I just realized I didn't comment on your last chapter. Bad Em!! These past few chapters have had, IMO, some of your best writing. Simply sublime. The imagery. The tightness. Gorgeous.
I particularly enjoyed this: //Together they set out to untangle the messes they had left behind them, trying to find a way to bring their separate and difficult lives back together again. It was more than a single, charmed moment, or hour, or day, that had shown them where they were now meant to be. Whatever they did for the rest of this day-sleeping, eating, talking, laughing, making phone calls, playing a half-assed game of poker in front of the TV-they were only ever saying to each other: Don’t go. Please don’t go. and I wish I could stay. God knows, I don’t want nothin’ else.//
Let's hope Ennis remembers he don't want nothing else but Jack. Jack has his heart. How long can Ennis live without it? He can't. If Ennis makes the wrong choice he'd be depriving himself of the only oxygen that matters. Lovely as always, Jen. xx Em
Hi Em, thanks so much for reading and commenting! It means a lot to me. Ennis drives me nuts sometimes, but he believes that he's making the best choices he can in each situation. He just needs Jack to show him the bigger picture here--hopefully that will happen soon. Please read tomorrow's update and let me know what you think (and I would love to read something of yours soon too--hint hint). xx Jen
I thought Ennis was going to try to make a go of it with Jack? He told him so, right? But then he tells Alma he ain't gonna leave again?
Hmmmm.... I understand the defeatist attitude and the whole thing about not deserving anything, but I think it's really bad for Ennis to lie to Jack like that.
Maybe Alma can talk some sense into Ennis? That would be a nice surprise.
The whole situation is very complex here, as your comment suggests. Ennis's actions contradict each other as he is sometimes only able to see what is best in the immediate situation, not the larger picture at all. Hopefully that will change soon--new chapter will be up tomorrow. Thanks for reading!
What a bomb you dropped on us. But I think it's understandable that Ennis gets doubts in this emotional moment with his daughters. He's willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of his children. Having children myself, I find this thought natural and important.
God only knew how often Alma would be willing to let them see him, especially once she found out that he was setting up house with Jack. Given the time and circumstances they live in, his fears are absolutely justified. Chances are given that he will never see his girls again when he leaves his family for Jack.
But this will not be the last thoughts and doubts Ennis will have on this. Right in this moment, he had only himself and his children put into the equitation. But the thought what this would mean to Jack will kick in soon. I'm sure he will be even more torn but I hope he will be able to make the right decision.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. For me the toughest element in the equation between Ennis and Jack is their children. Naturally that would make any decision a hundred times more difficult. I've always loved the fact that they both are good fathers--to me this tells us something important about them. But Jack can help Ennis to see the big picture here as well. :)
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I just realized I didn't comment on your last chapter. Bad Em!! These past few chapters have had, IMO, some of your best writing. Simply sublime. The imagery. The tightness. Gorgeous.
I particularly enjoyed this: //Together they set out to untangle the messes they had left behind them, trying to find a way to bring their separate and difficult lives back together again. It was more than a single, charmed moment, or hour, or day, that had shown them where they were now meant to be. Whatever they did for the rest of this day-sleeping, eating, talking, laughing, making phone calls, playing a half-assed game of poker in front of the TV-they were only ever saying to each other: Don’t go. Please don’t go. and I wish I could stay. God knows, I don’t want nothin’ else.//
Let's hope Ennis remembers he don't want nothing else but Jack. Jack has his heart. How long can Ennis live without it? He can't. If Ennis makes the wrong choice he'd be depriving himself of the only oxygen that matters. Lovely as always, Jen. xx Em
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I thought Ennis was going to try to make a go of it with Jack?
He told him so, right?
But then he tells Alma he ain't gonna leave again?
Hmmmm....
I understand the defeatist attitude and the whole thing about not deserving anything, but I think it's really bad for Ennis to lie to Jack like that.
Maybe Alma can talk some sense into Ennis? That would be a nice surprise.
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But I think it's understandable that Ennis gets doubts in this emotional moment with his daughters.
He's willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of his children. Having children myself, I find this thought natural and important.
God only knew how often Alma would be willing to let them see him, especially once she found out that he was setting up house with Jack.
Given the time and circumstances they live in, his fears are absolutely justified. Chances are given that he will never see his girls again when he leaves his family for Jack.
But this will not be the last thoughts and doubts Ennis will have on this. Right in this moment, he had only himself and his children put into the equitation. But the thought what this would mean to Jack will kick in soon. I'm sure he will be even more torn but I hope he will be able to make the right decision.
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Poor Jack and if this really is Ennis decision to stay with Alma how is he going to tell Jack after all that he promised him?
Can't wait for the next chapter now.
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