Work Text:
Jack.
The first time I saw you,
you just were leaning against a truck
Looking at me as if you knew something I don’t
And hell, Jack
Maybe you did.
Jack.
A rodeo boy like you sure knew how to get under my skin
I experienced things up there,
learnt things up there—
meanwhile Alma waited down there—
All thanks to you
Curse you, Jack.
Jack.
We weren’t supposed to last
Never supposed to be more than a summer
Just two men, one summer
Herdin’ sheep, only one summer
I didn’t want you back
Piss off, Jack.
Time don’t listen
I tried to bury you
Forget the way I felt
Forget the ways we felt up that damn mountain—
Jack.
You stubborn son of a bitch
I was married and had two kids
I didn’t need that stupid card
Why did you come back?
Why did we kiss like that?
…
I need you, Jack.
Jack.
You kept talking about that ranch,
that dream,
a place just for us
No wives and no kids
Only us by each other’s side
A place for the men who want to quit this lie
I’m scared, Jack.
Jack.
Alma left
Don’t leave me too
I’m sorry ‘bout November but work comes first
Don’t lash out on me like that
Oh, you wanna quit me?
Fine
Well, why don’t you?
I can't stand being like this no more, Jack.
Jack.
I saw it in your eyes
I knew you wanted more
Maybe I led you on
Hell, I led you on
But you knew what you were getting into
I told you it ain’t gonna be that way, Jack.
Jack.
I shoulda known better
Shoulda known you’d go lookin’
for what I couldn’t give
The postcard came
Your wife said it was an accident,
a “freak accident”
But I don’t believe it, Jack.
Jack.
I’ve seen it before
I know better
I know how folks handle men like you
Back with my Daddy when I was nine years old
They dragged a guy out by his dick until it pulled off
A “freak accident”,
I’ve seen it before, Jack.
Jack.
She told me ‘bout your ashes and the mountain
Your Daddy denied,
said the family pot was better
I found out about another guy,
about the ranch…
Your Mom invited me to visit your bedroom
I found it, Jack.
The two shirts,
yours around the one I had “forgotten” up the mountain
I took them with me, Jack.
Jack.
I hug your shirt with mine,
the postcard hangs on the side
All protected in my closet
Jack, I swear—