A gay soap opera from Thailand
By Silom Farang
Chapters written in the 2nd year of the online novel
For chapters 1 - 141 please see Year One
Main characters:
Larson. At 58 the Swede is a late bloomer who never saw much action. He is persuaded by his friend and x-lover Bjorn to come to Bangkok for holiday.
Bjorn. This Swede is a bit younger and has lived in Bangkok for a while.
Duff. In this 30ies Dandy Duff discovers he is already too old for the boys he likes in Manchester, England. Duff wonders if he should move to Thailand.
Robert Miller. Robert is a 60something from Kentucky who has lived in Thailand for many years. Miller likes muscle boys and runs a small hotel in Sukhumvit.
Peter Hart. Peter is a 40plus from Australia and a recent arrival in Thailand after quitting his priest job.
Bia. This cute northern Thai boy with ladyboy tendencies is Peter’s boyfriend. Bia is a university student.
Lek. A well-built handsome 20something Thai boy who likes to dance with his shirt off on stage at DJ Station. Lek gets involved with Larson.
Noi. Lek’s younger brother, a motorbike taxi driver.
Dietmar. Larson’s rival from Germany.
—
I am starting the novel again (below). For new readers: the Bangkok novel is a soap opera style story set in Thailand. The characters are Western gay men who live in or visit the country and their Thai friends. The drama centers around their luck (or lack of it) in love.
The novel has no particular beginning or end. As any other soap it can go on as long as it is viable.
You don’t have to read the first 141 parts to begin reading now, but I recommend new readers have at least a look at the character list. If you haven’t been to Thailand you may also find the vocabulary list in “About” useful. Read “About”.
Larson was in bed with Khun O. They had done the deed and then they had showered and ordered food from room service. Then it was bedtime.
Larson watched as the boy folded his jeans and socks neatly and put them on a chair, and hung his shirt up. Larson had given the boy 100 baht so he could go out and buy a toothbrush. The boy gave Larson back 68 baht change. That’s how a boy should handle money, thought Larson.
- Have good dream, said the boy.
- Nite nite, said Larson.
Larson turned off the light.
A queen size bed in the Malaysia Hotel is not that large, thought Larson. The boy had the space nearest the wall. Larson was on the outer side. Larson whished the boy would hug him or kiss him goodnight, but he didn’t. Larson felt it would be inappropriate to push him.
It was 2am. Larson listened to the sounds of the night. He heard a tuk-tuk pull up outside the hotel. He heard the lift go up and the doors open. People walked and talked in the corridor. Motorbikes went past in the soi. The air condition gave off a constant noise almost like the sound of rain, or maybe a distant waterfall.
This was good, thought Larson. I got laid and he is not even a moneyboy. Not bad, Pelle Larson. You still got the power. Admittedly the boy was a little reluctant, but what can you expect? It was our first time together. Having sex in an intimate act. Can’t blame a young man like Khun O for being shy. But he is so nice and good looking. Maybe he is boyfriend material.
Larson listened to the boy breathing. He was sleeping already. How could Thais sleep so easily and at any hour?
It was 3.30am. Larson had not fallen asleep. I hate to admit this, thought Larson. But I wish the boy wasn’t in my bed. I am used to sleeping alone. Somehow I can’t relax when I have this stranger in my room. Not that I think he is dangerous. If he tries to sneak out with my wallet the reception will stop him. They always call and say: “Thai man come from your room. Everything ok?
How about counting sheep? Not black sheep. They must be white and woolly. Cheviot sheep, that’ a good breed to count. Now imagine them lining up to jump over the fence. There goes the first one. And the next. And another one. Jump! Keep going, sheep!
4am. Larson had counted 689 sheep before giving up. His back hurt. He was afraid of turning in the bed in case he disturbed the boy. And the boy had slid outwards from the wall, putting one of his legs on top of Larson’s leg. This was uncomfortable.
Larson tried daydreaming. Or nightdreaming. He wanted to imagine he was in a tropical country in the company of a lovely brown-skinned boy. This was his standard daydream in Sweden. But now he was in a tropical country, and the lovely brown-skinned boy was right next to him. It didn’t work.
Larson turned on the light. The boy slept like he was not going to wake up for a hundred years.
- Excuse me, said Larson. - Ahem! Hello! Wake up!
The boy opened his eyes, disoriented.
- What? said the boy.
- I can’t sleep.
- Oh.
- Really. I can’t sleep.
- You no can sleep, said the boy.
- Right.
- You no can sleep, repeated the boy, and turned his face against the wall.
- I am terribly sorry, but I am used to sleeping alone.
The boy didn’ say anything.
- Sleep alone, said Larson. - It is better to sleep alone.
The boy lifted his head up and supported himself on an elbow.
- Farang people lie sleep alone? he asked.
- Yes.
- Thai people no lie sleep alone.
- Maybe you are used to sleeping with others.
- Thai people scare ghost. If sleep alone ghost come.
- Ghosts? You really believe in ghosts?
- No belie.
- So you are not afraid of them?
- I afraid.
- How can you be afraid of ghosts if you don’t believe in them?
- Every people afraid ghost.
Larson stood up and got his wallet from the drawer.
- I am so sorry, but would you mind sleeping in another room?
- Sleep other room?
- Yes. I will pay for it.
- How much?
- A room here is 648 baht.
- I hungry, said the boy. - No have money eat.
- 700 then.
- Need money go taxi. Tomorrow. Go home taxi. 300 baht.
- Really? That must be a long taxi ride?
- Is far. I stay Bang Kapi.
- All right. I’ll give you 1000 baht. And then you go to the reception and get a room. See you tomorrow. OK?
- OK, said the boy. He dressed quickly, accepted the 1000 baht bill with a wai and left.
You handled that well old Larson, the Swede thought as he stretched out in the bed. He turned off the light. It was Zzz time.
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