I Love it when Pa
lets me be Boss.
by
Sadie
Ben Cartwright rode off into the warm butter yellow
summer sunshine. Confidence reigned supreme, his
mighty fortress, and his beloved ranch the Ponderosa
was being held in the capable steady hands of his
erstwhile, dedicated eldest son Adam. Calm,
unflappable, dependable, and hard working, honest to a
fault. No more loyal, loving, logical, respected
honorable man existed. He was matched only in varying
degrees by his two other beloved sons, Hoss, gentle,
easy going mountain strong, yet just as loving and
loyal and unpredictable high-spirited hot-blooded
Little Joe.
The soft summer morning began its sweet trip towards
mid-day, seeming in no hurry at all.
When the muffled sounds of Bucks easy lope became mere
nothings, a soft shuffling following the almost silent
click of the front door slid into the barely
discernable scrape as a chair was pulled from its
place at the table on the wide veranda. Nothing more
than the hum of busy bees about their appointed jobs
disturbed the morning.
Softly a melodic note rose as slender nimble fingers
danced effortlessly over taught strings, eyes focused
lost in concentration. In a blink the gentle strum
escalated into a vivid complex growing with every
stroke to a series of intricate movement. It was not
only the strumming that was meant to draw attention.
Rich deep almost taunting the voice rang out.
· “OH! I just can’t wait to be KING! Yeah I just can’t
wait to be King! It will be so great to be KING!”
A sly grin verging on malevolent twitched between
dimples set deep into work tanned cheeks, devilishly
played under dark Hazel brown eyes, ringed with ebony,
all under raven black locks.
Two figures peeked around the semi-closed barn door,
the discussion-taking place a moment before was not
for other than these two. A curly chestnut crown under
which sparkled suspicious Emerald specked Hazel eyes,
overshadowed by features punctuated by indisputably
the clearest pure sky blue eyes, a furrowed brow
ruffled honey wheat hair in response to the music.
Oh, noooo Seee Hoss I told ya, here we go again!” A
groan rolled out as Joe Cartwright shook his head in
dismay, hands covering his face.
“Yep! Little Brother I’m afraid so!”
The collective growl mixed feelings of despair and
resignation.
Suddenly there was dead silence, the melody and words
echoed away.
Adam Cartwright with measured deliberate movements as
if mimicking a panther on the prowl drawing closer to
its unsuspecting prey, slid his guitar down the side
of the chair to rest against it. Leaning back Adam
laced his hands behind his head, turning his face
upward, as if into the sun. Eyes shut a slow exhale
through his nose. A second breath drawn in created a
wide tiger like yawn, slipped into that Cheshire cat
grin; dimples danced, perfect white teeth set just so.
“Ahhhhh, I just love it when Pa lets me be Boss!”
Slowly one eye slit open a fraction, spying the two
figures trying unsuccessfully to be stealth and silent
in their approach.
(Wait, wait, that’s it just a bit more, steady don’t
twitch, they’re almost here! Just as I figured they
swallowed the bait, hook line and sinker, careful,
almost . . . NOW!)
Hoss and Joe lunged simultaneously, as Adam leaped to
safety, managing to retrieve his guitar at the same
time.
As both brothers’ crashed down smashing the chair into
splintering kindling wood, legs and bodies trashed
trying to untangle themselves. At the sound Hop Sing
appeared, stood for a moment scowling shaking his
head.
“Mr. Adam you sure you know what you doing? Mr. Hoss
lit-lle Joe, What you do to chair?”
Hoss and Joe jumped up dusting themselves off
immediately closing ranks to hide what was left of the
chair.
Placing a picnic basket that required both hand to
move, at Adam’s feet once again shaking his head
mumbling as always under his breath about fools and
folly he retreated to his kitchen away from all the
foolishment.
A loud sharp chord flew from the strings of the
guitar; Adam dipped then tipped up to the sun.
“TAAAA DAAAHA!”
“I proclaim the next three days a Holiday! From today
in the Kingdom of Cartwright! I command the remaining
members of the royal family- do with diligence and all
haste the bidding of thy king, and forthwith collect
all and any camping, fishing, hunting equipment
necessary to complete a much needed and deserved
vacation! The King has spoken!”
Stunned his brothers just stood there mouths agape.”
“Moths do in fact at this time of year make sublime
bait for eager greed trout, I however prefer to catch
them by campfire light, not in my mouth.”
Dust was all that remained, having bounced off one
another Joe toppling over to almost land on the table,
saved by a swift strong arm, as Adam propelled him in
the right direction with a chuckle
“Yah gotta be fast boy, smart!”
Ben Cartwright settled into the bench of the coach
bound for Reno where he had an intense round of
business discussions, contracts to haggle over then a
long boring session with the Cattleman’s Association’s
debate over the impact of all the new homesteaders
pouring into the area. This he knew with a disgusted
snort would go on, and on. He was soothed only by the
thought of how well his ranch would be run in his
absence by his beloved sons, how they would be working
hard in their own way though miles apart.
SPLASH!
“Yahooooo Hail to the KING!”
“Yowwwww this lake is still damn cold!”
“Says who?”
“Me… The King!”
Moving into shallower water standing up Adam shivered
until the sun took the edge off his ice-cold skin.
“I bow to your royal . . . (Snicker) Hind- ness! . .
. Sire!”
SPLASH!
Somewhere around an hour later as three shiny bodies
lay stretched out absorbing the gift of warm sunshine
dissolving away the Goosebumps, returning them to
their pre dip splendid bronze “god” bodies, at least
two saw themselves as such.
Joe laced his fingers behind his head lazily watching
the castles in the clouds.
“Yah, oh, I just can’t wait to be king!”
Along side him a warmed contented growl echoed Hoss’
thoughts out loud.
“Three whole days . . . Adam are ya sure Pa will be
gone three days?”
Adam raised his head and shielded his eyes with his
hand.
“You doubt the word of thy King? Sir Hoss!”
“No, no, I never doubt your word older brother, jest’
wanna’ be sure I have enough time to be someplace else
when the REAL King, gets back and wants his throne.”
“Harrrrummph!!!”
“Ha-ah-ha-ha-haaaa!!!!!”
The deep full laugh was joined by both a high pitched
wild giggle, equally matched perfectly by that deep
rich baritone.”
“Ahhh I love it when Pa lets me be Boss!”
The End . . . Or?
*I just can’t wait to be king. From the movie “The
Lion King” No infringement intended.
“Ya gotta be fast boy, smart” From the Ep. Ponderosa
Matador.
Cheryl/Sadiespinner.