Brother Orchid Page #6

if he needs help.

How long am I in for?

Until you're well and strong again.

Well, I ain't got no money.

Neither have we.

That makes you one of us, doesn't it?

This is the Monastery of the

Little Brothers of the Flowers.

I am Brother Superior.

This is Brother Wren, your nurse.

If you wish us to notify your friends...

I got no friends.

Well, you have now.

Now, you must try to rest.

I'll call in later.

If you want anything, ask Brother Wren.

Brother Wren, huh?

You was a fighter once, wasn't you?

We don't ask questions like that.

What we were, good or bad,

rich or poor, big or small...

...doesn't matter here.

That's double jake by me.

- I think I'm gonna like this place.

- I hope so.

Say, tell me something.

What's the graft here?

- Graft?

- Yeah.

It's been 15 years

or more since I've heard such talk.

We raise flowers

and sell them in the city.

Oh, say, there's good gelt in that.

I bet your boys are cutting up

a nice profit, huh?

Well, what we clear,

and lately it's been very little...

...we give to the poor.

Well, that's a nutsy way

to run an organization.

- Oh, Brother?

- Yes?

Was the boss conning me about

newspapers? You guys never read them?

Brother Superior is right.

We never read them.

- How about visitors?

- We very rarely have any.

Boy, oh, boy. What a spot.

Say, tell me,

how does a guy join up with this outfit?

Well, it's fairly easy.

- Lf a man wants to become a novice...

- A which?

A novice.

They don't take holy vows.

They have few religious duties...

...chiefly saying their payers.

They are not permitted to go outside the

walls, and they must obey their superiors.

Yeah. Well, what's the other catches?

As a novice,

a man must be on probation.

- That means...

- Yeah, I know all about probation.

- When can I sign?

- You'll have to talk to Brother Superior.

Oh, and by the way...

...would you care to give us your name?

Oh, while I'm here I think

I'm gonna let you guys call me Lucky.

Well, I'm afraid that wouldn't be

acceptable in the Floracian Order.

Oh, it wouldn't, huh?

I got it.

This spot's got something to do

with flowers.

Well, I always was a great guy

for orchids.

That'll be my new tag, Brother Orchid.

That's fine.

We'll tell Brother Superior tomorrow.

Now, meanwhile, you must try to sleep.

Say, look, Brother, could you slip me

that paper and a pencil?

Of course.

There you are.

And while you're writing,

I'll go for a stamp and an envelope.

Oh, thanks.

Heh.

Huh.

"Dear Willie...

Uh...

Beat it...

...for Kansas City...

...and stay there...

...for when I wanna get you.

I'm okay...

...and in a swell hideout...

...run by the biggest chumps

in the world. "

- There.

- Thanks.

I'm sure you'll be comfortable here.

If you want anything, just call me.

I'll be nearby, hoeing potatoes.

Hoeing potatoes?

Say, don't you never get tired?

You been sitting up with me

three or four nights in a row now.

That was because you needed me.

But like all the brothers,

I still have my regular work to do.

You're a funny ghee.

Well, so is the rest of this mob around.

You know, I don't get you birds at all.

Our lives hold no mystery.

We've merely learned that

in doing things for others...

...it is we ourselves

who reap the richest reward.

Reward, huh?

I figured there was a take somewhere.

Say, slip me the info.

How does the dough actually get in here?

No, there's no material gain.

The reward I mentioned is the happiness

that comes to the heart...

...when a man knows he has been

of service to another human.

Yeah?

I don't know whether you got something

there or not.

You make it sound right.

But the rules in the world

I been living in ain't like that.

Well, perhaps you learned the new rules

and the old ones are so much better.

But you've talked enough.

You mustn't waste your strength.

If you need me, just call.

Hmm.

Are you feeling better now?

Yeah.

Oh, hello. Hello, Brother Superior.

Grab a chair somewhere.

I wanna talk to you.

In a few moments.

Brother Williams cut his foot with a rake.

- I must see him right away.

- Sure.

But I'll hurry back.

We should have a little chat.

You're well enough

to leave for the outside world.

Hey, wait a minute.

Didn't Brother Wren tell you

I was signing up with your league?

He did mention that you

were thinking about becoming a novice.

Well, sure. I give him all the dope.

I thought I'd be all set by now.

You are.

I wanted to make certain

that your decision came from your heart.

From the heart?

Brother Superior,

I've been giving this joint the double O.

I've met a lot of the inmates personally.

You're all okay guys.

So just you write your own ticket

and I'll sign.

Okay, Brother Orchid.

Splendid, Brother Orchid.

Yes. I always was one

who could wear a uniform.

- Are your sandals comfortable?

- Hmm?

Oh, pretty nifty.

Say, this is the first time I've seen

shoes that are air-conditioned. Heh-heh-heh.

- Your hat, Brother Orchid.

- Oh, thanks.

Genuine Kansas panama, huh?

Well, it ain't much but I'll fix it up.

I'll put a feather in it.

Well, thanks, pal. Be seeing you.

Well, well, now.

I have a surprise for the brothers.

What is it?

The roses brought $2 more

than we anticipated.

As a reward, I've decided

to take the money and give you a treat.

A treat?

- What's it gonna be?

On Thursday for lunch,

we shall have watermelon.

Watermelon. Marvelous.

Watermelon?

Why, we haven't had watermelon

for over two years.

Lt'll be quite a delicacy for us.

- What are you doing?

- Shaving your head.

No, you don't.

Do you have to?

No. It's quite optional.

Well, nothing doing.

See, I got my looks to think about.

- Oh, come in, Joseph.

- You got a vibrator in the joint?

- A what?

- Skip it. I know you ain't.

Brother MacEwen will cut your hair

in a moment.

Thank you, Brother Superior.

By the way,

you ought not to go barefooted.

Your mother tells me

you're recovering from a cold.

I haven't any shoes, Brother Superior.

I was gonna get them this week,

but Father was laid off.

Have you no shoes at all, Joseph?

Here, Joseph. Here are $2.

You run in to town

and get a pair of shoes.

MacEwen will cut your hair

when you get back.

- Gee, thanks.

- Come, my boy.

- Say, what about the watermelon?

- Watermelon? Heh.

- I never cared for it.

- Me either.

It always distresses me.

Hmm?

I get it.

Nice mugs.

How am I doing, pal?

It's a miracle, Brother Orchid.

No one else has ever been able

to get as much milk from Hildegard as you.

Yeah, just a certain touch I got,

that's all.

It must be more

than that, Brother Orchid.

- It must be.

- Why?

Because you have been with us

such a short time.

Yet whatever you attempt, you do so much

better than we who've been here for years.

Well, you boys don't want

to get discouraged.

I always was a little bit better

than the other guy.

I ain't conceited about it

because I found it out when I was young.

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