(no subject)
Ed and Hank, Part 3 of chapter 18
Do ya hear what I hear?
Disclaimer: Somewhere, sometime, Hank told their story to Annie Proulx. Jack and Ennis belong entirely to Annie Proulx. Ed and Hank belong only to each other. Money-wise, thought we were comin' out ahead this week, but then the durn truck broke down. Comments: Always appreciated.
Part 1:
http://myeyesaintblue.livejournal.com/17541.html
Part 2:
http://myeyesaintblue.livejournal.com/18930.html
Everything else is here:
http://myeyesaintblue.livejournal.com/10082.html
Do ya hear what I hear?
Hank opened the refrigerator door and started throwing food into it haphazardly. He looked outside. The yard light revealed Ed handing Bill that pie. Hank cursed as Ed seemed to start chatting with Bill. Hank grabbed the dog food and dumped, filling the two bowls to overflowing, barely noticing as some of it scattered across the floor. But Edthedog and Hankthedog noticed. They quickly nosed around the kitchen, capturing every wayward piece.
When Hank looked up again, Ed was headed towards the house. Ed walked in the door and Hank grabbed his arm, pulling Ed through the kitchen and towards the hearth, "C'mon Ed. Need ya. Now."
"Bed. Wantcha in our bed, Hank."
Hank switched directions and pulled Ed up the stairs, unsnapping his shirt with his free hand as he went, “Snaps. We should only buy shirts tha’ snap from now on.” Hank turned when they got to the top of the stairs and tugged at Ed’s shirt, unsnapping it too, then he shoved Ed into their bedroom and slammed the door behind them…
Please enjoy this musical interlude while Ed and Hank are otherwise occupied…
Well, you know you make me wanna
Shout
Kick my shoes off
Shout
Throw my hands up
Shout
Take my pants off
Shout
Come on now
Shout
Don't forget to say you will
Shout, Shout
Don't forget to say
Shout
Yeah yeah yeah yeah,
come on
Say you will
Say it right now, baby
Say you will
Say
Say that you love me
Say
Say that you need me
Say
Say that you want me
Say
Don't ever leave me
Shout
Come on now
Shout
Come on now
Shout
Come on now
Shout
Come on now
Shout
A little bit softer now
Shout
A little bit louder now
Hey
Hey
Hey
Hey
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Shout now
A little shout now
Jump up and shout now
A little shout now
Come on
Shout now
Come on now
Shout now
Come on now
Shout now
Come on now
Shout now
Yeah....
“Damn… Ed… Think I heard them angels singin' again.”
“Me too Hank... Jeez... Not ‘xactly what I woulda pictured angels singin’ though.”
“Ya’d be s’prised… Some a the songs I heard them angels singin’ over the years... C’mere… Not quite done with ya yet. Need ta kiss ya some more… Need ta kiss ya slow... Need ta...”
Time for another musical interlude…
Baby, I'm yours
And I'll be yours until the stars fall from the sky,
Yours until the rivers all run dry
In other words, until I die
Baby, I'm yours
And I'll be yours until the sun no longer shines,
Yours until the poets run out of rhyme
In other words, until the end of time
Baby, I'm yours
And I'll be yours until two and two is three,
Yours until the mountains crumble to the sea
In other words, until eternity
Baby, I'm yours…
“Well... gotta admit... tha’ sounded more like wha’ ya’d ‘xpect from angels.”
“Yeah. Think it were Mama Cass.”
“Whose mama?”
“Nevermind." Hank pulled Ed close, kissed the top of his head, then smiled, "Still cain’t believe ya were doin’ tha’ stuff at the restaurant. ‘Specially with wha’ happened with Bill ta day. Orderin' pancakes. Then talkin' 'bout the last time we made pancakes. 'N lickin’ tha’ syrup off a yer fingers like tha… Damn… Know we were in a corner, ‘n yer back was ta the place, but… still… ain’t like ya. ‘N Lois almos’ caught ya tha’ one time, when she came ta refill yer coffee. Prob’bly couldna missed ma face. Lucky she didn’ put saltpeter ‘n our food.”
‘Tha’s an old wives tale. ‘Bout saltpeter. Learned tha’ when I were workin’ all them years at tha’ co-op. ‘S really used fer…”
“Know yer jus’ tryin’ ta change the subject. ‘N then later at the Dairy Queen. Way ya ordered tha’ cone. Think ma jaw nearly hit the ground.”
“Don’ have no idea wha’ yer talkin’ ‘bout."
“Yeah. Sure. Orderin’ a medium. Then lookin’ down at me 'fore sayin’, ‘Um… Second thought better make tha’ a large.’ Shit... Ya woulda killed me dead on the spot if’n I’d a done tha’ ta you.”
“Woman behind the counter didn' see me do tha'. Jus' moved ma eyes, not ma head. 'N weren't no one else 'round. ‘Sides coulda been worse. Coulda ordered it the other way ‘round.”
Hank laughed and slugged Ed in the shoulder, “Then how ya were eatin’ tha’ ice cream cone. Damn. Jus' 'bout drove me wild fer ya.”
"'About wild? Hell... think ya prit' near killed me jus' now."
Hank grinned, “Don’ know wha' got inta ya ta day… sides a whole lotta sugar… but know I liked it.”
“Don’ ‘xactly know ma self. Sure as hell weren’t like me. Mighta been tha’ holier-than- thou bitch Rita Bryant glarin’ at us as we walked in the rest’rant tha’ set me off.”
"I did'n even see her."
"Didn’ think ya did. Weren’t ‘bout ta point her out ta ya. Tha' look she were givin' us coulda froze hell over. Twice." Ed sighed, "Gen’rally jus’ don' like goin' inta town. Feel like people ‘r lookin’ at us all the time. Know mos' folks know ‘bout us. Mos’ treat us okay. But feel like lot of ‘em migh’ turn on us damn quick if’n we crossed some kinda invisible line. Not Bill 'n Betty 'n a few others. But a lot a 'em... Guess I jus' felt like pushin' tha line some ta day. Even if'n no one knew I were doin' it. Guess tha' don' make a whole lotta sense...”
"Well... if it makes ya feel any better, I sure as hell knew ya were doin' it." Hank pulled Ed closer, "Know whatcha mean ‘bout tha’ line, though. Watchin’ tha’ holiday parade with ya…could see ya were shiverin’ in tha’ cold wind. Jus’ had yer light jacket on ‘n all. But felt like I couldn’ even put ma arms ‘round ya ta try 'n keep ya warm. Like all them other people near us were doin’. Maybe it ain’t like that everywhere yet, but here… Hell… I dunno, Ed...”
“Didn’ mean ta talk ‘bout this stuff now. Been too good a day. 'N night. 'Specially night. Don’ wanna talk ‘bout it no more… C’mon Hank…” Ed jumped up then grabbed Hank and started trying to pull him out of bed.
“Wha’? Why?!? Nooo…! Don’ wanna get outta bed.” Hank grabbed the headboard with his free hand.
“Still early. Ya reminded me… few minutes ago… wanna put our favorite ornaments on the tree tonigh' yet.” Ed kept tugging, Hank kept resisting.
"Fer somebody who don' celebrate Christmas yer sure in an all-fired hurry ta decorate tha' ol tree."
"We're leavin' in jus' a couple a days. 'N I like havin' a tree. Never said I didn' like havin' a tree. Even if it is tha' sorry ol' 'scuse fer a tree. 'N ya know... once ya get it all decorated, turn on them purdy lights, turn off the room lights, stand back a ways from it 'n squint yer eyes half-closed... Well... it don' look half bad." Ed gave Hank another tug, "C’mon, Hank. I’ll make a nice fire. We can get all liquored-up maybe. That'll help tha' tree look better too.”
“Yeah. Our version a liquored-up these days is to have one drink 'n then fall 'sleep... ...Come ta think a it... that sounds purdy good ta me."
"Okay then. 'M gonna make a pit stop 'n then put some clothes on. 'N then I'll go down 'n start tha' fire."
"Don' have ta put no clothes on on my account."
"Naked tree decoratin'? With them bristle-brush branches? Yeah... That ain't happenin'. Side's always chilly in here. Even with tha' fire goin'."
Hank laughed, "Okay, maybe naked tree decoratin' ain't such a good idea. 'M jus' gonna wait here in this nice warm bed fer ma turn in the bathroom then I'll be down righ' after ya."
^^^^^^^^
Hank smiled at the sounds of music drifting up the stairs. No angels singing this time. Although Hank could have sworn he heard them humming along. Ed had put on the Rosanne Cash cd Iris had sent them a while back. Hank smiled again thinking of Ed's initial reaction to that cd.
"Don' sound nothin' like her pa."
"Should hope not."
"Meant the kinda songs she sings, dumbass. Woman's got a real fine voice, though."
"Sure does."
"Still... Not very twangy."
"Some a her stuff's twangier. I like this better."
"Dunno. Don' seem country 'nough."
But Hank knew Ed liked it too. Even though Ed would never admit it.
Hank walked down the stairs just as Ed finished starting the fire. Ed turned and gave Hank a smile that made his heart jump. 'Course every single one of Ed's smiles made Hank's heart jump. Ed handed Hank a drink and gave him a kiss. Then they decorated the tree. In their usual way.
Hank hung the fish first.
Hank always hangs
the fish
first.
Then he kisses Ed.
Good.
Then Ed hangs the moose.
And Hank hangs the buffalo.
Ed hangs the pie.
Of course.
They each hang
a pair of boots.
And they each hang
a truck.
And even though neither of them really cares,
they argue every year about who
gets to hang which truck
and which pair of
boots.
Just
because
it's what they do.
Tree decorating finished, Ed pushed the coffee table aside while Hank threw a few of the couch cushions down on the floor. They settled down onto those cushions, Ed holding Hank this time.
They sat in contented silence for a long while. Hank was drowsy from the warmth of the fire on his feet, the warmth of the whiskey as it slid down his throat, the warmth of Ed's arms wrapped around him and the warmth of the soft music washing over him...
"
...Your hand on my heart and it's beating in time to the sound of your voice and the look in your eyes. The moment you touch me, all down inside, is the fire of the newly alive. The passion of old is a children's quick game. Now it's the sound of the thunder and feel of the flames. You leave me a message so deep in my skin. Where you stop is where I begin. You are the reason, the time and the face I am dissolving in oceans of grace. I'd give up a lifetime to keep you from harm, be your salvation and rescue. And burn bridges to lie in your arms..."
Ed pulled Hank closer, sliding his hand under Hank's t-shirt and over Hank's heart, whispering in Hank's ear, “Ed sure is glad Hank never gave up on Ed. Ed loves Hank. More 'n Ed can say.”
“Shit... Ed... Hank loves Ed too. Somethin' fierce. But now Hank's all confused. He don' know whether ta kiss Ed fer wha' he jus' said or hit Ed fer sayin' it like tha'."
"Ed votes fer the kiss."
"Okay... Hank'll kiss Ed... IF... Ed stops talkin' like tha'."
---silence---
"Well...?"
"Don' rush Ed. He's thinkin' on it."
"Shit... Okay... How 'bout if'n Hank throws in a piece a pie ta sweeten the pot. So ta speak."
"Hank would get up and get it fer Ed?"
"Yep."
"Bring it ta Ed on a plate with a fork 'n all?"
"Yep."
"Okay. Ya got yer self a deal. Wan' ma kiss first though."
Hank turned in Ed's arms.
"Oooff! Watch tha' elbow, Hank,"
"Sorry..."
And Hank's lips found Ed's lips.
... And the wheel goes round and round. And the flame in our souls, it will never burn out. And the wheel goes round and round...
...
"Hey... Where ya think yer goin'?"
"Gonna getcha tha' piece a pie, like I promised."
"Pie? Now, why 'n the hell would I wan' a piece a pie when I got you ta gnaw on? 'C'mon back here."
... And the flame in their souls, it will never burn out...
...
----