POW072
By:Javeshnev Aimee Rivera-Azua
“Adam, do not walk away from me, not like that you don’t” fumed Ben.
Adam pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, boy, was his father being stubborn, dang-blasted old-coot, why can’t he see things his way, might aswell give in, I sure won’t quit. “Pa, I’ve made my decision and whether you agree with me or not, I’m not going to budge.” Stated Adam in a most determined manner.
Hoss just stared at the altercation between his father and brother and sighed in exasperation when were these two ever going to understand each other, if he thought Joe and Adam butted heads constantly, his father wasn’t going to be out beat.
Joe was bemused by the whole situation he stood dumbfounded, it wasn’t often you would see ol’ Adam blatantly defy their father, in fact he could recall only a set number of times.
“Pa, maybe you should give Adam a break, afterall he has been working awful hard….. he doesn’t mean to sound cranky….” Joe was cut short by his father’s glare, and chose wisely to back off, he retreated himself to the settee and sat stealthily looking at the decorative carpet.
“Adam, I am not going to back off on this if you defy me, I will not let it ride! You’ll be sure to regret your intransigence for months to come!” raged Ben. “I am not about to have any son of mine be the mocking stock of society……..you will obey me or so help me I’ll make you obey me.”
“PA I’m not a little boy anymore, I’m a grown man, why don’t you just accept the fact…..I’m not about to do every single thing you say!” fumed Adam
Hoss took two steps back in an attempt to ward off the upcoming explosion, Joe sat astonished he’d never heard his brother speak to their Pa like that, only he had dared till now, and even when he had, it wasn’t a pleasant thing, he hated to disappoint his Pa; most of all he hated to cause him displeasure. He was sure Adam would be in for it now, his father had no discriminations with age or gender, you did not raise your voice to him, you did not defy him, you did not disrespect him, you did not disobey him, and you definitely above all things did not lie to him; and thus far Adam had about broken each rule except the latter, he was treading on thin ice. For sure he’d be certain if it was him his father would’ve taken a strap to him even at age eighteen; Ben Cartwright was not a man to see age as a barrier, you broke a rule there were consequences and from the stance his father was in even his thirty year-old brother was about to be reminded.
“Adam, you may not be a [little boy] but you ARE MY BOY, and if you don’t start changing that tone of voice I’ll be more than glad to remind you of YOUR STATION AS MY SON!” Stated Ben matter-of-factly. It had been years since he had to discipline his son, but if he persisted to act this irrationally he would not hesitate taking the boy out to the barn.
Adam back-stepped a few inches from his father as he brought his anger under control, he hadn’t heard his father speak to him in that manner since he was twenty-four, he soon realized he was pushing his father beyond his limits, he had overstepped the boundaries, and if he wanted to stay clear from a most discomforting position he might as well yield in this occasion, he mused pensively.
“Pa, I’m sorry……uh I don’t know what to say. You were right, but….I just
well, it’s such a confounded thing when you don’t let me tell you, I think
I have a good idea, maybe I didn’t portray it as perfectly……” Adam was interrupted
by his fathers hand upon his shoulder, “Son, I know what you mean, but I
don’t want you to do it alone, WE ARE a family and together we can accomplish
things in a set pace. If you do this alone than you are putting yourself
at risk and those you love as well. Don’t get me wrong I agree with you
even if you are acting like a hard-headed mule!” he chuckled slightly as
he felt the tension leave his son’s body. “You know you are a lot like your
brothers and I, only difference, you are unique from each of us by your
own significant attributions. Son I’m proud of you and want you to be any
which way you want, but under my house….” Ben was interrupted by a jovial
Adam, something he didn’t see very often “..your rules, yes I know Pa, all
to well ever since I WAS a BOY.” He clasped his son in a warm embrace and
Joe was wiping tears from his face as Hoss blushed at the emotional reunion
between father and son. Though there are many disturbances in our daily
lives we all must come to peace with one another to proceed.