As sudden as she had come, so sudden Abigail Jones had disappeared again. Hereby had the school board a big problem. That’s why chairman Andrew Larson decided to consult the Cartwrights about whom should be teaching the children.
The eldest Cartwright boy got to hear from his twins Mitch and Pam that there was no teacher anymore. Like each weekday he had brought them to school but yet before he was at home they caught up with him.
“You aren’t playing truant again, are you?”, Adam asked amazed.
“No, because there is no school and no Missy Ab. she has moved because her house is empty too”, said Mitch.
“She probably has moved because she finally saw in that she won’t make a chance by you”, Pam remarked.
“Very funny Pam. But you are still liable to compulsory education”, replied her father.
“You can teach us though? You did that too when I just had to go to school”, reacted Mitch.
“If I do it I am just as strict for you as for the other children”, warned Adam.
The twins nodded. Together they rode back home.
When arriving Adam saw Andrew already waiting.
“Adam, I assume that your kids have told you everything already?”, asked Andrew.
“That Miss is away and that they have no teacher anymore. Mitch already suggested that I take over her job”, replied Adam.
“That is a possibility. You know that the children are not easy but also that they want to listen to you”, said Andrew.
“Yes, but even my own children don’t always listen to me. Let alone a class full”, reacted Adam.
“That your kids don’t listen to you is a cause by their Uncles. We go inside talking about it with your father. He must be able to miss you for a couple of weeks”, said Andrew.
“That will be so but then Hoss and Joe must work a bit harder. but that is also good for them for a change”, Adam remarked dry.
He dismounted and his children too.
“You bring your horses to the stable and take care of them”, Adam said to them.
Adam and Andrew went inside the ranch house where the father of Adam, Ben Cartwright, was reading the newspaper. He directly folded up the newspaper and put it on the salon-table.
“Andrew, what brings you here?”, asked the rancher.
“The school is having no teacher. Your grandchildren are also at home already”, said Andrew.
“Is Miss Jones ill?”, Ben asked amazed.
“No, there is much better news. She has moved for good. she has even taken her mother along”, replied Adam.
“That is indeed good news. Do you want that Adam will teach the children?”, asked the rancher.
“If Adam wants it himself too and you can miss him for a few weeks”, said Andrew.
“We have enough men here to work so he has my permission. What do you say Adam?”, asked Ben.
“I do it. then perhaps I can help Mitch a bit better”, said Adam.
At the stable Hoss and Little Joe were busy with cleaning up.
“Look Pam, our Uncles are finally doing something. You tell the newspaper, then I will announce it to daddy”, Mitch said teasing.
They both laughed but the remark of Mitch wasn’t appreciated by their Uncles.
Hoss looked at them and asked amazed, “Mustn’t you go to school like each school day?”
“How can we get lessons when here is no teacher? Miss Jones had moved due to a broken heart. She finally saw the light that she will never get daddy”, replied Pam.
“Who will be teaching then? Your father?”, asked Little Joe.
“I hope not because then he will be watching me extra good”, replied Mitch.
“He can help you some more with reading and writing”, said Hoss.
“Miss Jones never helped me and gave me bad marks on purpose. Even though she knew that I have trouble with reading and writing”, reacted the boy.
“Be glad that she is away”, said Little Joe.
“We are that too but Patty Jenkins claims that we two have teased her away”, his niece reacted.
At that moment Adam came to them with the announcement, “From tomorrow you will getting lessons from me. This afternoon you are free while I go and tell it the children.”
“Can grandpa miss you at the ranch as a working hand?”, chuckled Mitch.
“Yes, and that means that your two Uncles over there must work harder than they can afford to”, Adam replied teasing.
“Very funny Adam”, Little Joe said indignant.
Adam went away, leaving with a quiet heart his children with his brothers behind.
Tuesday morning.
All children had come to school including the new teacher. At the schoolyard Mitch and Pam were the center point of all attention.
“Why must your father actually teach us? My mother can do it much better and only because she is a woman”, said Patty.
“Because my father has done it already before. Besides, Mr Larson asked him first”, said Mitch.
“You always get favored”, snapped Patty.
“Really not. That you and your little brother are such little pain the necks are we cannot help that”, reacted Pam.
“Sis, I will tell you once again. You mustn’t praise them so because you insult the other little pain in the necks”, Mitch added a little something to it.
Fortunately Adam just came near and he said, “Inside and go and sit at your place.”
The children ran inside and went to sit at their place.
Adam took his place too, looked around the class and said, “I am now your teacher and decide what the rules are. That are these:
There will be no speaking before I have given permission to do so.
Brutality gets rewarded with punishment.
Not made homework gets rewarded with punishment too unless you have a good reason for it for not making it.
Who wants to say something holds up his hand.”
Patrick asked, “Dear Mr Cartwright, I want to have confirmed from you that you will not favor Mitch and Pam because they are your children?”
“Don’t do so hypocritical polite because you are never that way”, reacted Mitch.
“Mitch, it is alright. I know Patrick and Patty unfortunately all their lives and too how they are in reality.
Even though Pam and Mitch are my children, I really don’t favor them. we are going to start with the lessons. Get your math book and go ahead with where you was on Friday”, replied Adam.
The children went to work and Adam noticed quite soon that his son was very much behind with the rest of the class. Because Mitch and Pam were sitting in front Adam could keep an eye on them better than ever. With much angelic patience and clear examples Adam explained everything to his son which the boy didn’t understand.
Also because Adam had to teach his own children and didn’t favor them the lessons at school became more fun and variated.