Replacement by Sputnik
Jack was shopping in the men’s department for warm clothing. He was getting ready for a much anticipated “fishing trip” with Ennis Del Mar, and he couldn’t find his heavy coat. Jack picked out a blue parka much like the one he lost, and as he walked to the register to pay for the garment, Jack spied a rack bulging with white and blue patterned shirts.
Jack placed the parka down on a stand and wandered over to the shirts. He fingered a shirt that was very well made, and reasonably priced. His mind drifted to the shirt in his bedroom at home in lightning Flat: a shirt he “found” while up on Brokeback Mountain. Jack removed the shirt from the rack and turned it side-to-side. It was just Ennis’ style, and he could see him wearing it now. He also saw himself unbuttoning the shirt to reveal Ennis’ chiseled chest. Jack was getting warm at the thought of it. He knew he had to buy the shirt. Ennis was out of a shirt. Jack owed him one.
As Jack paid for the shirt and parka, he had his doubts that Ennis would accept it. He would love to shower his lover with gifts, but Ennis Del Mar was far too proud to take what he would see as chartiy. He didn’t have to worry about Alma finding something expensive looking and grilling him about it, as they divorced years ago. And Jack didn’t want to show off. He was sort of queasy about throwing his good fortune in Ennis’ face. Jack walked out of the department store wondering how Ennis would react to the gift. It is true that he accepted the bracelet with Jack’s name spelled out in glistening diamonds. But sometimes a small gift can rankle. As Jack placed his bags in the truck, he knew it was settled. Ennis would get the shirt. He owed him one.