“Jack, I do have something new to tell you about, but I don’t know how interested you’ll be.” Jack took a bite of his sandwich and nodded. “Well, why don’t you tell me your news and we’ll see. If something out of the ordinary happened, I want to know about it.” “Okay, Darlin,” Ennis began.
“I was eating dinner one night when there came a knock at the door,” Ennis spoke, between bites. “Alma opened up and in walked 3 men that walked right past my wife and kids and approached me at my table.” Jack was intrigued. “Well go on, Friend,” Jack coaxed, his sandwich all but forgotten. “What happened after that?” “The tall man, a man I recognized, asked me to come outside with them so we could talk.” Jack didn’t say a word, but was transfixed. “They asked me to join them,” Ennis blurted out, his mouth full.” “What did you say?” Jack whispered. “Talk to me when you’ve chewed your food. I can’t understand what you.” But Jack had heard every word, and wanted, need clarification. Three men asked him to join them? Join them for what?
Ennis swallowed his mouthful and continued: “Jack, they were men from the church. They heard me singing and wanted to get together a men’s group to sing every Sunday, and perhaps travel to other churches to sing.” Jack let out an audible sigh. Nothing wrong with what Ennis said, but he had to admit that if Ennis was asked to participate in a little something something with other men, well, it would absolve Jack of a boat load of guilt. But Jack should have known better. There was no other man but him for Ennis. Jack knew it, and Ennis knew it. Jack was glad of it. “You must have been really good, Friend,” Jack remarked, a lilt in his voice. What did you say to them?” “I told them I would think about it,” Ennis answered. Jack nodded and smiled at his friend. “Maybe you can sing for me when we get back to camp?” “Mebbe,” Ennis said. “C’mon, let’s get back to camp, and perhaps later on tonight I’ll sing you a song.”