Bo's eyebrow's creased into a serious expression. "Uncle Jesse, I never meant….."
Jesse held his hand up. "We done been over that. I know you're sittin' there thinkin' that I would never have agreed to this test if it hadn't a been for what happened in the barn last night. And I admit it's true that it's gonna be disappointin' if Thomas turns out not to be who I think he is, but it would be better than goin' all these years just hopin' and pretendin' without really knowin'."
Bo didn't know how to respond, so he simply stayed silent for a few seconds until Jesse's truck came rolling up to the house.
Once it stopped, Thomas simply glanced at him from behind the wheel before he got out. He then walked to the rear of the truck and lowered the tailgate, extracting the wheelchair. After he had unfolded it, he finally made his way to the passenger's side where he opened the door and picked up Tommy, placing him in the wheelchair. After the door had been closed, the Vineyard men then made their way to the porch.
"Howdy." Thomas said simply, nodding the greeting toward Jesse. Bo couldn't help but notice his slightly swollen and discolored jaw.
"Howdy yourself." Jesse replied. "How was the fishin'?"
Thomas let out a small laugh. "Last time I's in water that dead I's sittin' in the bathtub."
Thomas' statement was met by an equally small laugh from Jesse before the air filled with a few seconds of awkward silence. It was finally broken when Bo spoke up.
"Uh, Thomas." He began. "As you probably recall I had a little conversation with Tommy last night and what I said to him bears repeatin'. I'm sorry. I'm a grown man and Uncle Jesse raised me better than to act that way."
As Tommy shifted uncomfortably in the chair, Thomas sighed. "Well I've had some time to think on it myself, and I reckon I had it comin'. I guess you could say I got a little too bold in my new role as a member of this family. I mean, I can see now that I shoulda give everybody time to adjust to my bein' here before even suggesting such a thing as moving into the house, let alone your room."
Jesse shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe that proves all this impulsive actin' is just a natural Duke trait."
Bo chuckled. "You could just be onto something there, Uncle Jesse."
Turning back to Thomas, he held his hand out. "Why don't we just start over. Hi, I'm Bo Duke. And you?"
As Thomas began to shake Bo's hand, he looked him over. "Hi. I'm……… very glad to see you wearing pants this time around!"
As the men chucked, the handshake graduated into a friendly embraced. Jesse's heart warmed as he watched the exchange.
Ending the hug, Bo glanced at Tommy. "How 'bout you and me kid? We okay again?"
"Not quite." Thomas replied before his son even had a chance. Tommy's only response was to shift uncomfortably in his chair again.
As Bo's smile faded, Thomas explained the situation. "There was somethin' else that you said last night that had a lot of truth to it. Pop wouldn't 'ave ever let you get away with talkin' to your elders a certain way, and my adoptive father wasn't any different. For the most part I'd say we both turned out pretty decent. Maybe I'd be doin' my own youngin' an injustice by expecting anything less."
"What are you plannin' on doin', Thomas?" Jesse asked.
Thomas shrugged his shoulders. "I just felt like It'd only be fair to give Tommy exactly what I'd have been given if I'd a talked to Bo the way he did last night."
"I said I would apologize to him, Dad." Tommy finally spoke up meekly.
"And you will." Thomas replied. "Bo's done his apologizin' to both of us. Now it's your turn."
"I am sorry Bo." Tommy immediately began. "I didn't never think I could say anything like that to you. I mean, you're like my best friend in the whole world. It's just that when I saw you hit my dad, I guess I…………" He trailed off and lowered his head.
"It's okay Tommy." Bo replied, bending down to lift his chin up. "It's okay, really."
"No Bo, it's not okay." Thomas replied. "Now you might forgive him, but as far as what he did, it isn't okay."
"I won't ever do it again, Dad." Tommy insisted.
"I know you won't." Thomas replied, turning back to Bo. "Now if you don't mind showing me whatever tree it was you had to cut your own switches from growin' up, we'll get started."
With a pained look, Bo looked toward Uncle Jesse, hoping he might stop the whole situation. However in his calm wisdom, Jesse simply closed his eyes and gave Bo a slight nod.
Swallowing hard, Bo simply pointed across the yard toward the towering bradford pear tree. Once identified, Thomas turned to Tommy and handed him his pocketknife. As Tommy gulped, Thomas simply said. "We talked about this."
Without saying anything, Tommy slowly turned his wheelchair in the direction of the tree. Thomas walked alongside him until he arrived. Once he did, he nervously fumbled with the knife.
"Uncle Jesse." Bo whispered. "Don't you think this is going a little far, I mean…well he's in a wheelchair…….can he even feel it?"
"He's got plenty of feelin' in his hand." Jesse replied.
"Well I know but…." Bo trailed off. "I mean Jesse as far as you're concerned, he's your grandson. Can you honestly tell me you can stand to sit there and see him spanked?"
"Won't be easy." Jesse replied. "It ain't easy to watch and it ain't easy to give. But like Thomas pointed out, ya'll got 'em growin' up and you turned out pretty good. I just want Tommy to turn out well rounded himself."
By the time the conversation had finished, Tommy and Thomas had returned to the porch with the freshly cut switch in hand. "You ready boy?" Thomas asked.
Tommy began to tear up, but otherwise nodded his head.
"Well go ahead then." Thomas replied. "Give the switch to Bo.
"Me?" Bo asked, flabbergasted.
"Of course." Thomas replied. "You were the one he wronged."
I don't know 'bout ya'll, but I bet ole' Bo there would 'bout rather have his wisdom teeth pulled…..without painkillers.