The Dance: Chapter 13 - Smoke on the Horizon

[smiles_a_lot]

Genre & Rating: Canon/AU, R for cursing.

Disclaimer: Jack and Ennis were created by the Great and Mighty Annie Proulx. I'm just the dude behind the yellow curtain working the lights and using the Big Voice microphone.

Summary: This is the continuation of  The Package, and takes place after Ennis and Alma's divorce. Ennis has moved to Kansas and is

Comments

[fridayblues]

Hi :)
Oh, welcome back. You haven't lost the touch, I can see it. And I think your secondary characters are great, too. I like Nick and glad that his friendship is making Ennis more as ease. I love how Ennis put the letter above his heart a lot. But you shouldn't stop there!
Thanks anyway. It's always nice to read your writings.
xxx

[smiles_a_lot]

Thanks! Wow! In the words of Ralph Malph...I still got it! As for Ennis putting the paper above his heart, hmmm, are you suggesting he should make out with it like Jack did with Ennis's letter? I think that would be a bit awkward, don't you think, considering he was talking to his big sister? lmao. I'll make a deal with you. I'll write Ennis making out with Jack's letter if you write that under the table scene I've been begging for! xx Em

[big_heart_june]

WHOOOOOOT! You're back! *jumps up and down* I'm SO pleased ♥

Maybe it was a good thing we ate it all so she’ll think she already gave it away to someone.”

Oh LOLLOL! *claps hands* I loved this back and forth between Ennis and Nick! Had to laugh at the sanitary towels part too! Lucky Ennis! LOL.
I also totally enjoyed the easy banter part at the VA clinic, it was good fun to read! You have such a smooth, witty and enjoyable style, Em, I LOVE it. The sad part was very well written, very realistic. :( It's so terribly sad.
I'm loving this new Ennis, I love how close he is to NIck and the advice he's giving him. Love how he recognised that look of Nick's too..:( *sigh* I was very happy he called his sister and him holding Jack's letter over his heart was a beautiful and emotional touch. Loved it ♥

I was SO happy to see this on my friends page this morning, sweet Em ♥ I thought I wasn't seeing straight! LOL.
Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuu!! ♥

[smiles_a_lot]

Whoot! I gave you blurry vision! I'm so proud!

Thank you for your warm welcome back. I have to admit I feared this chapter jumped around a bit too much, but there were a lot of dots I was trying to connect. Nick's big sister=Ennis's big sister. Nick & Ennis's banter=Nick & vets banter. And through it all there was the smell of chocolate chip cookies and apple pie and fudge and bananna bread. The smells of home and family and a chapter full of people seeking to find family or home again. Whew! No wonder it took me ages to write this! I'm glad I made you happy and I hope I can continue making you happy for the remainder of this story. xx Em

[annabuffy]

So good to read a new chapter-it was good. So sad about Nick and all his fellow vets. The things that Vietnam vets saw and had to do were horrible. Hopefully they can find strength in numbers. So nice to see Ennis call his sister. Seems like the walls around him are starting to come down. Hopefully, his next phone call will be to Jack, telling him to leave Lureen and finally be together.

[smiles_a_lot]

Thank you, I'm glad you thought this chapter was good. It was a bit difficult to write something that needed equal parts sadness and that kind of easy camaraderie that's needed to cement a friendship. You're right, walls are certainly starting to come down. And about time, too! Thanks for reading. Em

[rosiet]

I'm so glad to see this back Em...even though I know this was hard for you to write. Poor Nick..Poor all the boys.

I'm so glad that he had Ennis there with him. Ennis has come so far... understanding Nick... trying to help, contacting his family... I'm just so happy for him.... and I loved the image of him lying on the couch with Jack's letter just above his heart...sigh. Beautiful. Thank you!

[smiles_a_lot]

Hey Rosie: Ennis has come very far, you're absolutely right about that. Still a bit more to go, though, but that's to be expected. Let's hope Jack can persuade Ennis to move a bit faster! ;) xx Em

[mariez65]

What a nice touch you have - handling the pain and angst so deftly, and never with a heavy hand, which makes it all the more effective. I really like how you've drawn all the relationships in this story and how realistically you demonstrate the different dynamics - brother/sister, war buddies, male friendships, male/female friendships. And it's beautiful how, in helping Nick, Ennis is learning to help himself to open and grow. No, not so lonesome anymore :)

Thanks!
Marie

[smiles_a_lot]

Your comment carries a great deal of insight. Thanks so much for letting me know that what I hoped to convey with this chapter did come out. There's a lot of threads here and many layers...which sometimes frustrates me because I just want to get to the sex already! lol. I really enjoyed your comment, thanks again. xx Em