week144

SOUND OF MUSIC
by
Lynne C.


"Ya want us ta do what, Cousin Muley?" said Hoss

"Enter the singing competition, at the Fourth of July picnic."

"But I cain't sing."

"Well, no, I know you can't, but what I was thinking was that you,
Cousin Adam and Cousin Joe could provide the music, and I'll do the
singing. The prize money'll be enough to get me to San Francisco."

"Pa's already said he'll pay fer your ticket, so there's no need ta
fret about that."

"I know he did, but I'd rather earn it myself, and this way I can.
I've got a pretty powerful voice, and I reckon I stand a good chance
of winning."

"I can understand ya wantin' ta earn the money fer your trip, Cousin
Muley, but that voice of yourn is a mite too powerful. It's already
got you in a heap of trouble, in town."

"I'll tone it down, a bit, and anyway, the picnic's not held in town,
so I won't be near any windows or anything I can break. Talk to your
brothers, Cousin Hoss. If I win, I can be on a stage the next day;
that thought might encourage `em to agree."

"I'll ask, but I ain't sure they'll go fer it. I mean, I ain't that
good, yet, on the fiddle, and Joe can only jest get a tune you can
recognise, outta his harmonica. The only one of us who is any good, is
Adam, on that guitar of his."

"But it'll be fun, and quite a novelty, three brothers and their
cousin, making up a music group."

Hoss thought about it and decided that it might be fun, so put forward
the suggestion to his brothers, when they were all together, in the
barn, later that day.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Hoss," said Adam. "Muley's voice has
caused an awful lot of damage."

"Yeah, in town it has, but what damage can he do, in the middle of a
field?" said Hoss. "And if he wins that money, he'll be on a stage,
bound fer San Francisco, the next mornin' and you'd be glad about
that, wouldn't ya?"

"Well, his visit has been a bit of a trial, for all of us," said Adam.
"And he has refused Pa's offer of the fare, saying he'd rather earn
it. And I know he's anxious to start his singing career in San
Francisco. All right, if it's going to be a way of helping him achieve
his goal in life, then count me in."

"And me," said Joe. "Pa's not wanted any of us to go to town, since
Muley arrived, in case he's wanted to go along, and I'm starved of
female company. I bet Susie will be taking up with someone else, if I
don't pay her some attention, soon."

"I swear that the gals you go out with are as fickle as you are,
little brother," said Hoss. "If she really cared about ya, like Bessie
Sue does about me, she'd wait `til you were able to see her, not go
off with another fella."

"Bessie Sue only remains so faithful, because no one else is man
enough to take her on," said Adam. "She's one heck of an armful."

"She sure is," said Hoss, getting all dreamy-eyed.


The boys told Muley their decision, and he was so delighted that when
he slapped Little Joe on the back, by way of showing his appreciation,
he nearly knocked the youngest Cartwright to the floor. Only Hoss
putting out his arm, saved Joe from a nasty fall.

Ben wasn't that keen on the idea.

"Cousin Muley's singing has been a real problem for us, boys. Are you
sure this is such a good idea?"

"If we can control it, by accompanying him, and making sure he keeps
the volume down to an acceptable level, then I think he stands a good
chance of winning," said Adam. "It will mean he can head off for San
Francisco, the very next day, and so he will be gone by the time you
have another meeting with the Indian agent."

"I certainly don't want Muley around when the agent is here," said
Ben. "Last time, Muley almost caused a war. All right, you boys enter
the competition with him and let's hope you win."


For the next few days, the Ponderosa echoed to the sound of music, as
the boys and Muley practised their song. Ben insisted that they went
quite a distance from the house, before they allowed Muley to sing, as
he didn't want any more broken windows.

Adam wasn't that happy with Hoss and Joe's rendition of the chosen
song. Being a perfectionist, he wanted them to practise much more than
either Hoss or Joe were prepared to do.

"We're doing fine, Adam," said Joe. "All this playing is making me dry
and I can't even go into town for a beer. It's only an amateur
contest, it's not like we're gonna be up against anyone that good. Mrs
McFadden will play the piano, badly, little Ellie May Jones will ruin
whatever song she sings; I don't know why her mother insists that she
has such a great voice, she must be tone deaf, and ole Jonesy will
probably sing something operatic, and send everyone to the beer tent."

"That doesn't matter," said Adam. "If we are going to do this, I want
us to give the best performance we can."

"And we will, doncha fret about that, brother," said Hoss.

"Well, let's run through it, one more time, please," said Adam. "The
picnic's tomorrow and so this will be our last rehearsal."

"Okay, big brother, if you insist," said Joe, and they all began to play.

Adam winced, several times, when first Joe, and then Hoss, hit some
bum notes, but even he had to admit that the overall sound was pretty
good.

"Not bad, so I think we ought to quit now, while we're ahead."

"Thank goodness for that," said Joe. "My lips are going numb and I
need `em in tip top condition so's I can do some kissing with Susie at
the dance tomorrow night."

"I wouldn't let Pa hear ya talkin' `bout kissin', shortshanks, else
he'll be keepin' a very close eye on you, all day," said Hoss.

"Oh, I doubt if Pa would object to a few kisses, Hoss. He was young,
once, you know, and he's always been fond of women," said Joe. "He
knows how irresistible girls find me, so would understand."

"Maybe Pa might understand, but Susie's folks wouldn't," said Adam.
"So you behave yourself."

Joe just rolled his eyes and said nothing.


The day of the Fourth of July picnic dawned fine and clear, but by the
time they were going to start the talent contest, the sky was rather
overcast and a strong breeze was whipping up the grass in the meadow.
It was decided that they should adjourn to the church hall and hold
the contest there.
Adam tried to dissuade the judges, but they were adamant that the
weather was too inclement for them to stay outside.

As they made their way to the hall, Adam stressed upon Muley the need
for him to keep his voice at a reasonable level.

"Don't worry, Cousin Adam, I will. I wanna win this contest, just as
much as you do."

Things started off, reasonably well, but as Muley relaxed and got into
the chorus of the song, his voice became louder, and he was soon
drowning out his cousins' musical accompaniment.
Adam tried to get Muley's attention, but the man was lost in his
singing and ignored all Adam's entreaties.
Before long, the windows in the hall began to break. Several members
of the audience drew their guns, thinking they were under attack, and
this caused some of the ladies to start screaming, and sent them
running for the doors. Chaos ensued and the contest was abandoned, as
those who went outside were soon soaked to the skin, by the rain that
was falling, and so decided to head for home.

The Cartwright brothers and Cousin Muley ended up with a bill for the
damages, and so Muley had to stay on the Ponderosa, for a bit longer,
so that he could work off his share. Joe was unable to attend the
dance, as he had to hand over the money he had for the tickets and to
buy dinner for him and Susie, in order to pay his share of the broken
windows. Hoss and Adam were still able to go, as they had more money
with them, than Joe had. However, Adam's date had sprained her ankle
when trying to get out of the church hall, and so was unable to dance.
And Bessie Sue made Hoss spend the evening searching for her prize
bull, which had been tethered up outside the hall, after taking part
in the livestock competition and had broken free, when spooked by the
sound of breaking glass.

The only one who had a good time was Ben. As Joe said, their father
certainly did enjoy the company of women and he had his choice of
partners, who all saw the patriarch of the Ponderosa as a good catch.

THE END

Little Joe forever
Lynne
August 19th 2005

 

 

 

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