He glances down, smarting under his father's mockery, and addresses his next words to his mother, accepting the plate from her with a nod and a small smile while he sits down at the table, facing his dad.

"Sure. Told you 'bout that friend a mine, Ennis. Hell of a worker, and he ain't got much going for him where he is. I figure, I could get him up here, we'd do some real good work."

The last is directed more at his father, hopeful and certain.