September 23rd 6:00a.m. by Littlewing1957
Ennis sat at his small kitchen table and watched Alma as she prepared breakfast for the family. He refused the sausage and eggs that his wife offered, couldn't touch a bite, but liked to watch his girls eat. Ennis reached over and pulled Alma Jr. from her chair and sat her upon his lap. He rubbed her rosy cheek, placed the small of his thumb into her tiny mouth. Alma Jr. giggled and spat Ennis’ thumb out. Alma watched this exchange between father and daughter with a sort of detachment. Something was terribly wrong, she just knew it!
Alma placed a small saucer of scrambled eggs and sausage in front of Ennis. He looked up at his wife, smiled, and raised a fork to feed his daughter her breakfast. It was a fine feeling: feeding his child like a good daddy, but Ennis’ thoughts were elsewhere! He allowed his mind to drift to nights up on Brokeback when he fed Jack Twist beans with a spoon. Jack was a sight as he opened his bow mouth, accepted a spoonful of beans! Ennis smiled as he remembered Jack’s eyes rolling, becoming wide and deep blue as he "savored" the beans. Jack Fuckin’ Twist was just playing with him. Jack didn’t even like beans!
Ennis wondered if Jack still disliked beans. When Alma Jr. was finished with her eggs and sausage, Ennis picked her up and carried her into the living room where Alma was nursing Francine. He watched his wife caring for his second born and tried to enjoy it – willed himself to be happy. But Jack Twist was coming to town. Ennis tried to convince himself that Jack’s visit was just a friendly call, that it didn’t mean anything. But somewhere in his psyche, Ennis knew that Jack’s visit would change everything…