CHANGE OF ADDRESS

It was once again that time. Hoss and Little Joe Cartwright sat in the nick. That wasn’t even so bad but the way that their elder brother Adam got to hear the news. That came from his son Mitch who was a witness of how his uncles got arrested by sheriff Roy Coffee.

Before Hoss and Little Joe lost their temporary freedom the brothers were with their nephew in the area of the Blood of Bucket Saloon.

“You do have to stay outside because you have promised daddy to look after me as long as he is at the bank”, six year old Mitch said.

“And why may we not go inside of you?”, asked Hoss.

“Because I am not allowed to come into the saloon. Besides, you always play with false cards”, was the answer.

The brothers looked at each other.

“Joe, sometimes I really can’t understand why this lad here is so beloved at the Ponderosa. When we have a good time he can spoil it with just 1 remark”, said Hoss.

“Unfortunately he looks like his father far too much”, reacted Little Joe.

“It could have been worse”, said Mitch.

“How do you mean?”, asked Little Joe.

“I could have looked like you far too much. But that is a totally disaster”, replied the youngest Cartwright.

The brothers sighted deep. Then they looked at each other and they thought the same thing.

“Mitchy, are you thirsty?”, asked Hoss.

“A bit yeah”, the boy confessed.

“We too so why don’t you go and get us something to drink?”, asked Little Joe.

“I may not come in to the saloon but you do”, reacted Mitch.

Reluctantly brothers went inside to remain there for a while. Quietly Mitch looked around him and saw suddenly his father coming.

“Kid, where are your uncles?”, Adam asked worried.

“They are inside. They were thirsty and actually wanted that I got something to drink for them. But you said to me that I may not come into a saloon so they went”, his son replied.

“Nice. You just keep here waiting because I still have to be at the bank. When you see the sheriff you say that he must arrest your uncles for neglecting a poor boy”, said Adam.

Mitch nodded and played the game along. Adam went back to the bank.

Suddenly sheriff Roy Coffee walked by and he recognized the youngest Cartwright offspring.

“Hello boy, what are you doing here?”, asked Roy.

“Hello sheriff, I am waiting here for my uncles but they remain in the saloon all the time”, said Mitch.

At that moment Hoss and Little Joe came out again.

“Hello Roy. Is our nephew bothering you again?”, Hoss asked cheerful.

“No, he never does that. He just told me that you have left him here behind. That is neglecting”, replied Roy.

“We only have left him behind for a moment. But we will behave very well from now on”, promised Little Joe.

“Shall I go to the newspaper to have that printed?”, Mitch asked teasing.

Roy found it a nice remark but the Cartwright brothers of course didn’t. The sheriff walked on and left the Cartwrights alone.

“Joe, we must show Mitchy how you must get on with elderly people. There stands that old lady, Julia Baker”, said Hoss.

They walked to her. Hoss and Little Joe went to stand each at her side and gave her an arm.

“Easy Mrs Baker. We will help you crossing the street safely”, Little Joe said kind-hearted.

Julia kicked heavily but came with the support of the brothers to the other side.

“Bunch of mules! I didn’t have to go to the other side at all”, she said snappy.

She hit the brothers with her umbrella where after the brothers ran to their nephew. Mitch was rolling on the floor laughing and saw again Roy coming. But Julia came too.

“Sheriff, you must arrest these two for mistreating an old poor lady. They helped me crossing the street while I didn’t even had to be there”, said Julia.

“That is it. Hoss and Joe Cartwright, you are under arrest for bothering innocent people. Come along!”, said Roy.

Mitch saw how his uncles got taken away. The boy decided to warn his father.

Cheerful he walked to the bank where Adam just came out.

“Kid, what has happened?”, asked Adam.

“Your brothers have moved from the Ponderosa to the nick”, replied his son.

Adam sighted deep and knew enough. They walked to the prison where Hoss and Little Joe were in the cell. Adam left Mitch by Roy and went to his brothers.

“And what have you been up to now again?”, asked Adam.

“We only helped Julia Baker to the other side and then she began to slap us”, said Hoss.

“I don’t help no more old ladies”, sighted Little Joe.

“Mitch told me that you have moved. Shall I take care of the change of addresses?”, Adam asked teasing.

“What is that just a annoying lad! And he has that all from you”, groaned Little Joe.

“Must I help you out or not?”, asked Adam.

“If you want that pa gets angry because we are in here due to your son, I would go home now with Mitchy”, said Hoss.

“It will be a lot more quieter if you live here. I believe that Hop Sing has roasted pig on the menu tonight”, replied Adam.

Hoss got hungry right away and said excited, “Adam Cartwright, get us out of here! Now!”

Adam sighted and replied, “If you want that. I am not in charge but Roy is.”

“It is a good thing that Clem is away. He would put us on water and bread”, reacted Little Joe.

“That is also a nice menu for you”, his eldest brother suggested.

“Adam, if you want to help getting our freedom back say the two Roy that we meant well”, begged Hoss.

Then Mitch came to them.

“Mrs Baker just came in with a delicious strawberry cake. There are still 2 pieces left for us. There is coffee too”, he said.

“Boys, why don’t you make it yourself comfortable? I am going to eat my piece of the cake and Mitch his”, said Adam.

He grabbed the hand of his offspring and they left the cells. Hoss and Little Joe were now even more indignant than they already were.

“Joe, we never take Mitchy to town again. The child only makes sure that we end up in trouble”, said Hoss.

In the office Roy asked, “As soon as you and Mitch have finished the cake I let those 2 free. Or do you think that they are alright there?”

“Hop Sing has planned a very delicious meal for tonight. With as dessert vanilla pudding with strawberry sauce”, said Adam.

“When uncle Hoss and uncle Joe are there too our piece of pudding is much smaller”, Mitch remarked.

“I will send them home at seven o’clock”, replied Roy.

Adam and Mitch agreed with that. Quickly they ate their cake where after Hoss and Little Joe got another visit.

“Are you coming to spoil our day again?”, asked Little Joe.

“Have we done that then? I know of nothing”, said Mitch.

“We just come to say goodbye to you. It was nice to have you as roommates at the Ponderosa. But yes, for everyone it is once time to leave home. And for you that is now. I will pass on to pa and Hop Sing your change of address”, Adam said sarcastic.

Adam shouldn’t have said this because his brothers weren’t pleased with it. Mitch waved glad when he went home with his father.

On the way home Adam and Mitch ran into Ben.

“Where are Hoss and Joseph?”, the rancher asked right away.

“They left me alone and went jollyful into the saloon. After that they helped Mrs Baker crossing the street while she didn’t even had to be there. Now they have moved from the ranch to the nick”, Mitch told entertaining.

Ben listened and thought it was an amusing story.

“Roy lets them free at seven o’clock tonight. So we can eat in peace”, said Adam.

Ben turned his horse and rode with his eldest son and only grandson back to the ranch.

That evening Hoss and Little Joe could go home. But from then on they watched out with old ladies.