Adam Cartwright had worked hard all day and now he was at home he longed for some peace and quiet. His father Ben Cartwright was away and his younger brothers, Hoss and Joe, were busy at the stable. The loyal Hop Sing was busy in the kitchen preparing supper. Adam sat daydreaming a bit in the red chair when an enormous Chinese scream came from the kitchen. The eldest Cartwright boy was wide awake at once. In a few steps he was in the kitchen.
“Hop Sing, what is the matter?”, he asked worried.
“Mr Adam, something had scared Hop Sing enormously”, the cook said.
He pointed at the kitchen window where nothing was to be seen but due to the scare Hop Sing had dropped everything and a part had fallen on the floor.
“Hm, I believe that I know who has this on their conscious. Hop Sing, leave everything just as it is now. I am right back”, said Adam.
He left the kitchen and went silently to the stable where he heard a loud laugh.
“Hop Sing flew about 2 meters into the air when I called. It was extremely funny to see it”, Joe screamed.
“Nobody finds out that we are behind it. Not even Adam”, Hoss laughed.
Joe put the mask again on and said at a frightening tone, “Boo!”
The brothers began to laugh again hard. They didn’t know that Adam had heard everything. Suddenly he opened the door and looked at them laughing.
“Sometimes I wonder if you ever will grow up”, he said calm.
Now Hoss and Joe came serious.
“How do you mean?”, Joe asked indignant.
“That you want to pull a joke and do that too is fine. But not that you take care of that we won’t get supper”, said Adam.
Now Hoss came with a protest.
“How do you mean: we get no supper?”, he asked fierce.
“Go and look into the kitchen. Hop Sing got such a scare of you that he is not able to cook anymore”, his brother answered.
Hoss ran like a mad man to the kitchen and saw the mess. Joe followed him a bit worried about the consequences. Adam walked quietly to the kitchen where the brothers got lectured by Hop Sing. In his native language of course.
“Boys, start with cleaning up and after that you may cook”, said Adam.
Hoss and Joe looked at each other with a look of: Take a ride! But two pair of eyes kept looking at them so that they had to start working. Meanwhile the scolding flew over across the kitchen. Adam went to sit in the red chair sitting daydreaming while he learned all the new scolding from his brothers.
Much later quite a decent meal was on the table.
After a few bites Adam said, “My compliments gentlemen. You culinary arts could deliver you a few weddings soon.”
“What do you mean with that anyway?”, Joe asked indignant.
“I mean with that that your future wives shall be very glad that you can cook”, Adam explained.
Hereby Hoss and Joe knew that they couldn’t pull a joke on Hop Sing and would never do that again too.