Adam's Way
By: Hope
Ben Cartwright is furious and grabs his eldest son's arm. "What did
you just say, young man?"
Stubborn as ever, Adam, Ben's firstborn, responds, "You heard me."
With a steely glare, Ben challenges him. "Repeat it." His other
sons stand by cautiously watching the confrontation and are ready to
bolt if necessary.
Adam takes a deep breath and lets it out. "All right. I said I'm
not going to do it."
Ben tells him between clenched teeth, "We're having company, Adam."
With a daring, "I know, but just keep them out of my room," Adam
starts to leave but his father maintains a firm grasp on his arm.
With the decibel level rising, Ben warns, "I indulge you the rest
of
the time. But I expect you to honor my wishes and behave when
guests are in the house!"
Obstinate as always, Adam answers, "No, Pa. I won't do it."
"Adammmmmmm!"
How many times has Adam heard his father say his name in that deadly
tone? But the mountain won't budge. "I said no."
Hoss, the middle son and family peacemaker, attempts to
intercede. "Awww, come on, Adam. It cain't hurt none."
But even Hoss's words have no effect on Adam. "No, Hoss."
So the youngest in the family, Little Joe, jumps in. "Yeah, Adam.
The rest of us haftta do it every night."
Adam says calmly, "No, you don't"
Little Joe is taken aback. "We don't?"
With a wink, Adam informs him, "No."
"Heyyyy!" Little Joe gets a gleam in his eye.
"JOSEPH!" His father's admonition quickly steals that gleam away.
Ben returns his attention to his eldest. "They'll be here
tomorrow. That'll be plenty of time for you to go town and get
something. Or I'll have your brothers do it."
Adam snorts, "Sure, Pa. I can just imagine what they'd pick out."
With a guffaw, Hoss nudges Joe. "Yeah, we'll pick out somethin'
real purty, right, Joe?"
Little Joe's eyes dance as he answers, "Yeah. REAL pretty."
Adam responds drolly, "Never mind."
Ben's grip tightens on Adam's arm and Adam comments, "Pa, the
circulation in that arm was cut off two minutes ago."
Ben eyes him then loosens his hold. "I'm serious, boy. You'll obey
me in this."
The other two sons watch as the two mules in the family refuse to
budge.
Adam gathers his will and faces his father eye to eye. "No, Pa.
I'm sorry but I won't wear a nighttie"
Again the decibel level goes up. "ADAM!"
Adam yanks his arm away and heads upstairs. He stops on a step and
turns to add, "It just isn't me."
His exasperated father stand there fuming as he watches his willful
son go up the stairs.
Little Joe exchanges a look with Hoss then with devilment in his
eyes wonders, "I don't have to?" Hoss nudges him in the ribs to
be
quiet and Ben glares at his youngest son.
THE END.