Sinner's Prayer

Be My Absolution

It becomes painfully obvious as August wracks up in days that Ennis is growing increasingly restless. Jeanie watches him often, a habit instilled in her from an early age.

It came naturally. She was the oldest, after all. Even before their parent's death she was given some sort of responsibility over her brothers. She can read both of them like a book. While K. E. was finally starting to move on- his job, a recent love interest he'd taken to, Ennis seemed a little lost in his own head.

It's no fault of his own. She'd enforced the whole, "enjoy your summer for once," and, "you're a kid, act like one," mentality that he'd refused to let stick until Jack had come along. So when she tosses a handful of ads his way, he gives her a questioning look.

"The hell's all this?" He asks quizzically, reaching towards the papers that had been thrown down in front of him at the table that morning. K.E. plopped down beside him, clad in deep green plaid, just as curious- though Jeanie had filled him in a few nights in advance.

"Well, a deal's a deal," she starts, standing in casual beige before the dining table with her hands on her hips and a small shrug. "Summer's comin' to an end, so I figure you should get a head start."

"You been collection' these?" Ennis inquires, giving her a little glance over one of the news clippings. Jeanie crosses her arms, sharing a quick look with the middle sibling.

"It's been a team effort," she says. K.E. smirks, looking back to Ennis. He leans forward in his chair, a hand resting over his thigh in his loose manner.

"If anythin' else, I can always getcha started out on the roads. Lord knows yer more than qualified, 'specially next ta the dumbasses they already got hired on," the older man suggests.

"Speak fer yerself," Ennis teases with a little smile, squinting as he skims over the ink before him.

Jeanie finds it amusing that he refuses to admit the need for glasses.

K.E. gives him a playful jolt to the shoulder.

"Shithead."

Ennis matches him with a harder punch, a game they'd carried for years that Jeanie could never understand. Who could leave the bigger bruise she wondered, though surely their daddy had something to do with it. She merely shakes her head to herself. Boys, she thinks, glancing to the door when a knock came.

"Bet you a nickel I know who that is," K.E. says in good nature. Jeanie flashes him a look over the shoulder and Ennis perks a little.

It was too early for Jack to make an appearance, but low and behold, the tenor of his voice emits from the doorway. It's hardly audible given the distance, but Ennis can detect it just about anywhere.

"Ennis around?"

"Sure is," Jeanie chirps, leading the brunette into the house. He hadn't bothered to leave his boots by the door, not that it really mattered. Ennis figures he can't be staying too long, it's too early and there are things that are expected of the boy, especially in the mornings.

Though there's a lack of energy that Ennis can sense as Jack approaches, walking behind Jeanie like a stray cat she'd brought in. He's without his hat, frazzled behind his pleading eyes as they land on the blond.

Ennis sits back almost immediately, a turn of unease in his stomach. He keeps face in front of his siblings, though he's worried.

Blue eyes fall suddenly to the table, confused.

"What's all this?" He asks. K.E. takes the opportunity to pull Ennis in with an arm around his neck, taking the boy off guard and roughing his hair up a bit with a cheeky grin.