60. No funny
Bjorn collapsed with laughter and dropped the newspaper on the floor. Lek didn’t understand the joke but laughed too.
- Care to share what is so funny? asked Larson sternly.
- Sorry, said Bjorn. He was still giggling as he picked up the newspaper. - It was something I read. Calvin and Hobbes. They had a good cartoon today.
- I see, said Larson.
- I better go, said Bjorn. I was dropping by on my way to the bathhouse. I will leave you two lovebirds to do your nesting.
- Have fun at Babylon, said Larson.
Lek wai’ed Bjorn again as he left.
Lek turned on the television to watch Thai soap opera. Larson sat next to him on the bed, stroking the boy’s hand. Bjorn is getting cynical, thought Larson. He has been in Thailand too long. Larson felt a new dimension was added to his relationship with Lek. He had to stop the boy from sliding into prostitution.
*
Peter was pondering how to stop Bia from fooling around with other men. Peter realised his strategy of hiding Bia from his friends had backfired. If Duff had known who Bia was, or if Bia had known who Duff was, this unfortunate episode would not have happened.
Maybe, thought Peter, it was better to introduce Bia to his farang and Thai friends so as many people as possible would know that Bia was taken. That way Bia could not expect to sleep with other farang without Peter hearing about it. It would have a preventive effect. If Peter’s friends knew who Bia was the boy could not so easily pick up farang at DJ Station or in soi 4. Bia would know that he could be recognised, that there could always be someone watching him. Peter thought this new plan was worth trying. He sent email to the other members of the lunch club, writing that next time everyone should bring their boyfriends.
There was no ban on Thai boys in the lunch club, but the boys didn’t like gatherings that were dominated by farang. Even if their English was good enough to follow rapid conversation (which it usually wasn’t) they were not interested in the topics farangs spoke about. Farangs spoke about books, culture and politics, about the Middle East and that American president, and about the Thai government, and they complained endlessly about everything that was wrong with Thailand. Thai boys didn’t think this was anything to talk about.
On the other hand farangs didn’t like gatherings that were dominated by Thais. Even if their Thai was good enough to follow rapid conversation (which was very rare) they were not interested in the topics Thais spoke about. To farang ears Thai boys spoke about nothing. Their conversation was endless banter and small talk, joking and teasing and gossiping. Thai boys were unconcerned about the larger issues in the world. They didn’t read. International affairs didn’t interest them. Breakthroughs in science were only captivating if they were accompanied by new video games. Thai boys hardly knew who their leaders were and were not interested in Thai politics except swapping rumours about who were sleeping with who.
To complain about Thailand was bad form, the boys thought. Everyone knew the traffic was bad and that the cops were corrupt. Why spoil a nice meal by whining about it? Thai boys would rather have fun.
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