Is this where he is?
Number One let me alone for around twelve hours and then began calling at 3pm today. At 5pm I was taking a nap and answered the phone when it rang, and Number One surprised me by not calling collect. He called directly and his voice was in my ear.
- You put money in bank? asked Number One.
- No.
- Why?
- No money.
- What?
- I am not giving you money.
- You not give me money? I no money.
- Ask mama and papa.
- Mama papa no money. What you do?
- Sleep.
- I stay hospital Pattaya. I no money. Doctor say I must stay can not go out becau I not pay. I want go out. I worry so much.
- What is your illness?
The answer was hard to understand. I tried English and Thai several times. Maybe he said “my leg”. Maybe he said something else.
Maybe the hospital story is true. But in that case it is strange that he calls at times like 4am and 3pm. But he could be an outpatient. My leg? A motorbike accident? Even if it is true, is it my responsibility to pay his bill? Some of these characters are not above collecting money for the same hospital bill from several donors, milking a true story for all it is worth.
He did start the nagging while he was in Bangkok over Christmas, and he was not ill then.
The clever thing is that he manages to put some doubt and guilt in me. His voice is sad and serious, his despair sounds genuine. Number One is the most persistent beggar I have had. But if I give in now all hell is loose. Then I will never get rid of him.
January 4th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
D’ONT GIVE IN…..I know it’s hard, and I have done it myself, but do’t give him a satang!
January 4th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Maybe paying a visit in hospital or at least threatening him with a visit could be the medicine he needs most?
January 5th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Thai boys (and probably Thai girls) do guilt very well!
I agree with Herman, don’t pay, but offer to come to see him in the hospital.
January 5th, 2007 at 8:49 am
you cannot trust a barboy…ask me how i know….call the hospital if you know his name and ask if he’s there….
January 5th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Oh dear! You know him the best and I am sure you will figure out what’s best to do now… Welcome to year 2007
January 5th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Tell him Chalerm’s granny is in the hospital and you already spent all your hospital money this month.
To my way of thinking, anything you give him is really Chalerms, because otherwise you’d give it to Chalerm. So tell him that and tell him to ask Chalerm to give him some of his granny’s hospital money. That should be a sufficient non-starter.
January 6th, 2007 at 9:08 am
All quiet from Number One the last 24 hours.
January 6th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Life is not easy, when bar boys get older… (and this I mean not with irony).