Like each morning the day began early at the Ponderosa ranch. The inhabitants of the ranch were owner Ben Cartwright and his 3 sons (Adam, Hoss and Joe). By coincidence it happened to be the birthday of Joe.
During breakfast Joe asked, “Pa, you know that it’s my birthday today. So I don’t have to work today, do I?”
The rancher looked amazed at his youngest son and answered, “Joseph, you just go to work today. If it’s your birthday or not.”
This was of course a big disappointment for the birthday boy. His older brothers (Adam and Hoss) looked at each other laughing.
“Gentlemen, are you coming?”, asked Ben.
Adam and Hoss got up and walked outside already. Joe remained sitting.
“Joseph Cartwright!”, Ben said strict.
“I’m coming”, Joe said with reluctance.
He got up and went with his father outside.
Joe had to check the fences and eventually repair them. He thought while rode to the fences, ‘It’s my birthday today and still I have to work. I will work very slowly!’ so that happened too .
Meanwhile Ben, Adam and Hoss worked hard through.
“Pa, shall we play a joke on Joe and not organize that surprise party for him?”, Hoss asked during a break.
Adam thought it was a funny idea but their father answered, “Hoss, you know very well that your brother will get back at you then at your birthday. We just go home earlier, eat and then we will finish that surprise party.”
“Hop Sing would bake a cake, wouldn’t he?”, asked Adam.
Ben nodded and looked at his oldest son questionable.
“Why don’t we skip supper and go straight over to the cake? Hop Sing does always bake big cakes, doesn’t he?”, Adam suggested.
Now there came a big protest from Hoss, “Adam Cartwright! How dare you to suggest to skip supper and start with the cake right away? I am already hungry and with me there is enough room for supper + cake!”
“Boys, we stick to my plan”, said Ben.
He felt that otherwise a row would begin between his 2 oldest sons. Adam and Hoss nodded obeying and went to work again.
An hour before supper time Ben went to see Joe.
“Hello Joseph. Is your work for today already done?”, asked the de rancher.
“No, pa. I’m sorry. I still have 6 fences to check”, answered Joe.
“Then I suggest that you keep on working and come home after that”, said Ben.
He didn’t say why though.
“I will do that pa”, promised Joe.
Ben nodded smiling and rode home.
Once at home the Cartwrights took their time for supper. Their loyal cook was the Chinese Hop Sing. He had taken care of a delicious meal and already baked a big birthday cake in advance.
Hoss, who just had eaten a big dessert away, saw the cake and said licking his lips, “That cake must be very delicious!”
His brother looked at him frowning and reacted with, “You always have an appetite!”
Together they went to do the last preparations for the birthday party of their brother.
Meanwhile some guests had already arrived and they had gotten coffee and cake. Specially for the birthday boy a small piece of cake was kept aside by door Hop Sing.
When Joe came home the yard was already full with carriages and other horses. He brought his horse Cochise to the stable and took care of her. Just after that he went inside the ranch house.
At first it was deadly silent but then everyone began to sing, “Happy birthday to you.”
“Thanks everyone”, Joe said a bit taken aback of all the attention.
“Joseph, did you really thought that we would skip your birthday?”, Ben asked smiling.
“Forget yes but skip no”, reacted Adam.
Then Hop Sing came with the little piece of cake which was left over.
“Little piece of cake for Little Joe”, the cook said smiling
“Very funny Hop Sing. Thanks for the little piece of cake”, said Joe.
He looked at his little piece of cake and en was a bit disappointed. But this didn’t last long because a moment Hoss and Hop Sing came with a new cake and there were also a lot of presents for the birthday boy.
Although the day started off bad for Joe it ended very well for him though.