78. Prayers
Noi and Lek went to a temple in Lad Prao. They lit incense sticks and sat down on their knees with their feet under them, pointing away from the Buddha statue. The two boys wai’ed the statue deeply.
- Dear Lord Buddha, Lek prayed. I am going to do something bad. Forgive me. But I am a poor Thai boy. I have to help my family. I have no money. Farangs have money too much. Yes, it I know it is wrong of me. But I hurt nobody. Those I get from have more than they need. Who will care for my brother, my parents and me if I don’t do it? I force nobody. I don’t steal. I don’t use violence. What people give me they give of their free will.
- Dear Lord Buddha, Noi prayed. Please look after my brother in Germany. It is dangerous abroad. It is not same same Thailand. Let Lek come home soon. Let him have no accident and don’t let him meet any farangs with black hearts. I need Lek to take care of me.
Larson was sitting outside the Malaysia restaurant, watching the big fish in the tank. Larson was thinking about what Bjorn had said. It will not help and nobody will thank me? I can help, thought Larson. Bjorn has lost his idealism. I can’t change the world but I can change the life for one boy. That’s still something. Gratitude? Who needs it? Knowing I have done the right thing is all I need.
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Bia received a small packet in the mail.
- Who do you know in New Zealand? asked Peter. He was looking at the stamps on the box.
- Is my friend, said Bia.
- A Thai friend?
- Only friend.
- A student? A Thai that is a studying in Auckland?
Bia didn’t answer. He opened the packet. Wrapped in thin paper was a bird doll.
- That’s cute, said Peter. Do you know what that is?
- Is Kiwi, said Bia and hugged the doll.
Bia had a soft spot for stuffed toy animals. He already had several Japanese cartoon figures in various sizes, and a big red heart pillow that read “Love”.
It was Friday and a long weekend was coming up. Bia made one of his impulse decisions.
- I wan go trip, said Bia.
- Trip? You didn’t mention any trip before, said Peter. I have appointments this weekend.
- I wan to Ko Samet, said Bia.
- Ko Samet? You want to there right now? Just like that?
- Yes, said Bia. Wan go.
Peter could not get used to the Thai lack of planning. If Peter asked Bia some weeks ahead about plans for a trip Bia wasn’t interested. A trip in three weeks? That was too far into the future to consider. Bia’s style was to get an idea from watching television or from talking to his friends. And when he had that idea he wanted to do it right away.
If Peter was going to an island like Ko Samet he began thinking about it at least two weeks ahead. He read the guidebook. He did research on the Internet about how to get there and where to stay. He would let the plan mature in his mind and make sure he didn’t have any other appointments that weekend. Bia, on the other hand, thought that 20 minutes was sufficient advance planning. To Bia it was a question of packing a bag and getting on the bus.
Maybe I should try to be more Thai, thought Peter. I can try to think like Bia does. Go with the flow, live for the moment, do things on a whim. I can go to Ko Samet today if I want to. It is my farang habit to plan everything. But I don’t always have to do that.
Within an hour Peter and Bia were on the bus to Rayong. How liberating it is to be spontaneous for a change, thought Peter.
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