NEW YEAR NEW HOPE

Riverton, Wednesday December 7th 1983. Ennis is at the post office picking up his mail. His new Ford F-150 pickup is carefully parked on the street outside, it's finish glistening, slippery to the touch with the many coats of wax that Ennis has lovingly applied, no insect has a chance of a safe landing on this truck. Ennis walks out, sifts through his mail. Among several ads is a postcard from Jack.

Friend

Had a great trip last month, one the best. Back in Texas safe.

Jack

Ennis walks to his truck, leaves the mail on the seat, grabs a bag of quarters in the glove box and walks to the payphone.

"Newsome Farm Equipment, this is Charlotte, may I help you?"

"Yes ma'am may I speak to Mr. Twist"

"I will see of he is in his office honey" After a moment Charlotte come back to Ennis. "He must be out on the lot, I will page him for you, may I tell him who is calling?"

"Ma'am…that's ok….I'll…."

"No trouble at all honey, may I have…."

"It's Ennis….Mr. Del Mar, he'll know……"

"Mr. Jack Twist, phone call line three"

Jack, dressed in his best Farm equipment salesmen's garb, nice jacket with suede yoke and elbow pads, new boots, warbler tie and palomino Stinson, is out on the lot with a customer. He hears the call, ignores it wanting to make the sale. After a second page he sees a junior salesmen, calls him over to answer questions till he gets back. Walks inside to Charlotte's desk .

"Did they say who it was?" Hoping to get back to make a sale.

"A Mr. D….Ennis Del Mar" She hands him the note from the pad.

"Thanks, Charlotte" . The color drained from his face Jack is scared what to think. In all the years of him and Ennis they have never spoken on the phone. He runs to his office, shuts and locks the door, closes the blinds.

"Ennis…Ennis is something wrong? Are you all right?"

"No…no…I'm alright….I just wanted to….." Ennis is glad to here Jack's voice, but so far away.

"You sure?" relief coming over Jacks face.

"I just want to call and….tell…." Ennis can hardly speak.

"What is it Ennis?" Still concerned.

Ennis almost can't get the words out." I just wanted to …..to thank you fer the truck….it sure is pretty……I……I sure am proud to have it."

A big wide smile comes to Jack's face, he beams. "S'alright Ennis, sure was glad for you to have it."

"And the trailer, I never seen a better one, the gear inside……for…" Ennis has to stop.

"Friend, I'm so glad you like it. No one deserves it more than….more than you" Jack 's eyes start fill.

"I….I built it carport for it next to the my trailer house, got some o' lumber from the ranch and some aluminum siding for the roof. That'll kept the snow of it this winter. Jack……"

Jack grinning to think of Ennis taking such care of his truck. "Ennis its so good to hear you voice."

"My old pickup….I gave to Andy, one of the fellas I work with on the ranch. 22 years old, support's wife 'n three kids, didn't have no way to get around. Lives way out at one of the old ranch houses same one me and Alma did when we first had the girls, before we moved to town. You….you sure made his family happy. I wish you could'da been there to see the looks on his kid's faces….Him tell'n all the places he could take 'm. All smiles, ear to ear. His wife Rita can go to town now, not have to be stuck way out there. Dropped him home after work, day after we went to Rawlins, told him it was his. Tried to thank me, I said 'couldn't do it without …….without my friend Jack Twist.' They want I be sure and thank you for them, make you dinner you when your in Riverton." Ennis starts to well up, has to stop a second. "Insisted I come for Thanksgiving….even my girls came by, got to show them off. All...all cuz of you Jack."

Jack holding back his tears, bits his lower lip.

"Jack……Jack are you there?"

"I'm...I'm here bud" Jack can barely get the words out, wishing he could touch Ennis.

"Jack……..I was thinking…..I maybe ah……..it's…….." Ennis looks down.

"What is it Ennis"

"Well….Junior's already turned 18 this year……and Jenny , well she will be……..next ye.., and I won't have to……..maybe if you still…..want to…..I mean next year after…..if you….I mean I miss……..y….…." Ennis is trying to get the words out, eyes glistening. "Aw it's probably way ……way too late. I'm sorry I…."

"Ennis……..Ennis , no…..it's …it's not" Jack can't believe what he is hearing, could this really be? Hoping Ennis is saying about…maybe… just maybe. Not wanting to break the spell Jack speaks. "Ennis, what…what are you doing over New Years?"

"What….I dun no, I might……."

"Why don't we meet down in Colorado, we could talk….some more……make plans……. I know a ski lodge way out has these real nice cabins, we could ski….and."

"Ain't never been on skis Jack. Might fall and break a leg" Ennis recovers a bit.

"Seems you and me have been on a lot of fishing trips bud, sometime we catch a few, other times never take the poles out'ta the truck." Jack grins.

"Ah…..well…."

"Say you'll go Ennis, let me know what days you can take off and I'll set it up. Ennis?"

"Sure….Jack….I'd …..I'd like that. And we can maybe ….talk….and …."

"Yeah Ennis….s'alright I…..I like what I ……hear….. You'll let me know when?"

"Sure enough... Jack…………." Ennis looks out to his truck, shimmering in the sunlight, standing in silent testimony on it's four tires what he is to Jack, Jack to him, feels he has a part of Jack with him, surrounding, covering him whenever he uses it. A tear begins fall.

"What Ennis" in Jacks most gentle voice.

"Thanks….thanks so much for the truck and the trailer for the horses. I can't tell you how much I...I like….having….. them …...and that they came from you. …….I know I never again have ones as nice as these."

"Yeah, you will Ennis" Jack said almost under his breath.

"Wh…What."

"Let me know what days you can take off for New Years. I'll send you directions when I hear back."

"Oh…sure, I'll send you a card. See…..see you then."

"See you cowboy, drive safe."

After a moment sitting at his desk, Jack wipes his eyes, looks around at the framed sales awards on the wall, toy farm machinery models on his desk, file cabinets, large painting of rodeo rider, settles back.

"Thank You, Ennis."

END OF PART TWO