Dallas, Texas

"So Jack, how are you enjoying Dallas so far? Jock tells me you've toured the office, but what about the rest of the city? Believe it or not, Ewing Oil isn't the only thing Dallas has to offer, and our family love having you here, but I don't want you to get bored waiting for someone to find time to show you around…" Listening to his mother speaking to Jack, JR smirked to himself and looked around the room to see whether anyone else was hearing things the same way he was. His mother sounded concerned for Jack's sanity amongst the busy Ewing men, but more than that, to him she sounded as if she was sending him a warning, telling him that relying on Ewing Oil and the Ewing family to provide for him, financially or socially, wasn't a good plan. JR wasn't sure whether she meant it as a warning to stay away because he was bound to cause trouble, but he liked to think she did, because she had heard his thoughts on the situation and for once was taking his side. Of course, she could also just be being realistic with Jack, or genuinely curious about his activities during his time in Dallas, because she was a nice person like that, she did take an interest in other people, but deep down, he liked to think she was actually acting like a mother, protective, like Sue Ellen was with John Ross.

Turning his attention to Jack, JR listened quietly and interestedly as his supposed cousin responded. "Oh don't you worry about me Miss Ellie, I'm doing just fine here so far; I think it'll be a long time before I get bored in Dallas, it's an experience in itself just looking around, it sure is different here to Alaska, especially rural Alaska. Ewing Oil and the Dallas Ewings are what I came here for, but Dallas itself isn't so bad, in fact, I'm quite enjoying it here. To answer your question about exploring, I've been downtown to have a look around and since I'm staying in the suburbs I'm slowly getting acquainted with the layout of the city, mostly through wrong turns and missed highway exits. I went out last night too to sample the nightlife, that's something that sure won't bore me here; Alaska isn't lacking nightlife, oilmen can and do enjoy their time off, especially after a long shift, but Dallas is more… diverse? You have small country bars and live music here like we do in Alaska, but very rarely in Alaska did I ever visit anywhere like I did last night. I'm sure we have them, Anchorage isn't exactly a small town, not in my opinion, but for the biggest city in the state, it sure seems like a small town when I compare it to Dallas". Watching Jack as he paused for a moment, JR almost rolled his eyes at the 'grateful outsider/harmless country boy' story he was spinning, however, after looking around the room and seeing everyone else looking interested, he resisted; Sue Ellen probably had a point about at least looking like he was making an effort to be polite.

"Listen to me, I'm monopolising the conversation; I suppose I'm just excited to be here, a bit nervous too. Ewing Oil and my family in Dallas are something I've heard scattered throughout my whole life and now I'm here, in person. I understand your concern, but really, I don't need a tour guide to show me the city, I'm enjoying getting situated on my own". Turning his attention from Miss Ellie to Jock and then over to Bobby, Jack continued speaking, "I am very grateful to you Jock for fitting me in to your busy schedule at the office, and to you Bobby too, I know you're busy, but you took time to have lunch with me today". Watching Jack speaking and taking note of his family's reactions to him, JR really had to resist the urge to roll his eyes, or worse, actually scoff and say something; Jack was clearly playing a role, trying to solicit sympathy and it seemed to be working. "I suppose what I'm trying to say is this; Dallas isn't a boring city, but even if it was, the city is secondary to what I came here for, family, so thank you all for welcoming me the way you have, but please, don't feel obligated to entertain me, I'm capable of doing that all on my own".

Staring at his mother as Jack finished speaking, JR was now not so sure that she had actually been taking his side earlier, because she seemed to be awfully easily swayed by a schmaltzy speech. Sure, Jack had answered her questions, but in the most predictable, complimentary way possible, sidestepping any mention of how he planned to support himself or establish himself away from the supposed biological fact that he was a Ewing. The only real positive part of Jack's speech to JR was the thought of hearing his change of tune once he realised that not everything was easy and perfect in Dallas. If Jack had really just come to Dallas to get to know his family then fine, but if he wanted to work at Ewing Oil then he would have to interview and earn the job fair and square, if he didn't get the job though, JR imagined he'd probably leave as fast as he'd arrived. Jack was a user, it seemed so obvious to him, but apparently his mother, father, Bobby, Lucy, and even Sue Ellen to a lesser extent, just didn't seem to see it; in the end he would be right though, he always was.

"Now boy, we're family, we're Ewings, this is what Ewings do, no need to get sentimental about it, I know Jason would do the same for one of my boys". Watching his father standing and walking over to Jack to shake his hand, JR raised an eyebrow and smirked to himself at the thought of him or Bobby venturing anywhere near Alaska; Gary was different, he was a nomad, but even then, he had a feeling his little brother would be unlikely to go looking for more Ewings. It was a nice thought for Jock to mention Jason, but realistically, Jason's son was seeking and had found a lot more in Dallas than any of his cousins would ever look for or find in Alaska.

"Daddy's right, you're a Ewing, it's only natural that you're included in family events, so since it's Saturday tomorrow, why don't you come over, I'll show you the ranch, then maybe we could go out afterwards, I know some good places…" Turning his attention to Bobby as he too moved closer to Jack, JR took a drink, he would stay quiet because it was a better long-term plan, he didn't want to be written off as bitter and mean just yet, but that didn't mean he would act as happy and friendly as everyone else seemed to be. Finishing his drink as the rest of the family joined the conversation, clearly all influenced by the sappy story about coming to Dallas to find a family, but not wanting to bother anyone with his presence, he was almost relieved when Teresa showed up in the doorway to announce that dinner was ready to be served. A change of scenery didn't always mean a change of conversation, but it often did, and as it was now, he wouldn't mind that one bit, even if it meant listening to one of Lucy's school stories, his mother's DOA stories, or Bobby's ranch stories; anything that didn't focus on fawning over Jack was good with him.

To be continued…