A SPECIAL GIFT FOR ADAM
September 25 1872. It was the birthday of Adam Cartwright. His nine year
old son Mitch was with his inseparable friend Cody in
Virginia City to buy a belated present for his father.
He had the foggiest idea of what his father would like and so he decided
just to buy something.
In the shopwindow of Dan Miller the boy saw suddenly a very funny book.
The title of it was called: “HOW DO I BECOME NORMAL WITHOUT BRAINS?”
A smirk came upon the face of the young Cartwright.
“Cody, we are not gonna look any further but we buy that book for daddy”,
Mitch said.
They went inside.
Mitch asked the shopkeeper, “Mr Miller, I’d like to buy that book
which stands in the shopwindow. It is a present for daddy. Can yopu wrap
it up for me?”
Dan walked to the shopwindow and got the book.
“I am sure that Adam won’t appreciate it. Especially when you give it to
him’, Dan said chuckling.
“Then he mustn’t tease me”, the boy reacted light-hearted.
Dan wrapped it up nicely and got the money which Ben had given his grandson.
Mitch went home with Cody in a corny mood. The boy knew from before that
this might be the last birthday of Adam he would attending but the young baseball
player took that risk.
When the boy and dog were almost home Hoss and Little Joe cazme riding towards
them.
“We were waiting for you. Adam wants to cut the cake but you stayed away
with Cody”, Little Joe said.
“I had to buy a present for mmy lovely celebrating daddy”, Mitch reacted
laughing.
He told them what he had bought. Hoss and Little Joe couldn’t stop laughing.
After the fit of laughter they rode home to get the cake inside of them.
At entering the house Mitch said, “Daddy, happy birthday but before
I give you my present, promise me that you won’t kill me.’
“I promise”, Adam said with his hand on his heart.
He got the present of his son and unwrapped it. For the security Mitch remained
standing at the front door.
Adam looked at the book and said, “You really know what you must give me
for my birthday. I will get you. No cake for the kid!”
Mitch looked at his grandpa for support and he defended the boy like usual.
“Adam, Mitch means it well and you know that the truth is hard. Even for
a celebrating Cartwright”, Ben said calm.
The hop sing came in with the coffee and milk and cake. Adam cut the lemoncake
in equal pieces but gave his son a smaller piece because he knew that Mitch
didn’t like lemoncake very much.
During the coffee Mitch asked Adam, “Can you use the book?”
“I will read it and then I will let you know. Thanks anyway kid”, he answered.
“By that book you know how you become normal but not how you stay it”, hoss
said.
“He will get that book next year for his birthday’, Mitch reacted dry.
Everybody laughed. It was clear that Mitch had bought once again a very
special present for one of his celebrating familymembers. He always could
surprise them with something different.
THE END
March 2002
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