" The Thunder Storm "

By:  Lynne G.

 


 
It had been a lonely week for five year old Little Joe as his father and two older brothers were away on a two week cattle drive.
 
Little Joe had tried his very best and used all the charm he had to plead with his father, Ben Cartwright to let him go on the cattle drive too, but Ben told him no because he was so little and much too young for a long cattle drive yet.
 
It broke Ben's heart to see all those tears running down the his little boy's face and that extremely sad look on the sweet little face as well.
 
 Both Adam and Hoss felt sorry for their baby brother, but they also knew that a cattle drive was not safe for a five year little boy.
 
Hop Sing did his best to cheer up the little boy after the rest of the family had left earlier that morning.  He had Little Joe help him make his favorite cookies which helped cheer up the child.
 
Little Joe loved to help make cookies.  His favorite part of making cookies was eating the cookie dough, and then eating the freshly baked cookies right after they came out of the oven.
 
Hop Sing made a lot of cookies every week because ' his ' family loved cookies so much.  Hop Sing loved to eat cookies too,  but he never did tell that to the Cartwrights, but Little Joe knew that Hop Sing loved cookies too.
 
As the days went on, Hop Sing found many things to help keep Little Joe busy.  They went fishing one afternoon.  Little Joe was an excellent fisherman for his age, and soon both Hop Sing and Little Joe had caught enough fish for their dinner that night.
 
Little Joe also had fun playing in the water.  His older brothers had been teaching this very active five year old how to swim and the little boy was like a fish in the water.
 
Hop Sing kept a very close eye on the child as he swam in the water, and he got a big kick out of watching Little Joe playing like he was fish and a boat.
 
Finally it was time to go back home, so Hop Sing called the child out of the water so he could get him dried off and dressed.
 
Little Joe took a nap while Hop Sing did a few things before he started to get their dinner ready.  After an hour, Hop Sing decided that it was time for Little Joe to get up or he wouldn't be sleepy at bedtime.
 
" Hi Hop Sing, I sure dun had fun at the lake.  Didja have fun too?" Little Joe asked as he kept yawning and rubbing his eyes.  " Yes, Hop Sing have good time at lake.  Hop Sing love to be with little boy very much.  It time for dinner now," Hop Sing replied as he smiled at the little boy.
 
A couple of days later, Hop Sing told Little Joe," as soon as little boy eat breakfast, we go to town to get supplies and if little boy be good, then I get you candy," Hop Sing suggested.
 
" I be a really good boy fer ya Hop Sing !" the excited    child declared as he ate the rest of his breakfast and he also finished his glass of milk too.  That made Hop Sing happy.
 
After Hop Sing had washed Little Joe's face and hands, they quickly did the dishes, then headed off to Virginia City.
 
As Hop Sing drove the buckboard, Little Joe looked up at Hop Sing and with a big sigh, he sadly asked,  " Hop Sing, how much longer till Papa, Adam and Hoss come home ?  I miss em so much."
 
Hop Sing looked down at the sad looking little boy beside him, and he smiled and said, " Hop Sing know Little Joe miss family.  They be home next week.  Hop Sing know that they miss little boy very much too."
 
" That's a long time till next week Hop Sing," Little Joe sadly said as he started to get tears in his eyes and he looked down so Hop Sing couldn't see his tears.
 
Hop Sing felt so bad for the little boy.  He hated to see any of his family so sad especially Little Joe.  " Not really that long till next week.  Hop Sing and Little Joe have fun and make time go by fast.  You see," Hop Sing told the child hoping to cheer him up a little.
 
 Little Joe nodded back, and gave Hop Sing a little smile back.
 
As Hop Sing and Little Joe entered the store, Tom Cass the owner of the store smiled at them and said, " Good morning Hop Sing, Little Joe.  How are you both doing today?"
 
" Good morning to you too Mr. Cass.  We are doing fine.  Thank you for asking," Hop Sing replied.
 
" Mornin' Mr. Cass.  I's fine too.  How is ya?" Little Joe asked.  " I'm doing just fine Little Joe.  It is good to see you.  I see you came to help Hop Sing today," Tom said as he smiled at the little boy who was wearing his deputy badge, his holster with his wooden gun and he also had his handcuffs on him as well.
 
" I's sure is.  I get some candy too if'n Imma good boy.  I'm always a good boy ya know Mr. Cass," Little Joe seriously said.  Tom smiled and looked up at Hop Sing and he winked at Hop Sing who smiled back. 
 
" I'm very happy to hear that you are a good boy son.  I know your father sure must appreciate that," Tom told the child.  " Yup, he sure does," Little Joe responded with a big smile on his face.
 
Hop Sing handed Tom his list and he told Little Joe to point to the candy he wanted so Tom could get their order ready.
 
"We be back in a little while.  Hop Sing have more to do in town.  Thank you Mr. Cass," Hop Sing said, as he and Little Joe walked out of the store.  " Take your time Hop Sing.  I'll have everything ready and loaded up for you when you get back," Tom told Hop Sing.  " Thank you," Hop Sing said again.
 
Hop Sing and Little Joe headed over to the mail office to pick up the mail.  It had been over a week since the mail had been picked up, so Hop Sing knew that there would be a large stack of mail waiting for them.
 
After they had left the mail office with a very large stack of mail that Brad had put into a sack so it would be easier for Hop Sing to carry while he held onto Little Joe's hand.
 
On their way back to the back to the store, they ran into Sheriff Roy Coffee.  " Hi Hop Sing, Little Joe.  I see my little deputy has on his badge, holster and gun and handcuffs.
 
" Hi Sheriff Coffee.  It good to see you again," Hop Sing greeted.  " Hi ya Sheriff Coffee.  I gotta be ready at all times cuz ya never know when them bad mens will come.  I have ta purtected Hop Sing on our way ta town, in town and on our way home too, Little Joe explained to Roy.
 
" Hop Sing feel very safe with little deputy with me," Hop Sing told Roy as he winked at Roy.
 
" You are very lucky to have your very own deputy Hop Sing.  I certainly made a good choice in having Little Joe for a deputy.  He is the best deputy I have ever had," Roy proudly said as he smiled.
 
Little Joe puffed out his little chest feeling so proud of himself.  " Yup, Imma a good deputy alright !" the little boy happily declared.  After saying their ' good byes ' to Roy, Hop Sing and Little Joe  continued on their way back to the store.
 
On their way back home, Hop Sing noticed the sky was beginning to get a very stormy look to it.  He knew that they were in for a nasty thunder storm later that day. 
 
Little Joe helped Hop Sing unload the buckboard which made Hop Sing smile.
 
" You are good helper for Hop Sing.  Hop Sing much appreciate little boy helping," Hop Sing said.  " Fank ya Hop Sing.  I try my bested at all times," the boy declared.
 
After the buckboard was unloaded and all the supplies put away, one of the hands told Hop Sing that he would take care of the horses and buckboard.  Hop Sing was very grateful for that.
 
The storm still hadn't hit, so Hop Sing was happy about that.  After he and Little Joe had eaten their lunch, Hop Sing put Little Joe down for his nap.  Hop Sing took that time to get some of his chores done, and he also brought in a good supply of wood for the fireplace and cookstove.
 
As Hop Sing was cooking dinner, it started to get windy outside.  Hop Sing walked out the back door and looked up at the sky which was getting darker and more angry looking.  He knew that the storm would be a bad one.
 
By the time Hop Sing had got Little Joe up from his nap so they could have their dinner, it was pouring down rain and the winds were whipping through the mighty pine trees, and it was getting colder as the storm was starting to get stronger.
 
After dinner Little Joe helped Hop Sing with the dishes.  When he had finished helping Hop Sing, the little boy walked towards the livingroom with a cookie in his hand, when he heard a very loud blast of thunder which startled the child and he screamed in terror.
 
Hop Sing rushed out to the livingroom as soon as he heard the little boy scream.  " It ok.  Only thunder storm.  Hop Sing keep Little Joe safe," Hop Sing told the scared boy.
 
Thunder storms made Hop Sing a little nervous too, but he knew he had to stay calm for Little Joe.  He took the little boy over to the settee and they sat down in front of the fire in the fireplace.  Little Joe quickly ate his cookie.
 
The blasts of thunder were louder than usual, and it was raining so hard that it sounded like a waterfall hitting the roof of the large cozy log home.  Hop Sing was glad that he had brought so much extra wood in the house earlier that afternoon.  It looked like he and Little Joe were in for a long stormy night.  The blasts of thunder seemed to shake the house with each blast, while the lightning lit up the house with bright flashes of light.
 
Little Joe was so scared that his little body was trembling badly and he had tears running down his face.  He was afraid of the strong winds that were howling through the pine trees as he thought that they would blow the house down.
 
Even though there was a nice fire burning in the fireplace, it still felt rather cool in the house as the storm raged on.
 
Hop Sing had brought out a large warm quilt that he wrapped around Little Joe and himself to help keep them warmer.  Hop Sing had his arm around a trembling little Joe.
 
Everytime there was a loud blast of thunder, Little Joe would whimper and almost jump out of Hop Sing's arms.  Hop Sing kept trying to reassure Little Joe that they would be just fine.
 
As it got later, the storm continued to rage.  Hop Sing knew that he had never seen a storm as bad as the one that they were having this night.  He hoped and prayed that the storm wouldn't do any damage to the house and barn.
 
Hop Sing decided to tell Little Joe some stories about when he was a boy in China and about his trip from China to San Francisco.
 
" When Hop Sing grow up in China, Hop Sing's family had a rice farm.  We grew lots of rice.  My mother also have large vegetable garden too.  We sell some vegetables and rice in town."
 
" Some of Hop Sing's family have stores and own laundry shops.  Make good living.  It hard work, but it worth it."
 
" We have lot of bad storms, just like we have now.  Hop Sing like Little Joe, scared of thunder storms.  My mother tell Hop Sing that she keep Hop Sing safe, just like Hop Sing tell Little Joe that he keep him safe too, " Hop Sing said.
 
" Hop Sing, why does them storms gotta be so loud?  It scares me," Little Joe softly asked.
 
" Hop Sing mother tell Hop Sing when he little boy, that God makes thunder loud to bring family together in house.  She tell Hop Sing that God beats a big drum very loud, and that what thunder is.  Lightning is to let people know that God getting ready to beat big drum, " Hop Sing explained.
 
Little Joe looked up at Hop Sing with big questioning eyes.  " Hop Sing, why does it gotta rain so hard when it funders?"
 
" It rain so hard to help water all plants, and trees.  It also help wash the air clean too," Hop Sing told the child.
 
A thoroughly confused Little Joe couldn't understand how air could get dirty.  " Hop Sing how does the air get dirty?"  Hop Sing knew that he needed to come up with some kind of answer for that question.
 
" Well, when it get dry outside and the wind blow, it blow the dirt in the air, and when we have fire in fireplace, the smoke from fire go in the air.  Also smoke from cookstove and camp fires make smoke go in air too.  When it rain, that washes all the dirt and smoke from air and make it clean," Hop Sing explained.  " Oh," Little Joe replied.
 
 
Little Joe was enjoying all of the stories Hop Sing was telling him, but he was still extremely scared of the storm.  Even though he getting sleepy, he was too scared to sleep.
 
The storm seemed to take forever to end, but as it neared morning, the storm was finally starting to settle down and it soon stopped.
 
As he listened, Hop Sing realized that the storm was finally over.  With a big smile on his face, Hop Sing said, " Little Joe, Hop Sing think storm over.  Listen it only rain now !"
 
Little Joe could only hear the rain now, and he was very relieved that the storm was over too.  " I sure does hope it's over Hop Sing," the child said.
 
Neither Hop Sing or Little Joe had had any sleep during the night because of the storm.
 
Hop Sing and Little Joe got up from the settee and walked over to the front door.  Hop Sing opened the door and they went out on the porch to have a look at the barn and the yard.  The yard looked like a big dirty lake as there was water standing everywhere.
 
An excited Little Joe squealed when he saw all the water in yard.  " Hop Sing, can I please go and play in the water?"
 
" Hop Sing think little boy need to eat breakfast first before play in water," Hop Sing suggested.  Little Joe nodded.  Hop Sing knew that soon Little Joe would be soaking wet and muddy from playing in the yard.
 
Usually Hop Sing didn't like it when Little Joe got so dirty and wet, but he wanted the little boy to have some too.
 
After breakfast Hop Sing put Little Joe's boots on him and let him go outside.  Luckily the rain had stopped.
 
Little Joe was having a blast playing in the water covered yard.  He was jumping up and down in the water and splashing water in every direction.
 
He would bend over and put his tiny hands in the water and make waves.  He slipped and fell in the water several times as the muddy water was quite slippery.
 
He would sit in the water and and move his legs up and down which was making him giggle loudly.  All the hands were getting a big kick out of watching the little boy having a great time in the muddy water.
 
Little Joe thought it was great fun to roll over and over in the water.  Several times he would lay on his stomach and just kick his little legs in the muddy water and move his arms as if he were trying to swim.
 
As Hop Sing did his housework, he could hear loud giggling coming from the yard.  He walked over to the door to check on Little Joe and he just shook his head when he saw the little boy trying to swim in the muddy water.
 
" Little boy make big mess, but he having fun time.  Look like he need bath before lunch time and nap," Hop Sing said to himself.
 
Hop Sing had some vegetable beef soup heating on the stove along with plenty of hot water for Little Joe's bath.  He had also put some clean clothes in the washroom for the little boy after his bath.
 
When Hop Sing went to the front door to tell Little Joe it was time to come in for lunch, it was pouring down rain again, but the little boy didn't care at all.  He was having too much fun playing in the water and he was soaking wet anyway.
 
" Little Joe, it time to come in for lunch," Hop Sing shouted.  Little Joe looked over towards Hop Sing, and slowly began to walk towards Hop Sing.  He was very tired from playing all morning in the yard and plus he didn't sleep at all the night before because of the storm.
 
" Hi ya Hop Sing.  Wanna come and play wiv me in water?  It sure is lots of fun !" the child declared.
 
" No, Hop Sing not want to play in water.  Little Joe need to have bath before lunch and nap.  You go into washroom by back door.  That way you not make mess in house," Hop Sing suggested.
 
" Ok," the little boy said.  He really wanted to play longer in the yard, but he was sleepy.  So off he went towards the backdoor and the washroom.
 
As soon as Little Joe was in the washroom, Hop Sing got him undressed and into the tub, and he started to bathe the little boy.
 
" Did you have fun in yard Little Joe ?" Hop Sing asked.  " Yup I sure dun did.  It is fun rollin' in that muddy water Hop Sing.  I dun tried ta swim, but couldn't go no where.  Wasn't deep enough."
 
" It was fun ta run and then go a sliddin' on my tummy in the water.  I gotta slide 'cross the whole yard !" the child told Hop Sing in between yawns.
 
It took awhile, but Hop Sing was finally able to get Little Joe all clean again.  He picked up the little boy and wrapped in him up in a warm towel.  He soon had him dried and dressed in clean clothes.
 
After Little Joe had eaten all of his lunch, he fell asleep at the table.  Hop Sing had come back out of the kitchen with some cookies for the little boy, when he noticed that the child was sound to sleep.
 
" Little Joe very tired little boy.  He play hard today, now he sleep for while," Hop Sing said softly.  He put the plate of cookies on the table, picked up Little Joe and carried him upstairs to his room for a nice long nap.
 
After Hop Sing had laid Little Joe on his bed, he covered the little boy up with a quilt.  Hop Sing sat down on the side of the bed, and he ran his fingers through Little Joe's soft curly hair.  He gave the child a kiss and softly said, " You get good sleep little one.  You very tired.  Hop Sing Love Little Joe very much."
 
After Hop Sing had left Little Joe's room, he emptied the tub and cleaned it.  Then he did up the lunch dishes and he went to his room for a nap as he was sleepy from not sleeping the night before because of the storm.
 
Before he fell asleep, Hop Sing thanked God for keeping Little Joe, himself and the ranch safe during the big thunder storm.
 
The End.

 

 

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