GETTING EVEN WITH LITTLE JOE


The Cartwrights were having an early on this one Friday.  Little Joe had been gone for the week out repairing fences around the Ponderosa, and he was very tired.  
 
As they were having dinner, Little Joe was having a very hard time keeping his eyes open.  His family was busy discussing the big Anniversary party for the Benson's that would be held that night at the Ponderosa.  Just about everyone in Virginia City would be there.
 
Ben looked over at his youngest son, who had fallen asleep at the table.  Ben smiled as he looked at Little Joe, and he said " Joseph, wake up son"  Little Joe mumbled "The fences are done Pa".  "Joseph", Ben said a little louder.   The boy opened his eyes-just barely and said "What Pa?"
"Son why don't you try to eat something, then go and have a nap before the party starts" Ben suggested.  "If it's alright with you pa, I just wanna go to bed.  I'm really tired.  Please wish the Benson a Happy Anniversary for me" mumbled the boy.  "Alright son, you get a good night sleep.  We will see you in the morning" pa said smiling.  "Thanks pa.  Night everyone" said Little Joe in a soft voice.  " Night Little Joe" they all said.
 
Several minutes after the boy had gone to bed, Adam told Ben that he and Hoss were going to get even with their little brother for all the jokes he is always pulling on them.  They asked Ben to go along with them on it.  "I don't know boys, what do you have in mind?" asked Ben.  They told Ben of their plan, and Ben shook his head and said" I don't know about this Adam.  You know Little Joe is a very sensitive boy.  "We know he is pa, but its not really that bad" said Hoss.  "Please pa, go along with us on this, OK?" asked Adam.   " OH, alright" Ben said.
 
The party had been a big success.  The Benson's really enjoyed their party, as did all the guests.
 
Now the next morning as they sat down to eat their breakfast, they were waiting for Little Joe to come down and join them, so they could get started on the joke.
 
"Hey pa, Hoss said, maybe I should go and wake him up".  " Go ahead son, he's been sleeping since 5:30 last night, and its now 9am" Ben said.
 
So Hoss got up and hurried upstairs to his little brothers' room.  Little Joe was still sound to sleep, and all tangled up in his blankets.  As Hoss stood there looking down at his baby brother, he laughed to himself and thought "we're gonna get ya little brother".  " Hey Joey-its time to wake up now.  Come on little brother" said Hoss.  There was no reponse from the boy, so Hoss shook him and said "come on now Little Joe, WAKE UP!!!!".
 
Little Joe mumbled softly, but Hoss couldn't tell what he said, so he grabbed Little Joe's arm and pulled him out of bed and onto the floor.   "What did ya do that for Hoss"? asked the boy.  "I'm still sleepy"
 
"It's time for breakfast.  NOW get dressed and get yer rear in gear little brother" said Hoss.   "OK OK I'm up" moaned the boy.  
 
Little Joe finally walked slowly down the stairs and sat down at the table.    His family looked at him and said"well, it's about time you showed up sleeping beauty".  Little Joe yawned several times then he poured himself a cup of coffee, and he started to drink it.  Ben handed him a platter of eggs, bacon, and potatoes, while Hoss handed him some toast.  The boy ate slowly, but he would have rather still been in his bed sound to sleep.  
 
Adam stared at him and said "boy, little brother, you really did it last night".  "Huh?" said a very sleepy Little Joe.  "What do ya  mean by that Adam?" asked the boy.  " Well, let me tell you.  You know that when you are as tired as you were last night, that you sometimes walk in your sleep.  Well, you did that last night during the party" Adam told him.  Little Joe was looking at Adam and he said " I don't walk in my sleep, but go on please Adam".  "Like I said Little brother, you DID walk in your sleep last night.  We were all having a great time when all of a sudden there YOU were-just standing there NAKED in the middle of the room" Adam said with a big smile on his face.
 
"WHAT?" yelled Little Joe.  "I couldn't have, cos I had my nightshirt on when Hoss woke me up this morning".   Ben, Adam and Hoss were having a hard time not to start laughing.  " I didn't-did I?" asked a very shocked Little Joe.
"Yup, ya did little brother, and I ran over to ya-picked you up and carried ya back to yer room"  Hoss said.  "Yes and EVERYONE was STARING at you too" said Adam.  "You really embarrassed us ya know little brother" Hoss added.  
 
"I'm so sorry.  I'm really sorry" said a teary eyed Little Joe, and with that said, he jumped up from his chair and ran out the door and passed out.  His family was laughing like crazy.  "Did you see THAT look on his face?  What a look" Adam said laughing hard.  Ben sat there with a worried look on his face.  "Poor kid, I hope we weren't to hard on him" said Adam.  "I think I'll go and see if he is OK" said a very concerned Hoss.  Hoss got up and went to open the door, and he saw his little brother laying on the ground and not moving, and he yelled " Pa, Adam, come here quick".
 
When Ben and Adam got to the door and ran out, they both saw the boy laying on the ground with Hoss kneeling next to him, and turning him over to his back.  "Joseph" yelled Ben as he ran over to his youngest boy.  Hoss was gebtly shaking him and calling his name.  The boy moaned and he started to move his head around and opened his eyes.  "Son, are you alright?" asked a very concerned Ben  "I-I think so pa.  I kinda passed out I think?" said Little Joe.   Little Joe was very pale, which Hoss noticed right away.  Hoss helped his little brother up, and he picked him up in his arms and carried him into the house and laid him on the sofa.  "Sure your alright kid?" asked Adam.  "I'm fine" said Little Joe.  Ben, Adam and Hoss looked at each other, then back at a very pale Little Joe.  Ben said"we better tell him".
"Hey little brother, we were just having some fun with you.  We decided that we wanted to get even with you for all the tricks you play on us" said Adam.  The boy stared at them and asked"ya mean I wasn't walking in my sleep, and I wasn't naked either?"  Ben looked at his young son with Joe's chin cupped in his large hand, and he told the boy " no you weren't sweetheart, and infact, you slept right through the party right up until Hoss woke you up this morning"
To their surprise, Little Joe just started to laugh, and he said "Just you wait till I get back at you for this"
 
 The End.


RETURN TO LIBRARY