A Better Idea
Author Note: At times I've used complete dialog sentences, or phrase fragments directly from the movie, Brokeback Mountain in my story, A Better Idea. These characters and their words do not belong to me, nor does the short story, screenplay, or movie. I reap no rewards beyond the pleasure of knowing about them.
In chapter 24, I further intrude into the lives of the actors, by taking a line directly from Heath Ledger while he was speaking on the Oprah show. Again I receive no money for any of it, and I'm merely showing my admiration for him, and the statement he made. I've italicized the quote. Hope Heath will not mind my repeating it here in the voice of Ennis Del Mar.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Saturday morning dawned drizzly, warm and damp. After the late night they had on Friday, they all expected to sleep in. Even so, around 5 a.m. Ennis felt a hand glide caressingly from ear to neck, to chest, to . . . wherever. He welcomed the touches from his man, and couldn't resist stretching and looking forward to whatever came next. Ennis drew Jack's hand up from his newly aroused erection, and kissed his palm, and then each finger tip. He could feel Jack's excitement begin to press against his hip.
"Well, good morning to you, too, darlin'." he murmured, turning over to face Jack. "Are you really here in bed with me, or am I having one a my favorite dreams?"
Jack leaned in for a warm, sweet kiss; he let his tongue graze across Ennis' lower lip and then lightly nipped it between his teeth. "Does that answer your question, sweetheart?"
"Uh, no. That's exactly what would happen in my dream." At that, Ennis said, "Guess you need to pinch me, to see if I'm really here."
Jack decided he had a better idea. "No, Del Mar, this is a dream you're havin', just close your eyes and go with it." He then moved down in the bed with an obvious agenda. He tugged on Ennis' pj bottoms, and his Cowboy lifted his hips up off the bed to let Jack pull them all the way off him. At the first touch of Jack's tongue, Ennis moaned his man's name aloud. He gave himself up to the pleasure of Jack's hands and mouth, before flipping around to give while he received. The lovers still ignited the same old fires in each other with their bodies and their words.
The morning progressed in the satisfying sensual way they had developed over their twenty years together. The heat they shared had not diminished, nor had the knowledge of how lucky they were to have found each other.
Today, though there was a new depth to that appreciation. Having the love and the raw need for each other was glorious still; but sharing this house with people who offered unconditional acceptance and the freedom to blend their everyday lives together was something they had never dared to dream.
Ennis lay back against the headboard, Jack in his arms. He brushed the hair off Jack's forehead, and kissed his temple. The sweat from this morning's exertions was slowly drying, and they were resuming normal breathing. Jack snuggled closer and wrapped his arms tightly around Ennis' chest. Recalling another morning in this room not so long ago, Ennis asked, "Has anyone seen your new key chain, bud? Anybody said anything about it?" He reached down and pulled a sheet up over them as they cooled.
"Lureen saw it in Denver when Bobby and I were getting ready to leave the hotel. Said that was real sweet. I think she meant it." Jack continued, "I think my dad noticed it last week when mama and I were fixin' to leave his hospital room. But he didn't say nothin'. Just looked kinda funny."
"Funny, Ha Ha, or Funny Strange?"
"I'm not really sure. Kinda thoughtful maybe." replied Jack. "I guess if he saw it, we'll find out soon enough. My dad was never one to hold back."
"I know this is my last full day to be here with you before he comes home. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I've heard so much about your dad, bud."
"YOU'RE not sure, how do you think I feel? Growing up with him the way he was? It will be strange, knowing what I know now about how much he loved me, before he was attacked. I'm telling you, Ennis, I'm not looking forward to him coming back here. It's felt so good with just mama here; her being so loving and accepting, like she is. You know?"
"I know, darlin', ain't no one like your mama, in my book." Ennis agreed. "But somethin' we've come to know; each day we're together will be worth it, and neither one a us ever expected it would be easy."
Ennis tightened his hold on Jack, and said, "You want some coffee, darlin'? I'm 'bout ready to face this day. You?" At Jack's nod, they began the process of untangling their arms and legs for a little while. Still naked, Ennis walked over to look out the window to check the sky. "I don't know, Jack, this could be one a those times when the clouds never clear off, just hang there drippin' all the livelong day."
Jack just smiled while putting on his tee shirt. He suggested that Ennis walk around some more and check out all the other windows, might see something different. "I never seen any other weather man I enjoyed watchin' more than you, Del Mar." Ennis gave Jack that look that told him he still thought he was plumb crazy, and started getting into his jeans and boots.
A knock on their door surprised them, no one had ever . . . oh yeah. Jack opened the door to admit Bobby, who was tucking his shirt in and looking eager to start the day. He was ready to feed Scarlet and Grey, and just see whatever might happen on a Saturday in Lightning Flat, Wyoming. "Mornin' dad, Ennis." he glowed.
Jack felt like his cup runneth over; having his man and his son both here was such a welcome change. His chest expanded with a deep sigh of satisfaction.
"Come on in. Sleep well, Bob?"
"Are you kiddin' dad? I was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow. Didn't know till I woke this morning that I was sleeping on sticks and stones."
"That bad, eh? Well, son, hang in there awhile yet. We'll figure out what to do about that bed. It was meant for a kid, and you ain't hardly one no more."
Bobby smiled at the acknowledgement of his newfound maturity, and nodded his head. "Sure, dad. No rush."
Ennis and Jack finished making their bed.
"I do believe I smell coffee, and something else that's making my mouth water. Let's go see what Gran has in store for us this morning."
Claire had heard her boys stirring around up there for quite awhile, and when she looked up the stairway intending to call them to "come eat while it's hot" she was treated to a sight she had thought she'd never see in her lifetime. Her grandson, her son, and his fella were coming down the stairs to begin their day in her home. She dipped her head, and quickly walked to the oven, wiping her eyes on the tail of her apron. It didn't do any good to try to hide them, her feelings were apparent across her luminous face.
They each took a turn in the bathroom, getting washed up, brushing teeth and starting their day. On the way to the table, Jack gave Claire a one-arm hug and said, "good mornin', mama." He grabbed the coffee pot and poured for all of them except Bobby. For Bobby he poured a large glass of milk.
Bobby had said, "Mornin' Gran." as soon as he came down the stairs, and directed a dazzling smile at her.
Ennis, happy but undecided still about what he wanted to call her, said "good morning, ma'am, something sure smells good down here."
They held each other's hands and bowed their heads in thankfulness and reverence. They took a moment to dwell on the specialness of this morning.
This first day was a new beginning in the way their lives would be. Content together, they ate and drank and made plans for the day.
Jack and Ennis took their second cups of coffee into the barn, where they introduced Bobby to Scarlet, Grey and to Buck, Jack's dad's sorrel. They showed him where they kept the feed, and everything else he'd need. Jack, Ennis and Bobby each mucked out a stall and put in fresh straw. The horses were given fresh food and water.
Bobby saw that Ennis talked to the horses constantly, softly murmuring, touching them, nuzzling their faces, running his hands over their flanks and also checking each of the horse's shoes. No wonder dad told me to watch Ennis with the horses. He's thorough, professional, but so gentle that each horse remains calm no matter what Ennis does to them.
Bobby Twist, junior horseman, breathed in their faces and gently rubbed each horse with his bare hands to let them begin to know his own scent.
When Bobby finished and turned around, dad and Ennis were talking about the sorrel. "I don't really know where it came from, but every horse dad has ever had, was named Buck." Ennis gave a questioning look, but guessed that it saved him from remembering a new name every twenty-five years or so.
"I plan to have me a horse a my own soon as I get settled. An' I know what I'm gonna call him too." said Jack.
Ennis lifted one eyebrow and looked questioningly at Jack. "Ya do, huh?"
"Signal." said Jack.
"Signal?" Ennis repeated, still looking at Jack with a sidelong glance.
"Yes, Ennis, Signal. Like where we met."
Ennis just ducked his head, and smiled under his hat, giving nothing away.
They walked around showing Bobby the corrals and pens, and other close-in parts of the ranch. "Later, Bobby, after you see your grandpa at the hospital, we'll exercise the horses; ride out, and see the rest of the ranch."
Ennis was waiting with Jack and Bobby, while Claire got ready to go to the hospital. Jack asked Bobby, "What did your mama have to say when you called her last night?"
"She sure was glad I called even though it was late, dad. Her and gramma was waiting up for me. She said she'd call you on Sunday night at nine as usual, but that things were going real well. She sounded real happy. She said I did too. Said I sounded tired, but happy. They may stay in Denver an extra few days, so she'll probably call you from there, not from Childress." Jack was relieved about what Bobby told him, and just nodded his head at the news.
"You have a new experience coming this morning, Bobby. Your grandpa is pretty unpredictable, so don't know how he'll act when we bring you in to his hospital room, but Gran has told him you're comin' today. I'll be right there beside you, so don't worry about him none." Bobby couldn't imagine why such a fuss was necessary, he was meeting his dad's father wasn't he? Sounded like that should be fine. "Okay, dad."
Bobby asked Ennis if they could go back to see Scarlet and Grey while they were waiting for Gran. He grabbed a few of the apples that his dad had packed and took them with him to the three horses' stalls. He gave each one an apple and petted them while they munched the treat. Ennis liked what he saw in the boy's manner. He would do fine.
"How do you feel about my grandpa, Ennis? He nice to you?"
"Tell you the truth, Bob, I ain't met him yet. We're saving Me till we get him here in his own home, feel more comfortable about the idea a me bein' here 'n all. 'Course he knows I'm here. Walter's been filling him in ever since I started coming up here last month. See Bob, you ain't the only one that's been hearing about me for years. He ain't been happy about it, so we don't know how he'll react. You see what I mean?"
"Well, if you're a good person, and you make his son happy that should be plenty good enough for him, though. Right?"
"No, in many cases it ain't like that at all. I don't know, I still find it personally, disappointing that people kind of go out of their way to voice their disgust or their opinions against the ways that two people choose to love one another. Some folks get mighty riled up and even violent about anything they consider to be wrong."
"Well that don't make sense." stated Bobby. "Ennis that's just stupid thinking. How could loving someone ever be wrong?"
"I don't think it can, Bobby. Some also think that if two men love one another, and try to build a life together that they're against Family Values. What do you think about that?"
"Aww Ennis. I've never known such family values till I met you and your girls. You, dad, me, Jenny and Junior; in my opinion, that's a family." Bobby had been leaning against a hay bale, and he pounded his fist down on the straw, "My grandpa better not try to say anything bad about our family."
Ennis ran his hand over Bobby's hair, pushing it off his forehead, and ruffling it up some. "Come on Bobby, you'll be leavin' for the hospital soon. It's good you won't be taken by surprise by anything your grandpa says or does."
Claire had taken a few minutes to pack John a breakfast biscuit again. He still looked awful thin to her, and that hospital food didn't hold no appeal whatsoever. Once she had it wrapped, they piled into Jack's truck and left for the hospital leaving Ennis to his chores.
He began by stepping off the dimensions of the porch he was planning, and put stakes in the ground, outlining it with string. He had lifted the first shovelful of dirt when Walter and Kenneth drove up in the Ford. They waved at Ennis, and he returned the wave. "You just missed them by one minute." he called to the men.
"That's alright, we passed them on the lane just now. We came to see you anyway." said Walter. "Jack get all his business handled down in Childress?"
Ennis laughed. "He sure did, But I'll let him tell you all about it."
Ennis reached his right hand over to Kenneth and said, "Ennis Del Mar, pleased to meet you." then he waited for the other man to acknowledge who he might be. "Oh, I'm sorry Ennis, this is my oldest son." said Walter.
Kenneth looked at Ennis, smiled and shook hands. "Kenneth Bell, heard a lot about you Del Mar. 'Cording to my dad, here, you hung the moon."
Ennis just shook his head at that. "What can I do for you gentlemen?"
"Well, it's not exactly what you can do for us, but what we might be able to do for you, Ennis. And the Twist family too, of course."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, you ever hear of a barn-raising, Ennis?"
"Sure, who's needin' a barn to be raised?"
"Well, seems like you're planning a new porch here, and I believe that's a right generous undertaking. We'd like to help, if you don't mind."
Ennis beamed his brightest smile. If Walter and Kenneth pitched in they could get the porch built in half the time, he knew. "Thank you, that'll speed things up considerably." he said.
"No, I don't think you realize what I'm saying Del Mar. Kenneth, explain some of our plan to Ennis here and see if he still likes it."
Kenneth, being his father's son, expanded greatly on the topic. "See, Rachel, that's my wife, and I have three kids, and my brother Roger, and his wife, Patsy have four. All able-bodied workers."
Ennis began to get it, and smiled in earnest now. "Wow." was all he said. But he was thinking I sure wish Junior and Jenny could be here to witness this.
"What?" asked Walter, seeing the wistful look on Ennis' face.
"Oh, nothing, sir. I was just regretting that my daughters can't be here to take part in this, and see this family in action. I know they'd dearly love it,"
"Where are they, Ennis? Riverton?"
"Yes." he replied dismally.
"That's too bad. That's a long way off. Hey, you remember that Winston Chambers I introduced you to at the Cattlemen's? He say he had a cousin in Riverton? Your kids know him? What was the name? Tom Higgins?"
"No sir, my girls don't know Tom at all. I just know his wife, Linda. I guess it can't be helped, but I wish there was a way . . ." Ennis' voice drifted off. " If they drove up here, even if they started right this minute, it'd be time to turn around and go back once they arrived. It was a good thought, but it's just not practical. We'll have to plan for them to come another time."
"Uh, dad? Can I speak to you a minute?" asked Kenneth. As Kenneth spoke quietly into Walter's ear, the older man began to smile and by the time he was finished, had a merry twinkle in his eye. "You think that'll work, dad?"
"Yeah, yeah, I sure do. Why don't you go make a phone call, see if he's free."
While Kenneth used the Twist's phone, Walter filled Ennis in on the idea. "Kenneth had to remind me, but his wife's brother, Mauro, is a pilot for the state of Wyoming. He's on call to transport civic leaders, the governor, whoever needs to get from place to place quickly, and he owns the plane. He's on contract with the state, but in his free time he can do anything he likes, go where he likes. Kenny's just calling to see if he's available today."
Just then Kenneth stepped outside the door and gave the thumb's up to his dad. "Well Del Mar, the next step is yours. Want to call your girls and see if they are free as well?"
Bravely ignoring the butterflies in his stomach, Ennis called Alma. "Alma, are the girls home? I was hoping to talk to them, maybe invite them to a doings up here at Lightning Flat. Uh yeah, right now. They'd be flying up here. Yeah? Okay, let me talk to whoever's the closest."
His heart racing, Ennis talked to Jenny (who was Gung-Ho) and Junior who was excited but nervous, and they agreed to come. "Pack a tooth brush, overnight stuff, a jacket, and a change of clothes, bring work clothes, it's a barn raising. Okay? No, Bobby doesn't even know yet, he's at the hospital seeing his grandpa; we're putting this idea together right this minute!"
9 a.m. at the Twist's house saw a flurry of activity and phone calls. Mauro was given the girls' phone numbers, and they his. He would meet them at the Riverton airport in one hour. In that time, he'd have to file a flight plan, fuel the plane, check it out, and meet his newest young passengers!
Oh my heavens, thought Ennis. They might actually be here before Jack, Bobby and Mom get back from the hospital! This is the wildest thing I ever been a part of.
Ennis knew he had thought "Mom" and let his ear hear it again, trying it out.
The original plan that Walter and Kenneth came to propose was to get all the kids and grandkids together this morning, help Ennis dig the footer, and pour it. Then allow it to dry and all build the porch tomorrow. Footers need to be below the freeze line so it will have to be at least 5 feet deep for up here at Lightning Flat. Ennis was surprised by the depth needed, but good to know.
Within thirty minutes, there was more activity around him than a bee-hive. Each of the kids had an assigned task: either digging, locating concrete bags where the post would be, sorting out the premium galvanized steel 6" post bases, placing the wire mesh and re-bar with the bags of concrete. Walter hooked up the water hose and brought it over to the area.
Ennis kept checking his watch, "where do we need to go to pick up Mauro and the girls?" he asked Ken. "What time should we leave?" Just then, Kelly, Kenneth's oldest, looked up and smiled. "Here they are!" She pointed to the sky and there Ennis saw a very tiny airplane circling high overhead.
Kenneth stepped over to Ennis and explained. My wife's family is very close-knit, so whether we wanted to or not, we had to put in a landing strip. Rachel and Mauro get together at least once a month. Their siblings, Andrew and Mary make it about half the time, as well. "Get your truck and follow me, Ennis. Ill probably just take Mauro and his wife Jennifer right on over to my place, and you can bring your girls back here. Did you say they are Junior and Jenny?" Ennis smiled and nodded.
Alone with his thoughts as they jounced across the pasture toward Ken's place, Ennis thought how this was the perfect way to travel across these desolate miles and miles of Wyoming. Just hop in a plane; amazing.
Meanwhile, back at the Bell ranch, Rachel, Patsy and Iris had been cooking, baking, slicing, and dicing since early morn. They knew what Walter and Kenneth had up their sleeves. So they had gotten an early start. Cakes and pies lined every surface. There were two dozen eggs cooling on the counter for deviled eggs, there were dinner rolls rising in pans next to the oven. Potato salad was assembled, ready to be cooled. A large jello mold was set. The pot of green beans was seasoned with bacon and onion. And for nibbling, two trays of carrots, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, olives and bell peppers.
Each of their kitchens smelled of roasting meats. Iris had a 28 pound turkey ready to carve, Rachel had slow baked a 15 pound brisket, Patsy made a 7 pound meat loaf basted in tomato gravy, and a 15 x 12 pan of macaroni and cheese, which was getting bubbly brown on top right now. Potatoes were bubbling in a pot of water, and there was corn to be shucked and cleaned.
Walter was always like this when he decided to throw a party, mused his wife, Iris. He jumped right in inviting people, the more the merrier. He knew she would follow his lead and make sure the food was there, and that people would have a good time and a place to sit down. She smiled at how her husband still seemed to love any good reason to hold a big Extravaganza.
At the end of the landing strip, Mauro was doing the last check on the plane before shutting it down. Ennis and Ken drove right up to the plane. Jenny saw him first, then Junior, and they climbed out of the plane and ran calling "Daddy, oh daddy! It was wonderful, we saw so many mountains, and we saw an eagle, a herd of antelope, and lots of bighorn sheep, and there was a . . ."
"Whoa, whoa, little ones." Ennis hugged them hello, and could not help being elated to see them here, but wanted them to wait at least a few minutes before knocking him over with their enthusiasm. "Girls, let me go speak to the pilot a minute." Ennis climbed up to the cockpit and peered in. "Hey, Mauro? I'm Ennis, the daddy o those wild-eyed girls. I hope they wasn't no trouble for you, and that they remembered to mind their manners." Ennis wanted to pay him for the transport, but Mauro said that it had been a good excuse to come visit his family, and he was grateful for the chance.
"Ennis, it's good to meet you. They were great. They were interested in everything. But first, I need to run through this final check list. . . "
"Can I help you? Or at least watch? I've never been in a plane before, but I sure am interested in seeing how you do it." So Ennis stayed for the check out, and had eyes for everything on the instrument panel.
Jennifer had set the wheel chocks, then lashed the tie-downs set in the concrete of the landing strip. She said hello to Ennis and told him his girls were delightful.
Kenneth took Mauro and Jennifer to his place to get settled, and Ennis brought the girls back to the Twist's place, just as Jack, Bobby and Mrs. Twist drove into the lane. I have so much to tell them, but want to hear their news first, Ennis thought
He was unable to tell from their expressions, how things had gone at the hospital. They drove up to this wild and unexpected sight of so many nieces and nephews working in front of their house, their faces reflecting the surprise. And there's Walter in the thick of things, thought Jack, he's mixing concrete in a wheel barrow with a hoe.
Bobby spied Junior and Jenny, and was beside himself in joyous recognition. The kids were introduced to all the other teens by Walter, and they felt they'd never remember all of the names, not today or ever. It was time for the last two post holes. Walter summoned them, "Twist and Del Mar kids, get your work clothes on pronto, we saved these last two posts for you. My wife has called and wants us to come to lunch in 15 minutes, so get a move on! Chop chop!" Uncle Walter was in his glory as Ring Master.
Ennis was tickled to see his girls pouring the concrete, setting in the re-bar and leveling it, checking and re-checking. He left Jack there to watch them while he went to find Mrs. Twist. She was slicing a plate of cheddar cheese to take over to Iris' or Kenneth's, wherever the gathering was to be. He asked if he could speak with her privately for a moment.
Looking concerned, she drew him into the parlor where she indicated for him to sit down on the sofa. She sat, and he turned and took her hand. I'd like to ask you a favor, well, two favors, if I might. Claire nodded inquiringly at him. Then he began. "Well, ma'm I've been wondering and thinking what I wanted to call you, and what you might want me to call you. Do you have a preference?"
"No Ennis, just something you'd be comfortable with. Have you thought of something?"
"Yes, I think I have. It feels right to me. But I don't want to presume that you'll accept it from me."
"And what might that be, my boy?"
"Mom. It's mom, I'd like to call you my mom. If that's okay. It's not what I called my own mother, so it's a name just for you. What do you think?"
Claire had dropped her face to hide her tear-filled eyes. But when he asked what she thought about the name, she looked straight into his face. "Oh Ennis, I like it. Please do call me your mom, son." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him to her. "Thank you." he said. "Thank you, Mom." Later tonight, when he had time to think on this, he would surely cry for the happiness of having a new mom, and for the one he still missed.
"That was the first favor, now for the second."
"Okay?" she said.
"My girls are outside and I'd . . "
"What?" she asked. "Who is?"
"My girls, Junior and Jenny. And I'd like to introduce you to them. What should they call you?"
"Of course, bring them in to meet me, but how did they get here, Ennis?"
"Oh Walter and Kenneth pulled a rabbit out of a hat, tell you later, goin' a get the girls right now!"
Ennis proudly guided the girls into the parlor where Mrs. Twist still sat on the sofa. She held out her hands to them, and they approached her timidly.
First taking both of Jenny's hands in hers, she said, "Hello, I am Claire Twist, Jack's mother." At that introduction, full recognition lit their eyes.
"I'm Jenny Del Mar."
"And I'm Alma Junior . . please just call me Junior, everybody does."
"Welcome. You girls are to call me Gran, just like Bobby does, Okay? I'm so very happy to meet you both. Your daddy is a fine, fine man, you know."
They blushed and nodded their heads; completely charmed by her.
Jenny would have filled her in on the entire morning's adventure but they all had too much to do before leaving for lunch, so the girls and their Gran agreed they'd save their story until they returned home from the party. When my brother, Walter, sets his mind to having a party, we all just go along with it. Let's go to a party!
They answered the summons: The Twist/Del Mar family pushed together in Jack's pick-up for the ride over to Iris and Walter's house. Claire happily sat in the front seat between Jack and Ennis. The three kids scrunched together in the back, crew seat.
Every one of them felt their head spin from all this change in the past two days, it was a lot to take in. But it felt good; it felt right to each of them.
Claire Twist introduced her grandson and new granddaughters to the entire adult population, leaving the younger generation to figure it out on their own. Of course, Mauro and Jennifer already knew the girls, but they hadn't met Bobby. It was a bit raggle-taggle, but eventually everyone knew everyone. And by then they were all stuffed, and it was time for dessert. Walter announced that after early church services in the morning, everyone should meet at the Twist house to erect the porch proper. Say 10:30 a.m. Then tomorrow around two o'clock, depending on how the porch is coming along, we'll have our supper meal here for all the porch builders.
"If we run out of time or daylight, we'll not paint the porch, we'll leave that for Bobby, Jack and Ennis to take care of when they have time. That's all I have on that score. Here pass the pies. Cake, anyone? When you see the one you want, take a big slice.
Okay, here ya go."
Bobby and Jenny locked eyes, and Jenny nodded, ever so slightly. They got up and came together, facing as many of the crowd as was possible. Bobby began, "Uh, folks, can I have your attention?"
Jack and Ennis caught each other's eyes across the room, and shrugged. Neither one knew what those kids were up to.
Bobby began, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?"
Of course, every kid in the crowd began hooting and hollering at that.
Undeterred, he called in a louder voice, "Ahem! When our family gets together" and he stopped and swung his eyes over Jack, Ennis, and the girls, "we usually finish the evening with a song or two." Groaning teens, "Oh no!"
"We take requests, who has a song that they want everyone to sing?" Yells and silliness prevail until Bobby says, "Okay, we're going to try Willie Nelson's, You Are Always On My Mind. You all know that one, right? He looked at Jenny for her to lead them off. She gestured for Junior to come up and lend support as well with her fine alto voice.
Always On My Mind
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
If I made you feel second best
Girl I'm sorry I was blind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
At first it was just Jenny with Junior and Bobby tagging along a beat behind, but when it came to the chorus, everyone seemed to know that, and sang along. They sang a rousing chorus!
More humming, no one knew the words by heart. It dwindled off to silence.
Then Claire raised her hand like she was back in school. "Do you know Amazing Grace?" At that, everyone relaxed, because they knew it and it was a lusty song to sing in a crowd. They almost didn't wait for Bobby and Jenny to lead them off.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found
was blind, but now I see. (repeat)
Okay, truth is, no one knew the third verse, so they skipped it. But they were all belting out the first two stanzas and the Chorus was magnificent. So they sang it one last time, and then it was time to pick up and clean up.
Patsy and Roger especially liked the singing, and told Jenny and Junior that. Everyone was chatting and laughing, so the clean up, and leftover storing was accomplished in record time. The men folded tables and chairs and put them away till tomorrow.
Roger made a point of coming over to talk to Ennis and Jack because he had not seen much of Jack, and nothing of Ennis due to traveling on business. He couldn't say enough nice things about Bobby and the girls. "I plan to do my part tomorrow, and come to help. Looks like I've been the slacker of the group."
Back home, Claire collaborated with Junior and Jenny to make a huge, soft pallet on the floor of her bedroom for them, and so everyone had ample sleeping space. Bobby showed them all through the house, pointing out Gran's room, the parlor, the bathroom, his room, and dad and Ennis' room. Just like that. No big deal.
TBC