Title: Just Desserts
Author: Gail G.
Rating: G




"You did what?" Adam asked, his eyes wide.

Joe waved his hands in front of his brothers face to see if he was
still alive. "Adam, it ain't that bad. Let me explain will ya?"

Adam shook his head trying to shake the fuzzy feeling from his
head. "I just can't believe you did such a thing."

"Adam, really I have a perfectly good reason." Joe stood with a half
grin half frown on his face.

Now that Adam was fully aware of what his brother had just said, he
could feel his temper rising. "Little Joe, when I get my hands on
you. . . "

"Adam!! I swear I couldn't help it!!" Joe yelled, as he ran behind
his father's chair so he would be a bit farther from his brother.

"Well I suggest you start explaining." Adam hissed his teeth
clenched tight.

"Explain? Now?" Joe asked, in a high squeaky voice.

Adam cocked his head to the side before he spoke again. "Well I
would like to know this `good' reason of yours, so I'll know what to
tell Pa when he comes home to find you pounded into the rug."

"Umm. . .well. . ." Joe stammered.

Adam swiftly leapt over the chair and in a flash of an eye had his
brother in a headlock. "Ummmm. . .well. . .is not a `good' enough
reason, Little Joe."

Luckily for Joe, Ben heard the commotion outside and hurried into
the house. "What's going on here?"


Adam's head snapped up as he heard his father voice. "Well, Pa, I'm
getting ready to ground your youngest son into this rug." Adam
pointed to the floor.

"Pa. . .Pa. . .I didn't do nothin' that bad. Help me please." Joe
begged.

"Adam, let go of your brother right now. I want to know what on
earth is going on." Ben placed his arms across his broad chest.

"WHAT'S GOING ON!! WHAT'S GOING ON! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR SWEET
YOUNG SON DID!!" Adam's voice bounced of the rafters of the large
room.

Ben sighed. "Calm down. Please explain to me what he did do."

"Pa, I told Adam I could explain, but he won't give me time." Joe
defended himself.

"There is not one good reason in this world to do what you did!"
Adam yelled.

Ben studied Joe for a moment. "Joseph, what is it that you did that
was so horrible?"

"Well, Pa, I went to that dance last night ya know. Well Miss Jones
had baked some mighty good pie. Well I really wanted a second piece
and . . .well she wouldn't let me have it unless I made a promise."
Joe looked down at his boots.

Ben was now totally confused. "Promise? What kind of Promise? And
what does it have to do with your brother?"

"I had to promise her that . . . . . ." Joe mumbled.

"What? I didn't hear you, son. What did you promise." Ben leaned
forward.

"I promised Miss Jones that Adam would take her to the next four
dances the town has." Joe blurted out.

Ben's eyes widened. "For a piece of pie?"

"Pa, it was really good pie." Joe said.

Ben walked over and grabbed his youngest arm. He then dragged Joe to
his oldest brother. Ben bent Joe at the waist, he turned to Adam and
picked up his arm and placed it around Joe's neck, so that Joe was
now back in a choke hold.

"Pa. . .Pa, what are ya doing?" Joe gulped.

"Letting you get your `just desserts', young man." Ben turned and
walked to the door. He turned around briefly and looked at
Adam. "Don't get blood on the rug, Hop Sing would have a fit."

With those words said Ben stepped out the door shutting it carefully
behind him. Adam grinned mischievously, while Joe simply prayed.

The End

RETURN TO LIBRARY