The Word

By Beth Green

Joe Cartwright was having one of those days when everything was going his way. The weather was perfect, his chores were done, and he'd finally managed to break in the new horse that’d been fighting him for the past week. It was one of those days when he felt he could get away with doing whatever happened to strike his fancy. 

He decided to be a little daring as he strolled into the house. He began whistling a certain tune he'd learned from a saloon girl in town. Even though he wasn't singing the actual words, he suspected that his Pa was well familiar with the song, as well as its bawdy lyrics. In mid-tune, he suddenly realized that his good luck had come to an end.

Ben Cartwright stood with his arms folded, wearing his "You're in trouble, boy," glare. It didn't take the sternly voiced "Joseph!" for Joe to know that he was in for a scolding.

Putting on his best innocent expression, he questioned, "Pa? Is something wrong?"

His Pa's brow wrinkled, his frown deepening. His accusing voice declared, "As if you didn't know!"

Maintaining his virtuous air, Joe replied, "Know what?"

"Do you happen to recall a conversation we had, let me see, was it. . .yesterday?"

Joe paused a moment in thought. He was now genuinely confused. He sure couldn't remember having said or done anything today that would get his Pa all riled up about something they'd talked about yesterday. Finally, he
decided that he should just admit that he hadn't the faintest idea as to why his Pa might be upset.

"I don't know, Pa; we talked about a lot of things yesterday. I really can't recollect a whole lot of details."

Still trying to prod his youngest son's memory, Pa persisted, "Maybe you could at least remember a certain *word* that was discussed?"

Joe tried mightily, almost speaking a time or two as a notion occurred to him. But, ultimately, he remained silent, not able to figure out what his Pa was going on about.

Pa tapped his foot impatiently, obviously upset over Joe's lack of ability to recall. His voice increased in volume with each word, as he prompted, "You mean to tell me, that when I told you and your brothers that I never wanted
to hear a certain word said ever again, just one little word, you don't even remember what that word was?!"

Joe cringed at his Pa's last words, which were practically yelled in his face. He suddenly took great interest in the toe of his boot as it scuffed along the floor. He mumbled, "No, Pa, I guess I don't."

His Pa continued, the disgust evident in his voice. "Of course you don't, or I wouldn't have heard you yelling the word not ten minutes ago, when you rode into the yard!"

Joe could see the effort it took for his Pa to rein in his temper, but he eventually managed to do so. "Anyway, seeing as I really don't ever, EVER, want to hear the word again, I guess I'm going to have to say it one more time."

"The word that I heard you yell, loud enough to shake the rafters, was. . ."  His Pa paused, obviously reluctant to repeat it. So quiet that Joe could barely hear it, Pa hissed, "Yahoo."

Joe looked up with a half smile, his eyes sparkling, as the memory resurfaced. "Oh, yeah! *That* word! I thought it was something awful."

His Pa replied, "It is something awful. You must trust me on this, Joseph. Promise me, I won't hear that word come out of your mouth ever again."

Joe cheerily agreed. "Sure, Pa.” Less sincerely than his Pa may have liked,  Joe added, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
 

*****End*****

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