THE PRANK
Ben had ridden into the yard of the comfortable home he had built for
himself and his family, to be greeted by Hop Sing, who was feeding the
chickens.
"Hello, Mistah Cartlight, good to have you back," said the faithful cook.
"Good to be back, Hop Sing," said Ben. "Everything all right here?"
"Yes, everything fine. Boys all still asleep, but Hop Sing had plenty
jobs to do before boss come home. Coffee on stove for you, fix just
how you like."
"But I didn't say what time I would be home, Hop Sing, so how come
you
have the coffee on for me?"
"Hop Sing know," said the inscrutable Chinaman.
Before Ben could get into the house to have some of the cook's
fantastic coffee, his middle son came staggering towards him.
"Good morning, son," began Ben, but his friendly greeting froze
on his
lips, when he took in Hoss' appearance.
"What's the matter, boy?" he said.
"I dunno how ta tell ya this, Pa," began Hoss.
"What's the matter?" said Ben, again, when Hoss failed to continue.
"It's Adam and Little Joe," went on Hoss.
"What is?" demanded Ben.
"They're dead, Pa, murdered in their beds."
"Are you sure, son?"
"Oh yeah, Pa! I am sure," said Hoss. "Look, I have some
of Joe's blood
on my sleeve," and the young man showed his father the stain.
Meanwhile, upstairs in their rooms, Adam and Joe were trying, very
hard, to lay still, and not to laugh. As they did so, they heard the
unmistakeable sound of their father's voice, outside in the yard.
"Hey, Joe, do you hear what I hear?" said Adam.
"Yeah, brother, I do," said Joe. "Pa's back, and I bet he
ain't gonna
take too kindly to us playing this prank on Hoss."
"You're right about that," said Adam. "You know how he gets
when we
gang up on Hoss?"
The two corpses, who had covered themselves in fake blood, acquired
from an actor friend of Adam, decided that it might be best to come
clean, and so they made their way down the stairs. However, Joe
couldn't resist walking as though he was a zombie and Adam decided to
copy him. And as Ben and Hoss entered the house, the sight that
greeted them was of Adam and Joe, heading straight towards them, with
staring eyes and stiffened limbs.
Ben didn't know whether to laugh or to give the boys a severe dressing
down, as it was obvious that their charade had, at first, anyway,
convinced Hoss that his brothers had been the victims of some crazed
madman. However, once Hoss' heart started beating again, his raucous
laughter could be heard echoing around the house.
`Oh, well, if Hoss can find it funny, then I guess I shouldn't be too
mad,' thought Ben. `And I'm sure that Hoss will find his own way to
get his revenge.'
And Ben was right, as Hoss did.
THE END
Little Joe forever
Lynne
December 2007