Right 87 by Littlewing
Ennis looked at Jack as he walked alongside him, all excited and animated. He was talking a blue streak about where they could go and what would happen when they got there. Ennis shook his head as he listened to his friend go on and on about jobs and ranches and the good life. Ennis was less optimistic. As far as he was concerned, they were headed toward the unknown. He was a bit frightened and, yes, worried. As Jack babbled on about the livestock they would eventually raise and sell, Ennis looked at Jack’s head and wondered if he did the right thing. They were both so young and inexperienced. Ennis wondered if either one of them had the courage and fortitude to make the dream come true. He shrugged and chased the negative thoughts from his mind. He, too, wanted that good life – the sweet life – and realized that it would happen if he made it happen. He would pursue the dream for his lover and himself. They both deserved nothing less!
The day was young and the weather was still frigid. Ennis hoisted his duffle higher on his shoulder and prayed that the weather would stay cold, as they had a long way to go, and it would prove easier to walk in cool weather. Jack stopped talking long enough to readjust his bag and look back over his shoulder. “You okay, there?” Ennis stopped and asked as he noticed Jack’s silence. Jack was looking at the road they just traversed. Ennis followed his gaze and saw a truck closing in on them. Jack placed his duffle on the dusty road and turned north. “I think I see my dad’s truck, Ennis,” Jack whispered as he took a few steps back down the road. Ennis saw the truck and recognized it instantly. “Yeah, and he’s coming this way, Jack. Wonder what he wants?”
Mr. Twist was happy to see his son and Ennis Del Mar stopped alongside the road. He knew he could catch up to them. He only hoped that they would be glad to see him, and would hear him out. Mr. Twist pulled up alongside the pair and killed the engine. He blew out a steadying gust of air from his lungs and tried to fortify himself for the task at hand. By the time he felt together, Jack and Ennis were looking in at him from the driver’s side window. John Twist gestured at them to step aside while he alighted from the vehicle. Ennis and Jack stepped away and were silent as Mr. Twist pulled his coat tight against the cold. “How you boys doin’, he asked, softly. Jack looked at Ennis, wondering what was going on. He had no idea what his father wanted with them. “We’re fine,” they chimed in unison. “Good, good,” Mr. Twist offered. There was an awkward silence as Jack’s father tried to gather his thoughts. Ennis and Jack waited patiently for him to continue. “Where ya headed,” he asked, tentatively. This time Ennis looked to Jack. Neither spoke right away. “Well, pa,” Jack began, “we don’t rightly know. Wherever we end up, I guess.” Ennis’ head shook his assent. “Well, how ya gonna get there?” It was Mr. Twist, of course, his eyes fixed on the cold ground. “We don’t know that neither,” Ennis ventured. Mr. Twist nodded and was silent for a bit. “If you don’t know where you goin’ nor how you gonna git there, why don’t you hang around the ranch a spell until you have it all worked out?” Jack sucked his teeth and looked his father square in the eyes. “You don’t understand, dad,” Jack said, very softly. “But Ennis and me—we gotta do this on our own, in our own time, and in our own way—right, Cowboy?” Ennis nodded. Mr. Twist looked from Ennis and then to Jack. “I thought you would say that, son,” he stated, matter-of-factly. Your ma is certain that you won’t be back for awhile. She thinks you have your mind made up, and nothing we can say will stop you.” Ennis and Jack were silent. “Well, I understand what it means to have a dream, son,” John Twist said, almost tenderly. He reached into his pocket and extracted the keys to his truck. He placed the keys in Jack’s hand. Jack accepted the keys and looked at his father, bewildered. “Take the truck.” Before Jack could object, Mr. Twist continued, “Listen, son, I don’t think I ever did right by you your whole life! The least I can do is help provide the means for you to go find your place in this world.” No one said a word. “We have another truck,” Mr. Twist announced, breaking the silence, and some of the tension. It was true. There was a second truck on the property: a disused vehicle, but every bit as functional as the truck Mr. Twist offered. “All I ask is you drop me back at the ranch, and you can go on your way. No need to even get out. Don’t make this harder on ya ma; just let me out and keep on goin!” Jack fought back tears. He never imaged anything like this! Ennis’ face registered relief and joy. He couldn’t speak, just nodded his head when Jack looked to him. “Okay, dad,” Jack whispered. “We both thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We’ll be glad to drop you back at the ranch.” Nothing else was said, or needed to be said. If things had been different, if he had been raised in some other reality, Jack would have embraced his father. It was the first time he ever felt affection for his dad, and he felt regret at not being able to show that affection. Jack opened the driver’s side door and popped the passenger side lock so that Ennis and his dad could climb into the cab. He turned the engine over and drove back toward the Twist spread.
Mrs. Twist never left the window. She didn’t know where her husband went, and she was worried. She hoped he didn’t try to drive down the boys and convince them to stay. She didn’t want them to leave, but she knew that every mother had to say goodbye, and face an empty nest. Roberta Twist glanced down the road even though Ennis and Jack disappeared long ago. She seemed riveted to the spot, helpless and afraid. She wanted her man home, if for no other reason than to help her away from the window. Mrs. Twist blinked a few times when she saw a truck, small in the distance. It was getting larger all the time, the closer it came to the ranch. She could make out her husband’s very own truck; the cab full with 1 driver and 2 passengers. Mrs. Twist stood when the truck stopped right in front of the house and John climbed out. He turned toward the house and looked back, just once, to wave goodbye to Ennis and Jack. Mrs. Twist couldn’t find the power to move from the window, or even sit back down in her chair. She watched, her mouth open, her eyes moist, as Ennis and Jack drove off down the road.
Topic: Introducing the "Jack with Ennis" Fan Fic Game - the BetterMost Edition (Read 2667506 times)