Stubborn
The story begins after the long conversation between Ben and Adam in front of the fireplace (WHIB for "The Ride").
After his eldest son left, Ben sat alone in the great room, lost in memories ...
"No!"
"You disobeyed me and you did a very dangerous thing!" Ben remembered lecturing his small son thirty years earlier.
The boy stood scowling a few feet away, his naked body rigid as a small rock, his arms crossed over his little chest.
"Adam, you were very bad!"
"No!"
"I see your footprints, your legs are wet, and your drawers were floating in the lake. It doesn't need a sleuth to know you were in the water! You did disobey me!"
"No!" This "no" was accompanied by a stamp of a bare foot.
"Adam! Don´t stamp! Or I will smack your behind! You could be at the bottom of this lake the way your drawers would have been, if I hadn´t caught them!"
"Drawers swimmed!"
"They stayed above water for a few moments because they were bloated with air but then they would have sunk. Can´t you understand? You could have drowned! I told you yesterday about that lake! Didn't you listen to me?"
"I listed!"
"But you did what I told you not to do!"
"No!"
"Don´t lie to me!"
The boy´s under lip was quivering but he didn´t alter his stance when his angry father approached him.
"One last time, what did I say yesterday?"
"You said I´m big now," the child answered very seriously "I´m now …." Adam unfolded his arms and fumbled a few moments before he held three fingers out.
"Yes, I said that. What else?"
"That we are a good team!"
"Yes, but what did I say about the lake?"
"No play and no swim!" Adam smiled, obviously happy he could give the desired answer.
"But you did play in the water!"
The scowl was back when he shook his head.
"But what in tarnation were you doing?"
"I worked."
"You what?"
"I helped, I washed all my clothes! Look!"
The boy pointed proudly to a few bushes on whose lower branches hung clumps of what could be trousers and shirts. "I washed your shirt, too!"
"Oh …. I see. I couldn´t find it. I´m sorry I yelled at you." Even thirty years later Ben's throat tightened when he thought about the innocent pride of his young son. "You were right, you didn't disobey me. It was my fault we misunderstood each other."
He remembered how he had lifted the boy up, had felt the smooth baby skin against his bare chest and the heartbeat of this precious life, and Adam's sudden giggle.
"Pa, your hairs prickle me! Lemme down."
"I will, but first you have to promise something to your hairy grumbling papa bear." Ben looked his son in the eyes. "Don´t help without asking me first! We are a team, remember? And don´t play, work, or even go near the lake again!"
"I promise, Pa," answered the boy with an earnest nod.
Because Adam hadn´t left himself one dry stitch they spent an extra day at that lake, a break not only their horse that was by no means a heavy dray horse enjoyed, Ben remembered with a smile.
Ben rose, yawning. Yes, when Adam knew he was right, he never backed down. And he was proud of that! And proud of the faith his now big "bear cub" had always had in him, as well.