" Adam's Prank and Thumb Sucking "

By: Lynne G.

Adam Cartwright woke up one morning and he continued to think up a prank he could pull on his fifteen year old brother, Little Joe.

As Adam thought back on the many pranks he had pulled on his young brother over the years that always seemed to backfire on him, he knew he needed an idea that wouldn't backfire this time.

Little Joe was the biggest prankster in the family and the boy could come up with great pranks for every member of the family, including Hop Sing, the true boss of the house.

All through the day, Adam racked his brain for ideas on pranks.  Later that day he went into Virginia City to get the mail, and all the way to town he thought about nothing else but pranks to pull on a certain family member.

After he had picked the mail, and checked in at the store to see if any new books had come lately of which none had, he was walking towards his horse, Sport, when he noticed a man and his son getting on the stage. 

The boy was sucking his thumb and Adam figured that the boy must be around seven years old or so.  The father kept taking the boy's thumb out of his mouth and shaking his finger at his son, and Adam could tell the father wasn't happy that his boy was sucking his thumb.

" That's it ! " Adam almost shouted outloud.  " My prank for that baby brother of mine.  All I have to do is plan it out just right.  Oh little brother am I ever going to have fun with you !  Adam said as he began to laugh.  He hoped no one had heard him talking to himself or laughing outloud, because they just might think that he had gone a little crazy.

The next morning it was Adam's turn to go and wake up his little brother.  That was one job that no one in the family enjoyed.  Luckily for Adam, he didn't have to do that all that offen.  Hoss did that most of the time.

As Adam stood there looking down at his deeply sleeping little brother, he thought to himself, " that boy has the face of an angel when he sleeps, but he certainly isn't an angel when he is awake."  That is when his idea for his prank finally came together in his mind.

" Hey sleeping beauty, wake up.  It's time to get up before you are late for school," Adam said as he shook his brother's shoulder.

As Little Joe tried to open his eyes, he began to mumble something back at Adam which Adam couldn't understand at all.

" Come on little buddy, get up before I have to pull you out of your bed !" Adam threatened.

" What's ya doin' in here?  It's the middle of the night Adam.  Go away, and let me sleep," the boy mumbled.

Adam shock his head slowly, took a deep breath, and replied, " It's not the middle of the night.  It's morning !" Adam announced loudly as he pulled his brother into a sitting position.

As Little Joe sat there trying to open his eyes, he was yawning non-stop and mumbling at Adam again, while he was rubbing his eyes.

" If you don't hurry up and get dressed little brother, I'll get you dressed !  Now, do you want to dress yourself, or do you want me to dress you like I use to do?  It's your choice," Adam suggested.

At hearing Adam's choice, Little Joe stood up and mumbled, " I'll do it myself, thank you very much !" and he slowly walked towards his dresser, still yawning, and he began to wash his face, and brush his teeth.

As Adam watched the boy, he couldn't resist at giving the boy a quick light swat to his bottom, which caught Little Joe by surprise.  " Hey, whats ya done that fer?" the boy asked.

Adam laughed and replied, "because I felt like it, that's why."  Then Adam left the room and lightly laughed all the way downstairs.

Adam had decided not to tell Ben or Hoss about his prank for Little Joe, until he had pulled his prank for a few days.  This prank would be very interesting, as it would most likely bring back memories from eleven years ago, and why Little Joe had stopped sucking his thumb at age six and half years old.

The next morning before he went downstairs for breakfast, Adam quietly snuck into Little Joe's room and he walked over to the bed and looked down at at his deeply sleeping brother.

" It's just a good thing you are a deep sleeper little brother, because when you sleep, we can do anything we want to do to you, and you don't know anything about it either," Adam thought to himself.

Adam gently took hold of Little Joe's hand and he held the boy's thumb between is his own thumb and index finger, and he very gently opened the boy's mouth, then he eased the boy's thumb into his mouth.  Then he gently closed his little brother's mouth.  Adam stood there smiling, then he left the room and went downstairs.

" Good morning Pa," Adam said as he walked towards his chair.  " Good morning son," Ben replied as he smiled at his oldest son.

About that time, Hoss had joined them too.  After more greetings of  " good morning, " Ben asked Hoss if he could go up stairs and wake up Little Joe.  Hoss agreed and went up stairs.

" Oh this should be great !" Adam thought to himself as he watched Hoss walk up the stairs.

As soon as Hoss walked over to Little Joe's bed, he stopped and stared at his sleeping little brother, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

" I..I don't believe this !" Hoss quietly gasped.  There in bed was his fifteen year old little brother sleeping deeply and sucking his thumb.  " Maybe I'm just seein' things," Hoss softly said as he continued to look at the boy.  " Nope, he's suckin' his thumb alright," Hoss told himself.

Hoss slowly backed up until he was in the hall, and he turned around and hurried towards the stairs, and then he walked half way down the stairs before he stooped.

" Pa, Adam, ya gotta come up and have a look at Little Joe !  Ya ain't gonna believe what he's doin' !" Hoss excitedly said.

Ben looked at Adam, who had a concerned look on his face, but inside he was laughing hard.

" What is he doing Hoss?" Ben asked as he and Adam headed towards the stairs.  " Pa, if I told ya, ya wouldn't believe me.  So ya gotta come up and have a looky see," Hoss suggested, as they continued up to Little Joe's room.

As soon as Ben and Adam were standing next to the bed, they couldn't believe their eyes at the sight in front of them, Little Joe sucking his thumb while he was sleeping.

A shocked Ben didn't say anything for a couple of seconds, then he shook his head and softly said, " I..I don't believe this !  I thought he stopped sucking his thumb years ago," Ben declared.

" Apparently not.  I wonder if he does this everytime he sleeps?" Adam questioned.  " I ain't seen him do this since he was little !" Hoss replied.

" Would you like me take his thumb out of his mouth before we wake him up?  After all, we don't want to embarrass the poor little boy, now do we?" Adam suggested as he smiled.

" No son, let's go back down stairs and let Hoss wake up him up.  If he keeps doing this, then I'll say something to him.  Hoss, don't be too hard on him, please," Ben said.

" Don't worry Pa, I'll make him think that his little secret is safe with me," Hoss told Ben.  " Thank you Hoss," Ben replied as he and Adam went back down stairs.

After Ben and Adam had left, Hoss took a deep breath and he shook Little Joe's shoulder.  " Wake up Punkin.  It's time to get up now," Hoss called.

As Little Joe slowly opened his eyes, he didn't realize that his thumb was in his mouth, but as he began to mumble at Hoss, his eyes suddenly opened wide, when he realized that his thumb was in his mouth which he quickly took out of his mouth.

" Golly little brother, I thought you stopped sucking yer thumb years ago," Hoss declared. 

A shocked Little Joe stated," I..I Did, but I....How'd it get in there now?  Ok Hoss, did ya put my thumb in my mouth?  Ya did, didn't ya?  Come on Hoss, tell me ya did !"

" Sorry Punkin, I certainly didn't put yer thumb in yer mouth !  Ya musta done it yerself when ya was sleepin," Hoss replied.

Little Joe was shocked, thinking that he still sucked his thumb while he slept.  The boy just sat on his bed looking at his thumb.

" Adam, I can't believe that Little Joe was sucking his thumb.  My goodness, the boy is fifteen years old and not five anymore," Ben sadly said. 

" I don't know what to say Pa.  Maybe he was dreaming about when he was little and just stuck his thumb in his mouth," Adam suggested as he was still laughiing inside. " This is great !", he also thought.  " Could be," Ben replied.

As soon as Hoss neared the table, Hop Sing was bringing platters of scrambled eggs, ham and fried potatoes to the table.  " Hop Sing, this looks so good !" Hoss announced as he sat down.  Hop Sing nodded and returned to the kitchen.

" Hoss, how did it go with Little Joe, you know about his thumb sucking?" Ben asked as he looked at Hoss.

" Well, he was thoroughly shocked, that's fer sure.  I thought he was gonna pass out.  Ya should have seen how pale he got and he looked sick.  I feel kinda sorry fer him.  I promised him I wouldn't say anything ' bout it," Hoss replied.

" Thank you Hoss.  Oh, here he comes now.  My gosh, he certainly is pale," Ben said with concern on his face at the way his youngest son looked.  Adam was hidding his smile.

Little Joe stared at the floor as he sat down, as he felt sick.  " Good morning son," Ben said.  " Morning," the boy softly mumbled.  " Are you feeling alright Little Joe?" Ben asked as he continued to look at the boy.

" Huh?  Umm, not really Pa," Little Joe replied quietly.  Ben reached over to feel the boy's forehead, and he was relieved to find it cool to the touch.

" No fever, so that's good.  Eat your breakfast now please so you can get to school on time," Ben suggested as he continued to look at the boy.

" I...I ain't hungry sir," the boy replied.  " I gotta get ta school," he added as he got up and ran from the house.  " Poor kid," Adam declared.  Ben and Hoss didn't say anything.

Adam seemed pleased so far, but Ben and Hoss were worried.

Over the next few mornings, Adam continued to pull his prank on Little Joe, and every morning the same thing happened.

Adam had decided to let Ben and Hoss in on his prank that he was pulling for the past several mornings.  Both Ben and Hoss were very relieved to learn that Little Joe wasn't still sucking his thumb, and that the whole thing was only a prank.

" Pa, lets go up and tell Little Joe that this whole thing is only a prank.  I'm starting to get a little concerned about the way he has been acting, but you have to admit that it has been interesting though," Adam said.  " Yes, I agree with you about that son," Ben replied.

They all went up to Little Joe's room to wake him up, but to their surprise, the youngster was up, dressed and sitting on his bed looking at the floor, but he knew his family was in his room.

While still looking at the floor, Little Joe mumbled, " I guess I will never grow up after all."  " Son, you are growing up, and you have nothing to worry about," Ben told his son.  The boy looked up at Ben with very sad looking eyes, and he said, " yes Pa, I am worried cuz I still...." was all he could say before Adam spoke up.

Adam smiled at his little brother, took a deep breath, sat down next to the boy and put his arm around Little Joe's shoulder, and he began to say.

" Don't worry little buddy, you don't still suck your thumb.  I have been pulling a prank on you.  I have been coming into your room and putting your thumb in your mouth a few minutes before Hoss comes to wake you up.  Got you little brother !" Adam proudly said.

A very relieved Little Joe looked up at Adam and said, Thanks Adam.  I'm gonna get ya fer this ya know. Ya really had me believin' that I still sucked my thumb !" 

 " Still friends?" Adam asked as he got up and walked towards the door.  " I'll have ta think 'bout that big brother," Little Joe replied as he threw a pillow at Adam.

That evening while the family was in the livingroom, Ben looked over at Little Joe who was playing checkers with Hoss, and he asked his son if he remembered when he stopped sucking his thumb.

Little Joe looked at Ben and he said, " No."  As Adam and Hoss also looked at Ben, Ben began to tell Little Joe the story of why he stopped sucking his thumb.

Eleven years earlier:

" Joseph, you need to stop sucking your thumb son," Ben suggested.  The little boy looked up at Ben with his big questioning green eyes, and he asked why. 

" It's all chapped and very sore, and you tell me that it hurts," Ben explained.  " But Papa, I's like ta suck my fum.  Makes me feel good," the youngster said. 

 " Yes, I know it does sweetheart, but you are six years old now, and you keep telling us that you are a big boy.  Only little boys still suck their thumbs and since you are a big boy, and you want us to treat you like a big boy, you need to stop sucking your thumb," Ben explained.

Little Joe thought about what Ben had just told him.  He looked at his family and then at his sore thumb.  He knew that this was going to be very hard to do, as sucking his thumb made him feel safe, and it helped him to go to sleep at night.  So he decided to try to stop his thumb sucking.

With a big sigh, Little Joe said, " Ok Papa, I'll try," as he looked at his thumb again.  He sure wasn't looking forward to it, but his thumb was sore.

As hard as he fought his urge not to suck his thumb, his thumb still managed to find it's way back in his mouth when he got sleepy or when he was really upset by something.

As the weeks went by, Little Joe was still sucking his thumb even though he was trying so hard not to.  Hop Sing had even tried to put some awful tasting herb mixture on the boy's thumb, which made Little Joe suck his other thumb.

" I'mma tryin' hard Papa, but I can't help it.  I really need ta suck my fum when I gets all sleepy," Little Joe sadly told Ben.

Ben smiled at his little son and he knew that the child had been trying.  " I understand sweetheart.  One day soon, I'm sure you will out grow it,"  Ben replied as he hugged his little boy.

One day a few months later, the Cartwrights had invited the Roger's over for dinner. 

The Roger's were an older couple who had lived in the area since before Ben, Adam and Hoss had moved to the Nevada Territory.  The Roger's had never been able to have children of their own, so they loved being around Adam, Hoss, and especially Little Joe.  They thought that he was the cutest and sweetest little boy on the face of the earth.

After dinner as they were all visiting, Little Joe suddenly noticed that Seth Rogers was missing his left thumb.  Being a very curious child, the little boy walked over to Seth and he took his thumb out of his mouth and he looked up at Seth, with his big green eyes.

" Mr. Rogers, what happened ta yer fum?" the child softly asked.  The Rogers knew that Ben was trying to get Little Joe to stop sucking his thumb, so Seth needed to come with some kind of answer fast for the little boy.

" Well son, it's like this.  When I was a little boy like you, I used to suck my thumb all the time and I couldn't stop.  So as I got older, I still couldn't stop, but I only did it when no one was around.  I didn't want anyone to know  that I was still sucking my thumb," Seth explained.

" Then one day my thumb started to hurt really bad, and a few days later, it just fell off my hand," Seth finally said.

Little Joe stood there wide eyed and he looked at his left thumb.  " Ya mean it really fell off yer hand?" the child very nervously asked.  " Yes it did Little Joe.  I wished now that I would have stopped sucking my thumb when I was a little boy, because then I'd still have my thumb.

Little Joe put his hand on Seth's knee, and he softly said, "I'mma so sorry 'bout yer fum Mr. Rogers.

Everyone looked at Little Joe, who was still looking at his thumb as he lightly touched it.  Suddenly the teary eyed boy announced, " I ain't never gonna suck my fum again !  I dun't want it ta fall off my hand.  I'mma a big boy, and we big boys dun't suck fums no more !"

" Good boy !  I'm very happy to hear you say that Little Joe.  I have a feeling that you will keep your thumb," Seth happily said.

" Yes sir.  Fank ya fer tellin' me 'bout yer fum, and I'mma really sorry that ya losted it," Little Joe said with a lot of emotion in his quiet little voice.  " Thank you sweetheart," Seth replied as he hugged the little boy.

About an hour later, the Rogers were getting ready to leave.  " Bye boys.  You be good now," Gerty Rogers said as he hugged each of the boys.  " Thank you ma'am, we will, even Little Joe," Adam replied as he smiled at the Rogers.

While Ben had gone outside with the Rogers, Seth told Ben that he hoped that he wasn't upset at what he had told Little Joe about his thumb.

" No, I don't mind, and infact I think it made a big impression on him," Ben replied.  " I hope so Ben.  Thank you again for inviting us to dinner.  It was wonderful as always, both Seth and Gerty said.

Later that evening after Little Joe had gone to bed, Adam asked Ben if he knew how Seth had lost his thumb. 

 " Yes, he had a very bad cut on that thumb, and it wouldn't get better, and he became very ill.  So in order to save his life, the doctor had to amputate Seth's thumb.  It wasn't long before Seth was better again," Ben explained.

" That's awful !" both Adam and Hoss gasped.  " Yes it was.  He was very lucky.  Did either of you notice that your baby brother didn't suck his thumb as he got sleepy?" Ben asked.

" Ya know Pa, yer right about that, come to think of it," Hoss agreed.  " I did notice that too, but I didn't say anything while baby brother was still wake," Adam added.

Present time: 

" So Little Joe that was why you stopped sucking your thumb, but every now and then, your thumb still found it's way back in your mouth.

" Golly Pa, I sure don't remember any of that.  Guess I just blocked it out of my mind er somethin'," the surprised boy said.  " Yes, I'm sure that is what you did," Ben replied as he ruffled up his son's thick brown curly hair.

" Ya know little brother, you sure did look cute when you sucked your thumb back then and again now," Hoss laughed.  " I totally agree with that statement Hoss," both Ben and Adam said as they looked at Little Joe who was now giggling.

Little Joe looked at Adam and he grinned.  Adam knew that he was in for it again-another prank from his baby brother, but he had no way of knowing when that would happen.  Not with having a little brother like Little Joe, the family's prankster.

The End.

Footnote:

I want to thank Judi for the idea about writing a story about how Little Joe stopped sucking his thumb.

The way Little Joe stopped sucking his thumb, was the way my sister stopped sucking her thumb.

One of our uncle's had a missing thumb that he lost in an accident.  When my sister asked him what happened to his thumb, he told her that it fell off from sucking it so much when he was little.  That was the last time she ever sucked her thumb.

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