by
Kathy S.
“I don’t know,” Henry Clamber rubbed his chin. “That’s pretty hard to believe…”
“Mine’s really big,” Little Joe Cartwright insisted, setting his glass down on the Bucket of Blood’s bartop.
“I’ve got the biggest one around here. Everyone knows that. See?” Henry waved his hand toward his to show what he was saying was so.
“Oh, mine’s much bigger than yours,” Joe casually looked down at the farmer’s critically, then laughed condescendingly. “In fact, mine’s bigger than any other in the whole world.”
“Come on, Joe,” the bartender interjected. “How could yours be bigger than his?”
“Take my word for it, that’s all,” Joe smirked, looked at Henry’s again, shook his head and laughed once more.
Needless to say, Joe’s attitude was just a little too much for the old man to take. He cleared his throat, crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at the young upstart. “Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is, son?”
“Meaning?” the youngest Cartwright son looked at him innocently.
“How much do you want to bet?” Henry looked him straight in the eye.
“Oh, Mr. Clamber,” Joe put his hand on the man’s shoulder and patted it sympathetically. “I wouldn’t want to take your money. Mine’s clearly the biggest in the whole wor…” he watched intently as Henry pulled a wad of bills out of his pants pocket. “But if you want to,” he smiled setting down his glass again and reaching into his jacket to retrieve his wallet. “How about $10?”
“That’s pretty steep,” the farmer whistled, slightly taken aback by the amount.
“Well,” Joe shrugged and went back to his beer. “I don’t blame you for hesitating about it…After all, that’s a lot to lose and, like I said, mine’s a whole lot bigge…”
“It’s a bet,” Henry reached over and shook Joe’s right hand before either of them could change his mind. “Now you’ve seen mine,” he picked up his 25 pound white Flemish Giant. “Where’s your colossal Easter rabbit?”
Joe giggled devilishly, drained his glass, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Follow me,” he turned and led the group outside where they found what they all agreed to be the largest Easter bunny in the country if not the world.
THE END