HUH!
Huh! What did you just say?
Are you alright?
Ben Cartwright shook his head, then
shook it
again.
Please repeat what you just said?
You don't look at all well.
Ben pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a deep
snort.
The man in the checkered suite and striped tie
repeated his statement.
Ben drew up to his full height, towering over the
little round man.
"MY SON ADAM WHAT?
"I take that as a sign you had no prior knowledge?"
"I- I have got to sit down,"
Ben staggered drunkenly to the porch and fell into the
chair.
His Wife Marie, came racing out of the
house, a
look
on her face of utter horror, which quickly flashed
into pure fury.
"Ben did he- he tell you?"
She stuttered. Ben merely nodded feeling numb, this
can't be happening, he thought, never, not Adam, not
his Adam. He swallowed convulsively, and resolved to
hear the entire story, no matter how terrible.
Reaching up he pulled Marie close and smile weakly at
her. Turning to the stranger he huskily replied.
"Please, go ahead, tell me every thing right from the
start, leave nothing out."
After a long hesitation the man complied.
"Well, it happened like this..."
Ben shot up from his chair, knocking it over, and
almost knocking Marie over with it.
"HE WHAT!!!!!!!"
"Said he needed money real quick, for uh," The
man
paused as if debating how he should continue.
"Never mind, anyway, he was only gone a few hours,
then came back and wanted to give the money back and."
"Thats when
it all
fell apart."
The man shrugged "Guess he had a change of heart, well
the other two weren't ready to go, a small rebellion
started, Andy the flame swallower got
accidentally
bumped his torch hit the tent...Well, what can I say,
the money he returned isn't enough to cover t he
damages, the three of them caused..."
Ben hung his head.
"Are, my boys alright, is my baby hurt?" Marie managed
to get out.
"Oh yes, Mrs. Cartwright, he fine, a real little
character that one, why he had all the gals cooing and
fussing over him, he is a natural born horseman."
Marie groaned and turned rather pale.
"Might I add that that big fella has
quite a
way with
animals, why even Samson the Lion, let him give him a
hug."
"Lion! HUG?"
Marie's big green eyes got bigger.
"Well, I am sorry to ask but you see we have to get
going, we have to meet the rest of the circus troupe
and find a place to set up until a new tent can
arrive... So, uh, here are the charges..."
Ben looked down at the bill only half seeing it.
Then he came to his senses, "Yes, of coarse,
I'll just
go inside and get the cash."
"Mr. Cartwright, a check would be just fine, I am sure
that you don't always have that kind of cash on hand."
"Uh, yes, T-thank you, and whom shall I make it out
to"
Still dazed Ben walked towards his door.
"Oh, um, just make it out to P. T. Barnum... of Barnum
and Baily Circus."
Marie sat down on the porch and shook her head.
Ben came out and handed the man the check, he shook
hands with him and the man with a sympathetic smile
climbed aboard his wagon and drove out.
Ben closed his eyes for a brief moment. How! How! on
earth had... And what was he going to do when the boy
returned...
"HE SOLD HOSS AND LITTLE JOE TO THE CIRCUS!!!!!!"
Ben looked back at Marie... "I know they pester him...
and drive him crazy from time to time... but I still
can't believe Adam sold his little brothers to the
circus..."
Epilogue:
"
"YOU-"
"I-t...it.. was
for
you and Mama's Anniversary...I
arranged for you to go to
stay at that new fancy hotel...I, oh never mind..."
His young voice trailed off, Adam hung his head and
scuffed at the dirt in the barn floor....
The End