What You Do Now Little Joe?
As told by Hop Sing
By: Lynne G.
" Hop Sing ready go back to China or find big cage
to put little boy in ! He much mischief this week !"
" Other morning Hop Sing go outside to feed chickens and get fresh
eggs while stove in kitchen get nice and hot so Hop Sing can make breakfast
for hungry Cartlight family."
" When Hop Sing come back in kitchen with basket of eggs, see big mess
in kitchen. Flour on floor, stove and all over little boy. All Hop Sing
see clean on boy, big green eyes and white teeth !"
" Then Hop Sing see smoke come from pan on stove and that not smell
good. Hop Sing run to stove to see what number three son do this time. "
" Hop Sing take pan off stove and not know what in pan, so ask little
boy what in pan. He tell Hop Sing that he make pancake. That NOT pancake
!"
" Hop Sing smack boy's little bottom with wooden spoon. Then take boy
over to sink to clean up. Hop Sing need to clean pan so can make breakfast."
" Mr. Cartlight come to kitchen when he hear little son cry and Hop
Sing shout. Hop Sing tell Mr. Cartlight what little boy do and he not pleased
that young son try to make pancake and make big mess in Hop Sing's kitchen."
" Mr. Cartlight call for number one son to come get number three son
to take out of kitchen, so Mr. Cartlight can clean up kitchen for Hop Sing
while Hop Sing clean up pan. That very nice of Mr. Cartlight to clean up
big mess for Hop Sing."
" Hop Sing very happy little boy's cats not in kitchen or they too
have flour on them too."
" Next day Hop Sing outside to hang up laundry so can get dry. Hop
Sing hear little boy giggle loud, but not see little boy in yard. That not
good when hear boy, but not see boy."
" Hop Sing follow sound of giggling to creek down hill from house,
and there boy playing in creek with cats, and little boy still have clothes
on and now all wet !"
" When little boy see Hop Sing, he give Hop Sing big smile and try
to act innocent, but he not fool Hop Sing. Cats shake water off fur and
little boy try to shake off water too, but not that get water off number
three son."
" Hop Sing ask Little Joe why he play in creek, and he tell Hop Sing
that creek call him and cats. Hop Sing shake head at answer. Little boy
come up with silly answer all time !"
" Hop Sing hear Mr. Cartlight call for young son, so Hop Sing tell
Mr. Cartlight to come to creek to find wet son. Mr. Cartlight not happy
when he see little boy all wet. It not warm day, it cold day."
" Little boy stand there look at father with tiny hands behind back
over little wet bottom. Mr. Cartlight grab little boy and carry him under
one arm, while Little Joe shout he want down."
" Mr. Cartlight swat little wet bottom while little boy continue to
wiggle under father's arm. Hop Sing just smile. Little boy much mischief."
" Little boy now yell at father and he tell father that he naughty
father for swat wet bottom. That make Hop Sing laugh softly. Little boy
not think before talk ."
" Later same day, Hop Sing hear chicken cluck in distress so Hop Sing
run outside to see why chicken sound in trouble."
" Hop Sing not believe what he see. There Little Joe holding struggling
clucking chicken in water trough. Hop Sing yell to little boy, what he do
? He tell Hop Sing chicken dirty, need bath ! Hop Sing rescue chicken, put
back in chicken pen."
" Little boy all wet again and he have feathers stuck to wet clothes.
He stand there with tiny hands behind back over little bottom and he give
Hop Sing silly little grin, and he have mischief written all over face too."
" Mr. Cartlight peek out front door to see what commotion about now.
He not happy to see young son all wet with feathers stuck to wet clothes
and hair."
" Hop Sing not think Mr. Cartlight get much bookwork done today. It
look like Mr. Cartlight want to cry."
" Other day, Hop Sing come in from garden and he hear a knock on cupboard
door. Hop Sing walk over to cupboard to see why hear knock and open door
and see little boy sitting there looking at Hop Sing with big green eyes."
" Hop Sing pull number three son out of cupboard and see he all dirty
and he have strawberry jam all over face and hands. Also jam in hair. It
good thing Hop Sing have lot of water on stove for little boy have bath."
" Hop Sing ask little boy why he knock on cupboard door and why he
all dirty and what he do now. He tell Hop Sing he knock on door to let Hop
Sing know he there. He also tell Hop Sing that he made a jam sandwich for
him and his pony."
" Hop Sing hear pony whinny and sound like come from front room. Hop
Sing look at little boy who look at floor and he put tiny hands behind back
to cover little bottom."
" Hop Sing then hear front door open then loud, ' JOSEPH ' come from
Mr. Cartlight."
" Hop Sing grab little boy and go to front room to see pony standing
there and shocked Cartlight family. Pony have jam on face, and jam on floor."
" Hop Sing tell Cartlights what happen and now little boy in big trouble.
Little bottom get more action again."
" Mr. Cartlight and Mr. Adam go and take little boy into washroom for
much needed bath while Mr. Hoss take pony out to barn, then he clean up
mess on floor."
" Hop Sing hear number three son shout that he not want bath, but he
have no choice, he need bath !"
" After number three son have bath, Mr. Cartlight take young son upstairs
to room for little discussion. Hop Sing ask Mr. Adam to make big cage for
little boy and he think that good idea."
" Mr. Cartlight come back downstairs slowly shaking his head and he
tell Hop Sing that he sorry what young son do and also for bring pony in
house. Hop Sing know that Mr. Cartlight want to cry."
" Yesterday Hop Sing find little boy digging hole by garden. Hop Sing
ask number three son why he dig big hole and he tell Hop Sing he want to
dig to China."
" Hop Sing have to laugh at funny answer. Hop Sing tell little boy
that he need really deep hole to get to China, so he keep digging. He have
little tongue sticking out of corner of mouth as he dig. At least he stay
out of Hop Sing's way while he dig very deep hole."
" Today Hop Sing hear front door open and Little Joe run in house,
slam door shut. He run into kitchen and he smile at Hop Sing and he hand
Hop Sing a flower. Then he tell Hop Sing that he love Hop Sing and he give
Hop Sing big hug too."
" That bring tears to Hop Sing's eyes. Hop Sing thank little boy for
flower and he tell boy that he love little boy very much and he give little
boy big hug back. Then number three son run back outside. Hop Sing wonder
what little boy do next."
" Hop Sing not have long to wait. Hop Sing hear little boy shout for
help, so Hop Sing run to door and go outside and see rooster chase little
boy across yard."
" Hop Sing rescue little boy and capture rooster and put back in chicken
pen.. Hop Sing ask Little Joe why rooster out of pen and chase him, and
he tell Hop Sing that rooster wanted out of pen. Hop Sing tell little boy
not to let rooster out of pen again !"
" Little boy sure keep family and Hop Sing on toes all time. When we
see little boy awake, we all know mischief on way very soon, but we all
love number three son very much. He is heart of Cartlight family and Hop
Sing family too."
The End