TOO YOUNG TO KNOW
BETTER
by
Lynne C.
Ben had been dying to share the news, ever since starting supper, but
hadn't known how to approach it. Eventually, he just decided to blurt
it out, and he couldn't stop the laughter, which followed his words.
"Joseph wants to take a job as sheriff of Rubicon."
"I'm hoping one of you will be able to change his mind,"
continued
Ben, once he'd calmed down, a bit. "I suppose I didn't help the
situation, by laughing when he told me what he wanted to do. But he's
only a boy and far too young for such a responsibility. However, you
know how stubborn he can be, and I just don't seem to be able to find
the words to talk him out of it."
"Well, that should be easy enough for you, Pa,"
said Adam. "All you do
is say that you forbid him to take the job. He's only sixteen, no
where near full-grown yet, and just out of the schoolroom. What makes
him think that he has the experience to be a sheriff?"
"Readin' all them dime novels, I bet," said Hoss.
"But Adam's right,
Pa, Little Joe ain't ready fer that kinda job. Why, he's not even
moved on from yard chores, yet. A sheriff's gotta be fast on the draw
and able to get the respect of the town."
"And our little brother hasn't even started shaving
yet," said Adam.
"Where is he, anyway?"
"I agree with all you are saying, boys, but it's how
to convince Joe,
without making him feel like we are treating him like a little boy.
And as to where he is, I sent him to his room, as he wouldn't listen
to reason."
"That sounds rather like you are treating him as a
little boy, Pa,
sending him to his room," said Adam. "Not that I'm saying you
shouldn't have done, because he is still a boy, and does act
foolishly, at times. Do you want me to go and talk to him?"
"Yes, Adam, I would like that, very much," said Ben.
After Adam finished his supper, he took a tray of food from
the
kitchen, and headed up to Joe's room. He knocked and then walked in,
not waiting for an invitation.
"Hey, buddy, I brought you up some food. Pa didn't
want you to starve,
you know."
Adam placed the tray on the dresser and then sat down on
the bed. Joe
was lying, face down, and Adam leaned over and began to rub his back.
It was an instinctive reaction on the part of Adam, as he knew his
little brother was upset, and it was something that always calmed him
down.
"Thanks, Adam, but I ain't that hungry," said
Joe, and Adam knew that
Joe was speaking the truth, as he usually went off his food if he was
upset or angry about something.
"Well, it's there if you want it," said Adam.
"Now, how about telling
your big brother what it is that has made you so out of sorts."
Joe rolled over and looked at Adam.
"I reckon you already know, so you don't havta act
so innocent. Pa and
me were over in Rubicon, and the mayor is looking for a temporary
sheriff, as the regular one has busted his leg. I was gonna apply, and
Pa said I couldn't, as I was too young. But I really wanted to do it,
and so when we got home, I kept on about it, and in the end Pa sent me
up here, cos he said he was about ready to clobber me. He's never
gonna accept that I'm grown up, Adam, and let me do stuff like he
would you and Hoss, it just ain't fair."
"Yes, I did know about your run in with Pa, buddy,
but I wanted to
hear your side of it. If Hoss or I were to say to Pa that we wanted to
be a sheriff, I'm sure he'd have plenty to say about it, as it's not
the job he expects any of us to do, irrespective of our age. But, you
are right when you say that he couldn't very well stop us, if we had
our heart set on doing it. But I can tell you, categorically, that he
wouldn't have let either of us do it, at the tender age of sixteen. I
know you like to think of yourself as being all grown up, now, Joe,
but the truth is, you're not. And Pa, Hoss and I just wouldn't be
doing our job right, if we let you go off and do something that was
just plain dangerous."
"I mighta guessed you'd be on his side," said Joe.
"It's not a case of taking sides, Joe, it's a case
of using your
common sense. Even I would think twice about taking on a sheriff's
job, and I would say that I have more of the qualities needed for the
post, than you have."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," said Joe.
"I'm just trying to get you to face facts, Joe. As
much as you wish it
were otherwise, you are not old enough to take on such a responsible
position. And Pa would never be able to live with himself, if he
agreed to you going and then something happened to you. Besides which,
I can't imagine that the mayor would offer the job to someone of your
age."
Joe lay on his back, with his hands interlocked, behind
his head, and
pondered on his brother's words.
Finally, he said, "I guess you are right, and I doubt
that the mayor
would've offered me the job, even if Pa had said I could apply, but it
doesn't stop me from wishing that I could do it."
"And having ambitions, and wanting to improve yourself,
is a good
thing, buddy," said Adam. "Never stop trying to want to do better
with
your life, but at the same time, realise your limitations, and don't
expect to be able to do everything, all at once. If being a sheriff is
what you want to do, eventually, then I'm sure you will do it, but not
just yet. And don't give Pa a hard time, just because he wants to keep
you safe. He loves you very much, Joe, as we all do, and if we,
sometimes, come over as being like mother hens, then please just put
it down to the fact that you're the youngest and we care about you.
I'm sure there will be times when we fuss more than we should, but
this time we have it right, of that I am certain."
Joe sighed and sat up.
"Oh, I know you speak the truth, Adam, but I just wish
that Pa hadn't
found it so amusing, when I told him I wanted to do the job."
"Well, I know he's sorry about that, buddy, and if
you give him the
chance, I'm sure he will apologise to you, but you can't really blame
him for not taking it seriously."
"No, I guess I can't," said Joe. "I think
I'll eat some of that food,
now. Thanks for talking things through, with me. Can you tell Pa I'll
be down, shortly, to say I'm sorry for giving him a hard time?"
"Will do, and once you've done that, I'll thrash you at checkers, okay?"
"Okay, but like you said, brother, I'm improving all
the time, so
maybe tonight's the night I beat you."
"Maybe it is," said Adam, smiling at the boy, before he left the room.
THE END
Little Joe forever
Lynne
May 1st 2006