Late sping afternoon, 1991
TALKING SMACK
"Ya otta be careful lookin' inta the mirror so much." Ennis called out to Jack. " Might just crack on ya."
Jack faining hurt."Aw....just want ta be lookon' good for ya."
"Yeah?.....ya cover that mole on yer lip with the mustache of yours....best part of yer mug.....bet I havent seen fer 10 years."
ding-dong
Ya wanna get that Ennis...? not quite done yet."
"Sure...wouldn't wanna take ya away from that mirror of yours."
Ennis finds Gabby, their ranch hands 5 year old daughter in tears in the doorway.
"Sweetheart..what's wrong honey?" Ennis scopes her up in his arms and sits her down on his lap in a front porch chair.
"You and uncle Jack...said bad words to....each othe.... " Gabby starts to cry.
"Whut?......" Ennis looks at her puzzled. "You mean when I called him a dumb sh....." Ennis catches himself.
"Are....are you mad with uncle Jack?"
"Oh....sweetheart.....oh no....." Ennis put his hands on her face wiping her tears with his thumbs. "Me an yer uncle Jack aren't mad darlin'....ya see that just the way we are with each other....we talk like ta another all day long, teasin' 'n all...from when we wake till we go to sleep at night...just our way we say I love you....." Ennis says without hesitation. "Ya don't need ta give it 'nother thought."
"All day?"
"Yep....All day sweetie." Ennis kisses her forehead. "You know sweetheart....when me an yer uncle Jack met...yer mamma and daddy wuz just little babies....no older than yer brother Nathen....That wuz a long long time ago.....we's know one 'nother a long time....we'll always be tagether darlin'.....just like yer mama and daddy." Gabby looks up at Ennis and smiles. "Feel better now sweetheart?"
"Yes uncle Ennis."
"We better be gittin' ya back ta mama and daddy....HEY TWIST!" Ennis shouts as he stands up. "Ganna take Gabby back to the Collins' ...ya wanna come er what?"
Jack, silent in bare feet, standing invisible behind the old screen door, unable to speak.
"See that baby doll....Your Uncle's to busy combing that hair o' his ta even answer me." Ennis winks a Gabby, smiles, she smiles back. "Ya wanna shoulder ride back sweetheart?"
"Yea.....uncle Ennis!"
Jack looks on as Ennis walks away...little girl playing with his blond locks riding his broad shoulders ...tears rolling down his face.
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