Early one morning as Ben Cartwright and his two older sons, seventeen year old Adam and eleven year old Hoss sat at the dining room table waiting for Hop Sing to bring their breakfast to the table, they could hear loud giggling drifting down from upstairs, which made them smile.
“Wonder what is so funny up there?” Ben questioned as he continued to smile and looked towards the stairs. “I bet mama is ticklin’ Little Joe cuz she’s laughin’ too,” Hoss chuckled.
“You could be right about that Hoss. I love that silly little giggle of his,” Adam said as had a big smile on his face. Both Adam and Hoss loved their baby brother dearly.
Getting back to his original thought, Ben looked at his sons and said, “Boys, your mama, Little Joe and I are going into Virginia City to get supplies and hopefully a new pair of boots for your little brother. Is there anything either of you would like or anything you need?”
With a big smile, Hoss replied, “Um, can I have some candy Pa? It does sound mighty fine.” Ben looked at Hoss with a big smile on his face too and answered back, “Of course you can have some candy son. Is there any particular kinds you want?”
“Could I have a couple of pieces of every kind please?” Hoss asked sheepishly. “You sure can son. That sounds like a very good idea,” Ben replied.
“Adam, how about you son?” Ben asked. “Well I do need some new handkerchiefs. The ones I have are worn out, and if you wouldn’t mind, could you please check to see if any new books on poetry have come out? It’s been several months since any ones have come out. I’d really appreciate that Pa, thank you,” Adam said at the same time Hoss added something else to his needs, “Oh yeah, I need some new handkerchiefs too.”
“I would be pleased to do that for you son. You certainly do love poetry don’t you?” Ben commented. “Yes, I love it. It makes me feel really good,” Adam declared as Hoss made a funny face. Hoss did not like poetry at all.
Mean time upstairs the giggling continued. “My goodness my darling little prince charming, you certainly are a little giggle box this morning aren’t you,” Marie said as she continued to tickle four year old Little Joe. “I ain’t no box mama. Imma big boy!” the child declared as he giggled away. “Yes, you’re a ‘big boy ‘” Marie replied.
Little Joe was rolling around on his bed trying to get away from the tickling fingers of his mama. His tiny hands were trying to hold his stomach as tears were rolling down his face from giggling so hard.
Marie had decided that her baby boy had had enough tickling for now, so she picked him and held him as she gently rubbed his back.
“Alright precious, let’s get you settled down now. I love you so much sweetheart. Didn’t we have fun playing?” Marie asked. “I’s wuv ya so much mama! Ya sure dun tickled me lots and I’s gotts tears too,” the little boy replied as he gave his mama a big kiss on the side of her face. She gave her son a big kiss back on his face too. “You about ready to have breakfast honey?” she asked as she gave the little boy another big kiss. The child nodded back, with a big smile on his face.
“Good boy. We have a very busy day planned for today, so I want you to eat all your breakfast for mama. Can you do that for me precious?” Marie asked as she kissed her beautiful baby boy.
“I’s sure can mama. All that ticklin’ mades me hungry!” Little Joe said as he giggled and he looked up at his mama with his big bright shinny green eyes. “That’s my big boy!” she said as she was very proud of her little son.
All eyes turned towards the stairs as Marie and Little Joe came walking down the stairs hand in hand with big grins on their happy faces.
“Mornin’ Papa, Adam, Hoss ! Did ya knowed that mama tickled me lots and that maded tears run down my face cuz I giggled so hard?” Little Joe explained as he smiled at the rest of his family.
“So that’s what all that giggling was about, was it?” Ben teased. “Yup, sure was Papa. Imma hungry. Ticklin’ makes me hungry ya know!” the boy seriously said. That statement made Ben, Adam, Hoss and Marie laugh, which made Little Joe start to giggle too.
As the family ate their breakfast Little Joe spoke up. “Mama saided that we’s gotts lots of plans fer taday, so I gotts ta eat all my breakfast. Ain’t that sompfin?” the boy announced.
Ben winked at Marie who smiled back. Adam and Hoss chuckled softly. “I’m very happy to how well you are eating your breakfast sweetheart,” Marie happily replied.
Little Joe managed to eat all of his breakfast just as he had promised he would which brought more big smiles from his family.
After the little boy had been cleaned up from breakfast, Marie gathered up the supply list from Hop Sing while Ben went to get the buckboard ready for their trip to Virginia City. As soon as Little Joe used the outhouse, Ben, Marie and Little Joe headed out of the yard.
Adam and Hoss had already left for school, several minutes before minutes before the rest of the family were ready to leave.
“What’s we gonna do in town mama?” the excited little boy asked as he sat on Ben’s lap so he could help hold the reins in his tiny hands.
“We have a long list of supplies to get plus some banking to do. Then we are going to go over to Daisy’s for lunch,” Marie told her son. I’s wuv Daisy!” the child shouted. She’s my girlfriend ya know,” the little boy announced. “Aren’t you a little too young to have a girlfriend already son?” Ben teased. “Heck no, cuz Imma a big boy and big boys gotts girlfriends!” the boy declared. “I see,” Ben replied as he winked at Marie who was holding in her laugh.
Their first stop in town was the General Store where they gave Mr. Tom Cass their list of supplies. While they were still in the store, Ben walked over to where the books were and he looked through to see if any new poetry books had come in. He found one new poetry book, so he brought it back over to the counter so it could be included with the supplies.
In the mean time, Marie and Little Joe picked out the kinds of candy to buy which they pointed out to Tom. Tom would have the candy ready when they came back after lunch. Ben handed Tom the book and handkerchiefs as well.
The banking went fast and now it was off to find some new boots for Little Joe. So far the little boy had been very good and both Ben and Marie hoped that would continue.
They were in luck at the boot shop as there were several pair in Little Joe’s size. Ben and Marie decided to let Little Joe pick out the pair he liked the best which brought a big smile on the little boy’s face.
Little Joe had tried on several pair of boots all of which fit him perfectly. “Sweetheart, which pair of boots would you like to have?” Ben asked as he and Marie smiled at their young son.
The little boy carefully looked at the boots again, then he got a big smile on his face and he pointed to the dark brown pair. I wants them please. I like em best, the child proudly told his parents.
Little Joe was very excited as he got to wear his new boots. He felt so proud that he had new great looking boots on. It made him feel special.
From the boot shop, the family headed over to Daisy’s for lunch. As soon as Daisy saw the Cartwright’s, she picked up Little Joe and gave him a big hug and kiss.
“And how is my little boyfriend on this fine day?” Daisy asked as she put the little boy back on the floor. “Imma just dandy Daisy. Lookit, I’s gotts new boots, see em!” Little Joe excitedly declared as he pulled up the legs of his jeans to show Daisy his new boots.
“My goodness, those are great looking boots you have there Little Joe. What a lucky little boy you are!” Daisy replied as she smiled at the little boy with the brightly shinning big green eyes. “Sure am Daisy!” the child replied back.
“How are you doing Daisy?” Marie asked her dear friend. “I’m doing fine and you guys?” Daisy asked. “Just fine too Daisy,” Marie answered back.
As Ben, Marie and Little Joe sat there looking at the menu trying to make up their minds on what to have for lunch, Marie looked at Little Joe and she had to smile at the little boy, as he had a very serious look on his face as he looked at the menu.
“What sounds good to you sweetheart?” Marie asked, knowing the child couldn’t read yet, even though he was acting as if he could.
Little Joe looked up at his mama with confidence and said he wanted beef stew. Marie was surprised by that answer as was Ben. She looked at the menu again and sure enough, beef stew was on the menu. Ben was also very surprised when he saw beef stew on the menu.
“Little Joe, how did you know there was beef stew on the menu?” Ben asked. “Cuz it dun says right here, beef stew!” the boy answered as he pointed to the stew written on the menu.
“I dun knowed some words ya know, cuz Adam dun teached me some words,” Little Joe told his parents. They knew that Adam loved reading to his little brother, but they didn’t know that he was also teaching him words.
“That was very nice of your big brother to teach you words like that,” Marie said as she felt so proud of both Adam and Little Joe. Ben was beaming with pride.
After their delicious lunch, Daisy gave her ‘little boyfriend ‘a big and kiss. The child returned the hugs and kiss back to her. The little boy had eaten all of his lunch which Ben and Marie happy and very proud of their little son.
Back at the store Marie noticed a display of beautiful hair combs, so she walked over to take a look at the ivory combs. She loved hair combs, but she didn’t have very many.
As soon as Ben saw Marie looking at the combs, he smiled and walked over to her. “Oh Ben, aren’t they beautiful!” she declared as she held one in her hand and she carefully looked it over.
“Yes, they are all very beautiful and look at the workmanship on them. Why don’t you pick out a couple that you like the best and I’ll buy them for you,” Ben suggested as he looked at his beautiful wife.
Marie looked at Ben with her big bright green eyes showing excitement in them and she replied, “Oh Ben, are you sure?” “Yes I’m sure. They will look great in your thick curly hair sweetheart,” Ben told her.
Ben looked down at Little Joe and said, “Won’t these look pretty in your mama’s hair sweetheart?” “They sure will Papa. Hey Papa, dunt boyfriends buy purdy stuff fer their girlfriends?” the boy asked as he was in deep thought.
With a smile, Ben replied back to his young son. “Yes they do son. You see, not only is your mama my wife, but she is also my girlfriend too. Your Papa loves to buy pretty things for her. Why do you ask Little Joe?”
“Well ya see’s Papa, Daisy’s says Imma her boyfriend, so I fink I should get her sompfin’ purdy too!” Little Joe told Ben. “I see,” Ben replied as he winked at Marie as they both looked down at their baby boy.
“That is a wonderful idea baby, and I know that Daisy would love to get a present from you. What would you like to get her?” Marie asked as she felt so proud of her little son.
“I fink one of them combs mama. Daisy could puts em in her hair like ya do mama,” the child explained.
“That’s a wonderful idea son. Why don’t you pick one out for Daisy,” Ben suggested as he looked at his son and thinking to himself, “If he is this charming at four years old, how much more charming will he be when he is grown up?”
“Fank ya Papa, I will!” Little Joe excitedly said as Ben held him up so he could look at the hair combs.
The little boy carefully looked at each comb and when he saw the one he thought that would be perfect for Daisy, he picked it up and held it in his tiny hand and he excitedly said, “This one!”
Both Ben and Marie were impressed at their son’s choice. Once the combs were paid for, Mr. Cass wrapped the comb for Daisy so the little boy could give it to her. Tom was getting a big kick out of Little Joe and the way he had told him that Daisy was his girlfriend, and that she needed something pretty. “What a little charmer he is,” Tom thought.
“Mama, can I take this over ta Daisy now?” Little Joe asked as he looked up at his mama with pleading eyes. Marie looked at Ben and he nodded that it was fine with him.
“Ok sweetheart, let’s go back to Daisy’s while your Papa loads up the buckboard,” Marie suggested. “OH GOODIE!!! We’s be back soon Papa!” the excited little boy told Ben, who smiled back at his young son. “What a little character he is Ben,” Tom told Ben. “That he is, that he is,” Ben replied as he began to load up the buckboard.
Daisy had just finished cleaning all the dishes from lunch when she heard the bell on the front door ring, so she left the kitchen and went out to the dining room.
“Hi ya Daisy. I comed back ta see ya!” Little Joe happily announced. “I am so lucky to have my little boyfriend come back to see me again,” Daisy said as she gave the child a big hug and kiss. Marie just smiled.
Taking a deep breath, Little Joe looked up at Daisy and began, “Daisy, cuz Imma yer boyfriend, I gotts ya a present. We boyfriends do stuff like that ya know,” the little boy explained, as he handed the small package to Daisy.
A very surprised Daisy was speechless as she took the gift from the little boy. “My goodness sweetheart, you didn’t have to buy me anything, but thank you so very much,” she said as she had tears in her eyes. “Open it Daisy,” the boy suggested. Marie now had tears in her eyes too.
As Daisy carefully opened the neatly wrapped gift, Little Joe was so excited. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Daisy’s face when she saw her comb. He was almost jumping up and down with excitement.
As soon as Daisy saw the ivory comb she gasped and was speechless at first. “Oh Little Joe, this is so beautiful ! I love it! Thank you so much sweetie! How did you know that I needed a new comb?” Daisy asked with a lot of emotion in her voice. She had never in her life had such a beautiful hair comb as the one she now held in her hand.
She picked up the little boy and just held him tightly and she gave him more hugs and kisses. After she put the child back on the floor she walked over to the mirror that hung on the wall and she put her new comb in her hair.
“Ya sure look purdy Daisy! I just knowed that ya should have a purdy comb fer ya hair,” the boy told her.
“It looks great in your hair Daisy!” Marie told her. “It really does, it really does. Thank you Marie. “Little Joe, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will treasure this for the rest of my life. This is the best gift I have ever received. You are the best boyfriend a girl could ever want. I love you Little Joe!” Daisy declared tearfully.
“Ya’s welcome Daisy. I’s wuv ya too! We gotta go back ta Papa now Daisy. See ya!” Little Joe said as again Daisy gave him a big hug and kiss. She also gave Marie a big hug too. “Thank you Marie for having such a precious little boy. He is so very special to me and I love him dearly,” Daisy softly told Marie.
“You are very welcome Daisy. I agree, that he is very special indeed,” Marie replied as she and Little Joe left. Daisy stood there in tears of happiness.
“That was such a wonderful idea you had sweetheart to get Daisy a gift. She really loved it and you made her very happy,” Marie told her son who was smiling at her. “I’s wuv Daisy mama. She’s so nice and purdy too!” the little boy replied as he was now starting to yawn.
“Hi Papa! Daisy wuved her comb. It maded her cry, cuz she was so happy. Ain’t that wonderful Papa?” the little boy told Ben as he yawned again. Smiling at his little son, Ben felt so proud still. “I am so happy she loved her gift son. Ready to go home now?” Ben asked as he could see how sleepy the child was getting. “Sure am Papa, cuz Imma sleepy,” the little boy softly replied as he yawned yet again.
Once Ben had helped Marie and Little Joe up on the buckboard seat, the little boy curled up on his mama’s lap, stuck his thumb in his mouth, closed his eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Marie looked down at her baby, smiled and kissed the top of the child’s curly soft hair. “He sure went to sleep fast,” she softly said as she continued to smile at her son. Ben looked over at the boy, smiled and replied back, “He sure did. He certainly has had a busy and exciting day.”
When they arrived home, Ben jumped down and he reached up and took the sleeping child in his arms and helped Marie down too, so they could take Little Joe up to his room, then Ben went back down to unload the buckboard, while Marie took the little boy’s boots off and she covered him up with a warm quilt as it was a chilly day. Before she left the room, she gave her baby son a kiss.
As soon as Adam and Hoss returned home from school, they took care of their horses before coming into the house for their after school snacks that Hop Sing always had ready for them. Both boys were thrilled by their new handkerchiefs, poetry book and candy.
As they were talking about their day, Little Joe ran down the stairs, shouting at them, which caused them to look at the little tornado heading straight for them with a big smile on his cute little face.
Adam reached out and captured the excited little boy which made the child start to giggle loudly. “Whoa little buddy!” Adam chuckled as he now had the wiggling child in his arms.
“Hi ya Adam, Hoss, lookit at my new boots! Ain’t they sompfin’? I gotts Daisy a present, a hair comb and she loved it! It maded her cry cuz she was so happy!” Little Joe explained in one big breath. Both Adam and Hoss were getting a big kick at the way their little brother was acting and all the expressions on his happy little face.
“Hey, those are great lookin’ boots ya got there Punkin,” Hoss said as he checked out the boots. “Dadburnit, they ain’t gonna fit me none!” Hoss teased. “I’s could get some bigger ones Hoss so they will dun fit ya then,” Little Joe declared with a very serious look on his face.
“I was only teasin’ Punkin. I don’t need new boots any time soon. That was nice and thoughtful of you ta get Daisy a gift too,” Hoss added. “That’s right little buddy. You are a good boyfriend to her and you also make her feel very special. Those new boots look wonderful on you, and I’m so proud of you for being able to read the menu at Daisy’s too. I bet mama and papa were surprised by that,” Adam proudly told his little brother.
“Yup, they sure was Adam. Imma big boy now cuz I’s can read some words. Fanks fer teachin’ me Adam,” Little Joe happily told his big brother. Adam smiled at his baby brother as he was so very proud of him for being able to read a little.
In the evening while Adam, Hoss and Little Joe were in the barn doing their evening chores, Ben and Marie were talking. “Ben, we have the best sons in the world. I am so proud of all three of them. It’s too bad I can’t have anymore children, and if I could have, just maybe we could have been lucky and had a little girl. I thank God that he gave us Little Joe. That little boy has made our lives perfect even though he is full of mischief.”
“I love you so much my darling husband and I thank God that you came into my life. I love you!” Marie finished saying as she gave Ben a big kiss and snuggled up to him on the settee.
“And I love you too my darling and I thank you for being a wonderful mother to Adam and Hoss and for the best gift of all, thank you for giving me Little Joe. I totally agree with you that he has made our family perfect, mischief and all. I love you so much my darling!” Ben replied as he continued to kiss her.
The End.