BROTHERS
"Let me at him, Hoss, I wanna punch that smug look right off his
face."
"Oh no you don't, shortshanks. I've jest about had enough of you
and
Adam and yer constant fightin'. And I always end up in the middle,
tryin' ta keep the pair of ya from killin' each other, or from
gettin' in strife with Pa. Ya know how much he hates it when we
fall
out. He's always tellin' us there are enough enemies outside the
door, without fightin' among ourselves. Now, cut it out, else I'm
gonna bang yer heads together, so help me I will."
"Don't involve me in the head banging exercise," said Adam.
"All I
was doing was minding my own business, as usual, and this one comes
at me, with all guns blazing. Not sure what his problem is today,
there's always something, though."
"Oh yeah, that's right, blame it all on me," said Joe,
desperately
trying to break free of the iron grip Hoss had got on him. "Leave
me
be, ya big galoot, I wanna knock his block off. It's never his
fault, according to him, and he can almost make Pa believe black is
white, the way he twists his words around. All that college seems
to
have done for him, is make him into a better liar. All that money
Pa
spent; he would have done better with it, giving it to me, I ain't
no liar."
"Oh yes, give you money to squander in town, on playing poker, on
giggly saloon girls and on get rich quick schemes, that only a
gullible kid like you would fall for," said Adam.
"I ain't no kid, so take that back, and as for being gullible,
you're talking to the wrong brother. Hoss is the gullible one, not
me. People line up in the streets to get this one to finance their
latest invention, and none of `em ever work. And I've got every
right to be mad with you. You've taken something that belongs to
me,
and I want it back."
"I resent that, Little Joe," said Hoss. "I ain't gullible, I
jest
like ta help folks, who are down on their luck, is all. And Adam
ain't that good when it comes to choosin' folks ta help out,
either.
How many times has he brought home someone, who's turned out ta be
a
wrong `un?"
"None of us are that good in picking friends, but that is not what
all this is about, is it?" said Adam. "Little Joe is out to do me
harm and I don't have a clue why. Oh, and you are a kid, whether
you
like it or not. Only 16, and not even shaving, yet, what else are
you, if you're not a kid?"
"I'm a grown man and I'm more `n capable of wiping the floor with
you, if only you'd call your bodyguard off me," said Joe, still
trying to get free. "One at a time, I can take you on, but not both
of you together. And you should already know what it is that you've
done to make me so mad. Just proves how little you care about me,
when you don't look after the things that matter to me."
"Oh, let him go, Hoss," said Adam, getting irritated with the
situation. "If he wants a thrashing that badly, I'll be more than
happy to give him one, and then, at least, there would be an end to
this. I'm getting bored with it, and I want to go and have a bath,
before I take out Sue Ellen, tonight."
"Well, you ain't having a bath, yet, cos that's what I was about to
do, when I discovered the theft. And I know it was you, cos you
were
the last one to have it."
Hoss let go of Joe, but warned him not to move.
"Stay put, young `un, I think we might be gettin' somewhere. Now,
what exactly did Adam have last, that you want now? Speak up, then
we can all go get ready fer the dance."
All eyes were on Joe and suddenly the boy felt shy about saying
what
was bothering him.
"Adam took my rubber ducky, and I don't like having a bath without
him," mumbled Joe.
"I took your what?" said Adam. "I didn't hear you."
"YOU TOOK MY RUBBER DUCKY," yelled Joe, and Hoss fell about
laughing.
"I cain't believe that you two are fightin' over a toy," said
Hoss.
Joe now wanted to hit Hoss, for laughing at him, but before he got
the chance, Ben entered the room, wearing his bathrobe and carrying
the aforementioned duck.
"Here you go, Joe, thanks for the loan. It really took me back to
my
childhood, having this little fella in the bath with me. Tub's
free,
your turn, son."
THE END
Little Joe forever
Lynne
Feb 2005