Regards the term "pissant," it is a common term in the southwest. It is a reference to a very tiny ant. They commonly called sugar ants also.
The reference is to the size of them, being smaller than the regularly seen and customary sized ants,found in greater abundance. They are the smallest and
mostly just a nuisance, they are easily gotten rid of. They tend to be the kind of ant that is most found entering houses, and becoming a "small" insignifiicance but mainly a nuisance.. Therefor not worthy of a lot of effort or worry. Unlike the larger and more dangerous type of ants.
It primarily is saying that a person you call by that name, is of little or no significance. Harmless for the most part, and easily gotten rid of. And rather
transitory.
I used to hear that term a lot during my growing up years. Most often referring to transient workers on farms etc. It was in no way at all, referring
to his sexual orientation.
I agree with the way others here have said they think about Aguirre hiring Jack for the following year. He had no other men to do the job. He
Had not been sufficienty negligent the previous year, to disallow him being rehired for the next.. He knew that the loss of sheep due to the
lightning storm was not Jack's fault. I am also familiar with men in his position. They tend to blow off steam with little provocation, in order to
release their own frustrations. Those reasons can be well shown, because of things like the weather and the trials of happenstance. It is at least,
a frustrating job he has. It doesn't excuse him for being such a ridiculous bore however.
