Family Dinner

For his birthday on Saturday February 12 Ponderosa ranch owner Ben Cartwright had decided to go out to dinner with his 3 sons (Adam, Hoss and Little Joe) and 7 year old grandson Mitch.

Already at breakfast the rancher said after all the congratulations to the others, “Gentlemen, tonight we go out to dinner. You pay a certain amount for 2 hours and then you can eat all you want or can.”

When Hoss heard this he became very glad already, his older brother Adam and younger brother Joe looked at each other laughing.

Mitch asked, “Are we going to eat first and after that uncle Hoss?”

Hoss felt concerned and asked, “What do you mean with that?”

His nephew explained, “If you are going to eat there then there might be nothing left for us.”

“You can stay at home too of course”, said Hoss.

Now Adam interfered with it because he said, “My son is too young and too little to stay at home alone.”

“Hop Sing has tonight off so we go out to dinner”, reacted Ben.

Hop Sing was their loyal Chinese cook.

“Mitch, time to go to your baseball training”, Adam said after he had looked at the clock.

The hours went by very slowly for Hoss because he had an enormous like for supper. To get even more appetite the 2^nd son of Ben worked extra hard. But his father and brother did that too. Adam let his son train extra hard at baseball.

Specially for this evening Mitch wore a white baseball shirt of Team USA that he had gotten of Ben for his last birthday.

“I want that you behave yourself nicely. Make sure that you can show that I have raised you very nice”, Adam said to his son zoon.

“I promise”, said Mitch.

For a moment it was silent in his room.

Then Mitch asked, “But mustn’t uncle Hoss and uncle Joe behave themselves, must they?”

“They certainly must do that. Grandpa will watch that also”, answered Adam.

Ben had a table for 5 persons reserved at 17.00 hours. The restaurant laid outside of Virginia City and had a big parking lot. The Cartwrights parked their cars close by the restaurant.

Mitch saw the building and said, “So here we are going to eat? There is a special menu for my very beloved uncle in the shape of carrots and cheese.”

Hoss said, “I’m going to keep a close eye on you tonight.”

“Shall we go inside?”, asked Joe.

They did that and Ben paid the bill at the reception desk.

The Cartwrights had a table not far from the food.

“You may decide what you want to eat. So get going”, said Ben.

Hoss and Joe went as first, followed by their father so that Adam and Mitch were alone for a moment.

“If grandpa, uncle Hoss and uncle Joe are back we go to get something together”, said Adam.

“Then they must have extra big plates for uncle Hoss”, his son remarked.

Then Ben, Hoss and Joe came back with their full plates so that Adam and Mitch could go. The boy kept close to his father and put on his plate what he liked. Adam did that too.

Walking back to their table Mitch asked, “Is there enough food now uncle Hoss is here as well?”

“I think so. Your uncle can eat very much but he really can’t eat everything which is to get here. Even if he wanted”, answered Adam.

They sat at the table again and started with their meal too. Ben and Joe went to get the drinks.

Hoss gave Adam a wink and said teasing to his nephew, “They also have here Smurf ice cream. If you eat too much of that you change into a Smurf.”

“That doesn’t go for you because you change into Gargamel”, reacted Mitch.

“What are we very funny”, Hoss said indignant.

To make it up the youngest Cartwright suggested, “Uncle Hoss, shall we go and get that Smurf ice cream together?”

“Now you are saying something good at last”, Hoss said now a bit more cheerful.

“I always do that”, Mitch said without turning a hair.

Adam confirmed that but his brother clearly disagreed with it. They had no time or opportunity to discuss it further because Ben and Joe already returned with the drinks. Everyone got something to drink.

“Gentlemen, to a cozy an delicious evening”, said Ben.

Hoss took his nephew along for 2 bowls of Smurf ice cream.

At the ice cream stand Hoss asked, “May I have 2 bowls of that Smurf ice cream please?”

“That can”, said the man behind the ice cream stand.

He ladled 2 bowls full with Smurf ice cream. Uncle and nephew walked back to their table. The others had waited for them so that their table kept occupied anyway. A moment later Ben, Adam and Joe went to fill their plates.

In the meantime it became more busier at the restaurant.

Hoss noticed that Mitch became a bit shivery for all those guests and said, Mitchy, you just stay at here. We will get the food for you.”

“Okay”, the boy said shy.

They ate the Smurf ice cream. When Adam returned he noticed at once that his son felt uncomfortable. Ben and Joe noticed that too.

“Mitch, what’s the matter?”, Ben asked carefully.

“There are so many people here”, his grandson answered.

Hoss said to his father and brothers what he had said to the boy. They found it a good idea.

The rest of the time they were at Mitch’s beck and call. Though at the end everyone except Hoss was filled with food.

“I’m going to get something. Anyone wants something?”, he asked roguish.

“There are only carrots and blocks of cheese left over”, answered Mitch.

Everyone except Hoss laughed so that he went alone to get something to eat.

A moment later the Cartwright got a visit from Hop Sing.

“Cartwrights eat well and delicious?”, asked their cook.

“We have but Hoss is still getting something”, answered Adam.

Then Ben asked, “Hop Sing, what are you doing here actually?”

“Hop Sing is cousin of owner of food barn. Hop Sing help with dishes on day off”, was the answer of the cook.

“Grandpa, soon Hop Sing resigns because he gets more money here for his work”, Mitch remarked.

Hop Sing answered, “Little Mitch not be afraid because Hop Sing remains caring for Cartwrights.”

Mitch was at ease and exactly at that moment Hoss came back with a full plate. Joe gave Adam a wink who understood it.

“Just enjoy your full plate for a moment, Hoss”, said Joe.

“How do you mean little brother?”, Hoss asked amazed.

“Because from tomorrow on Hop Sing works here as cook and not for us anymore”, answered Adam.

Hoss stopped with eating for a second and asked amazed, “Hop Sing, is that really true?”

The Chinese cook nodded and disappeared again to the kitchen.

“Mitch, shall we go home already?”, Adam asked who saw that his son had become very tired.

The boy nodded and walked with his father. Ben and Joe waited for Hoss to go home as well after that.

To big joy and relief of Hoss the next morning Hop Sing was to be found again in the kitchen of the ranch house.