Lord have mercy, he ain't wearin' no drawers.

Guess them's just one more thing Ennis Del Mar considers a luxury. Like somethin' to eat besides beans. Ain't never met a man so hard to figger out. He's tough as this stump I'm settin' on, but that ain't the whole story, not by a long shot.

Nothin' don't seem to bother him: not the cold, Aguirre's dumbass rules, or any a the other blue million aggervations a man's gotta put up with. Not Ennis Del Mar. No, sir. He just keeps his head down and keeps right on in spite a all this world can throw at 'im. Hell, I thought I had it tough as a kid 'til I heard his story. Ain't no wonder he's hard as…

Shit! Near 'bout cut my damn thumb off! Why in hell's he gotta warsh up right in the middle a everything? Sometimes I think he wants me to look, but I know that cain't be right. We're both men, ain't we? He ain't got nuthin' I ain't seen ever day a my life. Should just turn around and get an eyeful.

But I daren't look. Whut if he thinks I'm queer? I know I ain't, but if he takes a notion I am, I b'lieve he'd whup my ass and not break a sweat. Ain't nuthin' he's said gimme that idea, but I'd bet on it. Like I'm bettin' he cain't tell how much I wanna turn around. I ain't queer, but Ennis Del Mar…

Bein' up here with Ennis makes me feel the way I use to feel settin' in my mama's kitchen, daddy out in the fields far away, the smell a cherry cake bakin' as sweet as mama's voice. I don't know why that feelin' makes me wanna put my arms around him. Makes me want him to hug me back, and maybe hold me for a while, like mama did when I was little.

Dammit! Cigarette smoke keeps gittin' in my eyes. If I don't finish peelin' these damn spuds soon, I'm liable to hurt myself. Always been clumsy. Like my daddy says, nuthin' comes to my hand right, but I'll make 'im eat them words when I'm a champion bull rider. Make 'im see he's wrong 'bout me. I ain't no worthless pissant.

Ennis don't think I'm worthless. He lissens when I talk. Respects my opinion. Even volunteered to switch with me and stay with the sheep. Don't that beat all? Why would he do somethin' like that? Take the shit job freezin' his ass off so's I can stay snug? Lot more to him than whut shows. He's a deep one, sure enough.

Wonder whut he's thinkin' 'bout right now? I could ask 'im, but I think I'll just keep on peelin' and let Ennis get on with his warshin'. Ain't never had a real friend before, and I sure don't wanna take a chance on spookin' 'im. Truth is, I could stay like this always, just me'n him, not even talkin', just bein'… bein' together.

But I got a feelin' things is gonna change.