It was December 2000. To especially entertain the children the municipality of had arranged an ice track. The ice track was on the market square and a big success at once.
Not long after the opening Ponderosa owner Ben Cartwright was with his 7-year old grandson Mitch in town.
“Grandpa, may I skate too?”, asked the boy.
He looked at the rancher so begging that Ben couldn’t refuse it.
“You may skate for 3 hours. I come to pick you up here again to go home together”, said Ben.
“Alright”, answered Mitch.
Ben paid and quite soon his grandson was on the ice track. The rancher kept watching for a second how Mitch was bungling and went then to his appointment.
Quite soon Mitch saw his friend Matthew Walker on the ice. Matthew was there with his father Dan Walker.
“Mitch, what are you doing here?”, asked Dan.
“Bungling on the ice. Grandpa is away for business so I’m here skating. Only it doesn’t go like I want to”, answered Mitch.
“I will help you because this young man here is not such a star which skating is concerned”, said Dan.
He taught Mitch and Matthew skating and quite soon the 2 could do it on their own.
“Matt, I’m going to ask if I may celebrate my birthday here instead of at the ranch”, Mitch said during a skating break.
“That is a good idea”, said Matthew.
Mitch continued, “Then Hop Sing, mom and your mother together can bake more pancakes. You are there of course too.”
“Where are we there too of course?”, asked Dan who came with 3 mugs of hot chocolate milk.
“I’m going to ask if I may celebrate my birthday here”, said Mitch.
“You do have a chance that you might enormous much guests to visit then”, Dan remarked.
Mitch answered, “I know that but I want to celebrate my birthday in a different.”
“Maybe this is a solution then: first coffee, cake and presents at the pancake restaurant of my sister Jenny. Then skating on this ice track. And for Christmas dinner pancakes”, said Dan.
“Good ideas. I will ask daddy. Are you coming to bungle again on the ice?”, Mitch asked after he had finished his chocolate milk.
Matthew drank up his chocolate milk too and went on the ice again as well.
A bit later on at the ice track.
Barry Parker saw the young Cartwright skating and said to his sister Sharon, “There is that pussy of a Cartwright.”
“Indeed. Just make sure that he gets badly injured”, she said.
Barry went on the ice and skated on purpose close to Mitch and Matthew.
“What are you doing here Cartwright? This ice track is only for children who really live in Virginia City. And you don’t do that”, Barry said hatefully.
“You don’t either. You live just outside the border town”, reacted Mitch.
Barry became angry and snapped, “At least I still have both of my parents!”
Mitch looked at him dirty for a second but didn’t react to it. Then the young parker gave Mitch such a hard push against his rented skate that the young Cartwright fell down and got thereby a seriously open wound near his left ankle. By the row it had become deadly quiet and everyone looked at the 2 rowing boys. Deputy Clem Foster and Dan stepped in harsh.
“Cartwright started as usual. He claims that I may not be here because I live outside the border town”, lied Barry.
Matthew told exactly what had been said and by whom so that Clem said, “Barry Parker, you and your sister have a ban to be or come here any longer.”
“Glad to. What is the use of such a stupid ice track?”, asked Barry.
He went away with his sister at once.
Dan looked at the wound and said, “Mitch, end of the skating party for you. That wound needs to be stitched.”
With support Mitch came up and he skated to the side.
Not much later Ben came to pick up his grandson. Dan told the rancher what had happened between Mitch and Barry.
“We will go to the hospital”, Ben said when he saw the wound.
He helped Mitch to the car and drove then to the hospital.
At the Casualty ward the wound got stitched and the ankle wrapped up in bandages. Mitch also got crutches.
“Young man, we see you here again in a month’s time”, said Doc Paul Kay.
Mitch went on crutches along with Ben.
Underway Mitch said, “Grandpa, despite my ankle I want to celebrate my birthday at the ice track. Mr Walker said that his sister is the owner of the pancake restaurant. If we first have coffee with cake and the presents. After that to the ice track and for Christmas dinner the pancakes in that restaurant.”
“Mitch, it’s your birthday so you may decide how it gets celebrated”, answered Ben.
“I know that but if you find it a good plan daddy will agree as well then”, said the boy.
Mitch knew from experiences that this trick had success and tried it out with good consequence. Ben agreed with it.
When Adam Cartwright heard what happened to his only son had he directly said to the boy, “You are not going to skate anymore this year.”
“No, but you will go and skating on the ice track with my birthday”, reacted Mitch.
His father, mother Sally and uncles Hoss and Joe first didn’t understand it but when Mitch explained it they agreed that it was a different party. They agreed to it right away.
Then Mitch asked, “Can you skate?”
“I can do it but if your uncles can do it I doubt it”, answered Adam.
“I can do it too”, said Sally.
“We just have to practice some more”, said Joe.
Hoss added to it, “And that won’t be filmed and put on the internet!”
Adam’s reaction was, “No, we hold a special movie evening at the opera House for all inhabitants of Virginia City. Then we show the movie.”
His brothers looked angry at him because they knew that Adam would be up to it. And otherwise their nephew.
His answer was, “We just send it to Funniest Home Videos. Then the whole country can enjoy it.”
But this too felt wrong by Hoss and Joe.
“I will arrange it further with Mr Walker”, promised Adam.
Mitch was at ease.
Without that the youngest Cartwright noticed it his family organized a surprise birthday party for him.
On Christmas Day the day started like each day began at the ranch: early. The Cartwrights were already downstairs when the birthday boy came downstairs hobbling.
“Morning lad”, Ben said who was already having breakfast.
“Morning grandpa”, Mitch said while he sat down.
He started with his breakfast without the congratulations for his birthday came. Besides his uncles had gone away already.
After breakfast Adam asked, “Mitch, I will have to put a blindfold on you because we have a big surprise for you. Are you coming?”
“If Cody may come too”, the boy answered.
“Of course he may come along”, said Sally.
Mitch got blindfolded and helped to Adam’s car. Cody, the shepherd dog of the Cartwrights, remained by him.
Just at the pancake restaurant the Cartwrights stopped.
“May the blindfold off?”, asked Mitch.
“Not yet. First I help you inside”, answered Adam.
He got out and helped his son inside. Mitch got put on a bench. A pillow got put under his injured ankle. Then the blindfold got removed. The families Cartwright and Walker sang to the birthday boy.
“Happy birthday lad and very many years to come”, Adam said as first.
He helped Mitch out of his jack.
“Thanks daddy and mom”, Mitch said laughing.
He got congratulated by everyone and overloaded with presents.
After the delicious cake and coffee the party goers went to the ice track. Mitch remained watching with Cody for a long time.
“Daddy, Cody and I go inside because I get cold toes”, said the young Cartwright.
“I go with you”, said Adam.
They walked back to the restaurant where they got a nasty surprise.
Jenny Walker saw the Parker family coming in and said at once to them, “Sorry, we are closed.”
Sheila sat down and put the pillow in her back.
“So, I sit comfortable. You have decorated it beautiful for us”, she said.
Her children, Sharon and Barry, went to sit by their mother.
“Who celebrates here his birthday?”, asked Sharon.
They happen to see a big banner hanging on which was written: ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY!’
“Today we celebrate the birth of child Jesus”, said Sheila.
Then Adam and Mitch came in with Cody.
“What are they doing here?”, Mitch asked directly.
“We celebrate here Christmas. Cartwright, you and your little boy get lost and we stay. Otherwise you can experience something nice today. Namely the death of your child”, Sheila said threatening but also suave.
By coincidence Hoss came inside too and he had heard the words of Sheila. Mitch and Cody went to sit in a little corner.
“Well, your little brother has come too”, Sheila said mocking.
“Mother, we are leaving because that big fellow can throw us just like that”, Sharon said scared.
“Good. You win. We are leaving”, snapped Sheila.
They left the restaurant at once. Mitch sat with scary eyes watching so that the brothers went to him.
“Mitch, they are gone and won’t be coming back”, said Adam.
Hoss answered, “And if that would happen I throw them out personally.”
Mitch looked at them on turns and became less scared.
“Kid, it’s your birthday and you shall know that too”, said Adam.
“Daddy, are we going to mama? And bring the presents home?”, asked Mitch.
“We do that”, answered Adam.
They got up and left the restaurant.
At the grave of Mary Cartwright Adam left Mitch alone for a moment.
“Mama, by a little accident at the ice track in Virginia City I have my ankle in bandages. Btu I have received beautiful presents for my birthday and Christmas. I wish that you could be here”, said the boy.
After some silence he walked back to Adam who had heard everything.
Driving back to the restaurant Mitch asked, “Daddy, do you also miss mama too very much?”
“Of course I still her too but she lives on in you. When you were just born I had to share her already with you. So in love was mama with you”, answered Adam.
The youngest Cartwright was here so under the impression that he was silent for a second.
Then he asked the following question, “Do I get another brother or sister?”
“Mitch! Sally and I are just married. We haven’t talked about it really. But it could be happening”, answered his father.
Adam noticed that his son was sometimes lonely what playmates was concerned. Even though Mitch had Cody to play with.
Back at the pancake restaurant Mitch and Matthew got hot chocolate milk and the grownups coffee. Adam took Sally along outside because they wanted to be alone for a moment.
“Darling, you know that I love you very much”, began Adam.
“I know that and I love you too very much”, said Sally.
Adam continued, “That’s why I promise you that next year around this time you have our son or daughter in your arms.”
“Is that your Christmas present for me?”, asked Sally.
Her husband nodded. Sally kissed him passionately.
“When we drove to here Mitch asked if he would get another little brother or little sister”, Adam said after the kiss.
“Until it’s so far this remains our secret”, Sally said smiling.
Adam fully agreed with that.
The birthday party got closed with a delicious meal with all sort of different pancakes. Of course Cody too got his food because Mitch and Matthew were feeding him all the time.
That evening Mitch went tired but happy home with his family. Everyone agreed that this has become a very successful festive day.