"Oh Hoss, I just can't believe that brother of yours."  The young
woman ranted.

Hoss continued to comb out her hair.  "Now, Miss Rosa, calm down. 
I'll get take care of that brother of mine.  But first we got ta get
this sticky stuff out of your here hair."

"AARRRGGGHHHH!!" Rosa screamed.  That boy should be horse whipped. 
I just can't believe he put this stuff in my hair.

"Well, ma'am.  I think it was intended for Adam.  Joe and Adam had
been fussin' at breakfast over who had the best hair.  I don't think
that Little Joe was plannin' on you tryin' on Adam's hat." Hoss
said, as he continued to pick through Miss Rosa's head.

Rosa started to weep as Hoss worked his magic.  Suddenly Joe
appeared in the door way, his father having a tight grip on his arm.

Joe swallowed as he looked over at this frowning father's
face.  "Uh. . .Miss Rosa, ma'am." Joe stammered.

Hoss put his arms down for a moment while Rosa turned to look at the
person whom had assaulted her hair.

"You! You. . .little . ..  scamp." Rose flew to her feet and stood
before the young man.  "Just what do you have to say for yourself?"
She asked.

Joe grinned at her wearily.  "I'm real sorry, ma'am.  I was tryin'
to pull a joke on Adam.  I didn't know you'd be tryin' on his hat."
Little Joe's voice became squeaky.

"Well you should be ashamed of yourself.  That was just a horrible
thing to do.  And poor Adam. . .having to get his hair cut.  Well
that would be just awful." The young woman lectured.  She then
turned to return to her chair so Hoss could finish his operation.

Ben stepped forward.  "I'm terribly sorry, ma'am.  I assure you that
this young man will be taken care of." He said, as he frowned at his
youngest son.

"I thought I had made it clear that he was suppose to stop all these
foolish jokes.  But for some reason this seventeen year old man
thinks he knows more than his father." Ben voice started to rise
slightly.

Joe looked down at the floor and scuffed his boot alone the rug.  "I
said, I was sorry." He defended himself.

Hoss looked over at his little brother.  "Joe, what on earth is this
stuff?  I don't reckon I've ever seen anything like it."

Joe's face lit up as he stepped over to look at Hoss' handy
work.  "Well, Mr.  Cass says it's called chewing gum."

"Chewing gum?  What in tarnation is chewing gum?" Hoss asked.

Joe pulled a small package out of his pocket.  "It's this stuff." He
said, as he pulled out a square of the gum.

He then popped it in his mouth and began chewing swiftly.  "See, ya
chew it."

Hoss frowned at him.  "Chew it?  Ya don't eat it?"

"Naw, ya just chew it." Joe said.

"Well why would anyone want something ya can't eat?  That's stuff is
useless." Hoss said, returning to the task in front of him.

"Sure it is big brother!" Joe yelled.  "It's good for sticking in
peoples hair."

Rosa turned and around and glared at Joe.  Hoss simply shook his
head.  Ben, however; grabbed Joe's arm and dragged him out of the
room.

"Well lets just see if this chewing gum can save your behind." Ben
said, as he pulled Joe down the hall.

"Paaaa. . .!" Joe yelped.

Then the voices softened as the Ben and Joe disappeared.

"Well I don't know nothin' `bout no chewin' gum." Hoss began.  "But
I know someone that's gettin' ready to get chewed up and spit out
again."

Rosa and Hoss chuckled.  They both knew that Hoss was referring to
whatever Ben was getting ready to do to his youngest brother.  Hoss
returned to the task at hand and spent several hours picking the
gummy mess out of Miss Rosa's black hair.

The End.


Gail G.

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