Gay Boy Thailand

I wanted to take Chalerm on a trip in return for the tour he had given me of his province. When a long weekend came up we took the bus to Hua Hin.

I chose a hotel from the Lonely Planet book and chased away the overcharging songtaew driver who was following us in the hope of getting a commission for “delivering us”.

Hua Hin was quiet in the low season. We went to the beach and Chalerm walked around with my umbrella as protection for the sun, carefully stepping over horse droppings in the sand. I was worried we would get nasty looks from farang tourists but unlike in Bangkok they didn’t seem to notice us.

Chalerm said he had been in Hua Hin once before, with his enterprising father. He had been small then and his only memory was a visit to the hospital after he had stepped on a jellyfish.

Chalerm liked to tease me by hiding and not revealing himself when I came into a room. He remained quiet under a table or behind a curtain until I suddenly sensed I wasn’t alone. The more he spooked me the better. If he could make me make involuntary sounds of surprise it was best of all. Awww! I was lucky to have a strong heart.

He also liked to take showers with me. I always had to be persuaded.

- I am too shy for this.

- Farang not shy. Only Thai people shy.

- But you want cold water. I want hot.

- Never mind. You wash me.

I was then employed as his back scrubber.

Chalerm even wanted to join me in the bathroom when I was doing my private business. He knocked on the door and wanted to come in. But I never unlocked the door. Some things I prefer to do alone.

I became suspicious when Chalerm befriended a farang who stayed at the same hotel. Chalerm disappeared for a couple of hours without saying where he went. What was he up to? The farang was an English sextourist but to my relief he had a Thai bargirl in tow. Chalerm had met the bargirl first and she let him play with her Gameboy in their room. When the boy tried to go back to their room in the evening to play more games the bargirl refused to let him in. They were busy, she told him. Chalerm came back looking sad and disappointed. He was still just a kid.

Townspeople were celebrating a Buddhist festival. Chalerm took me to the temple with the sextourist and the bargirl. The boy had taken for granted that I was a Buddhist too and was surprised when I was ignorant about the festival. He gave me a small bouquet of flowers but he could not explain in English what I was supposed to do with it. I stood in a corner of the temple grounds looking out of place while Chalerm, the bargirl and the English bloke walked three rounds around the temple.

The boy wanted to buy presents he could give his grandparents. He had looked at flower pots but not bought them. The last evening he wanted me to go back and buy them. He is getting bossy, I thought. Go here and go there and do this and do that. But when I asked why he could not go himself he pointed to his feet. The plastic sandals had worn into the skin between his toes and he bled. I went to the market for him.

We were in Hua Hin during warmest time of the year and in the afternoon we rested in the hotel room with the air condition on full power. We chatted and cuddled. After napping I wanted to ask him about something.

- Chalerm, do you love me?

- Why you ask?

- You never said if you do or not.

- I shy.

The boy hid his head under a pillow.

- L-O-V-E, he spelled. - You understand?

- Yes, I said. I understand.