Jack, Ennis was telling him about how his parents died, a tribute to Jack's empathy (and the power of Budweiser, as well!) They were different than many 19-year-olds of their era and now, who tend to laugh at things that are not funny (such as topics covered in The Onion) and run from important and serious subjects. But one thing is universal: Jack and every other teenaged boy tends to clown around sometimes, especially when he would like to escape from a topic that has gotten too serious ("all rodeo cowboys is fuck-ups")!!
I think people tended to think of Ennis as too dour or humorless. However he did show his dry sense of humor, during several times. During the movie. Mostly associate with Jack, but also with his daughters...
When Jack after several long pulls on the bottle and giving him some as well. Jack jumped up acting the fool and saying "the hell they are." Ennis then said "there he goes," with a big grin on his face. And when he finally fell over the
camping gear, He rather sarcastically remarked "I think my dad was right.'
The next thing I remember was when Alma Jr, and Jenny asked him ''if he would return from his fishing trip soon enough to attend the next sunday at church?'' Again he replied in a humor of " awright if I dont haveta sing." And the same time as he was readying for his trip. Alma again nudged him in the direction of new employment. "Theres an opening over at the power plant, might be good pay." He again in a sarcastic and yet somewhat honest retort, says "clumsy as I am, I'd probably get lectricuted."
But my favorite Ennis funny saying was while they were still up on Brokeback. After all day or more separating the
Chilean sheep out theirs. They were riding along, with Jack relaxing and trying very poorly to play his precious harmonica, which is also instrumental in two more of Ennis' harmonica jokes. He smilingly tells Jack "you'll scare them
sheep off again if ya done quiet down." The other cases were in "The tent dont look right scene, and that harmonica dont sound right neither. Jack mentioned" it got dented when the mare threw him..." Then Ennis's
retort. "Thought you said that mare couldn't throw you?" Jack replied "she got lucky." Ennis said "If I'd a got
lucky. That harmonica woulda broke intwo". And then there was the reunion remark. "sending up a prayer, of thanks, for you forgetting to bring that damned harmonica."
'
I think we tend to overlook these simple things that he did laugh at because over all he was a very closed off man
unless he was around Jack. Plus the older he got and the less fulfulling his life. It seemed to drain a lot of his good humor. Along with his disappointments and lonesome feelings. Mores the loss when we remember back how joyous
he really was when he and Jack were together, and high above the natural world.