53. Stalking
The doctors had put a plastic thingy around Larson’s neck to keep Larson from moving his head in any sudden way. Larson suspected he looked like a space alien when wearing it.
They didn’t let him watch TV and they didn’t let him read. Larson had time to think and his thoughts were not happy. Larson was pouting. Bjorn had told him to go home!
I am used to Bjorn thinking he knows best but now he is overdoing it, thought Larson. I haven’t done anything wrong. Is he holding me responsible for getting attacked and mugged on Beach Road? As if I could see that coming? Maybe I had a drink before I went there but that didn’t cloud my judgement.
It is nice of Bjorn to come down to Pattaya and help me. But I would have done the same for him. So that doesn’t count.
And that episode in the mall in Bangkok was Bjorn’s own fault. Who had egged him on to chase the moneyboy? Bjorn. Who had failed to tell him about the dangers of fun in the men’s room? Bjorn. How was someone who has just arrived in Thailand supposed to know about the strange ways of Thai police? The whole incident is Bjorn’s responsibility. He is just trying to deflect blame by pointing his finger at me and moralising.
*
In Manchester Duff had not acted on his impulse to cancel the Thailand plan. Bia was a nice boy, or had been a nice boy before the truth about him was out, but he was just one Thai boy among millions. This mess with Peter was unfortunate but it wasn’t Duff’s fault. Duff would feel ill at ease next time he met Peter but since Peter had kicked out Bia (serves him right!) it would pass.
Duff went ahead with the practicalities of moving. He had one month’s notice in his job. His property agent told him that the market was good and that he could expect many people to come and look at his apartment. Duff had promised the furniture to his cousin and the kitchenware to his sister. He would give the books to his friends and sell the stereo and the television set by classified ads. Anything left over he could give to a charity flea market. Things were shaping up. Duff calculated that if he was offered a reasonable price for the apartment he could be in Thailand again in six weeks.
*
Bia did not give up. He was stalking Peter. Bia left greeting cards with big red hearts outside Peter’s door. Peter H(e)art Bia. Get it? He kept calling Peter on phones where Peter could not see who the caller was and had to answer. Sometimes he would ring the doorbell and do the Bambi eyes routine before Peter told him to bugger off.
Bia had spies. Peter’s maid told him that Peter was alone and didn’t have any new boyfriend. She was certain Peter missed Bia a lot. The security guard in the building had seen Peter come home with a moneyboy one evening but it seemed they didn’t get along as the moneyboy left quickly.
Bia was convinced Peter would soon give in.
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