Miss-Red
I give huge kudos to Jack for that as well. He became the man he was not because of his father but in spite of him. I also can’t see where Jack’s impulsiveness thwarted any plans Ennis may have had for a future invite. As I said in another post, I’m sure Jack was thinking that he was going to go up there and they would plan their future.
IMO if Ennis had any plans to invite Jack up so they could talk about their options at a later date, he wouldn’t have sent Jack on his way without at least saying something in regards to that. It may not have been the best time to do so and he was caught off guard but still….
As you said- he had no problems laying out the boundaries in their relationship and he isn’t a delicate flower. He was impulsive with that reunion kiss and then leaving for a few days with Jack. He was seen in Jack’s truck when they drove to the motel. His reluctance to ask Jack to stay isn’t because of the girls- he introduced Jack to them {meaning asking him to get a place in town or something as the girls were staying with Ennis}. I’m trying to figure out what made him so damned paranoid about a truck in the distance.
I think him going to Mexico was for comfort as I’ve stated in prior posts but I’m thinking it’s also him trying to take control on some level. That ride back was long and he had a lot of time to think- the poor guy isn’t “good enough” for the men in his life- his father, LD Newsome and Ennis only seems to want him when they are hidden away somewhere. He has to be the one to concede to all of these people whether he likes it or not. Randall was one of the few people in Jack’s life where Jack didn’t have to do all/most of the work. I used to think that look on Jack’s face after Randall propositions him was Jack thinking of Ennis. Now I’m starting to think it was shock or maybe surprise- ‘Wow here’s a guy who is actually approaching ME; I don’t have to go looking for it, he’s making himself available to me, etc.” I think that was empowering to Jack. Even though that scene absolutely rips my heart out and stomps all over it, I’m glad he stood up to Ennis their last time together. I don’t think he’d ever give up on Ennis, nor would I want him to {and that is a different thread anyway} but I think being with Randall made it a lot easier for him to speak his mind.
I also don’t want to come across as bashing Ennis- as I’ve said before- I love both of them and I feel for both of them but that doesn’t stop me from being aggravated at some of the things he {Ennis} does or doesn’t do.
Hey, LJN - love this post!
You make an excellent comment about Jack been treated like he as never good enough for the men in his life. That about sums up part of what I always felt was Jack's cross to bear. Ennis getting paranoid about that damn truck, as you say, would have been another smackdown to Jack, IMO, whatever Ennis might have thought he had to worry about just the fact that he was worried was disrepectful, especially given the conversation they were trying to have at that exact moment.
Thanks for all these great insights into "our boys"; they might aggravate us, but we do love 'em, the dears. "sigh"
