A Handful

Because he liked to go to the theatre Adam Cartwright decided to introduce his 7-year old son Mitch with theatre and culture. In contradiction to his father the boy had nothing with plays and theatre. Adam knew that but decided to try it anyway.

“Mitch, on Friday evening we go to the theatre together”, Adam said on Wednesday.

His son looked at him amazed.

“Why? And don’t say that it’s because the theatre doesn’t come to us”, was his reaction moment later.

The answer of his father was, “Because I want that you get some cultural education. There is nothing wrong with that. We go to a play.”

Mitch nodded and went to play further again.

That particular Friday evening Adam and Mitch ate a but earlier than usual. That could easily because they were alone at home with their loyal Chinese cook Hop Sing. To big satisfaction of his father Mitch had put on is black jeans and a yellow shirt. Adam grabbed his car keys and their coats when Mitch had put on his new shoes.

On the way Mitch asked, “What is that play about?”

“About a couple which is already 50 years in show business but argues all the time”, answered Adam.

“Cozy marriage is that”, was the comment of Mitch.

Adam parked the car close by the theatre.

In the theater the Cartwrights had loge seats. Mitch bought a program booklet so that Adam could tell him more about the play.

“Mitch, you have to be silent when the play starts. Otherwise the players can’t concentrate”, said Adam.

“I promise”, answered the boy.

During the play Adam noticed that his son enjoyed it to be at the theatre. That did the oldest Cartwright boy much good.

In the foyer the Cartwrights met Agnes Baker. Mitch was parked at a table while his father went to get something to drink.

“Is this table free?”, asked Agnes.

“I wait here for my father so it isn’t free”, answered Mitch.

Agnes ignored it and went to sit down with her glass of wine.

When Adam came with his order and saw Agnes sitting he asked amazed, “Mitch, have you invited her to sit down?”

“No, she asked if this table was free and sat then down”, answered Mitch.

Adam gave him his lemonade and went to sit next to him with his coffee.

“May I introduce myself to you? I am Agnes Baker, actress”, said Agnes.

“I am Adam Cartwright and this is my son Mitch”, Adam said somewhat unpleased surprised by the presence of Agnes.

For a moment there was a painful silence.

“I have never ever heard about you”, said Adam.

“I only play in good plays. Not in such a bad one as this one. I happen to be playing tomorrow evening. I will give you the best seats to admire my acting talent”, said Agnes.

She opened her handbag and gave Adam 2 free tickets for the theatre in Carson City.

“I believe we already have something for tomorrow evening”, said Adam.

“Then you just cancel that. My play goes before everything”, Agnes said determined.

Adam and Mitch looked at each other and they thought the same thing.

Walking back to their seats Mitch said, “Daddy, I’m not going to watch her. Even if there is a meeting with the New York Yankees as reward.”

Mitch was a loyal supporter of the New York Yankees.

“I know that. We will see. Tomorrow you just go to that baseball clinic and I go to work. Forget Agnes and enjoy the play”, said Adam.

So they did.

Agnes discovered that Adam and Mitch lived at the Ponderosa and got a devious plan.

“I charm Adam so that he proposes to me and then that child of his can go straight to boarding school. Our little children go before Mitch”, she said to herself.

Agnes was not only a very bad actress with air but also super mean and as ugly as the night.

The following day: Saturday.

It had been a very long day for Adam and Mitch. Adam had worked hard all day and Mitch had been busy all day on the baseball field. Both didn’t feel like to watch a play all evening which had had received very bad reviews in the press.

“Daddy, do we really have to go?”, Mitch asked nagging.

“Unfortunately yes. Agnes has given us very good seats. So the least we can do is go”, answered Adam.

With reluctance his son agreed. Because the play was in Carson City was had Adam had packed a bag for himself and his son for an overnight stay at a hotel.

Agnes already stood waiting for Adam and Mitch at their loge.

“From here you can see everything well. The play lasts for 2 hours and afterwards we go and have a cozy drink in the foyer”, she said.

“Thanks Agnes”, said Adam.

The Cartwrights sat down but Mitch was almost right away on his way to Dreamland. Adam followed not much later.

After the ending of the play Agnes waited in vain for Adam and Mitch. Finally she decided to go away.

The auditorium was already lighted when an employee came to the loge of the Cartwrights to wake up the visitors.

“Sir, wake up. The play is over”, the man said while he woke up Adam.

Adam looked around him sleepy for a bit and realized then what he and his son had done.

“Mitch, wake up. We go to the hotel”, he said to his son.

“How long ago did the play end?”, Adam asked while he and Mitch got up.

“Three quarters of an hour already”, said the employee.

They walked to the entrance where very less cars were parked yet.

Adam could get a room for 2 persons and paid with his credit-card. Mitch had trouble with keeping his eyes open which his father clearly saw.

“You and your son have room 215. Breakfast is between 8 and 11. We hope that you have a pleasant stay with us”, said the receptionist.

“Thanks. Come son”, said Adam.

He grabbed the key and took his son down to their room.

Close by their room the Cartwrights ran into Agnes again.

“Adam, what are you doing here?”, she asked so called surprised.

“My son and I sleep here tonight. It’s too late to drive home. Besides I’m too tired to do that. That’s why we have taken a room”, answered Adam.

“I have a single room. So your little son can sleep there and we together in your room”, said Agnes.

Adam and Mitch looked at each other amazed.

“We have nothing with each other so you just go dream nicely in your single room”, said Adam.

He opened the room door of their room and pushed Mitch inside. After that he went inside himself and the door got shut. Agnes remained behind angry in the hall.

“Daddy, that is not polite to her, is it?”, asked Mitch.

“No, but I don’t see her as my 2^nd wife and your stepmother. Now we go to sleep nicely till tomorrow morning. Goodnight”, said Adam.

“You too”, answered Mitch.

Not much later father and son were again sunk into a deep rest.

The next morning Agnes bothered the Cartwrights again. In the breakfast hall Adam had fetched first breakfast and after that Mitch went to get something. In the time that the youngest Cartwright was away Agnes came to sit with her tray opposite Adam.

“Good morning Adam”, she said extremely polite.

“Morning Miss Baker. Would you like to go away now as you sit on the seat of my son?”, asked Adam.

Agnes became angry and said, “Does your little son go above everything? But you get your way because I’m already gone.”

She got up, took her tray with her and walked Mitch over on purpose. The young Cartwright fell down and Agnes went to stand on his right wrist on purpose. Because Mitch fell the woman got his breakfast all over her. Mitch pushed Agnes away and got support from Adam. He put her outside of the eating hall and helped Mitch to their table. Een waiter brought Mitch an icepack and a new breakfast.

“Daddy, my wrist hurts”, Mitch said while he ate.

“When we have checked out first we go to the hospital”, said Adam.

After breakfast Adam packed their bag and the Cartwrights checked out. Adam let Mitch sit in the front seat of the car and had just started the car when Agnes hot them with a fast speed. Adam and Mitch had the luck that they were wearing their seat belts. But Agnes knew to hit them quite hard. Adam stirred to the left and drove to the hospital. By the smack Mitch was unconscious but Adam too didn’t feel alright.

In the hospital the Cartwrights got treated and taken in for observation. Adam only had some broken ribs and was able to phone home. Mitch had broken his right wrist and under arm.

Ben Cartwright came home with his 2 youngest sons Hoss and Joe. It was deadly silent because Hop Sing too had a day off. The rancher looked the answering machine and saw that there had been a phone call. He pushed on a button to hear the message. It was Adam via his cell phone.

“Pa, Mitch and I have had an accident with the car. We are at the Carson City hospital. Adam.”

“Hoss, Joseph, we must go to the hospital in Carson City. Adam and Mitch have had a car accident”, said Ben.

Not much later the Cartwrights were at the hospital of Carson City. They sat by Adam who was well approachable.

“We met Agnes Baker in the theatre on Friday evening. She insisted to come and watch her at the theatre in Carson City. We went but slept during the whole play. At the hotel it turned out that our room was next to ours. During breakfast she tried to seduce me again but that failed. When we went home she hit and ran at us”, said Adam.

“I am going to have a look at my grandson for a moment”, said Ben.

He got up and walked to the hall where a nurse walked.

“Where lies Mitch Cartwright?”, asked the rancher.

“I will bring you to him at once”, she said.

A moment later Ben sat by his only grandchild who lied still. The boy was awake but didn’t say anything.

“Your father has told what had happened”, said Ben.

Mitch didn’t give a reaction. The rancher realized that his grandson had experienced a whole lot for a 7-yerar old. That’s why he remained by him extra long.

Adam told his brothers about Agnes Baker.

“You look after that nephew of us. We arrange it with that sweet Agnes”, said Hoss.

“The man who woke us up at the theatre said that she works at the theatre as a hostess. You know, someone who brings the guests to their seats”, said Adam.

Hoss and Joe went to look for Agnes who tried to play the very innocent.

“Your car looks very damaged”, said Joe.

“I got an accident on Sunday because an idiot drove against me”, she said.

“That idiot is our brother and his son was involved too. Why did you hit them? Didn’t Adam reject you politely enough?”, asked Hoss.

“Your brother wanted to have something with me but that child of his was unruly. Your nephew is just a very spoiled brat!”, snapped Agnes.

“I think that you are a very spoiled brat. Mitch gets spoiled by us a lot but he still remains modest”, said Joe.

“What do you actually do for as living?”, Hoss asked on a very friendly tone.

“I’m an actress at the local theatre”, said Agnes.

“You mean hostess”, said Joe.

“I mean actress”, she said angry.

The presence of Adam’s brothers began to get on the nerves of Agnes. She realized that her game was over.

“Alright. I saw Adam in the theatre in Virginia City and knew at once that he was the one for me. Then I discovered that he already had a child and so there was no interest for me. That’s why I began to bother them”, she said.

“With as consequence that Adam and Mitch are now at the hospital”, said Hoss.

“I don’t care”, Agnes said uninterested.

“Come Hoss, that bird doesn’t deserve our time and attention”, said Joe.

They left Agnes alone and went back to the hospital.

After a few days Adam and Mitch were allowed to go home again. Ben came to get them.

“You take rest until you are recovered for the time being”, Ben said on the way home.

“Grandpa, does that mean that my uncles are away then?”, asked Mitch.

Ben and Adam thought it was a funny question but the answer of the rancher was, Unfortunately not son.”

Mitch knew that too. But he and Adam were glad that Agnes Baker was out of their lives. Adam had noticed though that he was open for a new steady relation again.