A JOB FOR ADAM
As sudden as she had come, so sudden Abigail Jones had disappeared
again.
Hereby had the schoolboard a big problem. That’s why chairman
Andrew Larson
decided to consult the Cartwrights about whom should be teaching the
children.
The eldest Cartwright boy got to hear from his twins Mitch and Pam
that
there was no teacher anymore. Like each weekday he had brought them
to
school but yet before he was at home they caught up with him.
“You aren’t playing truant again, are you?”, Adam asked amazed.
“No, beacuse there is no school and no Missy Ab. she has moved
because her
house is empty too”, said Mitch.
“She probably has moved because she finally saw in that she won’t
make a
chance by you”, Pam remarked.
“Very funny Pam. But you are still liable to compulsory education”,
replied
her father.
“You can teach us though? You did that too when I just had to go to
school”,
reacted Mitch.
“If I do it I am just as strict for you as for the other children”,
warned
Adam.
The twins nodded. Together they rode back home.
When arriving Adam saw Andrew already waiting.
“Adam, I assume that your kids havetold you everything already?”,
asked
Andrew.
“That Miss is away and that they have no teacher anymore.Mitch
already
suggested that I take over her job”, replied Adam.
“That is a possiblilty. You know that the children are not easy but
also
that they want to listen to you”, said Andrew.
“Yes, but even my own children don’t always listen to me.Let alone
a class
full”, reacted Adam.
“That your kids don’t listen to you is a cause by their Uncles. We
go
inside
talking about it with your father. He must be able to miss you for
a couple
of weeks”, said Andrew.
“That will be so but then Hoss and Joe must work a bit harder. but
that is
also good for them for a change”, Adam remarked dry.
He dismounted and his children too.
“You bring your horses to the stable and take care of them”, Adam
said to
them.
Adam and Andrew went inside the ranch house where the father of
Adam, Ben
Cartwright, was reading the newspaper. He directly folded up the
newspaper
and put it on the sallon-table.
“Andrew, what brings you here?”, asked the rancher.
“The school is having no teacher. Your grandchildren are also at
home
already”, said Andrew.
“Is Miss Jones ill?”, Ben asked amazed.
“No, there is much better news. She has moved for good. she has
even taken
her mother along”, replied Adam.
“That is indeed good news. Do you want that Adam will teach the
children?”,
asked the rancher.
“If Adam wants it himself too and you can miss him for a few
weeks”, said
Andrew.
“We have enough men here to work so he has my permission. What do
you say
Adam?”, asked Ben.
“I do it. then perhaps I can help Mitch a bit better”, said Adam.
At the stable Hoss and Little Joe were busy with cleaning up.
“Look Pam, our Uncles are finally doing something. You tell the
newspaper,
then I will announce it to daddy”, Mitch said teasing.
They both laughed but the remark of Mitch wasn’t appreciated by
their
Uncles
Hoss looked at them and asked amazed, “Mustn’t you go to school
like each
schoolday?”
“How can we get lessons when here is no teacher? Miss Jones had
moved due
to
a broken heart. She finally saw the light that she will never get
daddy”,
replied Pam.
“Who will be teaching then? Your father?”, asked Little Joe.
“I hope not because then he will be watching me extra good”,
replied Mitch.
“He can help you some more with reading and writing”, said Hoss.
“Miss Jones never helped me and gave me bad marks on purpose. Even
though
she knew that I have trouble with reading and writing”, reacted the
boy.
“Be glad that she is away”, said Little Joe.
“We are that too but Patty Jenkins claims that we two have teased
her
away”,
his niece reacted.
At that moment Adam came to them with the announcement, “From
tomorrow you
will getting lessons from me. This afternoon you are free while I
go and
tell it the children.”
“Can grandpa miss you at the ranch as a working hand?”, chuckled
Mitch.
“Yes, and that means that your two Uncles over there must work
harder than
they can afford to”, Adam replied teasing.
“Very funny Adam”, Little Joe said indignant.
Adam went away, leaving with a quiet heart his children with his
brothers
behind.
Tuesdaymorning.
All children had come to school including the new teacher. At the
schoolyard
Mitch and Pam were the centerpoint of all attention.
“Why must your father actually teach us? My mother can do it much
better
and
only because she is a woman”, said Patty.
“Because my father has done it already before. Besides, Mr Larson
asked him
first”, said Mitch.
“You always get favored”, snapped Patty.
“Réálly not. That you and your little brother are such little pain
the
necks
are we cannot help that”, reacted Pam.
“Sis, I will tell you once again.You mustn’t praise them so because
you
insult the other little pain in the necks”, Mitch added a little
something
to it.
Fortuantly Adam just came near and he said, “Inside and go and sit
at your
place.”
The children ran inside and went to sit at their place.
Adam took his place too, looked around the class and said, “I am
now your
teacher and decide what the rules are. That are these:
There will be no speakjking before I have given permission to do
so.
Brutality gets rewarded with punishment.
Not made homework gets rewarded with punsihment too unless you have
a good
reason for it for not making it.
Who wants to say something holds up his hand.”
Patrick asked, “Geachte Mr Cartwright, I want to haveconfirmed from
you
that
you will not favor Mitch and Pam because they are your children?”
“Don’t do so hypocritical polite because you are never that way”,
reacted
Mitch.
“Mitch, it is alright. I know Patrick and Patty unfortuantly all
their
lives
and too how thye are in reality.
Even though Pam and Mitch are my children, I réálly don’t favor
them. we
are
gonna start with the lessons. Get your mathsbook and go ahead with
where you
was on Friday”, replied Adam.
The children went to work and Adam noticed quite soon that his son
was very
much behind with the rest of the class. Because Mitch and Pam were
sitting
in front Adam could keep an eye on them better than ever. With much
angelic
patience and clear examples Adam explained everything to his son
which the
boy didn’t understand.
Also because Adam had to teach his own children and didn’t favor
them the
lessons at school became more fun and variated.
Heidi