The Milk Farm

Efficiency is Key

  The gray clouds came rolling in bringing a slow steady rainfall with them. The sun shone dimly through them in the late morning giving the botanical garden an ethereal glow. Till was on his first break along with Peter and both men glanced up at the gloomy sky. They sat on a bench under a giant oak tree enjoying the peacefulness of the place. Then Till tilted a small forest green bottle against his lips and took a long glup from it, he hissed and felt the dark liquid burn on the way down. "What you got there buddy?" Peter asked, inhaling from his clove cigarette. He forced the smoke out of his nostrils and watched as Till swirled the last bit of his drink inside the dark green bottle. The German giant closed one eye and looked down the hole of his bottle and offered it to Peter. "It's Jägermeister, it's delicious. You can have the last sip." Peter smiled, taking the bottle from Till and without hesitation swung his head back along with the bottle. The raven haired giant winced then sucked in air through his teeth feeling the black drink leave a spiced burning trail throughout his esophagus. "God Damn TILL! What the fuck is that?" The orderly chuckled at the groundskeeper's reaction while he ran a very large hand through his dark cropped hair. "It's a Kräuterlikör, It's basically alcohol fermented vith many herbs. It's good for you, ya."

   Peter smacked his lips together and savored the remaining aftertaste. "If you say so..." They both chuckled and sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. When suddenly Peter spoke up after taking a long drag from his cigarette. "So, how's the boyfriend doing?" Till smiled and felt his cheeks flush. Something about Ville being referred to as his boyfriend made his heart flutter with joy. "He's been good. He's eating a little more vitch is gut." Peter nodded, exhaling a white cloud of smoke. "That's great news, he's a tiny little thing..." The groundskeeper rested his cigarette between his lips and measured a small invisible space in front of him with both hands out, trying to remember the circumference of Ville's waist. "Ya, don't be fooled though. He's thin, but he's actually very strong. He surprised me the first time we..." Till caught himself before saying too much and looked at an evergreen in the distance, casually trailing off but leaving Peter wondering.

   The groundskeeper smiled, then that smile turned into a hearty chuckle. "The first time you...? The first time you what?" Till blushed and shook his head trying to hold back a smile. "The first time you...had lunch?" Peter teased, still laughing, Till shook his head feeling his face heat up. "The first time you...played patty cake?" The orderly pressed his lips together, blushing and smiling. "You slept with him already didn't you? Of course you did! You dog!" Till laughed and coyly hovered a large hand over his mouth causing Peter to laugh along with him. The groundskeeper gave him a playful punch on his bicep then combed his long black hair back with one hand, then took the cigarette out of his mouth with the other. "So...was it good?" Peter teased raising one bushy brow at the orderly who stared at him holding back a chuckle. "A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell." Peter smirked in response and raised both brows, impressed with Till's retort. "I'll borrow that line from you in the future, Casanova." Till smiled and looked into Peter's eyes. "You're velcome."

They sat there in silence enjoying the atmosphere when the rain began to pick up, tapping rapidly against the leaves above them. A cool breeze swept through the garden, sending shivers down Till's spine, and taking Peter's cigarette smoke away with it. He shrugged off the sensation and glanced at his watch. It was time for him to get back inside the facility. "I need to get back inside. Are you coming? There's a storm making its vay here." Peter nodded, already standing up and brushing the dirt off his pants. "Yeah, I don't think I need to water out here anytime soon." They started walking back towards the entrance of the clinic, their footsteps muffled by the wet grass and falling rain. Peter glanced over at Till and smiled warmly. "See you around buddy." Till smiled back, and saluted the taller man "Take care. Peter"

   As they parted ways, the rainfall reminded Till of a tune he hadn't heard in years. It was one of those silly songs him and his friends used to sing when they were children. They would sing it while playing in the garden, running through the forest, and dancing in the rain. The memory brought a smile to his face, and he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever be able to bring Ville back to his village. He knew Ville would love it there, the blue skies, the forest, the lake. Maybe they could make love there one night. Till smiled to himself and waved his Key card in front of the door and began to sing to himself after the beep "Ein Männlein steht im Walde ganz still und stumm, Es hat von lauter Purpur ein Mäntlein um..." He casually walked down the hall, moving his feet towards C hall just in time to pick up Cillan and head for the cafeteria. The jolly orderly continued to humm, then proceeded to whistle his childhood tune. He stood in front of room C-17 and scanned his key card, then entered the room after the beep. "Und hat auf seinem Haupte schwarz Käpplein klein,Sagt, wer mag das Männlein sein..." Till spotted Cillian sitting on his bed and continued to harmonize as he entered the room, catching the frail man's attention. Cillian smiled at him and hugged his knees to his chest, tilting his head. "Das da steht im Wald allein Mit dem kleinen schwarzen Käppelein?" Till finished singing and stood still for a moment staring at the Irishman. "What were you singing?" Cillian asked with a soft chuckle. Till sat on the bed and put a large meaty hand on his shoulder. "It vas a children's song I used to sing as a little boy. Are you ready for some yammy food? It's lunchtime." Cillian nodded and stood up and slowly made his way to the door. "You have a...surprisingly beautiful singing voice." Till raised both brows and waved his keycard by the door handle. "Ya? surprisingly? Vhat do you mean by that kitty?"