Gay Boy Thailand

Larson wondered why the journalists had hurried out of the court room. When he came outside he saw the reason. The media were waiting for him on the steps of the court house.

Cameras flashed and people put microphones in Larson’s face.
- How do you feel? asked a woman.
- Great, said Larson.
Larson tried to push his way through the crowd.
- What did you mean when you called the police incompetent? asked a man.
- That they don’t know what they are doing.
- Mr. Larson, is it true you have a new job teaching children in Hakkas?
- Is that TV camera on? asked Larson. - I am not giving you any statements.
- What will you do now?
- Bugger off, all of you! said Larson.

—

24 hours later Larson stood with two suitcases and a bag and rang Bjorn’s doorbell in Bangkok.
- Hello? said Geng when he opened the door.
- Is Bjorn here?
- Not home yet. Want to come in?
- Yes, please.

Geng helped Larson put his luggage in a corner.
- I just arrived, said Larson. – The Malaysia Hotel is full. I have to wait a few hours for a room.
- Is that the only hotel you can stay in?
- Where else? The Malaysia is a home away from home.
- It is a moneyboy slut paradise, said Geng.

Larson sat down on the sofa. He tried to sit upright and read the Bangkok Post but he slipped downwards and soon had his head on a pillow. He fell asleep.

—

Duff arrived at the airport to greet his mother. He had brought a bouquet of orchids to give her.
- DD, my darling! shouted the mother from afar when she saw him.
- Hi mum, said Duff.
- For me? You are such a gem, said Ethel Duff and kissed her son on both cheeks.

- Here is my friend, said Ethel and nodded towards a man in a yellow jacket who waited three steps behind her.
- Who?
- I love Thailand already. Service is great. This man has arranged a taxi for us.
- Mum, that’s the rip-off taxi. We don’t want that.
- Is cheaper, said the man in the yellow jacket.
- Go away you lousy tout, said Duff.
- DD, don’t be rude! This is the official airport taxi. It is safer and cheaper.
- It is 1200 baht! I am not paying that.
- Taxi outside dangerous, said the yellow jacket guy.
- Let’s go upstairs to departures, said Duff. - We can get one for 250.
- DD, be reasonable, said the mother. - I am not risking life and limb in some old wreck off the street. What if they rob us?
- This way, said the man.

- You are sulking, said the mother as she and Duff junior sat in a car marked “Airport Limo” going at 140 km on the elevated road to downtown Bangkok.
- Why don’t you listen to me? asked Duff. - You come to Thailand and the first thing you do is to get cheated by the touts.
- We were not cheated. The fare is affordable. It costs more in London.
- You can’t compare prices in Bangkok and London.
- Don’t be difficult.
- I am not difficult. I am just saying that you are in Thailand now and you have to listen to me if you don’t want to get ripped off constantly.
- I have been abroad before.
- Ireland doesn’t count.
- Holland too.
- A bus tour to see the tulips doesn’t prepare you for Thailand.
- Changing the subject, said the mother. – I look forward to meeting your friends. And I want to see the place you work.
- Eh, said Duff.
- What?
- I don’t have a job yet.
- But you said you had one.
- I said I almost had one.
- So what do you do?
- Not much.
- DD, you have to do something. To be idle is unhealthy.
- Yes, mum. I am looking.
- And don’t get in trouble here.
- Trouble?
- I know you.
- What are you talking about?
- Don’t run after teenage boys.
- I am not running after teenage boys.
- You don’t?
- It was just a phase. I have matured.
- You have a record in the UK, you know. Don’t make it worse.
- I don’t have any record in the UK.
- Did you forget about the neighbour’s boy?
- Cato? I never touched him.
- You smiled at him. And you said he was cute. And he was only 17!
- And why did the hysterical parents call the cops on me? What was the crime?
- You should find someone your own age.
- Now there is a novel idea.
- DD, I don’t want you to become like one of those dirty old men. I don’t want to see you with a Thai boy half your age. That’s pathetic.

—

Bjorn came home and found Larson snoring on the sofa. Bjorn patted Larson’s belly.
- I didn’t do it! said Larson and sat up.
- Do what? asked Bjorn.
- Oh is it you?
- Long time no see. You have avoided me lately. That means you are hiding something.
- I have nothing to hide. I have been busy. That’s all.
- You lost your job.
- No I didn’t. I quit. I was bored with the old school.
- And you have been arrested and investigated.
- Says who?
- Says the Swedish newspapers. Look, you are famous now.
Bjorn gave Larson a print-out from the online edition of “Aftonbladet”.
- They call me WHAT? asked Larson.