Darlin', I signed our Jax up for his first Mutton Bustin' competition.

Can you believe it?

W…what did you just tell me, Ranger Rick?

I said I signed our Jax up for his first Mutton Bustin' competition, Sour Patch.

This Saturday, I'll be takin' my boy down to the rodeo.

HOLD IT, HOP-ALONG!

(Pause)

You better get back here before you start hopping-along to the rodeo with my six year old son.

*groans* Maya, why do you have to be such a fun-sponge!

Jax is already—

Wait! You already told him.

You told him without my, your wife's, permission!

Now hold on, Sour Patch.

My Sweet Sour Patch.

Hold on just a sec.

Jax is my boy just as much as he is yours.

*Hisses* How dare you say that to me!

Lucas, let me ask you something, mister.

Did you go through the back-aches and the head-aches?

Did you waddle like a penguin for 5 months? And, I know for a fact that you knew were your feet were.

Do you want to try saying that to me again, Lucas Austin Earl Friar!

(Pause)

Ok, let me try a different tactic.

*warning voice* That would be wise, Heehaw.

(Jax enters)

Mama, you never let me do anything.

Oh, Sweetie. That is not true.

Just last week, I let your father take you horseback riding.

No! I only can sit on dirty bench while I watch daddy widing Tander.

*Chuckles* You mean riding Chandler.

I don't care if the sheep is named Tander, or Chandler.

You're not riding anything that can end up breaking you.

Honey, were talkin' about the horse, not the sheep though.

Yeah, mama. We talkin' about Tander.

The horsey.

*slight chuckle* Of course it is, Jax.

Does dat mean I can ride the sheep then, mama?

Yeah, Sour Patch. Can I ride the sheep?

*Looks at him with an amused arched eyebrow* Yeah sure, Lucas.

If you want to go Mutton Bustin with a bunch of six year olds, then I'm not stopping you.

*Looks at mama with an eager face* Mama, are you stopping me?

*Smiles softly* Yes, Jax. Yes, I am.

*Jax exits room*

Look Maya, this isn't a life or death competition.

It's not like the time I rode Tombstone the bull back in 8th grade.

Is that worrying you?

*sighs* To be honest, a little bit, yeah.

That bull had bucked you off about five feet in the air.

Then you landed.

And didn't move.

(Pause)

I…that was the scariest moment of my life.

I'm not too fond of all of these "competitions" that happens in these rodeos.

And…and I don't want our son to be a part of it.

*Smiles at Maya* Yeah, I understand.

But…but he's not alone in these competitions.

These competitions aren't just for fun. These competitions teach our young ones how to strive and be proper gentlemen.

Do you remember what my Pappy Joe once said?

What?

He said that in order to face your fears, you've got to ride them before they ride you.

Do you want our boy Jax to be scared of every fear you, or he may have? Do you want his fears to end up riding him?

*Sighs* No. Of course not.

Then we'll be by his side during every one of his fears right, Maya? We'll be facing them with him?

*Smiles softy* Of course we will.