Teacher Abigail Jones wasn’t satisfied about the achievements of one of her pupils. Especially because she knew who the father was it was hard for her to make the problem open to discussion. Finally she cut the knot and she made a decision.
On Thursday morning October 5 2000 she said, “Mitch Cartwright, I want that you stay behind this afternoon.”
“Why? What have I done wrong this time?”, the boy asked amazed.
“You will notice that”, said Abigail.
Mitch went on with his work but didn’t trust it.
“She surely wants to see your father”, Matthew Walker said who sat next to him.
“He is already taken if it is about a wedding proposal”, reacted Mitch.
“Cartwright, shut it and keep working! You are the only one who is behind”, said Abigail.
The friends kept on working but also kept on talking to big annoying of the teacher.
In the end Abigail wrote a letter which she put after that in an envelope. She got up and walked to the table of Mitch.
“Mitchell, I am fed up with your behavior in class. Get your stuff and then you can leave. This letter is for your father”, Abigail said while she gave the letter.
Mitch was too amazed to say anything and packed his backpack. Silently he left the class room and after that the school.
Mitch got his bike and wanted to ride to the Ponderosa when he ran into Sally Baxton.
“Mustn’t you go to school?”, Sally asked amazed.
“I have just been expelled from school. Miss Jones gave me a letter along for daddy”, answered Mitch.
“Just come along with me”, she said.
Mitch got off and walked with his stepmother to her house. The young Cartwright was worried about how his father would react on the news that he was send off school.
“Mitch, you are going to do your schoolwork and I phone your father”, Sally said when coming home.
Mitch nodded. He went to sit at the kitchen table and got his schoolwork. Sally phoned her boyfriend Adam Cartwright.
“Adam, it’s me Sally. Can you come right away to my house? It is very urgent”, she said through the cell phone.
“I am already on my way”, said Adam.
Sally put her cell phone off.
She came into the kitchen and said to Mitch, “Your father is on his way.”
“Then he can read this letter right away”, Mitch said careless.
He gave the letter to his stepmother who opened it. Sally read it and knew then enough.
“Mitch, did you always have trouble with reading and writing?”, she asked.
“Yes, nut at home nobody makes a problem of it. But Miss Jones does”, answered the boy.
He showed his portfolio with schoolwork. Sally checked it and sighed. After that she gave the portfolio back and went to make coffee.
Adam drove in a hurry-scurry to the house op his girlfriend. Especially the words ‘very urgent’ made him very worried. Finally he stopped in front of the front door. Sally saw him coming and had already opened the front door.
“Mitch is here and expelled from school. Abigail Jones has given a letter for you along”, she said.
“How dare she to expel our son from school?”, Adam asked indignant.
“Because you have chosen for me and Mitch asked too much attention for the school subjects. He turns the numbers and letters around. Has Mitch been tested for dyslexia?”, Sally asked on her turn.
“No, she thought it wasn’t necessary. I already had planned to let him tested”, said Adam.
They went to the kitchen where Mitch was still working. Adam read the letter and he too knew enough.
“Sally, would you like to help him with his schoolwork? I think that he learns more at home than at school”, said Adam.
“I love to. Maybe I can teach you something too”, Sally said smiling.
Adam didn’t say nothing back.
At 4 o’clock Adam went with the letter to the school. The children were already gone and Abigail too was about to go home.
“Why have you expelled Mitch from school? Because he can’t catch up?”, asked Adam.
“Indeed. Besides he hardly or never listens”, said Abigail.
“He is a child. And children surely can listen. That goes for my son as well”, reacted Adam.
“Mitch may be your son but his schoolwork is hopeless bad. He is not welcome anymore at this school. Bye Mr Cartwright”, said Abigail.
Silently Adam left the class room. In the directors room he saw Andrew Larson. Adam went inside.
“Adam, it is about your son for sure, isn’t it?”, asked Andrew.
“Indeed. Miss Jones has expelled him because he can’t catch up. My girlfriend and I think that Mitch is dyslexic”, answered Adam.
“I know all about it. It will be treated as a serious complaint”, said Andrew.
“Thanks Andrew”, said Adam.
He went back to his girlfriend and son.
Sally was busy with supper when Adam came in. Quickly he told what had been said.
“He is in the living room watching TV”, she said.
Adam went to the living room. Mitch was watching cartoons.
“Hello daddy”, said the boy.
“Hallo boy. We must tell you something later on”, said the eldest Cartwright boy.
“That you are getting married?”, asked Mitch.
“No, not that. But you will hear it later on”, answered Adam.
Mitch nodded and went on watching.
During supper Adam said suddenly, “Mitch, Because you have quite a lot of trouble with reading and writing plus that you turn the letters and numbers around we want that you do a test so we know what the matter with you eventually is. Also you learn at home and Sally shall help you.”
“Alright. But you are not going to put me out of the team, are you?”, Mitch asked worried.
“Why would I leave the best player of the team out of it?”, Adam asked on his turn.
Mitch shrugged his shoulders.
“Mitch, it doesn’t matter to us what the matter is with you because we love you anyway”, said Sally.
Mitch was satisfied.
Then he asked, “Are you getting married?”
“Mitch!”, Adam said suddenly shy.
“We are just together. But we take care of you together”, said Sally.
She looked at her boyfriend and both thought the same thing.
“Sally, would you like to come to live with us at the Ponderosa?”, Adam asked hopeful.
“I would love to. This house and everything in t belongs to my uncle. I shall call him later”, answered Sally.
“Your uncle?”, Adam asked amazed.
“Yes. My uncle Kevin owns this house. I am his favorite niece and got this house to live. My mother had matched me with George Miller. I didn’t want that and then I could live here”, told Sally.
“Fortunately you have chosen me”, Adam said smiling.
Mitch thought that too.
After supper Adam and Mitch did the dishes while Sally called her uncle. Kevin promised to come the next day.
The following morning Sally made an extended breakfast.
“Mitch, you go home later on to tell everything. We come later”, said Adam.
Mitch nodded.
“We pack what is ours and come this afternoon”, said Sally.
The youngest Cartwright nodded again.
After breakfast Mitch packed his backpack and jacket.
“Mitch, tell grandpa everything that had happened and also that you earn at home now”, Adam said at the gate.
“Alright”, said his son.
He put his backpack on his back and got on is bike. A moment later Mitch rode home. Adam went inside again.
Ben Cartwright was working at the yard when his grandson Mitch stopped by him.
“Morning grandpa”, the boy said cheerful.
“I thought already, where is my grandson?”, Ben asked who stopped with working for a second.
“Miss Jones has expelled me from school yesterday because I can’t catch yup. Mom received me and she teaches me at home now. She and daddy come here later on. They take care of me and Cody now together”, Mitch answered while he got off his bike.
Ben was amazed to hear that that news.
Though he said smiling, “You are going to do your schoolwork. I will tell Hop Sing that he has to cook some more.”
“Then uncle Hoss eats just a little bit less”, Mitch remarked dry.
“You are lucky that your uncle is away and he can’t hear this”, answered Ben.
Mitch got his bike and put it in the garage. Here after he went to do his schoolwork on the porch.
That evening Sally noticed very quickly that she had ended up in a male house hold.
“Mitch told me that he gets teased a lot by 3 brothers. Now I live here that is over of course”, she said during supper.
Adam, Hoss and Joe protested heavily but it didn’t help.
Ben said, “Mitch cannot defend himself against 3 grown men.”
“He is clever enough though”, reacted Hoss.
“Besides he must be tested for dyslexia on Monday. In Reno there is an institute where that happens”, Adam said seriously.
“Are you coming too?”, Mitch asked worried.
“Of course we come along and Cody too”, his father reassured him.
On Monday October 9 the Cartwrights went to Reno to have Mitch tested for dyslexia. The boy was very nervous and that’s why he had taken his shepherd dog Cody along.
Friday afternoon (13-10) Hoss came home with the mail.
“Adam, there is a letter for you from Reno”, he said to his brother.
He gave the envelop which Adam opened right away. The eldest Cartwright boy read the letter and sighed deep.
“Bad news?”, asked Hoss.
“Mitch is indeed dyslexic and bad too. Just let him come to me for a moment”, said Adam.
He went to sit in his blue chair with the letter. Hoss went to the bed room of Mitch where his nephew was doing his schoolwork.
“Mitchy, your father wants to see you”, said Hoss.
Mitch went along right away to his father.
“Mitch, I have the result of the test you made on Monday. You have indeed dyslexia. It means that you have trouble with reading and writing like we already thought. We will help you as much as possible”, Adam said seriously.
Mitch was now silent which was very strange. Adam pulled him near him.
“It is not bad because your mother had it too. It is hereditary so there is a chance that your children could have it too”, said Adam.
“Well, I may have trouble with reading and writing but can play baseball and draw very well”, said Mitch.
“Indeed”, Adam said smiling.
Mitch knew that now he had a secure and beautiful future. Even though he didn’t go to school but he learned at the Ponderosa.