- Chalerm’s father is not a bad person, I told Farang D. He is irresponsible, selfish and happy-go-lucky but not evil.
- A typical Thai man, said Farang D. They live for the moment. They act like children. They make babies left and right and as long as the problems are out of sight they are out of mind.
- They spend their money on booze, whoring and gambling?
- That’s right. The mothers are left to raise the children as best as they can.
- He has children with three wives that I know of and the current stepmother is the sixth. Even by Thai standards isn’t this a lot?
- I would not say so. Some of my employees are in their 20ies and they are already starting their 2nd families. The driver has two minor wives already.
I found an affordable apartment within walking distance of the gay zone on Silom road. It was a grand but faded place with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. 20 years ago it had been luxurious. The apartment was more than I needed but I liked the location.
The boy had been eager for me to get an apartment. When he heard the news he promised to come and house warm the place with his friends from Anyburi. They had been asking when they could come to Bangkok and visit him.
I received the keys on a Friday afternoon and a couple of hours later the reception called and said I had visitors. In the sofa downstairs my boyfriend sat with a pair of slutty-looking twins with push-up bras, a shy girl and a size XL ladyboy. Chalerm was wearing his orange short pants with yellow flowers on again. I could understand why the reception lady and the security guard gave the group curious looks.
Chalerm was excited about the apartment and ran around to inspect every room. His school friends were shy in presence of me the farang and sat down reluctantly. I turned on the television to make them relax.
- This is my room, said Chalerm when he came to the second largest bedroom.
- It is for guests, I said. And the smaller bedroom is the office but two of your friends can sleep there tonight.
- And this is the master bedroom, I said. You and I will stay here.
I opened the door to the adjacent bathroom and Chalerm was duly impressed. He put his beauty bag on a shelf and sniffed the soap bar.
I noticed the XL ladyboy was unsteady.
- What’s with him, I asked Chalerm.
- Him sick, said Chalerm.
- What is wrong?
- Him diet. Want be thin.
The ladyboy was walking across the room in a wobbly way. The last I saw of him was that he was behind the television set, which I had put against the large windows and the slide doors of glass which separated the living room from the balcony.
I didn’t see the accident but I heard it. A loud crashing sound of breaking glass, the twins screaming, and the television going quiet.