Ma & Ma

Ma&Ma

I could have killed my mother when she told me just before closing time, I would have another appointment. Instead of now with Jost, his Johannes and a few good friends naked at the pool and watch the sausages while tanning, I was allowed to look at their very overgrown garden with potential customers; and that on the evening before Ascension Day. One glance was enough to see that you could have easily staged Sleeping Beauty here, at least the scene with the thorny hedge.
All right, I may be the managing director of Tenhagen Gardening and Landscaping, but even a boss has to call it a day sometimes! Apparently my mother, who at almost 60 years old is still the heart and soul of the company, begrudges me this little bit of freedom. What did she mean when she foisted this evening meeting on me?
I should make an effort to get the job, she said, because the new owner of the house was the new city treasurer and you could always use good connections in the administration.
The man in charge of municipal finances, Ballenburg by the name, I estimated him to be in his early to mid-forties, was actually an affable guy who limited himself to the essentials. His wife, however, about ten years younger than her husband and thus my age, more than made up for his taciturnity.
She talked like a waterfall, without a full stop or a comma. The garden of the property that the couple had just purchased measured almost 3,000 square meters and, as already mentioned, was in a rather poor state. Just clearing the undergrowth would cost a four-figure sum and the driveway would need to be completely redone.
However, that was no wonder, because the old owner, Josefine Kruse-Hoppeditz, had hardly left the house after her stroke fifteen years ago. Although she had been dead for more than four years, an inheritance dispute in the farming family probably prevented a faster utilization of the former retirement home of the Kruse-Hoppeditz farm.
And? What do you think? How much will it cost to get the garden back in shape?
The suit-wearer looked at me expectantly when we arrived back at the house. I took a deep breath.
Well, to turn her garden back into a garden that can be called a garden, I'm looking at a mid-five figure range. But with all her wishes? I'll need almost half a million.
Please? You're not serious, are you?
The suit-wearer's eyes almost popped out of his head. I smiled smugly at him.
Yes, they are, because it's her special requests that are making the project more expensive. Her three children are not yet in elementary school, so I advise against swimming ponds and similar water features. I would also not build any natural stone walls, but plant a hedge instead, which fits better into the landscape and is 95% cheaper. The same applies to the driveway, which is currently a better dirt road where you sink in the rain. You need a proper substructure and it doesn't matter whether you lay simple interlocking paving or expensive cobblestones on it.
In figures?
The man was curt! I was still grinning.
Including the substructure and labor costs, one square meter of composite stones is around 30 euros; for cobblestones, you would have to expect to pay two to three times that amount. A meter of natural stone wall, at two meters high, is around 1,000 euros; a meter of hedge costs between 30 and 50 euros, depending on the height of the plants; and they need almost 250 meters of fence.
That's a significant difference!
You could see that he was calculating.
“To be honest, we just bought the house and are budgeting 100,000 for the renovation, so more than 20,000 is not available for the garden at the moment. Can you do anything with that?”
I nodded.
In return, you can definitely get the clearing, a half-height hedge and the driveway. But more than a kind of English landscape garden, that is, a lawn and a few rhododendrons as eye-catchers, is not feasible with this budget, maybe a fruit and vegetable garden. But more?
Then we'll do it like that!?
I love happy customers. We arranged an appointment in my office for more detailed planning and I finally went to my evening event.
*-*-*
My mother came storming into the office the day after Pentecost, looking joyfully excited.
“Son, Hans just called, his wife went into labor, he'll probably be out of commission for the next few days. We'll probably have to reschedule the work at Ballenberg.”
Couldn't the new earthling have come earlier?
“Never mind! I'll call the job center in a minute and hire a day laborer. We want to start clearing the land anyway, don't we?
Whatever you say, my little one.
My old lady smiled at me. I'm not a slave owner, but for some jobs I like to have the option of hiring day laborers. If all I have to do is operate a shredder, why should I hire a trained worker for the job?
I prefer to take an unskilled worker who feeds the branches into the machine bit by bit. OK, it may take him a little longer to get the same result as a skilled worker, but when you look at the costs, the unskilled worker is unbeatable.
I was just about to go on my lunch break when the phone rang.
“Landscaping Tenhagen?”
My conversation partner cleared his throat.
“Klaus Sinkewitz from the job center.”
Job center? Was there something wrong with the day laborer I had hired for the job? But he had been at work for three hours already.
“Mr. Sinkewitz! What can I do for you?”
“Mr. Tenhagen, would you be interested in a worker who costs nothing?”
He seemed nervous. So it wasn't about my day laborers, I was relieved for the moment.
“Who do you want to offer me and why are you coming to me with this?”
“I'm desperately looking for an internship for a young man without a school-leaving certificate.”
He took a breath.
My colleague Werner from the day placement office told me that you often request unskilled laborers, so I thought I could place him with you. However, he would need the position yesterday at the latest.
There was plenty of work to do and if Hans was absent for a longer period of time, I would need a replacement for him. Why should I pay a day laborer when a volunteer would do the same for free? So, why not? It was worth a try. “Come by with the boy then. Say, at 2:00 p.m.?
Agreed? And thanks in advance.”
He hung up.
*-*-*
The social pedagogue from the office was even punctual. Three minutes before the agreed time there was a knock at my office door. I had reckoned, according to the voice, with an older man, but the guy was at least five years younger than me and I will be 33 this year. I offered him a chair.
So, Mr. Sinkewitz, where is your protégé then?
He should be here in half an hour.
He sat down.
I wanted to talk to you alone first because the situation is a bit tricky.
How so, strange?
I looked at him questioningly.
Well, Matthias?
The bespectacled man took a deep breath.
“He fled from his family for the first time at the age of 11. Alcohol and beatings dominated family life, his older brother was addicted to drugs, his sister was a prostitute, so it was pretty much a neglected childhood.”
“Not a good childhood!”
I leaned back in my chair. He looked at me openly.
“In my opinion, the youth welfare office reacted too late. They only became active when Matthias, who was almost fifteen, was picked up by the Italian police in Naples. He then spent time in various foster families, homes, psychiatric institutions and on the street. At the beginning of last year, after his brother died of an overdose, he had a change of heart and got himself somewhat back on track. Since then, he has been living in a supervised living group.
The story wasn't great, but why the rush?
And why should he start today?
He turned eighteen last week and with adulthood, the care of the youth welfare office actually stops, unless,? my counterpart looked at me desperately,? the resident is in an employment or training relationship. If that is the case, then he can stay there for the time being, a kind of grace period, until he finds his own apartment.”
That made sense.
“And to make sure he doesn't end up back on the street, he's supposed to do an internship?”
“Exactly! Officially, the youth department of the job center has been responsible for him for a week.”
Klaus Sinkewitz took a deep breath.
Normally we would have heard from them three months ago, but his case worker had a car accident and went into rehab. What can I say? We didn't hear anything and I only found out about his fate last week.
I nodded.
So you need time to sort out certain things?
You said it! If I can't find him a place to stay, he'll be homeless next week and all the progress he's made in the last thirteen months will be for nothing. Do you think he'll pull himself together again then?
He shrugged his shoulders resignedly. I rubbed my chin.
So the internship is just a formality?
No! He should definitely be working. Matthias needs a task, needs a structured life.
The man from the office seemed desperate.
If you would be willing to extend the internship to the end of August, then I have time to establish myself as a point of contact and take care of the rest, such as an apartment and household. The administration has failed him more than once.
I could only nod in agreement.
“Okay, then I'll put the end date as 31/08. Would it help if I backdate the contract a bit? Then the whole thing doesn't look quite so forced!?”
Sinkewitz's eyes lit up.
He signs an internship contract with them and sends it to me. Due to mail delivery times and the holidays, it was Pentecost, I only find out today, visit him on his first day of work and then report to the youth welfare office that he has to stay in his previous environment for the time being.
I laughed.
That's what I thought.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door and, without waiting for an answer, my mother was standing in the frame. “Son, our new intern has arrived and, before you ask, the coffee is already being made.”
When Matthias entered the room, I had to swallow first. His blond hair, almost shoulder-length, was combed into a center parting; the white shirt was probably two sizes too big for him, and he literally sank into it.
If it had been floor-length, he could have been described as a small, delicate angel. My mouth went dry as he gracefully approached me. He was barely a handspan shorter than me, but at almost six feet ten inches tall, almost everyone is shorter than me.
His hand, which he held out to greet me, was sweaty; he seemed excited but at the same time also shy.
Over coffee, we discussed the formalities and the man from the office then left, leaving me alone with the angelic creature.
“Tell me, how do you plan to get to us every morning?”
“Bus or bike?”
He brushed his hair out of his face.
“No driver's license and no car.”
“It's going to be difficult with the bus; we start at eight o'clock.”
Besides our company, there were only farmers in the area and the public transportation system in our rural area was not very well developed: the next bus stop was almost three kilometers away. I stood up.
“Come with me then, I'll show you where you'll be working up a sweat for the next few months. You won't need to go to a gym, the muscles will come from all by themselves.”
A hint of a smile flitted across his face.
“I didn't have any money for something like this before.”
We left my office and went through the garden center, which also belongs to our company. From there, we headed for the large outdoor area, then to the tree nursery and later to the greenhouses, finally ending the tour after more than an hour at the actual company yard.
I pointed to one of the buildings
“That's where the staff rooms are, and that's where we'll get you kitted out.”
We entered the small hallway and stopped in front of the time clock.
“Please clock in and out when you arrive and leave, and the hour's break each day will be deducted automatically. If you forget, just come and see me and we'll enter the time manually.”
He nodded assent.
“The women's changing room is on the right, so it's out of bounds for you; the men change here.”
I grinned at him as I opened the door.
“You can either change here or come to work in your work clothes, the choice is yours. However, you should have a complete set of clothes in your locker, as you may well need clean things at times.”
Which locker is free?
Matthias' voice sounded a bit subdued.
I went down the row.
“Here, 22 is not occupied.”
“That's my birthday.”
He smiled at me. I looked into his green eyes.
“The door on the right leads to the toilet, I don't need to explain how to use it, and on the left is the shower, but I won't give you any instructions for that either.”
He looked at me shyly.
“Do I have to shower here?”
That's up to you! You can if you want, but you don't have to. It's your decision. The only rule is that your locker must always be locked. Nothing's ever been taken from here, but...
I put my hand on his shoulder. ...just to avoid any trouble, it's better to lock the door. Follow me then.
From the changing room we went to the break room.
“The fridges are for everyone, but you should mark your things, so here's a pen. You can either bring your own drinks or help yourself to the crates there. Then just put a cross on the list, the bottle costs 50 cents, and you get the bill at the end of the month.” I pointed to the kitchenette.
“Unfortunately, we don't have a cafeteria here, so you have to take care of your own meals. Most people bring their own sandwiches, but the microwave and stove are there for everyone. Just one small request: please put the dishes in the dishwasher after use, leftovers don't go down well with colleagues. The coffee is free, just put the cups in the dishwasher after use.
? In the dishwasher?
For the first time he showed me his dimples. I couldn't help grinning too.
?You said it! Then we'll go to the warehouse, you need your work clothes. What size do you actually wear???
106 or 110, depending on how it turns out.?
He was being the shy angel again. The storeroom was the only room in the entire staff area that was always locked and only my mother and I had a key.
I opened the door, felt for the light switch, and entered the room full of shelves.
“Well, we don't have your size in stock, but it'll work just as well. Here, try this coat on.”
The green XL coat was quite loose, and he looked a bit unsure.
“Do we wear coats at work?”
Only if you work in the shop. You'll do whatever needs doing and wherever people are needed, so you might also work in the garden center.
I looked at him. In the shop, you can either work in your normal street clothes plus an apron, or you can put on your green stuff, it's up to you and your mood.
I turned back to the shelves and handed him a pack of ear defenders, then I grabbed a pair of earmuffs, also known as Mickey Mouse. As he held them in his hands, I looked in a box for a work helmet.
The intern's eyes grew wider and wider.
“What's that for?”
“From time to time it can get quite loud, for example when you are standing at the shredder or have to cut stones. The earplugs are usually sufficient, but if you want it quieter, you can use the earplugs and the headphones. Please put them on?”
“Will do.”
Matthias put the black thing on his ears and arranged his hair. “Like that?”
“Exactly, and now for the helmet.”
I put the hard polyethylene shell on his blond head; it wobbled quite a bit. A slight smell of sweat reached my nose. I took it off again and turned the adjusting screw. Once it was back on his angelic hair, I was satisfied with the result, and the safety gear was on tight around the top.
I grinned at him as I fiddled with his chin strap to adjust the helmet to his size. I touched his slender neck and his slightly flushed cheeks more often than was necessary.
He swallowed, his Adam's apple moving quite violently. When everything was in place, I smiled at him.
“You can take the pieces off now.” ”You may need to adjust the inside a little when you put the helmet on without ear protection, but you'll have to do that as needed.”
“When do I need a helmet?”
His pulse had still not calmed down.
“When felling trees, driving excavators, loading and unloading. Normally, it's more of a hindrance, but the insurance company and occupational safety require it.”
I turned to the work jackets.
“If you're wearing an undershirt, please take off your shirt.”
His T-shirt looked pretty washed out, the band around his neck was stretched out of shape. I handed him a top in size 50, it looked like it had been shot into, the sleeves much too short. With the items in size 56, the only other size available, it looked a bit better, but I still didn't really like it.
I put the order for work clothes on my to-do list.
Hello? Is someone in the warehouse?
A woman's voice broke the stifling silence in the chamber. I laughed.
Don't worry, dear Sylvia. I'm just fitting out our intern.
Then it's all right! I just wanted to smoke a cigarette.
A door was heard to open and then close again.
“Er, what exactly is the smoking policy here?”
He looked at the floor.
“Never in front of customers! If you work in the center, you shouldn't take a cigarette break when the shop is full.”
I laughed at him.
“Do you smoke?”
?Occasionally? when I can afford it.?
Shyness seemed to be his middle name.
I pointed to the door.
?Just like me, I'm an occasional smoker. Then let's take a break.?
In the break room, I introduced the intern to the floral specialist, who was sitting at the table with a half-full cup of coffee in front of her.
“So that's the new guy?“ the boss said, repeating what I'd already been told.
“I guess I am.”
He shyly held out his hand.
The woman in her mid-forties grinned.
“And where are you doing your internship?” “At a center or in landscaping?”
Matthias rolled his eyes, so I offered the answer for him.
He'll be spending more time with the guys out in nature, but he should get a taste of everything.”
“You want the whole nine yards again?”
The bespectacled woman stubbed out her cigarette and put her empty cup in the dishwasher.
“See you later, then!”
When we had finished our lung-bratwursts, we went back to the chamber, this time I closed the door as a precaution.
“What size shoes do you have?”
“44 or 45, depending on the brand. Do I need work shoes, too?”
He looked at me questioningly.
“I have a pair of Bundeswehr boots at home that I can wear.”
I had to grin.
“They'll do for starters, because we still have to order work shoes. But we still need rubber boots. Here, try these on!” ”It's a 46, but...”
He peeled out of his sneakers.
“The last time I wore these was as a child.”
“Here they are part of everyday life.”
I looked at his feet and noticed a big hole in his right sock.
“Besides, they're more appropriate for some jobs that require the use of a pressure washer than heavy work boots.” ”Here?”
I threw him a thick pair of gray cotton knee-highs, Bundeswehr brand.
“Please put them over your socks and jeans and then into the boots.”
He did as I asked, and then pulled on the boots with a slight groan. 
“They're fine. A bit wide around your big uncle, but I have a high deadline anyway.”
“Then I'm reassured. You can take them off again?”
I looked for some other socks and put them on the stack with the other things.
“Will I wear rubber boots that often?”
A smile flitted across his face.
“No, not that, these are for your boots. There's a difference between walking in the park and working off-road. You shouldn't get blisters, so...”
I grinned at him.
“Old trick from the Bundeswehr: first put on a thin, tight-fitting pair of socks over your feet, then put on the cotton socks on top of that; then only fabric rubs against fabric and not fabric against skin.”
“Does that really help?”
There was a certain skepticism in his voice. I shrugged my shoulders.
“I've never had blisters on my feet before.”
I can give it a try.
He smiled at me. I was already looking for the leggings.
Please try the dungarees.
He tried to pull the dungarees over his jeans, which of course failed.
You should take off your jeans for this, otherwise it won't work.
Please?
He looked at me in shock.
“You want me to take off my pants? Right here and now?”
“Yep, unless you want to play the lottery with the size and take a surprise when you change tomorrow?”
I couldn't help grinning. Embarrassed, he fumbled with his waistband, slowly unbuttoning one button after another, and then pulled down his trousers in one go. I was amazed to see that the angelic creature wasn't wearing any underwear.
The very respectable part between his legs popped up, showing clear readiness for action, my tongue moved hectically over my lips. He looked at me, disturbed.
“Sorry, if I had known beforehand that I had to go to a fashion show today, then of course I would have put something on underneath.”
No problem, I walk around like that from time to time.
I had to swallow, I would have liked to kneel down in front of him and incorporated his joy donor, but I was his boss, I had to pull myself together.
A little tip on the side of the gang: you should always wear something underneath at work, because first of all, something can always happen, and what would your colleagues say if they kept seeing stains in that area?
His face had turned red all over.
That's also true.
It doesn't matter for the fitting, but otherwise...
His pipe was quite thick. Marius, look the other way! He slipped into the trousers and pulled straps over his shoulders. His manhood was more than clearly visible in the middle of his body.
“I think these are a size too small.”
“Wait.”
I looked for a larger size, found one and handed it to him.
“Here!”
He peeled off the one and slipped into the other pair of trousers.
“Much better.”
“That's right.”
I went up to him and took a closer look at the result, then fiddled with the straps, making them bigger. You could still guess his joy donor from the front, but only if you stared intensely at his midsection.
The view I had, however, looked a bit different, since I was looking at his palm from above. I couldn't see any swelling, but his part now had considerably more freedom of movement.
“I think that'll do for a start. But I'll probably have to go shopping with you in the next few days.”
“I think so too.”
A mischievous grin played on his lips. I leaned against a shelf and watched as he took off his overalls. Should I approach him now? Heavens! No!
Now I've almost forgotten the most important thing...?
He folded the green piece neatly and looked me directly in the eyes.
What then?
I reached into the shelf.
The lock for your locker! Here, take good care of the key.”
He took the metal and dropped his trousers; a magnificent sight. He put the lock on the stack and slowly pulled his trousers back on. There was a powerful tension in the air, but I couldn't not let it come to an explosion.
Matthias had slight difficulties to get his part back into his pants, but in the end he managed it. He just threw his shirt over, walked leisurely to the stack of laundry I had built for him, and looked at me.
“Do we have to do anything else here?”
I shuddered, as I was torn from my not entirely adult thoughts.
“No!”
Back in the locker room, he organized his locker, repeatedly seeking eye contact with me. When he was finished with his work, he looked at me questioningly.
“And what's next?”
You can go home now, I'll see you tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.”
I took a step towards him.
“Genie, this is your last day of freedom, because starting tomorrow you'll be grateful for every minute of leisure time.”
The handshake lasted longer than necessary and he slowly left the personnel wing. I stopped in the doorway and watched the angelic being as he slowly walked across the courtyard, repeatedly glancing back at me. Only when he had disappeared did I make my way to my office.
*-*-*
I had just taken the last gulp of my first office coffee when there was a knock at the door.
“Come in!”
“Good morning, boss. Reporting for duty on time.”
The angel was standing in the doorway. He had tied his hair into a plait, probably with a hair band; I liked him better with his hair down, but it was probably more practical for work.
Ready for your first dressing down?
He looked at me, startled.
I?..?h? I don't know now? It's still three minutes to eight, isn't my watch wrong?
Your watch is right on the minute, but you should be dressed appropriately by the time you start work.
I walked up to him, laughing.
But since it was me who forgot to inform you yesterday, cancel the scolding.
Our handshake took considerably longer than usual.
We always start the working day with a short meeting in the recreation room. I would be very grateful if you would follow me.
After you.
He grinned at me as he held the door open for me. When we arrived in the staff area, we were already greeted by various voices. I greeted my men and, leaning against the kitchen counter, asked for a little quiet.
“Guys, this is Matthias, he'll be doing an internship with us until the end of August. He will be looking in on everything and I would like to ask you to give him a hand when needed.”
As expected, there were some hellos and the intern was able to shake quite a few hands. I overheard a few comments about his light blonde hair tied in a plait.
“Kevin!
I looked urgently at my red-haired trainee.
“Your hair would almost be as long as Matthias' today if you had only tinted your hair for Carnival instead of coloring it. Should I hang up the picture of you as the Frog King with green curls again?”
He grumbled, and everyone else present grinned.
“Now that we've settled the hair issue and there doesn't appear to be anything else, I hope you all have a great time at work.”
A general sense of departure spread.
“Stefan, can you come here please?”
While my employees were getting into their cars, my former colleague approached me.
“Marius, what can I do for you?”
I took a step towards him.
“Stefan, you're almost at Ballenberg, aren't you? I still have to go over a few formalities with Matthias, then I'll take him out to the construction site. He's supposed to take down the old garden paths, and we'll take the stones to our warehouse.”
The gray-haired family man laughed.
“So it's the dull work first?”
“Exactly!”
I grinned at him.
I just want to ask you to pay attention to him. The boy has a pretty messed up past, but I'll tell you about that later. You don't have to handle him with kid gloves, but...
My foreman winked at me.
Got it! We've also made a decent man out of Kevin, I'll take him under my wing, don't worry.
We said goodbye and I looked for my intern.
“Matthias, we have to go back to the office and do some paperwork. Are you coming?”
The intern looked at me expectantly.
“But of course!”
The formalities were quickly taken care of, and half an hour later we were strolling back to the staff wing, directly to the locker room. While he was getting out of his clothes, I watched him; this time he was wearing underwear.
“Matthias, do you have any other underpants?”
Big eyes looked at me.
“I do. But? what's the question?”
“Well, how should I put it?”
I bit my tongue.
“You've probably heard the comments about your hair?” It was more of a tease, but when your colleagues see these briefs when you change? Thongs in pink are not to everyone's taste. They could...
get ideas, I could maybe...
He felt caught, his face turned pale.
“I didn't think about that this morning in the rush. What should I do now?”
I took off my pants and threw him my Retro.
“Here, take mine!” Even if it's too big, at least you won't be the talk of the town tonight at the company party!”
He looked at the cotton piece very closely, slowly he pulled his pink something off his legs.
“Thanks! But what are you doing now? I mean, without any underpants?”
“I can just slip into my jeans!”
I grinned cheekily at him.
“Like I did yesterday?”
He smiled at me.
Would you like to maybe put on my underpants?
I hadn't reckoned with that question.
And if they wear out?
No problem, I've got others in the cupboard. I'd be glad if you would wear them.
He laughed.
We can change back tonight.
He pulled me out of my thoughts again, I was miles away!
Agreed?
We got dressed and somehow managed to start the working day. I took Matthias to the building site at Ballenbergs and left him in Stefan's care. On the way back, little Marius was already stirring at the slightest reminder of what had just happened.
How would it all end?
*-*-*
Just before six there was a knock at the door of my open office. I looked up from the monitor and saw Stefan, freshly showered, standing in the frame.
“Stefan, finished for today? Sit down. I hope you have a few minutes for me?”
He pulled out his chair.
“I do, but I have to be home by seven.”
It won't take that long.”
I smiled at him.
“How did the new guy do?”
The old journeyman grinned.
“Quite well, if you can say that! The lad seems pretty tough, huh? I really didn't think so, given his slender build. He dug up almost three-quarters of the way by himself and has already loaded it. He almost fell asleep in the car.
Then he'll probably just fall into his bed dead.
I grinned slightly maliciously.
“Mom, could you come here for a moment, please?”
My mother, who was sitting in the front room, seemed to feel disturbed.
“Do you really need me? I'm doing the bookkeeping right now!”
“Moms!”
Yes, it's necessary! And please close the door behind you.
What is it?
She still glared at me angrily when she had sat down.
It's about our intern.
I grabbed the application folder I had received from him and opened it.
So, name Matthias Finnemann, born on...
During the next few minutes, I first gave his resume and then came to the assessments of the job center employee. The longer I spoke, the paler their faces became. When I had finished, I looked into big eyes.
“Well, there's nothing more to say, I just wanted you to know and not a word to anyone!”
My mother still stared at me, stunned.
“The poor boy!”
The old journeyman rubbed his chin.
“And what do you want to do with him?”
He should settle in here first and help out. Depending on how he does, I would like to offer him an apprenticeship.
I put the application folder aside.
But we already have an apprentice for the new apprenticeship year.
Stefan looked at me irritated. My old lady raised her hands.
Where's the problem? So we have two apprentices?
Mom had spoken: If he wanted the job, he would get it.
“Well, I'll say goodbye for now. I'll go to Jost's now and do a few laps in the pool.”
“But first, check the break rooms. Yesterday someone left the light on in the men's shower again, it was on all night.”
She stood up.
“Mom, it doesn't matter!”
I tried to put as much honey as possible in my voice.
“For over a year we have been producing our own electricity using photovoltaic cells and even feeding it into the normal power grid.”
“Do you think I don't know that?” When the sun shines, we make money; when it doesn't shine, we have to buy electricity. But since the sun doesn't shine at night...
She had the door handle in her hand.
“Calculating, my boy, calculating, I can! But still, have fun? while swimming?”
“Yes, Mama!”
I groaned and shut down the computer. Stefan laughed.
You'll always be a little boy to your mother. But don't worry: I'm no different, and I also have a mother-in-law!
* * *
Unfortunately, there was no one left in the staff wing; the showers and changing rooms were empty. When I got to the place where we stood naked opposite each other this morning, something stiffened in me.
I was already tempted to unzip my pants and give the aching patient some fresh air when my cell phone rang. It was Johannes on the phone, asking where I was going to stay. I promised to leave immediately.
*-*-*
The next morning, Matthias was standing in my doorway at 7:55 a.m. in his work clothes, smiling shyly at me.
“Good morning. Sorry I left right away yesterday, I was really exhausted and just wanted to go to bed. I slept like a baby.”
“I heard what you did. Stefan was very happy with you.
Did I embarrass myself?
It wasn't a difficult thing, just exhausting!
His green eyes sparkled.
Shall we?
Yep!
I would have loved to have kissed him, but the door to the outer office was opened. The team meetings on Fridays are pretty short, everyone wants to get to their work as quickly as possible and then off to the weekend. This Friday was no exception. When Stefan's team showed up at four, Matthias came to see me in my office.
“Boss?” Stefan asks where the keys to the forklift are. He wants to unload the europallets with the old bricks.
“Wait, I'll come with you, I could use a break anyway.”
I approached him. He looked at me curiously.
“Why did the stones have to be stacked? It's all just construction waste, isn't it?”
“You're wrong, because there is hardly any past in stones.”
I grinned at him as we left my office.
“We make money from the stones twice: once for the removal and the supposed disposal, then they are cleaned and sold again as a special item.”
The angel whistled appreciatively.
“The idea is good, but is it legal?”
“I'd have to ask my ex, he's a lawyer.”
I laughed.
But the owners want to get rid of it, for them it's garbage and garbage is ownerless and I'm just disposing of the garbage for them.
Stefan laughed when he saw us coming.
Marius, do you want to do the unloading yourself or just watch us?
You've given me an idea!
I grinned at my foreman.
Matthias has to learn how to drive the forklift truck anyway, so you call it a day and we'll do the loading in a practice session?
The idea was very well received, and Matthias seemed to like it too, because he winked at me. I really wanted to be alone with him. I don't know what had come over me either, but I felt more than attracted to the angelic creature.
We first practiced driving the forklift; I stood next to him in the driver's cab with my hand on his shoulder. Then we started by loading empty pallets onto the forks, followed by pallets with sacks of potting soil.
The fact that we kept touching each other is something I only mention in passing; it was just heavenly. Just as we were about to start unloading the flatbed truck, my mother came to this part of the company grounds and I put my hands on my hips.
“What are you actually doing here?”
Mom! I'm just teaching Matze how to drive a forklift. We want to unload the car now, so? everything's fine!?
I put on my Sunday best. My producer shook her head.
“Son, we've been off work for an hour!”
“What?”
I looked at her in disbelief.
“Is it that late already?”
“It's seven o'clock, my boy! Since you weren't here, I had to do the inspection round and I want to go bowling right away.”
She still seemed a little agitated.
“I've already locked up the front, you just have to close up the staff quarters. I'm off then, and guys? No nonsense, I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning, at eight sharp!”
Matthias looked at me in astonishment when she had gone.
“That was your, er, her mother?”
?Just like her!
I smiled at him.
But we should hurry anyway. Why? Do you have something else planned?
His look was unique. I looked deep into his eyes.
No, there's nothing else today. But look up, it's going to rain and we still have to unload.
Matthias looked up at the sky, his Adam's apple moving distinctly.
“Don't you want to take the wheel instead? You can certainly do it faster than me,? ?h,? I mean, of course, you?
We can stay on first-name terms, can't we!?
I stroked his cheek.
“And you'll unload the car, it's your practice session. So? let's get going?”
“Hey, sir!”
He laughed and carefully drove off.
*-*-*
After ten minutes, everything was done and I put the Mercedes transporter under the canopy. Matthias parked his forklift next to it and together we walked across the yard towards the staff wing.
The first drops fell and we had to pick up the pace to avoid getting wet before the shower. I opened the door and let him pass.
Just in time before the downpour.
Matthias laughed as we stood in the locker room.
That's right, but... Where do you live, anyway?
I was a bit taken aback by the question, but grinned.
“My apartment is right next to my office, so I just need to fall out of bed three times and I'm already sitting at my desk. Mom lives in the old house at the front, together with Grandma and Aunt Gudrun, my father's sister.”
“I would have fled from three ladies too!”
He hung his jacket on the hook and smiled. I shook my head.
“It wasn't an escape, more of a smooth transition.” When my parents built the garden center in 1990, they had the apartment built as a kind of retirement home, no steps, walk-in shower and all that. However, I only moved in before my A-levels; a child needs its space, after all. During my studies, it was my guest room and when my father died and I took over the business, I moved in completely. Why do you ask?
I thought we... he sat down and scanned the floor, we could... shower together.
I was stunned. Were my feelings mutual?
Do you want us to?
The angel nodded as he took off his boots.
Yes, especially now that I know that you also...
That I also what?
I unbuttoned my shirt and walked towards him. He rose, looked at me.
“That you like men too! Just like me!”
“How did you guess?”
What had given me away? Was it too many intimacies? The blond youth smiled mischievously at me.
“The way you've looked at me and touched me in the last few days. Besides, you gave yourself away when you talked about your ex earlier. You mentioned a man and not a woman, otherwise you would have said “lawyer”.
Oops?
Did I blush? Yes, I did!
Right. But? How did I look at you?
Like the guys from the train station?
He fumbled with his green dungarees, letting them slide onto his feet.
Station?
Our train station was only approached by three regional trains an hour. The slender angel climbed out of his trousers.
Not here, in Dortmund. What do you do as a teenager without money? My old man drank his money away and the pocket money from the state was a joke, not even enough for a pack of cigarettes a week!?
Matthias took off his shirt and threw it on the bench.
“To make money, you either go pick-pocketing or you go to the station and work for the old farts. Since I had eight shoplifting charges and I didn't want to go to jail, I just sold myself at the train station. I'm gay, so...”
I had to swallow.
“So you're into the...”
Even if I now lose my job, but I want to leave that shit behind me for good!
He took off the blue boxers he had around his hips and stood naked in front of me.
Yes, I worked the streets and sold my body for money! Now throw me out!
I took him in my arms, stroked his head, fumbled with his hair band, he was wearing his hair in a ponytail again today.
“I won't do that and don't worry, you won't lose your job!”
*-*-*
I explained to Matthias, who was sitting next to me at the desk, how he should keep his internship notebook when my mother came into the office on Saturday morning to get the cash drawers out of the safe.
“Mom, Matze is having lunch with us today. That's okay, isn't it? What's for lunch?”
My old lady put herself in the door and looked at us cheekily grinning.
“For you? You can get a pizza in town or bring something from the chip shop. Who knows how long it will take for you. Aunt Gudrun will certainly not feel like cooking for you.”
I looked at her irritated.
Uh, how am I supposed to understand that?
The way I said it!?
She giggled like a schoolgirl. Matthias looked at me in disbelief.
Uh, what should take how long?
Well, your move!
Mom came up to us.
The way you two look at each other? Lovers want to be together, don't they? Since Matthias, or should I say Matze, has to move out of his assisted living soon anyway, he might as well move in with you, my boy.
Mom? How did...?
I looked at her, stunned.
Ms. Tenhagen, I...
Our intern blushed redder than red.
Kids, I may be 59, but I'm not from yesterday! When I came home from bowling yesterday, I saw your bike in the yard. At first I thought Marius had driven you home because it had rained, but... She looked at him and then at me, and then I saw that your front door was wide open. Boy, you really should lock up when you? and Matze,? well? you know, you weren't exactly quiet! And since Matze is now wearing the T-shirt that Grandma brought you from Borkum, it's pretty obvious that he spent the night at your place.?
My angel looked at her in disbelief; I don't think I looked much better.
“Uh, Mrs. Tenhagen?
My name is Ursula, but I also go by Ulla, and please never call me Uschi, because then I get really angry.”
She smiled at our interns.
“And now hurry up, because the sooner you're back, the sooner we can eat. And, boy, call that guy from the job center and tell him that Matze is going to be living with us. But maybe we should wait with that. Maybe the office can pay for his driver's license. They do that, as an integration allowance, right? Wait! Why are you so quiet? Boy, haven't you told him yet that you love him?
No, Mama, I haven't said the three words yet, I wanted to do it later.
I grumbled.
But now you've done it for me! Thanks a lot!
Matze, you have to forgive my son! He's good at business matters, but when it comes to love, he's just like his father,
she smiled at us.
He never got around to it either! If I hadn't taken the initiative back then, who knows? But I'd better leave you lovebirds alone now. But hurry up with the move?”
When we were alone again, he looked at me intensely with his green eyes.
“So you really wanted to tell me that you... you... in... me?”
I raised my eyebrows, put my hand on his shoulder and turned his face towards me.
“Yes, I did! However, the situation should be a bit more romantic. I was thinking more of a candlelight dinner than here on the spur of the moment.”
“Well, for me, this is perfect!”
He pressed his lips to mine and his tongue craved admission into my mouth, which I gladly granted him. After what felt like an eternity, he took my head in his hands and looked deep into my eyes.
I love you too! And I don't need candles or romantic music to say that, I just need you! Now let's go, we don't want to keep Ulla waiting!?