It seemed to become a normal day for the Cartwright family. The men (Ben and his sons Adam, Hoss and Little Joe) went to work and the six year old son of Adam, Mitch, had to see that he got to entertain himself somehow. Now that was not so really difficult but the brothers didn’t feel like going to work very much. Especially because during breakfast Mitch had announced that he was going to play baseball and it was such a lovely weather.
“Pa, isn’t it better if I go along with the boy and keep an eye upon him?”, asked Adam.
“Maybe yes. Alright then. You go and coach your child”, said the rancher.
Now Hoss and Joe were very jealous but they already had made up an own plan. Ben noticed that and looked at them questionable.
“You are not going to tell me that you too want to go with my grandson?”, he asked.
Hoss and Joe nodded and hoped that they were allowed to go along. But then the boy came to join them.
“Grandpa, please take them with you”, Mitch begged.
“And may I know why?”, asked Ben.
“Because they always try to prove that they can better play baseball than I can. But then again, they happen to be the bats and I ain’t”, replied Mitch.
Ben and Adam were rolling on the ground laughing but Hoss and Joe of course didn’t.
“Sorry boys, but I only can miss Adam. And because he is the father of Mitch he gets the preference”, Ben said somehow seriously.
“Have a nice working day boys. Are you coming kid?”, Adam asked smiling.
Mitch nodded and their dog Cody went along as well. The others watched them go and went to work.
On a field with some trees present father and son Cartwright stopped.
“Daddy, can you teach me how I must hit a homerun?”, asked Mitch.
“Of course I do that. We stretch a rope around the trees and when you hit the ball across it that is a homerun. Cody goes to fetch the balls”, replied Adam.
He walked to his horse Sport and got a long rope. Here after he stretched the rope tight around a few trees. Here after Adam gave his attention to his son.
“Kid, get your bat and then I pitch a ball to you. You must try to hit it away”, said Adam.
He went to sit squatting a few meters away from Mitch and pitched the first ball. Mitch hit it away but not far enough for a homerun.
“That was good boy”, Adam said smiling.
“Pitch another one”, said the boy.
Adam pitched another one and again Mitch hit it away. It was still not a homerun though.
“Just stop it daddy. I shall never be able to do it”, Mitch said disappointed.
Adam looked up strange.
“How do you mean?”, he asked amazed.
“Well, I can’t do it anyway”, his son replied.
“You just have to learn it. But I know for sure that you can do it. First you couldn’t walk and talk but we all had to learn that. Your father too”, said Adam.
Mitch was not very convinced but still did as new attempt to hit the ball far away. It cost Mitch many hours but Adam noticed that there was improvement though.
“Kid, try to imagine that the balls are your tease loving uncles. Maybe that helps”, Adam suggested.
The young Cartwright thought it was an excellent idea.
“There comes uncle Hoss”, Adam said and he pitched a ball.
Mitch hit it straight across the rope. Cody ran away to get the ball. Again Adam pitched a ball which pretended to be Joe. This one too landed across the rope.
“You see that you can do it?”, Adam asked proud as a peacock at his offspring.
Mitch nodded smiling. Adam didn’t know that there was something in return.
“Now you must show how well or bad you can hit”, said Mitch.
“Alright. You pitch the ball and I hit them both away”, said Adam.
So said, so done.
Mitch pitched a ball to his father and it flew far enough. Though the ball got stopped because Hoss got hit by it. A few firm scolding flew through the air whereby Adam and Mitch knew enough.
“Daddy, I believe you. But could you show it one more time?”, the boy asked quick-witted.
Adam understood what his son meant and waited for the perfect ball. That one came very soon and this one too flew through the air. And of course the ball got stopped by the appearing of Joe. This time too father and son Cartwright got treated at a diatribe.
“Mitch, I believe that I have hit a few people. Shall we go and have a look?”, Adam asked smiling.
“Yes sure. We do have to check anyway of the balls aren’t damaged, don’t we?”, Mitch asked on his turn.
They grabbed everything together and went to see where the balls were. Cody barked out loud and wagged his tail.
“Dadburnit. I dare to bet that our nephew has to do with this”, Hoss grumbled.
He looked at his younger brother and began then to laugh unstoppable. Of course Joe became very angry about this.
“Why are you laughing so?”, he asked angry.
“You have quite a hump on your head. Or is that your head?”, Hoss asked laughing.
“You are the one to sat that. You also have a big hump on your trunk. Oh no, that ís your head”, Joe screamed with laughter.
They both began to roar of laughter until Adam and Mitch came by them.
“Daddy, they liked it a lot that you have given them a nice hump”, Mitch said dry.
Now Hoss and Joe stopped laughing at once and they looked at their brother furiously.
“Did you throw those balls so we got damaged?”, asked Joe.
“No, Mitch did that but I hit them away. I taught him how he had to hit a homerun and he does that excellently. He had to imagine that the balls are you”, Adam explained.
“Very funny. Hoss, are you coming before we are totally black and blue?”, asked Joe.
“I am away already”, said Hoss.
Adam and Mitch looked at them laughing.
“Grandpa will like this story when he hears it. And Candy too I reckon”, said Mitch.
“Shall we go home? It is becoming twilight already”, said Adam.
Mitch nodded. They mounted on their horses and rode back home with Cody. Laughing out loud of course.
First Ben saw his two youngest sons coming, under the humps and very angry.
“What has happened to you?”, the rancher asked amazed.
“You must forbid your grandson to play ever baseball again”, replied Joe.
“Why? What has Mitch done this time?”, Ben asked amazed.
“Mitchy has let his father hit and those balls came upon us. That’s why you must forbid him that and Adam too”, Hoss explained.
“I have nothing to say about Mitch and Adam is a grown up so.………… But the balls aren’t damaged, are they?”, Ben asked worried.
The brothers didn’t give a reply and went to take care of their horses. A moment later Adam and Mitch came home with Cody.
“Young man, what have been you done together with your father to your uncles today?”, Ben asked quasi-strict.
“Nothing grandpa. They only wanted to bother us. That’s why daddy had hit 2 balls towards them”, replied Mitch.
“And with much success if I may say so”, said Ben.
“Mitch has very much talent concerning baseball. I am afraid that my son won’t carry on the family tradition what the Ponderosa concerns”, said Adam.
They dismounted.
“I am going to play baseball later in New York”, said the youngest Cartwright.
“Well Adam, I am afraid that you have raised Mitch wrongly because he doesn’t want to stay at the ranch when he has grown up”, replied Ben.
“I am afraid of that too”, Adam said worried.
“But grandpa, if you want that I keep on living here then you just build a stadium on our spread? Then I can keep on living here and play baseball”, reacted Mitch.
Ben and Adam looked at each other amazed. They hadn’t expected this reaction.
“Mitch, bring our horses to the stable and take care of them”, said Adam.
Mitch got both reins and leaded them to the stable where his uncles were.
“Hello uncle Hoss, uncle Joe. Caught any balls lately”, the boy asked light-hearted.
“Shut up and get lost”, said Hoss.
“Then you may take care of our horses too if I must get lost”, Mitch replied sneaky.
The brothers came after him but Mitch was faster though.
During supper Mitch told everything about the great day he has had with his father and Cody.