The Kiss

By: Chibi Hermione

Disclaimer: I only own Claire Bailey, and Miss Patten.

BEN'S POV

Little Joe stomped in the house in a bad mood.

"What's the matter, son?" I asked, looking up from the book I had been reading.

"Girls are stupid," my eight year old son announced.

"Why do you think that?" I asked.

This kind of statement wasn't unusual for boys his age. I should know, having been a child once myself, and having two older sons as well.

"Because after Miss Patten dismissed us, that dumb Claire Bailey kissed me right in front of everybody!" he exclaimed.

"What's wrong with that?" I asked.

"Pa," Little Joe groaned, "everyone knows kissing is gross! 'Specially if it's from a girl!"

I nearly laughed at the dismayed and disgusted look my youngest gave me with that announcement. I knew one day he'd change his tune on that, but for now, I'd just have to console him the best I could.

"Now, son, I've kissed your mother many times," I replied.

"That's different," he protested.

"How so?" I asked, pretending to be puzzled.

"Mothers aren't girls, Pa," Little Joe said, seriously.

This time, I did laugh.

"That's true," I said, "They're grown-up girls."

HOSS'S POV

I came inside the house to find Pa scolding Little Joe for pushing a girl into the mud.

"When you go to school tomorrow, I want you to apologize to Claire Bailey for pushing her into the mud puddle," he finished.

"But, Pa, she-" protested Little Joe.

"I don't care what she did; you had no right to push her, young man," Pa interrupted, "you're going to school tomorrow, and you'll apologize to Claire."

"Yes, Pa," Little Joe replied sullenly.

After Pa went out to the barn, I asked, "What did this Claire Bailey do, Shortshanks?"

"She kissed me," said Little Joe, "and in front of everybody, too."

"Kissin's not that bad," I told him.

Little Joe gave me his best withering look and said, "Is, too."

"Well, you go ahead and think that, little brother," I said.

ADAM'S POV

Out in the barn, Pa saw me putting away Sport.

"That Joseph Cartwright," he said with a sigh and shake of his head.

"What's Little Joe done now, Pa?" I asked.

"Your brother pushed a girl into the mud this afternoon," Pa said.

"What'd he do a thing like that for?" I asked.

"She kissed him."

"Sounds like someone's sweet on our Little Joe," I replied.

"Joe's not so sweet on her," Pa said, "I told him to apologize to her tomorrow."

"Good," I said.

Soon after Pa went back to the house, Little Joe came into the barn.

"I heard about your girl trouble," I said.

"Yeah, I got kissed by a yucky girl," he said.

"Don't worry, Little Joe," I said, "pretty soon, you'll be begging those girls to kiss you."

Little Joe made a face.

"I won't do that," he said, "not in a million years!"

"You say that now," I said, "come and say that to me in about five years."

LITTLE JOE'S POV

I walked as slowly as I could to the schoolhouse. I didn't want to apologize to Claire Bailey for pushing her in the mud yesterday. She deserved it for kissing me. Yuck. No matter what Pa, Hoss, or Adam says, girls and kissing are gross. Well, not so much girls as kissing.

When I reached the schoolyard, I saw Claire sitting on the school steps with her friends.

I stood in front of Claire, stared at the ground and mumbled, "I'm sorry for pushing you yesterday, Claire."

"I accept your apology, Joe," Claire said.

Claire stood up, bent down in front of me, and kissed my cheek.

"Eww!" I screeched, backing away from her.

I didn't push her this time, though. At least she kissed me on the cheek this time and not on the lips again. If she had done that, I would have pushed her again. Why does she always have to kiss me for, anyhow? Girls are strange.

A/N: So, what do you think? Please leave me a review!