Gardener's Smoke Break

Leaning heavily on his garden fork, old Thomas struck a match against the handle and held the flickering flame to the bowl of his treasured pipe, sighing as a plume of smoke rose into the afternoon air. Arthur wiped soil-stained hands upon his coarse waistcoat, encouraged by the scent of sweet tobacco he rolled a cigarette, and joined Thomas for a smoke.  With the faint view of the Manor in the distance, they were temporary lords of their own leafy domain, exchanging hushed chuckles over the head cook's legendary temper and the master’s latest botanical obsessions while the vast estate beyond their quiet sanctuary hummed with relentless, unseen industry.

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