Battle of the Rhine

Michael had vowed to move out after Christmas if Quinnessy managed to quit drinking.Christmas is almost four months away and Easter is just around the corner.He decided to pretend he never made that vow, and as long as Quinnessy didn't kick him out, he would continue to live in the house with a stern face.

After months of hard work, some changes were made to the Quincy house.Today's living room is bright and comfortable, with shiny floors, a few ceramic gnomes bought by Michael on the fireplace, a dried flower wreath, and two photo frames containing Michael's favorite work-Quincy playing the piano and a rose.Depending on the season, the sofa is replaced with a light apple green cover.Those stuffy and thick cloths were removed, revealing the original appearance of the furniture.Michael especially likes these finely crafted wooden furniture. He has collected some wood and is going to learn to make some odds and ends such as boxes or benches.

On the weekend before Easter, it rained lightly.Michael took advantage of the wet soil and sprinkled some flower seeds.He threw his muddy shoes outside and walked barefoot into the living room.Quincy scribbled in a small notebook with the pen Michael had given him, and said without looking up, "I'll pay you three marks and twelve pfennigs."

"Why?" Michael was going to take a shower. The rain wet his hair and clothes. He took off his dirty coat and shirt and carried them in his hands. The smell of sweat was unbearable even to himself. "Need me to go grocery shopping? I don't think there's much jam left and I have to buy a piece of butter—do you want a steak?"

"Accounts for the last few months," said Quincy. "I just did the math."

"What account?"

"You bought things...daily necessities, food, and some expenses. Of course, I divided the water and electricity expenses equally and then planed them out. You can also do the calculations. If my calculations are wrong——"

"Come on, I hate accounting." Michael thumped up the stairs, "I don't want money! If you're short on money, get it from my purse, and I have to wash my hair, for God's sake..."

Michael came out of the shower and rubbed some Vaseline on his face.He changed into new clothes and felt refreshed.Quincy was still sitting at the dining table, "The account must be settled, we have agreed."

"Okay, okay, the account must be settled." Michael sat opposite him, "Do you have to settle the account after I drink your water?"

"One Finney, one bite."

"Really?" Michael grabbed Quincy's coffee cup and took a sip, and Quincy said immediately, "One pfennig—then I can only pay you three marks and eleven pfennigs now."

"Okay." Michael shrugged, "As you please."

In fact, Michael hated the haggling between friends. Even after he got married, he didn't settle accounts with Mary.Give the money to Mary, and she can spend it as she pleases.Michael only kept a few dollars, and occasionally bought a bottle of wine and a pack of cigarettes, which he called "necessary social expenses".

Michael bought food for three Mark Eleven Finneys and stuffed it in the freezer.At dinner he asked Quincy to help him cut the sausage into nice triangles for ten pfennies.He likes to watch Quincy cut sausages, and he likes to watch Quincy standing in the kitchen making soup, sitting at the table drinking coffee, doing accounts, writing, ironing... "Next week is the day off," Michael sipped his coffee. , his cup, "Want to go out and play?"

"Okay. Where do you want to go?"

"Is there anything interesting around here?"

Easter is a big day, and from Good Friday, there are four days off in one go.Michael drove, took Quincy, Charlie and Franz, and the four went to the small town beside the Black Forest Mountain.The sun is shining brightly, the white clouds are floating leisurely, casting shadows in the mountains, the scenery is too beautiful to behold. "But I heard that a lot of trees were cut down on the other side of the mountain," Xia Li said, "I can't help it, there is a lack of fuel everywhere..."

"It will be fine if you replant it." Michael is very optimistic. "But I haven't planted many trees. Ours is too dry. It's all grass. When the wind blows, sand is all over my body and face."

"Is it a desert?"

"No, not really, there are many grassy beaches, but the scenery is terrible, there is nothing to see..."

Quincy sat in the co-pilot, quietly listening to Michael and Charlie talking.Franz interjected from time to time, as if he was interested in America.

During a break on the way, Michael bought four bottles of soda.There was only one bottle of apple flavor left, and he put it in front of Quincy.Xia Li laughed, "You even know the secret that brother likes to drink apple soda!"

"I'm a tenant," Michael said, "so watch carefully and please the landlord."

"Fuck you," Quincy said softly, "don't be glib."

It was a great trip.They climbed the mountain, stayed overnight in the hotel, and fished by the river in the mountain.Michael picked up a stick and let Quincy hold one end. "I can climb mountains," Quincy said, "without you holding me."

"There are a lot of broken stones here," Michael said enthusiastically, "Come on, come on, let's hurry up, don't let those two little guys catch up!"

Franz thought the stick was a good idea, picked one up too, and led Charlie up the hill.Later, they went to other places to see the scenery. As soon as the two disappeared, Michael immediately put his arms around Quincy's waist and kissed him on the cheek.

"Fiennes!" Quincy pushed him away, "Charlie will see!"

"No, they went to the other side of the hill. There are trees behind, no one can see." Michael smiled and put his arm around Quincy's shoulders and kissed his neck.As a result, the last fish was not caught.

"Carl, you've been bitten by a bug." Charlie said suddenly as she descended the mountain, "There are a lot of flying bugs in the grass."

"Yeah, that's why Karl made me wear stockings," Michael said, "and tuck the bottoms of my trousers in—see, that's what—"

"You don't have to dress like this, I'm not going to the hospital anyway," Quincy said, wiping his neck with his hand.Michael took out a box of ointment from his pocket, and pretended to rub a thick layer on the erythema.

Leisurely day!Many years later, recalling it is like a photo that never fades, and it is vivid in the long river of time.During that time, Michael was carefree, feeling incomparably happy and relaxed.Occasionally, in the middle of the night, a trace of anxiety would flash through his mind: he found that he couldn't leave Quincy more and more, and wanted to see him and be with him all the time.As for whether this idea is correct or not, Michael has not yet found the answer.He also didn't want an explanation, after all, Quincy was sleeping peacefully beside him, he was completely satisfied, and he had no motivation to pursue anything.