In just a few short months, Little Joe Cartwright would turn fifteen years
old and he couldn’t wait. He wanted to quit school so badly since his best
friends, Mitch and Seth were able to quit the day they both turned fifteen
years old.
This was the first school year without Mitch being in school and Seth; it was two years that he stopped having to go to school. Little Joe really missed his two friends and he didn’t think it was fair that they got to quit school and he couldn’t.
Little Joe had worked very hard all that summer to try to prove to his father, Ben Cartwright that he was more than able to work full time on the ranch, but Ben insisted that he had to stay in school until he was sixteen years old. To the boy, that seemed forever.
“But Pa, why can’t I quit school when I’m fifteen? Mitch and Seth both got to,” the boy grumped. “I know they did son, but I want you to get a good education!” Ben responded wishing his son would just drop this subject. No way would the boy drop this subject, and Ben knew that.
“Come on now Pa, ya let Hoss quit when he was thirteen years old and that’s younger than me now! Why did ya let him and not me? Why? The boy almost shouted.
It bothered Ben to tell his youngest son the truth, but the boy needed to know why he couldn’t quit school at fifteen years old.
“Alright, I’ll tell you why. For one thing, Hoss hated school just as much as you do. Hoss was also very large for his age and the most important factor was that he was much more mature at thirteen then you are now,” Ben explained knowing the hurt his young son was now feeling. Ben had more to say.
“With Hoss being so big and strong, he could easily do the work of a grown man. You are very small for your age which keeps you from doing the work of a man, plus you are just a boy. When you turn sixteen years old then if I think you are mature enough, then you can quit school, but not before then. Now, I don’t want to hear anymore on this. Understand? If you continue to bother me on this I just might make you stay in school until you are eighteen years old!” Ben finished explaining to his teary eyed son.
Little Joe turned away from his father and he ran outside, where he leaped up on Cochise and raced out of the yard.
Both Adam and Hoss had kept quiet during the explanation that had just taken place and it bothered them, especially Hoss. “Pa, I know what you told Little Joe is probably right, but that boy is miserable in school. I know that he can do the work of a man, but what he does do; he does a really good job. Even you have told him that. Please Pa, please give him a chance to prove that he can work hard. Please let him quit school when he turns fifteen,” Hoss pleaded for his little brother.
Before Ben had a chance to respond to Hoss’s plea Adam spoke up. “Pa as important as a good education is, Hoss is right about Little Joe. I know that you are surprised at what I’m saying, but I really think you should let Little Joe stop going to school when he turns fifteen, and if he goofs off and doesn’t take his responsibilities seriously, then send him back to school until he is sixteen years old. Please Pa, think about what both Hoss and I have told you. Please Pa,” Adam finished explaining.
Ben looked from Adam to Hoss and he saw how serious they both looked, but his mind was made up.
“Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, but my mind is made and your little brother will stay in school until he is sixteen. Now, I don’t want to hear anymore on this, alright?” Ben loudly suggested. “Yes sir,” they both answered as they went out to do their chores.
Little Joe rode straight to his mothers grave as it was his favorite place to go when he was upset about something.
He got off Cochise and he slowly walked over to the grave where he fell to his knees. “Oh Mama, please make Pa let me quit school when I turn fifteen. All my friends got ta quit going ta school the day they turned fifteen. It just ain’t fair! I ain’t no little boy anymore and I can work hard, and Pa’s even told me that.”
“I’ve proved that ta him all summer long. I haven’t been with my friends at all and I’ve worked so hard. Oh Mama, help me please, please!” the boy cried out as his heart was breaking. Little Joe was now lying across his mothers grave crying hard.
“Adam, I’m worried about little brother. That boy’s heart is breakin’ something awful! Pa just won’t give him a chance. I’m just so worried that he will run away or something. We gotta find him Adam!” Hoss told Adam with a lot of concern in his voice as he could feel the tears beginning to form in his eyes.
Adam put his arm around Hoss’s shoulders and softly replied, “I am too Hoss. There are times when I just don’t understand Pa, and this is one of those times. I hate to see our baby brother so unhappy, plus we both know how hard that boy has been working all summer too. Like you, I’m worried that the boy will just take off too. Come on Hoss, let’s see if we can find him!”
The older brothers had a feeling as to where their little brother might be, and they headed in that direction.
When they arrived close to Marie’s grave they saw their little brother lying across the grave and they could see that the boy was crying since they could hear him. They could also see his small body shaking. That sight broke their hearts.
They were just about to walk over to the crying boy, but stopped when they saw their young brother sit up and look out towards the lake.
“Come on Hoss, let’s go back home. I have a feeling that little brother wouldn’t want us to see him like this. Don’t worry, he’ll come back home when he’s ready,” Adam suggested as he and Hoss walked back to their horses and rode home. Little Joe had no idea that his brothers had been watching him.
It had been around three hours since Little Joe had raced out of the yard, and Ben was getting worried. Adam and Hoss had told him where they had seen the boy and that he was crying. That made Ben feel extremely bad.
“Dinner ready now. You come eat before food get cold!” Hop Sing announced as he brought the food to the table. As Ben looked at the front door, he sighed, “I thought Little Joe would have been home by now.” His voice was soft.
“He’ll be here Pa. He needs time to get his emotions under control. He was extremely upset you know,” Adam reminded Ben. “Yes, I know, but I can’t help worrying about him,” Ben sadly said.
Little Joe rode slowly into the yard and straight to the barn where he unsaddled Cochise and he gave the horse his dinner. His own stomach was growling, since it had been a long time since he had breakfast. He had skipped lunch.
While he was in the barn he did his barn chores before going into the house, which he dreaded, not wanting to talk to his father. He was still too upset and plus he also had a lot of homework to do too.
For some reason, Miss Jones was giving the students a huge amount of homework to do each night this new school year. This was very hard on Little Joe because the boy had a lot of chores to do before and after school, plus it was a long ride from the ranch to Virginia City and school. That made for an extra long and tiring day for the boy, but he didn’t complain much. He just figured that his father wouldn’t care one way or another, since he wouldn’t let him quit school.
As soon as the boy came through the front door, all eyes turned on him. Adam and Hoss both smiled and said,” Hi little brother.” Little Joe nodded back to them but he wouldn’t look at Ben as he walked towards the stairs. Ben knew the reason too.
“Joseph, Hop Sing kept your dinner warm for you. Why don’t you sit down and eat now,” Ben suggested.
Without looking at Ben, the boy answered back, “I ain’t hungry and ‘sides I got lots of homework ta do.” Little Joe continued up the stairs with his head down. Ben started to say something to the boy but he noticed Adam shake his head no, so he kept quiet until Little Joe was out of sight.
“Adam, that boy needs to eat! He hasn’t eaten anything since breakfast this morning,” Ben told his oldest son. “Pa, I know that, but we all know that when Little Joe is upset like this, he won’t eat, and I do know that he does have a lot of homework to do,” Adam explained to Ben.
“Yeah Pa. Little Joe said that Miss Jones is making them do more homework then ever. Poor boy!” Hoss added.
Ben didn’t realize just how much homework the boy had to do every day. “I wonder why she’s doing that?” Ben wondered, as he looked at his two older sons, and they both shook their heads.
Before Ben went to bed that night he looked in on Little Joe and he was surprised to see the boy still up doing homework. The youngster didn’t look up when he heard his bedroom door open as he knew who it was.
“Son, its 9:30 and you should be in bed sleeping,’ Ben told the boy. “I know Pa, but I have a lot of homework to do. You go to bed and when I get done I’ll go to bed. Good night,” Little Joe replied without looking at Ben. “Alright son, good night to you too,” Ben softly answered back. He could see how tired his son looked and that bothered him. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why Miss Jones was making the students do so much homework.
Adam had stayed up to finish the book he had reading for the past several weeks, and he really wanted to finish it this night. He was surprised when he heard the grandfather clock strike midnight, so he closed up the book, blew out the lamp and headed up to his room.
As he walked towards his room, he saw light coming from under Little Joe’s door, so he walked over to the boy’s door and he quietly peeked in and he was surprised to see the boy still doing homework.
“Hey little buddy aren’t you up a little late?” Adam asked as he smiled at his little brother. “Hi Adam. Yeah, I got so much homework ta do yet, and I’m so tired,” the boy mumbled softly as he looked at Adam. Adam could see the tiredness written all over the boy’s face and he felt bad for his brother.
“Anything I can help you with buddy?” Adam asked. “I wish, but no, not really. Thanks fer askin’ Adam,” Little Joe replied with a big yawn. “Well, don’t stay up too late. Good night little buddy,” Adam said. “Night Adam,” came the tired reply back.
The next morning Adam found his little brother still at his desk, but sound to sleep. It was obvious that the boy hadn’t gone to bed. Adam hated to wake up the boy, but it was time for him to get up before he was late for school.
It took a while for the boy to wake up and he slowly stood up with his eyes barely open and constantly yawning.
Adam told Ben that Little Joe had been at his desk all night and that really bothered both of them.
It was like this for the next several weeks for Little Joe. The homework load had increased nightly and between all his chores and school work, Little Joe was beyond exhausted. He seemed to find himself in a fog; at least it seemed like that to him. He was starting to forget things which were starting to concern his family, plus the boy was becoming very emotional as well.
One afternoon while Adam and Hoss were busy doing yard chores, Cochise slowly walked in the yard with Little Joe slumped down on the pinto’s neck. When the horse stopped, the boy fell off and landed with a thud, which his brothers heard and they were shocked when they saw the boy lying on the ground not moving. They had been so busy that they didn’t hear the horse walking the yard.
“Little Joe!” they shouted as they ran over to their little brother. “Come on little brother, wake up and open your eyes little buddy. Come on Joe, wake up!” Adam begged.
Without opening his eyes, the boy mumbled softly, “So tired, so tired. Wanna sleep.” “Adam, he’s totally exhausted!” Hoss pointed out in a panic. “I know. Let’s get him in the house,” Adam suggested as he picked up his little brother who was sleeping.
Ben was shocked to see his youngest son being carried in the house and he jumped up. “Adam, what happened to Little Joe?” Ben shouted as he stood next to his sons. He was worried sick about the boy.
“Pa, he’s completely exhausted. He fell off his horse when he got home. He’s not hurt, just exhausted,” Adam told Ben as he carried his brother up to his room. Hoss and Ben followed behind. As soon as Hoss pulled down the covers on the bed, Adam laid the boy down. He was quickly undressed and put into his night shirt, and then covered up.
Little Joe’s family was shocked to see how skinny the boy had become. They knew that the boy hadn’t been eating much lately, but to see him like this was so hard. Ben had sent one of the hands to get Dr. Paul Martin and have him come out to the ranch.
They kept pleading with the boy to please wake up, but all they heard was a very soft reply, “Wanna…. sleep. So…… tired.”
While Paul examined Little Joe, his family waited nervously downstairs. As soon as Paul started down the stairs, the Cartwrights quickly stood up and waited to hear what Paul had to say.
“Paul, how’s Little Joe?” Ben asked as he stared at Paul’s face trying to read the expression on his friends face.
“Let’s sit down and I’ll fill you in, alright?” Paul suggested. “Little Joe is going to be just fine Ben. He is totally exhausted and he needs to eat. He is way to skinny for my liking. What in the world has been going on with that boy?” Paul asked as he had never seen this boy in this kind of condition. Ben, Adam and Hoss told Paul how Little Joe had been acting for the last several weeks and about all the homework that Miss Jones was giving to her students.
“I see. What that boy needs Ben is bed rest and food. Ben for heavens sakes, I see no reason why that boy needs to continue on with school. He certainly doesn’t need to prove to you how hard he can work. After all, he had proved that all summer long from what you have all told me,” Paul told Ben.
“Thank you Paul. It’s just that I’m still not sure about letting him quit school just yet, but I do plan on having a good long talk with Miss Jones about all of this homework. I just can’t understand why she is doing that,” Ben answered. They all wanted an answer to that question.
That next afternoon, Ben indeed did have a long talk with Miss Jones. The reason behind all the homework was that she thought it would keep the students out of mischief and that it would help them learn more. She was shocked about what happened to Little Joe. She could see how tired the boy was, but she had no idea he was that tired and she felt bad.
“Mr. Cartwright, I never would want any of my students to be that tired. I guess my idea for all that homework caused more trouble than it was worth and I am truly sorry. I won’t let that happen again. I forgot that Little Joe has a lot of chores to do at home and that it also takes almost two hours for him to ride to and from school everyday. He will be alright won’t he?” Miss Jones asked. She was now worried sick about the boy.
“Yes, he’ll be just fine, but he needs a lot of rest and he needs to eat. That boy and his eating habits! I wish he were more like his brothers when it comes to eating. He has never been a big eater even as a baby. He will eat even if we have to tie him down and feed him,” Ben said a she smiled at Miss Jones.
“I have watched him at lunchtime and he gives most of his lunch to the other students. He seems more concerned about them having enough to eat, than he is about himself. He’s a wonderful boy Mr. Cartwright, and also a very caring boy too. Don’t tell him, but I do get a kick out of some of his mischief,” Miss Jones told Ben. “Thank you Miss Jones for telling me that. He certainly is a special boy and he is the heart of our family,” Ben proudly replied.
After a week of complete bed rest and Hop Sing’s incredible food, Little Joe felt much better, but still a little tired. The boy was still very unhappy though.
On October 31, Little Joe turned fifteen years old, but he really didn’t care. What the boy didn’t know that in the weeks before his birthday, Ben had been thinking of giving the boy a chance to prove that if he let his son quit school at fifteen, then he could work full time on the ranch.
“Happy Birthday Little Joe!” his family shouted as the boy came down the stairs that morning. The boy had gotten up the first time Hoss had awaken him.
Little Joe smiled at his family as he sat down. He tried not to giggle at the way they sang to him, but he couldn’t help himself, and that silly giggle came out. “Did we sound that funny son?” Ben teased as they all knew that they did sound funny.
“Yup, ya all did sound really funny, and thank you fer the birthday greetings and the song,” the boy said as he giggled again.
“Well son, it just doesn’t seem possible that you are fifteen today. Where has the time gone?” Ben asked as he smiled at his son. “Yeah little brother, we can’t believe it either. Seems like only yesterday you were born, and talk about tiny, you were so tiny that I was afraid to hold you. I thought that I would break you!” Hoss teased.
“That’s right little buddy. You were the smallest baby that I have ever seen in my life and also I might add, you were also the cutest baby too!” Adam said as he smiled at the boy who sat across from him at the table. “He still is cute!” Hoss added. “I totally agree!” Ben declared.
Little Joe was embarrassed at what he had just heard from his family. “I
ain’t cute, horses are cute!” the boy tried telling his family as he looked
at them with a strange look on his face. “Yes they are and whether you like
it or not, so are you!” Adam teased as he chuckled. Little Joe just shook
his head. Ben and Hoss kept smiling at the birthday boy and nodded in agreement
with what Adam had just said.
“Son, since it is your birthday and also because it’s a Saturday, you get the day off from doing chores,” Ben said as he smiled at his son. “Thanks Pa! Golly, I get a day off! Wow!” the boy giggled. It had been a while since the boy had had a day off.
Little Joe loved all his gifts, which were a new blue jacket, a new book on horses, a new saddle blanket, some new jeans and shirts, and some of his favorite kinds of candy. Even at fifteen years old, the boy still loved candy as did Hoss. Adam could take it or leave it.
Ben was really looking forward to the next gift he had for his young son. “Little Joe, my other gift to you is that you don’t have to go back to school. You can work full time on the ranch along with your brothers!” Ben started to say before he was interrupted by his very excited son. With a big gasp, Little Joe jumped up and he gave Ben a big hug. “Oh Pa, ya really meant it. I really get a work full time on the ranch, and dunt gotta go back ta school again? Thank you so much. I promise you that I will do a great job with everything I do!” the boy excitedly said as he gave Ben another big hug, and a kiss.
“Little Joe, as I started to say, if you don’t do the jobs I give you and you goof off, then as much as I hate to say, I’ll make you go back to school until you are sixteen years old. Do you understand son?” Ben asked. “I fully understand Pa and I promise ya that ya won’t be disappointed!” the boy replied seriously. His family could tell that he was serious about working.
As the weeks went on, Little Joe felt so grown up now that he was working full time on the ranch with his family. He had been wanting to do this for as long as he could remember. He had to keep pinching himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
The boy had done everything asked of him and much more. His family was very proud of him and that made him feel great.
It was hard work moving the cattle down from their summer pastures and into their winter pastures. Little Joe had made notes on what sections of fencing needed to be repaired, so he was kept busy making the repairs.
“Little Joe, how much longer until you have that last section of fencing done at Pine Meadow pasture?” Ben asked at the breakfast table one morning, but before the boy had a chance to answer that question he was asked another question. “Yes little brother, how much longer because we sure could use your help at the lower pasture with that fencing,” Adam added.
“Um, I figure it will be about two more hours er less Pa, so I had better get goin’, since it takes two hours ta ride up there, oh and Adam, as soon as I get done I’ll come down and help you and Hoss. Bye!” the boy said as he quickly left.
As soon as Ben walked to the door to watch his son ride off, he noticed that the boy hadn’t taken his heavy jacket with.
“Joseph, Joseph, you forgot your heavy jacket!” Ben shouted, but he realized that the boy didn’t hear him.
“Your little brother forgot to wear his heavy jacket,” Ben told Adam and Hoss. “Yeah, he left so fast I bet he didn’t even think about it. Did he have his blue jacket?” Adam asked. “Yes, I think so since I didn’t see it hanging by the door. That boy! I’m sure when he starts to feel cold; he’ll realize that he once again didn’t think ahead for the weather conditions. He’ll probably be an ice cube when he finally gets back home,” Ben replied a he slowly shook his head and smiled at his two older sons.
“Ain’t he something Pa? He’s been working so hard and he’s making good progress at Pine Meadow by the sound of it,” Hoss proudly declared. “Yes he is son, yes he is,” Ben also proudly replied. Adam nodded his approval too.
It was a long cold ride for Little Joe up to Pine Meadow. He had wished that he had worn his heavy jacket, but he knew that he had left so fast that he didn’t even give that a thought.
“Dadburnit Cooch, I fergot my heavy jacket. Dadburnit!” the boy grumped to his pinto. Cochise whinnied back. “I’ll just keep tellin’ myself that I’m warm. Yeah, that should work…I hope,” the boy mumbled.
As soon as Little Joe reached the fence line in Pine Meadow he quickly got to work. As long as he kept working, he didn’t feel cold.
A couple of hours later Little Joe had replaced the last downed rail. “Hey Coochie, I’m done in record time boy!” the boy proudly told his pinto. Cochise nodded his head at the boy which made him giggle. “Coochie yer the best horse a guy could ever have. I love ya!” the boy said as he patted the horse.
As he went to grab his canteen for a much needed drink of water, he realized that he had forgotten to bring that too. “Just great! Not only dun I ferget my heavy jacket, I also fergot my canteen too. What’s wrong with my brain? It sure ain’t workin’ right I guess,” the boy said as he giggled. Cochise whinnied back at his young master.
“Come on boy and we’ll head over ta Pine Creek fer a nice cold drink of water. Bet yer thirsty too!” he said as he leaped up on the pinto and they headed off to the creek.
At the creek, both boy and horse drank deeply from the icy cold water. Cochise raised his head and looked at Little Joe who was still on his hands and knees and drinking. Suddenly without any warning, the pinto pushed the boy into the icy creek. A loud scream of shock could be heard at the creek. Cochise whinnied at the boy who resurfaced and spitting water out of his mouth.
Seeing the pinto whinnying at him which sounded like laughing to the boy, Little Joe stood up. “COCHISE CARTWRIGHT, whatcha dun that for? Now look at me, I’m soakin’ wet and…will ya stop laughin’ at me! Dadburnit, now I gotta two hour ride home in soakin’ wet clothes!” the boy shouted as he shook his finger at the horse.
Cochise stopped whinnying and he held his head down while the boy crawled out of the creek. Little Joe stood there with his hands on his hips and he glared at the horse.
“You just wait till we get home! You’ll be lucky if ya get any dinner tonight boy!” With that said, Little Joe leaped on Cochise and they quickly headed for home.
By the time Little Joe rode into the yard, he was shivering violently, sneezing and very sleepy and not thinking straight. He felt numb as he was slumped down on Cochise’s neck. Luckily, Charlie and Hank were coming out of the barn when they noticed the boy still on his horse and not moving except for his shivering body.
“Little Joe, what happened to you boy?” Charlie asked as he pulled the boy down from his horse, and it was then that he noticed the boy’s lips were a light shade of blue.
“Hank you take care of Cochise while get him in the house!” Charlie ordered. He was extremely concerned about the condition of the boy. Charlie picked up Little Joe and ran towards the house shouting for Hop Sing.
A very busy Hop Sing rushed to the door as soon as he heard Charlie shouting his name. Hop Sing gasped when he saw Charlie carrying a shivering and wet Little Joe.
“Little Joe, what happened? Why you all wet?” Hop Sing asked as he took in the sight of the boy.
Little Joe couldn’t talk as he was much too cold and almost asleep. Charlie told Hop Sing about how he and Hank had found the boy when they came out of the barn.
Hop Sing ran to get several towels and to put some quilts in the heating oven for the boy, and he also went to get some dry clothes for Little Joe. In the mean time Charlie had found a couple of towels that Hop Sing had dropped on the coffee table when he had heard Charlie calling out to him.
Charlie began to dry the boy’s hair. Then he managed to get the jacket off the boy along with his shirt, and then he began to dry off the boy as fast as he could. As soon as Hop Sing returned, he and Charlie finished undressing the boy and quickly got the rest of him dried off, and then quickly got him into dry clothes.
Little Joe was still shivering violently and almost non-stop sneezing. Hop Sing ran to get the warm quilts, and as he returned to the living room, Charlie lifted up the boy and Hop Sing laid one of the quilts on the settee. Charlie then laid the boy back on the settee on top of the warm quilt. He was soon covered with several warm quilts. Charlie sat with Little Joe while Hop Sing went to get some hot chocolate for the boy.
Little Joe had attempted to talk but he was just to cold and his teeth were chattering badly.
When Hop Sing returned with the hot chocolate, he added a little bit of brandy to help warm the boy even faster. Hop Sing kept putting the cup up to the boy’s lips and he made the boy drink every bit of the hot chocolate. Hop Sing had never seen a person this cold before and it scared him.
After Little Joe had finished his hot chocolate, he gave Hop Sing and Charlie a little grin.
“Why you get all wet?” Hop Sing asked as he looked at the boy he loved so dearly. He and Charlie were waiting to find out the answer to that question. Little Joe was finally able to tell them how Cochise had pushed him in the creek and then he had a two hour ride home in soaking wet clothes.
“I’m …so…tired….so….cold….so cold. Sleepy…wanna sleep now Hop Sing,” the youngster mumbled as he closed his eyes and went right to sleep.
Both Hop Sing and Charlie were a bit shocked when they heard that Cochise had done this to Little Joe. If it hadn’t been so cold outside that day, it would have been funny, but with the coldness of the day, it wasn’t funny.
“Mr. Charlie, thank you for bringing boy in house and help Hop Sing with boy. Both men knew that the boy would feel much better when he was warmer, but for now, sleep was what he needed and plus the effects of the brandy and hot chocolate would help warm him from the inside while the quilts would warm him from the outside.
“You’re welcome Hop Sing. It was a lucky thing that Hank and I came out of the barn when we did and found Little Joe. Who knows how long that boy would have been out there like that if Hank and I hadn’t been there,” Charlie told Hop Sing.
Hop Sing had also made sure that the fire in the fireplace would also help warm up the boy. Hop Sing went back to work, but every so often, he would he would replace the cooler quilts with warm ones. He also checked the boy’s hands and feet to make sure they felt warm and he was pleased that they were as the boy slept deeply.
Down where Adam and Hoss were working, they wondered where their little brother was. “Where is that boy? He should have been here by now!” Adam angrily grumped. “Yeah, I was wondering that same thing. You dunt ‘suppose Short Shanks decided to just head home do you Adam?” Hoss asked as he too was a little annoyed at the absence of their young brother.
“Well, if he knows what’s good for him, he had just better show up or else!” Adam threatened.
About an hour later, Adam and Hoss had finished their fence repairs without the help of their brother. They were both very angry as they rode home, feeling cold. All they wanted to do was to get some hot coffee to help warm them up and sit in front of the fire and relax for the rest of the day.
As soon as they entered the barn, they saw Cochise in his stall. “I knew it! That boy came straight home instead of coming to help us like he promised he would. Just wait until I get my hands on that boy!” Adam angrily said. Hoss didn’t say anything, but he too was upset with his little brother.
When they finished taking care of their horses and putting the tools away, they started to walk towards the house. “I just bet baby brother is lying on the settee all nice and warm while we were freezing outside!” Adam suggested. “He better not be!” Hoss added.
Hop Sing had checked on the sleeping boy several times and he was pleased to find the youngster still in deep sleep and warm again. He found that he needed to get something out of the root cellar so he went out the back door and down to the cellar.
Adam and Hoss came through the front door and immediately felt the warmth of the house. It was then when they noticed their quilt covered little brother sleeping.
“I knew it! Just look at him all nice and warm and cozy buried under all those quilts, and sleeping like a baby. Come on Hoss, I have plans for our little brother!” Adam told Hoss. They were both very angry as they walked over to the settee.
Adam uncovered the sleeping boy and told Hoss to open the front door while he picked up the boy and he carried him outside and over to the trough.
“Hey Adam, ya ain’t gonna put him in the trough are ya? It’s freezing cold and there’s ice in that water!” Hoss nervously questioned his older brother. “I know its’ cold and that there is ice in the water. Besides our little bother loves cold weather,” Adam reminded Hoss as he dropped the sleeping boy in the freezing cold water with a big splash.
Little Joe gasped as he found himself back in freezing cold water. He resurfaced fast, choking on all the water that he had taken in, plus he was coughing and spitting water out of his mouth. He was having trouble breathing because of the shock of the icy cold water, but he soon got that under control as he started to shiver violently once again.
He realized where he was and it was only then did he hear his so called loving big brothers laughing at him.
“Whatcha…do….this…for…? I’m…..fr….eez…ing!” the boy shouted as he attempted to climb out of the trough, but he was pushed back in. He was so cold that he started to cry, and he felt numb and totally miserable.
As the boy again attempted to get out of the trough, Adam pushed him back in the water. “On no you don’t! You just stay put until I tell you, you can get out! We WAITED for you to come and help us, but oh no you come home like a little boy so you can wrap yourself up in warm quilts and go to sleep while Hoss and I are FREEZING cold, and WAITING for our little brother who promised that he would come and help us!” Adam shouted as he glared at the boy in the water.
About that time Ben rode into the yard and the sight of his youngest son crying in the trough was a big shock to Ben.
“WHAT IN TARNATION IS GOING ON HERE? WHAT IS LITTLE JOE DOING IN THE TROUGH IN THIS FREEZING COLD WEATHER? I WANT ANSWERS NOW!” Ben shouted as he jumped off Buck and he ran over to his young son.
Ben pulled the crying and shivering boy out of the trough and held on to him. He glared at his two older sons. “You two take care of Buck for me while I take care of your little brother! Then I WANT answers! Do you two understand me?” Ben shouted.
“But Pa, he didn’t come to help us. We found him sleeping under several quilts on the settee, so we got even with him!” Adam replied as he and Hoss took Buck in the barn.
Ben took Little Joe straight to the washroom and sat him down. The boy was shivering violently and sneezing and still crying as Ben began to get him out of his wet clothes. Little Joe was too cold to move.
Hop Sing could hear talking, crying and sneezing coming from the washroom so he went to see what was going on in there. He was totally shocked to see Little Joe all wet again.
“Why boy all wet again? What happened?” Hop Sing questioned with worry in his voice. “Seems like Adam and Hoss decided to put him in the water trough,” Ben told Hop Sing. “Hop Sing go get dry clothes for boy. He needs to get warm again!” Hop Sing explained as he ran off to get dry clothes and to also put quilts in the warming oven.
When Hop Sing returned he told Ben what had happened to the boy earlier that day and why he was covered up with quilts. Ben was now very worried about his youngest son. The boy had been chilled to the bone twice in one day. He also very angry with Adam and Hoss, as they acted before learning why their little brother was wrapped up in quilts.
Once Little Joe was in dry clothes for the second time that day, Ben helped him back to the settee and as before Hop Sing had heated the quilts and the boy was quickly wrapped in the warm quilts. Ben made him drink some brandy. Little Joe made a sick look on his face from the taste of the brandy, which caused Ben and Hop Sing to smile.
“Son, this will help you feel warmer faster. You just relax and rest and you’ll start to feel warmer very soon,” Ben suggested. “Pa, why did Adam and Hoss put me in the trough? I dunt do ‘nuffin’ ta them. I got the fencing done at Pine Meadow. I came straight home cuz Coochie pushed me the creek. I was so cold Pa. Please dunt be mad at me fer not helpin’ Adam and Hoss,” the boy pleaded as he continued to sneeze and cough.
“Oh Little Joe, I’m not mad at you, in fact, I am so very proud of you for getting that fencing done so fast. Your brothers just thought that you decided not to go and help them. They didn’t know what had happened to you earlier,” Ben told the boy as he ruffled up the mostly dry thick brown hair. Little Joe yawned and he closed his eyes as the effects of the brandy and the warm quilts were making him very sleepy. He sneezed several more times. “Bless you sweetheart!” Ben said as he watched his son now sleeping. He was very concerned for his son’s health, and he hoped that the boy wouldn’t get sick.
As soon as the front door opened, Ben turned to see Adam and Hoss walk in. The scene that greeted them made them angry. “Don’t tell me he’s all covered up in quilts again! I tell you Hoss, our baby brother is a baby. Guess he can’t take getting cold, and I thought he loved the cold weather, but as we can see, he can’t!” Adam grumped as he glared at the boy in question.
An angry Ben stood up and he loudly and slowly ordered his two older sons to do as he was going to suggest. “You two sit down right now and I DON’T want to hear one word from either of you until you hear what I’m about to tell you! Understood?” They both nervously nodded and did as they were told. They could tell that Ben was extremely angry with them.
Ben went on to explain what had happened to their little brother and to why he was covered up in several quilts, sleeping.
Adam and Hoss looked at each other feeling very guilty and angry at themselves at what they had done to their little brother.
“Pa, we had no idea what happened to Little Joe. We just thought he decided to go home and get all nice and warm. Had we known what happened we never would have put him in the trough. No wonder he was crying. I feel just awful!” Adam sheepishly admitted as he looked at the floor.
Feeling equally as guilty, Hoss felt about an inch tall. “Me too Pa. I sure hope Little Joe dunt get sick!” Hoss nervously told Ben.
“You had better hope that the boy doesn’t get sick. He has been chilled to the bone twice today and nearly frozen and if he ends up with a cold or worse, then you two will do all of his chores and help take care of him! As soon as he wakes up, you two will apologize to him. Do you understand me?” Ben angrily explained as he glared at Adam and Hoss.
“Don’t worry Pa, we’ll take good care of him and do all his chores for a month,” Adam told Ben. Hoss agreed to that also. “You see that you do,” Ben replied as he looked down at his sleeping son.
Ben woke up Little Joe for dinner. “Do you feel any warmer son?” Ben asked as he carefully looked at the boy, who was pale looking. “I’m still cold Pa,” the boy answered as he sneezed and yawned. Three ‘bless you’s’ could be heard.
As Little Joe sat up Adam and Hoss walked over to him. “Little buddy, I want to apologize for putting you in the trough. It was my idea. If I had known what had happened to you, I never, and I mean never would have put you in the trough. I was angry that you didn’t show up to help us and then when Hoss and I returned home and found you buried under the quilts, I was angry so I thought that I would get even with you. I am so very sorry little brother, I really am and I hope that you can forgive me,” Adam sincerely told the boy who just sneezed yet again. “Bless you!”
“Punkin, I’m really sorry too! I shoulda known that something wasn’t right cuz you have been workin’ so hard and not goofin’ off. I was cold and all I wanted to do was come home and get warm. So when I saw you all nice and cozy and sleeping, I got angry too. Please forgive me Punkin. Please dunt get sick. I love ya little brother,” Hoss tearfully said. He really felt so bad.
Looking up at his brothers, Little Joe could see how bad they felt and that they were truly sorry for they had done. “Ok, I fergive ya, but please dunt put me in that trough when it’s that cold, ok?” the youngster told them.
Feeling very relieved, Adam smiled at his young brother and said, “Thank you little buddy and oh by the way, Hoss and I will do all your chores for a month starting today!” “That’s right Punkin,” Hoss added as he grabbed the boy and picked him up and gave him a big old bear hug.
“You guys dunt gotta do my chores. I can do [ah-choo, ah-choo] em,” the boy tried to say but he kept sneezing. “Bless you!”
Little Joe did come down with one very nasty cold which made his brothers feel even worse. They kept their word and they did all of his chores and helped take care of him.
“Pa, I really feel bad that Adam and Hoss gotta do all my chores,” Little Joe told Ben one afternoon. “Son don’t feel bad about that because it makes them feel better. They know that they partially caused your cold along with Cochise. That horse really misses you son,” Ben replied as he smiled at the boy.
“Yeah, I bet he does miss me,” Little Joe said as he giggled which made him cough again. Then he added, “That horse sure gets inta mischief Pa!” Ben laughed and replied, “And I’m sure you taught him how to get into mischief didn’t you son?” Little Joe gave Ben a little grin and nodded his head. “I thought so!” Ben chuckled as he ruffed up the boy’s hair.
Finally Little Joe was completely better and he went back to work. His cough lasted a bit longer though.
The boy worked from sunup to past sunset which made him feel more grown up and proud of himself. His family tried to make him slow down, but the boy continued on. He barely ate as he wanted to keep on working. He did all kinds of chores and he even helped Hop Sing as well.
“Pa, why doesn’t Little Joe slow down? He’s exhausted and he’s getting too skinny,” Adam told Ben one day. He was worried about his brother. He knew the boy was trying to prove that he could work hard.
I know he is son. I’ve talked to him several times about slowing down, but he keeps telling me that he is fine, and that he is happy. Sometimes, there is no figuring out that boy!” Ben replied.
Hoss had been listening to the discussion between Ben and Adam and he had a thought as to why his little brother was working so hard all the time.
“Pa, maybe Little Joe thinks that if he takes some time off that you might make him go back to school,” Hoss suggested. What Hoss had just said made sense to both Adam and Ben.
“You could be correct son, but I really don’t think so. I think the boy feels a need to continue to prove to us, I should say, me, that he can work hard. He doesn’t need to prove that to me at all. I know he is a very hard and a reliable worker and I am so very proud of him!” Ben replied as he looked at Adam and Hoss.
“I guess only Little Joe knows the answer on this Pa,” Adam suggested. Ben and Hoss both nodded in agreement.
As the weeks continued on, Little Joe never slowed down at all. He was totally exhausted which he tried to hide from his family. His clothes hung off of him and he finally used a rope to hold up his jeans. His belt was too big now. The boy made sure his family wouldn’t see him without a shirt on as his ribs now showed clearly.
One day while chopping wood, Little Joe suddenly collapsed. He tried to get back up but he was just too tired. Adam had just come out of the barn as the boy collapsed.
“JOE!” Adam yelled as he ran over to his little brother and shouting for Hoss, who was still in the barn.
“Little Joe! Just lay still boy!” Adam suggested as he was kneeling down next to the fallen boy as he held down the boy who was still trying to get up. Hoss was now at his side too. “Adam, what happened?” Hoss cried out as he touched his little brother’s leg.
“He’s so exhausted Hoss he collapsed,” Adam replied as he never took his eyes off his young brother. “I’m fine, really. Justa little tired is all,” the boy mumbled as he was still trying to get up. “Just a little tired! I don’t think so little buddy. It’s more than a little tired. You’re exhausted and you’re not eating enough to keep a bird alive!” Adam explained to his very suborn little brother. With that said Adam picked up the boy and carried him into the house.
Ben was shocked to see his youngest son being carried in the house. “JOSEPH, what happened?” Ben asked in a panic. “Just a little tired Pa is all,” the boy mumbled.
“Pa, he’s totally exhausted and he collapsed while chopping wood. I just came out of the barn when I saw him go down,” Adam told Ben. “Let’s get him to bed,” Ben suggested as they headed up the stairs to the boy’s room.
“I can undress myself,” the boy declared as he was trying to keep his family from seeing how skinny he was. “We know you can sweetheart, but let us do it for you this time son. You just relax, alright,” Ben suggested. “But Pa….” the boy began. “No buts about it son,” Ben reminded the boy. Little Joe closed his eyes knowing what would happen next.
Adam could tell how little his brother weighed as he carried him, but none of them were ready to see just how skinny the boy had become. They didn’t say anything, but they all gasped out loud. Little Joe turned away from them so they couldn’t see his tears that had begun to run down his face.
As soon as the boy was in his nightshirt, Ben covered him up. “You get some sleep now son. You certainly need some. Sweet dreams!” Ben said as he leaned down and kissed the boy on his forehead. “I love you Little Joe,” Ben added. “I love ya too Pa!” the boy replied as he fell asleep. Ben was very worried about his youngest son’s condition.
Back down stairs, Adam, Hoss and Ben sat down. “My God, I can’t believe how skinny that boy is! I’m worried sick about him! He is totally exhausted and by the looks of him, he is starving as well,” Ben nervously expressed. They were all extremely worried about the boy they loved more than life itself.
“What are we going to do Pa.? I’m really scared for him. I can’t imagine how he has kept going on like this and not collapse before today,” Adam said with a lot of worry in his voice.
“Pa, want me to go and get Paul to come and examine Little Joe? Maybe he can make the boy eat and get the much needed rest he needs so badly,” Hoss suggested.
“Yes Hoss, why don’t you go and get Paul! Why didn’t I force the boy to slow down and take some time off?” Ben stated. He was angry with himself, and not his son. “Pa, you would have had to tie the boy down. He’s just so stubborn! Maybe now because he is so exhausted, he’ll get that much needed rest his body is demanding, and he will eat too!” Adam declared. “I hope so son, I hope so,” Ben sadly replied.
Paul was not pleased at the condition of his young patient. “Little Joe, I am not one bit happy with you! What are you trying to do to yourself young man? You are completely exhausted, and totally run down, weak and I might add, you have lost entirely too much weight! You are skin and bones!” Paul began.
“You are CONFINED to your bed for the next two to three weeks! You WILL eat three meals a day WITHOUT any complaining! If you DON’T do as I say I WILL MAKE YOU STAY IN BED FOR A MONTH, and I MEAN FOR ONE MONTH! Do realize just how worried your family, Hop Sing and myself are about you? Well we are!” Paul explained to the now very emotional boy.
Paul felt awful about having to be so hard on the boy, but he needed to be for the boy’s own good as his life depended on it.
“Little Joe”, Paul began again as he held the boy’s chin in his hand. “We all love you so very much son. We all want you back strong and healthy. Don’t feel bad about crying, as it is part of your exhausted condition. Did you know that your Pa is absolutely bursting with pride for you? He is so proud of you for working so hard and for being the kind of son he had always wished for of you.”
“So when you are fully recovered, please don’t over do it again. Take time to relax and enjoy your life. You are the heart of your family Little Joe and they don’t want to lose you and neither do I. I am extremely proud of you too son, I really am,” Paul finished as he smiled at the boy, but before he left the room, he added, “You get some sleep and later when it’s time for dinner, I want you to please eat everything on your plate. Go to sleep now son.” Paul then left the room.
Once downstairs, Paul explained Little Joe’s condition to his worried family and Hop Sing.
“Hop Sing make good food for boy and make him strong again. Hop Sing love Little Joe like own son,” Hop Sing emotionally said as he quickly headed out to the kitchen so no one could see his tears.
“Don’t worry, we will make sure Little Joe does everything you explained to us Paul, I promise,” Ben told Paul. “That’s all I ask Ben. I’ll be back out in a few days to check up on my favorite patient,” Paul said as he was ready to return to Virginia City.
After Paul left, the Cartwrights went back up to Little Joe’s room.
Little Joe slept for long hours and it was hard to get him to eat as he kept falling asleep while he was being fed.
Four days later, Adam and Hoss were busy in the yard making repairs to one of the buckboards while Hop Sing was busy in the kitchen. Ben was gone to Carson City for a business meeting and he wouldn’t be home until dinnertime. Little Joe was sleeping in his bed.
As the boy slept, he dreamed that he and Ben were fighting because Ben decided to send him back to school because he had stopped doing his chores and was getting into all kinds of mischief.
“NO PA, PLEASE DON’T SEND ME BACK TO SCHOOL! I’LL CHANGE, I PROMISE! PLEASE DON’T SEND ME BACK TO SCHOOL! PLEASE DON’T!” the boy cried.
Little Joe jerked awake, sat up trembling and breathing hard and his body was covered in a fine sweat. At first he was very confused, and then he remembered that Ben was going to send him back to school. He realized that he was in bed instead of out doing his chores and he panicked.
He threw his blankets off and he stood up. He had to grab onto the bedpost as he was dizzy and he felt so weak, and tired.
Catching his breath he softly mumbled, “I’ll get back ta work Pa, I promise.” He saw a clean pair of jeans neatly folded on his desk, so he slowly walked over to get them and he put them on, but he left his nightshirt on, not completely thinking straight.
He slowly left his room and headed down the hall towards the stairs. He needed to hold onto the wall for support.
At the top of the stairs and with his young weak body trembling, he slowly walked down the stairs tightly holding onto the railing as he continued on down the stairs.
Once he had safely made it down the stairs, he stopped and held onto post of the railing until he felt he could continue on.
He began walking towards the front door, but made it only a couple more feet before he collapsed to the floor. He was too tired to go any farther, so he broke down in tears.
Hop Sing was still in the kitchen when he heard a thud coming from the living room, so he quickly ran out of the kitchen and he was shocked to see Little Joe lying on the floor crying. He raced over to the fallen boy very worried thinking that the boy had fallen down the stairs.
“Little Joe, what happened? Why you out of bed?” Hop Sing cried as he kneeled down next to the boy. “Little Joe talk to Hop Sing please!” Hop Sing begged, but Little Joe just laid there crying.
Hop Sing jumped up and ran towards the front door and outside. “Mister Adam, Mister Hoss, come quick. Little Joe collapse! Come quick!” Hop Sing cried out loudly.
Without looking at each other, both Adam and Hoss raced to the house and straight over to their fallen little brother. They had prayed that the boy hadn’t fallen down the stairs, plus they couldn’t figure out why he was out of bed in the first place.
“Little Joe what happened boy? Are you hurt?” Adam worriedly asked as he and Hoss felt their brother’s body for broken bones and they were extremely relieved at not finding any.
Little Joe continued crying his heart out, so Adam sat down on the floor and he picked up the crying boy and held him tightly. “What’s wrong little buddy? Please tell me what’s wrong so I can help you. Please little brother talk to me!” Adam pleaded as he continued to hold the boy. Hoss and Hop Sing stood there not knowing what to do to help the hysterical boy.
“Gotta do my chores cuz Pa’s gonna make me go back ta school! I gotta do my chores! Pa’s so mad at me! He hates me cuz I’m not doin’ my chores! Gotta do my chores! Let me up Adam please!” the boy sobbed deeply.
This was breaking Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing’s hearts. Adam could feel his little brother’s badly trembling body as he tried to calm down the boy.
“Listen to me Little Joe, Pa’s not going to make you go back to school little buddy. I promise you that he isn’t. You probably had a bad dream about that, but that’s all it was, just a bad dream. Pa is extremely proud of you and so are Hoss, Hop Sing and me. You have been working very hard, much harder than you should be.”
“Please little buddy, please believe me when I tell you that in no way is Pa going to make you go back to school! Pa loves you so much little brother, so please get that ‘hate’ out of your mind.”
“Little Joe, you are totally exhausted boy, so that is why you have to stay in bed. We want you to get all your strength back plus all the weight you have lost. Please little buddy please believe what I’m trying to explain to you, please.” Adam tried to explain to the totally distraught boy he held dearly in his arms as he also was gently rubbing the boy’s back. Hoss was also rubbing the boy’s back, which usually would calm him down.
Little Joe continued to cry hard. He was emotionally exhausted too. Adam just sat there holding his brother, and he too felt like crying at his brother’s distress. About an hour later Little Joe fell into a deep sleep, but Adam continued to hold his young brother.
Still standing there, Hoss asked, “Adam is he going to be alright? I sure wish Pa was here,” Hoss was nervous by his young brother’s condition as he looked down at the sleeping boy.
Without looking up at Hoss, Adam answered back, “I hope so Hoss. I hope so. That dream really shook him up deeply. I wish too that Pa was here. I don’t know if our baby brother believed me or not. I just don’t know. God, I love this boy so much that this whole thing has scared the day lights out of me to see him like that,” Adam tearfully told Hoss and Hop Sing.
“I know how you feel because I feel the same way. Maybe if Pa tells him when he is fully awake that he won’t make him go back to school, then just maybe our little brother will believe him, and I also think too that when little brother starts to feel better, this whole thing will make sense to him. We all need to help him get better Adam,” Hoss explained as he too wiped his tears away.
Hoss took the sleeping boy out of Adam’s arms so he could stand up again. They then took the boy back up to his bed and covered him up. Both brothers decided to stay with the boy for a while yet.
After an hour or so, Adam stood up, looked at Hoss and said, “Hoss I would like it if you stayed here with him for a while yet. I’ll get the buckboard finished and come back up here. I really don’t this boy alone in case he wakes up.”
“I’d love to stay with him Adam. Don’t worry, cuz I’ll take good care of him,” Hoss reassured Adam with a big smile. “Thanks Hoss. I won’t be long,” Adam said as he left the room.
Ben arrived home earlier than he thought. Adam had just finished working on the buckboard as Ben rode into the yard.
“Pa, your home early,” Adam said as Ben got off of Buck. “Hi son. Yes the meeting didn’t take as long as I thought so I thought I would come straight home. How is your little brother doing?” Ben asked
Wanting to say the right words so he wouldn’t panic Ben, Adam replied, “He’s not doing well Pa. Come inside and let me explain what happened today.” Ben was now very concerned about his youngest son.
As they sat there with some fresh coffee that Hop Sing had brought in for them, Adam told Ben about Little Joe collapsing and how upset the boy was.
“My God Adam! I don’t know what to say! My poor baby! As soon as he is fully awake I need to have a talk with him and to make him realize that I have no intentions of making him go back to school. I am so darn proud of that boy and this whole thing is just breaking my heart. I’m going to go up and sit with him now and hopefully he’ll be wake so I can talk to him. Thank you explaining this to me and also for being there for the boy,” Ben said as he patted Adam on the shoulder, then he headed up the stairs to his young son.
Before Ben headed up to Little Joe’s room, Adam said, “I tell you Pa when Hoss and I first saw him lying on the floor crying, we thought he had fallen down the stairs and really hurt himself. We quickly and carefully checked to see if he had any broken bones, which thank God he didn’t, so I got on the floor with him and held him. It was so heartbreaking to see him crying like that Pa. I haven’t seen him cry like that since Marie died.”
Adam and Ben stood there looking at each other not saying anything, but they knew how each one felt. Ben then went up the stairs.
Hoss was sitting there watching the boy sleep, and he looked up when Ben entered the room. He smiled at the sight of his father and he stood up.
“Pa, your home early,” Hoss declared as he continued to smile. “Yes son I am. Adam just explained what happened with your little brother, and I can’t thank both of you enough for being there for him. How is he and has he awaken yet?” Ben asked as he looked down at his young sleeping son.
“No, he’s been sleeping since I carried him up here. Oh Pa, it was just awful to see him like that, and I hope I never see him like that again. It was so heartbreaking, so heartbreaking,” Hoss told Ben as he had tears in his eyes. Ben gave him a big hug, which made Hoss feel better. He was very happy that Ben was home and now his little brother could hear for himself from Ben that there was no way Ben would send the boy back to school.
Once Hoss left the room, Ben sat down and picked up his son’s small hand and he lovingly rubbed it.
“Oh sweetheart, I am so sorry I wasn’t here for you. Please don’t worry son, because I won’t ever make you go back to school. There is no reason why you should. I am so proud of you and I love you more than life itself. I love you sweetheart,” Ben softly told the sleeping boy. Ben knew that the boy couldn’t hear him, but he needed to say those words to his son, as it made him feel better too.
As Ben sat there he noticed his son beginning to wake up and he smiled. “Come on son, can you wake up for me? Please Little Joe, wake up for me sweetheart,” Ben pleaded and he was rewarded as two very sleepy green eyes looked up at him, along with a small grin.
“Hi Pa,” the boy mumbled as he tried to fully wake up. “Hi to you too son. How do you feel?” Ben asked as he ran his fingers through the disheveled curly hair of his young son, and he also had a big grin on his face too.
Taking a deep breath, Little Joe looked back up at Ben and he replied back, “I’m just so tired Pa. I tired ta get up ta do my chores, but I was too tired.” He continued to look in Ben’s eye and what he saw was love in those dark brown eyes and it made him feel better.
Still hold his son’s hand, Ben said, “Little Joe, listen to me son. I don’t want you to even think about your chores. The main thing and the most important thing is for you to get better. It’s going to take time for you to regain all your strength and all the weight you have lost. Your brothers don’t mind doing your chores for you. They too just want you back to your normal happy go lucky self.”
“Also, I don’t want you to worry yourself about me making you go back to school, because I would never do that. I am so proud of you Little Joe for all the good work you have been doing since you left school and before that too.”
“You haven’t let me or your brothers down at all. I am so proud of you that I could shout that out from the top of the tallest mountain in the world. I want the whole world to know just how proud I am of you. I love you so much sweetheart!” Ben finished telling his son who had tears running down his face.
“I love you too Pa! Ya really mean it, that I dunt gotta go back ta school? Really?” the boy asked as he wanted to make sure that he fully understood what Ben had said to him.
Ben sat down on the edge of the bed and he pulled the boy up and he held him tightly. “I mean it Little Joe. You are finished with school and that’s a promise, even though your grammar is still not very good,” Ben teased as he kissed the top of the boy’s head. Ben wanted to reassure the boy whom he still held so lovingly in his arms as he rubbed the boy’s back and gave him another kiss.
Just hearing those words from the man who meant so much to him, Little Joe started to improve daily, even though it took a few more weeks until the boy was back to normal. He had done everything Paul and his family had asked of him, even though it was so hard for the boy to stay in bed for so long.
Finally the big day arrived when Little Joe was able to get back to doing his chores and he promised his family that he would take breaks when he felt tired. They all held him to that promise.
The end.