Jack walked to his room and placed his gloves on the bed. He was renting a room in Mrs. Sweeney’s rooming house. His room rented for $10.00 a week, and with his meager winnings from rodeo competitions, and pay from odd jobs, Jack was just able to afford his room and the meals that Mrs. Sweeney provided for $3.00 more a week. He was about ready to move on. It was no reflection on Billie Sweeney and her modest house, but Jack was itching to participate in every rodeo riding competition in the fine State of Texas. He sat on the bed and rubbed his elbow. He was hungry, he was tired, and, yes, he missed Ennis Del Mar.
Jack couldn’t chase the memory of Ennis walking down the road behind him as they left Brokeback Mountain after the job was cut short. Jack will never forget the look on Ennis’ face; was certain that his handsome mug looked a little sick, a bit green. He fought every urge to turn his truck around and go back for his friend, but he wasn’t at all sure that Ennis would welcome him. They did not leave on the best of terms. Oh, they weren’t angry, but their parting was awkward to say the last. Jack put the sad image of Ennis disappearing out of his life to rest as pulled off his dirty jeans and put on his only other pair of clean stiff wash jeans. Mrs. Sweeney served dinner at 7:00p.m. sharp, and she didn’t abide people sitting at her table wearing dirty clothes. Billie Sweeney was a simple woman, but she was well bred. When she was a girl her father insisted that the family dressed for dinner. She couldn’t require her boarders, who were, for the most part, simple working people to wear fancy suits and dresses to her dinner table. But the people she served could at least be neat and clean. Jack smoothed his hair and headed downstairs to the dining room for supper. He fought back tears as he wondered where Ennis would eat supper that night. Jack saw visions of Alma serving Ennis his supper. He shook the pictures out of his mind. The thought of Ennis with a wife was more than he could bear.
Mrs. Sweeney was just placing the last of the platters on the table when Jack sat down. He was the 3rd and last boarder to arrive. To his right sat Mr. Charles Simmons, a roughneck, and seated next to Mr. Simmons was Pearl Whittle, a librarian. Simon McBride sat on the right of Billie Sweeney. No one spoke as Mrs. Sweeney said grace. Jack looked at his hostess and waited for her nod. He reached for the mashed potatoes and loaded his plate. Mrs. Sweeney encouraged her guests to eat their fill, and smiled as Jack, Charles and Simon enjoyed fried pork chops, apple sauce, mashed potatoes and green beans and bread. Pearl ate only green beans and a bit of the mashed potatoes. The conversation at the table was light. The boarders took turns talking about their adventures at work and elsewhere. Jack spoke about the odd jobs he did around the ranches in the area, and Pearl went on about a new assistant librarian that was hired just that morning. Charles was silent. Jack never looked his way, but Charlie stole glances at Jack. Charlie Simmons was a big, silent, affable man who had hazel eyes and dirty blond hair. He was very buff and very handsome. Jack couldn’t look at him. He didn't have to just then. Charlie would visit him later that night when the house grew dark and silent. Their "affair" was going on for weeks now. Charlie would knock, and Jack would open the door and allow him to enter. Charlie would disrobe in silence while Jack placed lube on the bed. The coupling was mechanical. Both knew that there would be no strings attached, no feelings to get in the way. Recreation, it was. Jack felt free to call Ennis’ name when his release was near. Charlie didn’t care. He was happy to be Ennis. As long as his needs were met, he could be anyone Jack wanted him to be.
Topic: Introducing the "Jack with Ennis" Fan Fic Game - the BetterMost Edition (Read 2168882 times)