Fall 1990"So there Ennis....are ya excited 'bout the square dance tonite?"
"....Ah don't know.....Ah guess....maybe..."
"Ya been standing there ironing that shirt of yours ya like so much fer the last twenty minutes." Jack looking over Ennis's shoulder as he smoothed the fine cotton fabric of his 'Stetson' stripped shirt Jack had gotten last spring for him on his last birthday.
"Don't mean nothin', Just wanna look like we c'n take car o' ourselves......just an o'l square dance...." Ennis concentrating on the task at hand.
Jack reaches an arm around Ennis, rests his chin on his shoulder. "Hey Ennis.....Ya like that shirt 'lot don't cha?"
Ennis silent for a moment looks down feeling the soft cotton. "Ah sure do......like it 'lot.....reminds me of that one Ah had back in Riverton.....put it on that day ya came ta see me....hadn't seen ya in so long.....wouldn't let Alma wash it fer the longest time after...."
Jack squeezes both arms around Ennis, speaks just above a whisper in his ear. "I remember....'s why I picked it out fer ya....reminded me too."
Hardly able to speak. "Th....Thanks Jack."
"Ennis....ya ...ya think you think ya could iron a shirt fer me?"
"So that's it huh?...Ya think ya can just come waltzing in here any o' time, gettin' all sentimental on me an get me ta iron yer ol' shirt!....Huh?" Ennis never taking his eyes off his careful movement of the iron.
"Kinda what I figured." Jack gently tightens his grip around Ennis, pressing his face against his stubble.
Ennis turns to Jack eyebrows furrowed, then smiles. "Course Jack."
Jack returns with a solid dark red textured cowboy shirt with front and back yokes, ivory snaps..... the one Ennis bought for him....and tosses it to him.
to be continued