The sound of crickets filled the night air, the fireworks from the Fourth of July celebration finished leaving the hazy Sulphur scent in the air. Laying on the roof of Bill Dauterive's home to watch the show, the small crowd of Hank Hill and Boomhauer left. Hank had his job at Strickland Propane to get up early for and Boomhauer had a long day of who knows what. His life is a mystery at times. The families had gathered their paper plates and cans long ago after the finale of the fireworks.

This left Bill himself sitting on the shingles staring off at the night sky. Dale Gribble took a drag on his cigarette as he laid on the Manitoba blanket he had received from cashing in his cigarette carton credits. He couldn't see much through the clip on sunglasses, but he hated showing his eyes. He felt safer behind his lenses and a Mack hat on his head.

Dale gave a loud exhale as he moved to sit up. It was late for himself to stay out, he had glue traps to empty and ants to spray in the morning but damned if he didn't want to leave.

The cookout food made him feel so tired but he couldn't stay out in the open. He got cold easily due to his thin frame and Nancy would also be wondering why he didn't come to bed. He stood up and collected his blanket but stopped short of the ladder down.

"You staying up here all night?" his nasal twang woke Bill from his trance of watching the brighter stars shine.

"Maybe just a few minutes more. Sure is chilly though." he brushed his hairy arms in the sudden realization that he just wore a small undershirt at night. He watched Dale come back to him and unfurl the blanket, handing it to him.

"You can keep it. I have six more like it." with a loud sniff, he turned to leave the roof and Bill. The balder man watched as he walked into his home and turned the porch light off. A small smile came to the man left as he draped the smoke scented blanket around him.

He and Dale had become better friends over the years. He knew why Dale treated him like he did. Or at least in his mind he thought he did. He and Dale were very much alike. Except one had more misfortunes then the other. Bill's wife left him and took everything. But Dale still had a wife but she took away his trust of others.

For the time being Bill will hold on to this blanket. It was Dale's way he looked out for him, in a sort of different manner. He'd never admit to anyone he cared for Bill, in fact he played the blame game whenever Hank or Boomhauer were around. But Bill knew it was a different manner because it was a sort of relationship. It was the best thing he could ever have.

Women avoided him, he'd even take a man so long as they cared for him. And deep down Dale cared, it was just behind all that smoke and mirrors. But they cared for each other.

This is the last chapter written first to give the end result of their time together