sing so early in the morning.
Just before the rest of the family arrived at the table, Little Joe had been already working in the barn for an hour.
" Oh boy, something sure does smell good in here Hop Sing," Hoss declared as he patted his stomach.
No sooner than Hoss had said that, then Hop Sing returned to the diningroom carrying platters of sausages, bacon and fried potatoes. He returned to the kitchen to get a large platter of scrambled eggs and toast.
" This looks great Hop Sing,' Hoss declared as he helped himself to the food. Hop Sing smiled. " I decided to let Little Joe sleep in a bit longer this morning and keep him home from school," Ben said as he helped himself to some eggs.
" Little Joe already up and working in barn," Hop Sing told them. Ben, Adam and Hoss looked up at Hop Sing, and they were very surprised at what he had just told them.
" How long ago did he get up ?" Ben asked. " Maybe over hour ago. Hop Sing make boy eat toast and have glass of milk. He not want any breakfast, but Hop Sing make boy eat something," Hop Sing told Ben. " Thank you Hop Sing," Ben replied, for he was very grateful that Hop Sing looked out for the youngster.
" Something ain't right with Short Shanks," Hoss said out of concern. " Well what ever it is, I like it. At least he's working," Adam said. Ben decided not to respond to that statement by his oldest son.
After breakfast, Adam left to go up to the mine camp, while Hoss headed out to check on the line shacks.
Little Joe had already saddled Buck, Chubb and Sport since he knew that his family would be gone for the day. Adam had ridden off without talking to Little Joe nor did he thank the boy for saddling Sport for him.
As soon as Hoss walked outside he noticed Chubb standing there saddled for him. He patted his horse and he walked into the barn to see his little brother.
" Hey Punkin, thanks for saddlin' Chubb for me. Did you do all the morning chores too?" Hoss asked. " Hi Hoss, thanks. Yup, I did. I'll be doin' all the barn chores from now on," Little Joe announced.
That statement caught Hoss by total surprise. " Ya don't have to do our chores too little brother. You really don't. Hey, ya wanna come with me today and check out some of the line shacks and make a list as to what supplies they are getting low on ?" Hoss asked, hoping his brother would go with him.
" I got school taday," the boy replied as he was surprised at what Hoss had just said to him. " Thanks fer askin' though Hoss. " Punkin, Pa said that he wasn't going to send ya to school today, so why don't you just come with me. OK?" Hoss asked.
Little Joe was shocked at what Hoss had told him about not having to go to school that day. " Sorry Hoss, but I got lots ta do taday, and I need ta go ta school," the boy answered. " Ya sure little brother?" Hoss questioned. " Yeah, I'm sure," the boy replied, as he continued to muck out the stalls.
" Ok Punkin, see ya later," Hoss said with disappointment in his voice.
As Hoss was ready to get on Chubb he noticed Ben was walking towards him.
"
Hoss, did you saddle Buck for me?" Ben asked. "
" He
what ? Ben asked, not sure if he had hear right.. Hoss just shook his
head as he
Ben couldn't understand why his youngest son thought that he needed to do all the barn chores, as he walked to the barn to have a talk with the boy.
" Joseph, is there something bothering you ?" Ben asked. Little Joe stopped working and he wanted to ask Ben why he said those hurtful words to him yesterday, but all he said was, " no ."
" Are you sure son?" Ben asked again. " I'm sure," the boy answered softly as he went back to work. Ben didn't know what to think at that point.
" Son,
why are you doing all the barn chores now?" Ben asked, hoping to get a
straight answer this time. " Just because I want ta
Ben almost
said something back, but he decided against it. He walked back to Buck
and rode off to
Little Joe finished the barn chores and then he went to get washed up and he headed to school.
On his way to school, he made a decision that from now on he would be the perfect student. He knew it would take a lot of hard work on his part to be the perfect student, but he knew he could do it.
Over the next few months, Little Joe was true to his word, and he was the perfect student. Everyday Miss Jones kept waiting for her most trying student to get into mischief, but he never did.
" Hey Little Joe, we are all going fishing on Saturday, ya wanna come with us ? Jake asked. " Can't, got chores ta do," the boy replied. " Geez Cartwright, don't ya ever take time off anymore? Your always doing chores. I'm glad my Pa don't make me work that much," Seth said.
" Come on Little Joe, come with us," Mitch begged. " I can't !" Little Joe declared as he got up and walked back into the school building, leaving his friends staring at him.
" What's with him?" Seth asked angrily. " Who knows. Seems like he ain't got time for his friends anymore," Mitch added.
With Little Joe being the perfect student, Miss Jones didn't know what to think anymore, so she sent home a note for Ben asking him to please come to school for a meeting with her.
Ben was very surprised after he read the note from Miss Jones. This sure didn't sound like his young son at all. Nothing the boy had been doing lately made sense any more. All his son did was work and go to school. He never smiled anymore, never giggled as he had always done before.
Ben had attempted to inquire about the boy's behavior with him, but his son kept saying he was fine. Ben knew that his son was far from fine. Adam and Hoss were also very concerned about their little brother's behavior over the last few months.
The meeting with Miss Jones had no answers. It just seemed to deepen the mystery of what was going on with Little Joe.
The school year ended with Little Joe being the top student. His family so so very proud of him as was Miss Jones. Even that honor that he worked so hard for didn't seem to mean anything to him.
The End of
part one.