Happy 1

Stealing

Drinking milk was not natural for Thais at that time.  Milk was difficult to find.  Because Nakohn Panom was the GI town so my parents could buy carton of Bear Brand can milk for me.  Yes, for me.  I was the only child that liked drinking milk so much.  Even it was quite expensive for our family, my mother always made sure that there would be at least a carton of milk in the house everyday.  I was told to take only one can a day.

My father was busy the whole day around the house.  My mother was busy the whole day in her dressmaker office or in the kitchen.  I was running around.. everywhere..

One day, I felt like so much to take more milk.. I took another can without asking for permission.  No one knew about it.

There was also a bottle of Milo, which I like to take it purely, without mixing with water or milk.  I always climb up the shelf and took it..

One day, there were a few large ripe mangoes on that shelf.  They were very interesting.  I took one without permission.  It was so large that I could not finish it.  I hid the rest of the mango under my clean cloth in the closet and soon forgot about it.

A few days later, the mango began to be the witness of my bad behaves.  My mother had to take all my cloth to clean again from the smelly rotten mango.

I did not remember being punished.. but I then realized that what I did made everyone busy and upset and that meant I was a bad girl.

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Where Is The Girl

My brother was 9 years older than me.  I only remember about his school and that he learned to play guitar with his friends.

Before he got stroke he once came for dinner with my mother and all his sisters.  We talked about the time in Nakohn Panon.  He said he still could see the picture of that 5 years old girl holding father’s hand, looking up talking, dancing and jumping like little bird.  My elder sister said either she or father had to walk along the street calling my name.. And soon they would get the answer “Jaaa” from one of the houses and I would pop out.  She said it was difficult to guess in which house I should be.  I don’t remember that I had that many friends.

My parents had a group of friends that they took turn to manage a party in the weekend.  One of them was the province’s financial man, one was a teacher and one was an army captain.

One Friday night was the turn of the captain uncle.  We went to his house right after school was over.  I was still in the uniform and socks.  On the floor in the middle of the house 2 boards leaned to each other, like long prism.  I was having fun slide on it.  It was possible with socks.
In the house there was a bottle of Actavite or a name like that.  It looks like decorating chocolate today.  Aunty put one spoonful to my mouth and it was so delicious.

On the next day which was Saturday, no school.  While playing alone I suddenly remembered the sliding fun and the chocolate and decided right away to go the aunty’s house. 

I knew my mother would not allow me to go because it was quite far and complicated from our house but I was sure I knew the way.  I quietly went off the gate, along the road made a turn and another turn to the road that was pararel with the road in front of my house.. I made a big circle so that my mother would not see.

I ran along the road until it was out of town.  The road got through the paddy fields.  I suddenly had to stop.  Many BIG buffaloes were crossing the road.. They were SO..big that my heart jumped with fear.  It seemed like a day before all of them were gone of the road.

Running faster, because of the buffaloes, I soon reached the house.  They were very surprised to see me alone but I was welcome.  Then it started to rain.  The rain was heavier and heavier.. with loud thunder and lightening.  I was in the house.  The Activite was not as good as the night before and without socks, I could not play the slider.  However, aunty was good to me.

Finally the rain stopped.  I put my head out of the door and, my goodness!! Where was the water come from.  It was higher than my head if I was on the ground.  Uncle got on his Jeep and aunty carried me from the house to the Jeep and drove me home.

I was very surprised to see that, in front of my house, a long thin palm tree had laid down over the water on the street.  Water was everywhere as if the Mekong river came up to the street.  My father leaned over to take me from uncle’s arms and thanked him.  I had so much fun with that palm and the water..

My father told me later that it was very heavy storm for many hours.  Metal roofs was blown to the air and had killed a few people.  My mother could not find me.  She worried like anything.  She asked the workers to search for me but no one dare to go out in that storm.  It was only my mother ran out to several houses to look for me, until my father had to get her back.

My father said he was sure that I would be happy in one of the house but my mother was still worried so much. 

And I came back happily, contented and full and not even got wet.

This is one of the times that I shocked my mother.. Once I tasted the left of the acetylene that people had thrown away.  I remember I was only took it from the floor and had just touched my toung a little on it curious to know the taste.  But it was smelly and my mother was shocked to get the smell from my hands and mouth. I was sent to the hospital quickly.  The doctor had just to clean me.. Nobody understood what was in my mind when I wanted to taste that smelly thing.  Neither did I.

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Got Lost

The house next to mine was very interesting.  They had several kinds or animals, including the turkeys which I was sure that were the ugliest animal in the world.  But the most interesting was their daughter who was my friend.  She could not wake well and had to go to a doctor every Tuesday afternoon.

I was very curious what a doctor looked like and how the doctor did to her.  He father put her at the end of a bicycle and rode her to see the doctor.

One day, I decided to follow them.  I ran after the bicycle.  It was quite a long way.. much further from my territory.  The bicycle then turned to a small road, and another one, and another one.  By the time I reached that junction, they had disappeared.. and goodness.. Where was I?

I was very scared and turn back.. tried hard to remember each of the turns I had made.  After awhile I was on the main street again.. I was elated and ran full speed back home.  Behind me the sky covered with very dark clouds.  I could hear the rain ran after me.

Reaching home, all doors and gate were close.  My father was standing looking at the rain clouds.  I ran to him, jumped up to his arms and cried and told him with sobbing that I got lost.  He laughed very laud.  “Good.” He said.

I was surprised, stopped crying.  What did he mean by saying that.  Was it good because I got lost or that I found my way back.

He laughed lauder.  “Both” he said, “and you’ve got a lesson.”

Never again I was curious about the girl and her docter..

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One Serene Afternoon

My very favorite place was the ruined wood balcony behind the workers’ hut.  From there I could see the river, and the agriculture along the bank of the river.  The wind was cool and the sunshine warm and many kind of plants, weeds and crepes. 

There was small passion fruit with their interesting flowers and the net covered the fruit.  The fruit was small yellow thin peel.  If you pressed it, you would hear the cracking sound and see the black seeds cover with clear jelly.  It was sour and a little sweet but the fragrant was nice.

I lay on my tummy observing the tiny lives around me.  I saw the line of hurrying small black ants.  Some of them carry food some walk bare mouths.  One large group of them carried a dead insect.  It seemed to be heavy.  The bare mouths ants found the space among others; they quickly slipped into the space and help without being asked.  I am not sure whether the group had called them to help or not, I did not here it.

There were also bigger red ants parade back and forth.  I could not find where they were going to.  There were also a few other kinds of ants and insects.  Lying on my tummy on the warm old wood with warm sunshine on my back and the cool breeze from the river, listening to birds and insects, it was a real cozy time. 

I saw a young grasshopper.  It must be a big grasshopper, young as it was, its body was about my tiny finger.  But it was really very young, green like young leaves and the body was a little shiny.  It looked soft and innocence.  I let it stay on my hand carry it back home to show to my father.  One worker came near me,  I showed him proudly how beautiful it was.  He said;

“Yes, it is beautiful.  Can you give me?”
“Yes if you like it.” I answered
“Thanks.”

He took it from my hand, broke it into two pieces and put in his mouth, ate it and gone!!!!

I was shocked, mouth opened, round eyes. Oh goodness, poor little baby..

Never again I brought any insects from their home..

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