HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW
by
Lynne C.
Ever since Adam had returned from his trip to San Francisco, his
younger brother, Joe, was sure there was something different about
him. However, he couldn't put his finger on just what it was.
Hoss, his other brother, was getting a little bit fed up with Joe
constantly bringing up the subject.
"Shortshanks, give it a rest, will ya? Adam don't look no different
ta
me, it's jest your imagination, and I'm gettin' mighty sick of
listenin' ta ya goin' on about it."
"Well, all I can say is that there must be something wrong with your
eyes," said Joe. "He looks different to me and I don't understand
why
you can't see it, too."
"You're gonna look different in a minute, iffen ya don't get on with
your chores, instead of doin' all this jawin'," said Hoss. "Cos
I'm
gonna pound ya, little brother. I am sick and tired of you always
leavin' me with all the work. Now pick up that pitchfork and git busy."
Joe was about to say more, but he took in the expression on Hoss' face
and thought better of it.
"Okay, but you just mark my words, there is definitely something going
on with our big brother."
Meanwhile, in the house, Adam was in his room, looking at himself in
the mirror, which stood on his dresser.
"Mmm, it looks pretty good," he said to himself, as he patted
his hair
into place. "Money well spent."
With that, he left the room and went downstairs to have his breakfast.
"Morning, son," said Ben, who was still at the table, enjoying
his
third cup of coffee. "I can see that you took my advice and went to
see Monsieur Henri, while you were in San Francisco."
"Morning, Pa," said Adam, sitting down and helping himself to
some ham
and eggs and coffee. "Yes, I did, and I want to thank you for telling
me about him. I know I wasn't looking too bad, but he's made all the
difference. I think you ought to suggest that Hoss goes, next time
he's in San Francisco."
"Well, I was going to, but you know Hoss, he's never been as bothered
about things like this, as you and I are. I doubt if he'll be interested."
"I'll have a word with him," said Adam. "I'll tell him that
it will do
wonders for his ability to attract the ladies."
"I'm not sure that Hoss will be swayed by that argument, son. He likes
girls, well enough, but he gets so flustered when they talk to him,
more attention might be too much for him to handle."
"Aw, don't you worry about Hoss, Pa. You know what they say about
still waters running deep? My big little brother does very well with
the opposite sex, he just doesn't like talking about it, not like
Casanova Joe does."
"Yes, that youngest brother of yours worries me," said Ben. "He's
still only young and I wouldn't like to see him get into a situation,
which he couldn't handle."
"True, he is rather reckless, and he just expects the rest of us to
be
on hand to bail him out. Only one day, we might not get there in time.
He really does need to learn some self restraint."
"And you're just the man to teach him, Adam."
"Thanks a lot, I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
"Aw, I know that no matter what you might say, you're the first one
to
go to his rescue, and his defence. You can't fool me, son, I know you
too well."
Adam just smiled, as his father was speaking the truth, and so there
was no point denying it.
The boys went about their daily routines and didn't meet up, until it
was nearly suppertime. Adam was sitting in their father's armchair,
and Joe, being the livewire that he was, perched on the arm. The young
man never sat still for long, and was always poised, ready to jump up
and move onto something else, so he rarely sat, properly, in a chair.
Adam was talking to Hoss, but Joe wasn't paying attention to his
brother's words, he was more interested in the top of his head. Being
shorter than Adam, he didn't often get a view of his brother's hair,
from above, and now that he could, he suddenly realised what was
different about Adam.
`He's wearing a hairpiece. I wonder if he knows it's coming unglued?'
Adam was still talking to Hoss, but was aware that Joe was staring at
the top of his head.
`I wonder what the kid's thinking?' he thought. `Maybe he's finally
worked it out.'
Just then, Joe spoke.
"You're wearing a hairpiece, Adam," he said.
"Yes, I am well aware of that fact, but I would rather you keep it
under your hat, if you don't mind."
"Oh no, not me, brother, you can keep it under your hat, I have no
need of one," and Joe started giggling.
"Very funny," said Adam, sarcastically. "You know darn well
what I
mean. I'd rather you didn't spread the news, as I don't want those
cute ladies on Legacy upset. You know, they have quite a thing going
on for me, and well, this might spoil the illusion for them."
Joe was, by this time, laughing fit to burst, but when he recovered
enough to speak, he said, "No need to worry about that, brother. I
happen to have heard, from Madame Marova, the fortune teller, that in
the future, even more ladies love you, when you become a doctor*, and
by then, you are bald."
"Who's Madame Marova?" said Adam.
"She's a gypsy lady, who convinced Hoss he was an expert violin
player," said Joe. "It happened when you were away, so, luckily
for
you, you never had to put up with the torture to your eardrums. It
would've been even worse for you, being that you are musical. Poor Pa
was nearly driven to the loony bin, by the noise."
"I would have liked to have met her," said Adam. "So, I'm
going to
become a doctor, am I? Sounds good to me, but in the meantime we'll
keep this hair thing in the family, okay?"
"Okay, Adam, but in that case, I think it's time to reapply the glue,"
and the boy made his way to the table, still laughing.
THE END
Little Joe forever
Lynne
May 19th 2006
* Trapper John, starring Pernell Roberts