It has taken me days to say this... I dont have any plans now. Do you?
No, but I know that right now, work is not the answer... Why dont you go off to your mothers and Ill have a think?
Lek was glad of the excuse to get out and be alone, and, having recovered somewhat from the initial shock, so was Craig.
After Lek had left, he finished his cold coffee in one, packed up his laptop and went to the shop where he did a lot of his thinking. The office was for slog work, but Nongs shop was for deep cogitation, usually over a few ice-cold beers. Watching the people in the village coming and going, carrying out their daily lives had always had a calming, yet inspirational effect upon him.
He sat down at the one table outside the shop and waited for Nong to notice him. He had been drinking at Nongs shop for eight years, but they still could not talk to each other in any meaningful way. Nong appeared not to have an aptitude for English and Craig had spent most of his time trying to earn money rather than learn Thai.
As he was staring out before himself, he heard Nong say, Hello Mr. Craig, how are you today? in Thai.
Sabaai dee, kap - Im fine thanks. Khun duay, mai? You too?
Yes, thank you. The beer is very cold today.
Nong always said that, but then the beer was always cold too.
Craig slouched in the bench seat and stretched his feet out in front of himself. He thought with a smile, that if he smoked, this would be a two-pipe problem, as Sherlock Holmes would have said.
Why hadnt she mentioned it before? Why the sudden crisis? The real bottom line was, if she believed in karma, as she insisted she did, why did she think that she could change her daughters karma? It did not make sense now, although Leks news had hit him like a bullet.
The problem was that Lek seemed to be sure that her only way forward was to go back to work in a bar. So, whether she was right or wrong in her religious philosophy, she would probably leave him in fourteen days.
Craig knew that Lek had an iron will. If that was what she had said she would do, that was what she would do, unless there was a very good reason not to. And the only reason that was good enough was money, so he needed a supply of money.
Or he needed to shed the chains that held him and Lek together he needed to stop loving her.
Money or love?
That was the dilemma.
Lek had already decided that she would choose money, although not for entirely selfish reasons. Selfishness was in there though, he was sure. He knew that she would not be able to bear the shame of having to withdraw Soom from university for lack of funds.
Although that was the mechanics of the situation, it did not help his predicament. He loved Lek, but he was being offered an honourable way out. No-one would blame him for cutting and running now. Lek had told him that he was on his own.
Craig wondered for a little while whether Lek was offering him this easy exit because she had found someone new, but he dismissed the idea as much for lack of evidence as the fact that it would have hurt him too much to countenance it. He believed that Lek was genuinely concerned about her daughters future and that helped him with the next choice, which was whether he should stay or go.
That would take another beer. It was not that he didnt want to stay. It was more a question of whether this problem would erupt again over an unrelated issue like Sooms first home, Sooms first car, Sooms babies, when she had them, which she inevitably would. Soom had been brought up by her grandmother as had Lek and he knew that Lek was looking forward to the role in her turn.
Craig, however, was not, yet the likelihood of it coming to pass was only three or four years away.
Nong saw the empty bottle and swiftly brought another one.
The ultimate decision was between selling everything that he had left in the UK, looking after Sooms children and staying with Lek in the village that he had come to call home or to call it a day and move on.
It was a tough one.
Lek had gone to her Mums house, which was just over the lane from their place, less than half-way to Nongs shop. She hadnt discussed her predicament with anyone yet, because so much depended on Craig, but she was ready to bite the bullet and go back to work if things worked out that way.
She was prepared to accept her own bad Fate, but she was not prepared to allow Fate to affect Sooms future, if she could do anything about it.
If Craig fell by the wayside, then so be it. The ball was in his court now. She had given him an out and a two-week period to come up with a solution. There was nothing more to do than steel herself again and wait for what her Karma would throw at her. She did care about Craig, but she cared more about Soom and she cared nothing for herself.
After the dreams she had had for and the nightmares she had had about Sooms future over the last eighteen years, Lek was not about to leave anything to something as intangible as Fate. Her daughter might not be clever enough to pass the examinations, that was something else, but she would sit them, shortage of money notwithstanding.
She sat with her mother, but her mother could see that she was troubled, so she cut and peeled some fruit for them both and pretended to be busy until her daughter made the first move.
What would you think if I moved to Bangkok, Mum, to be closer to Soom if she needs me? I think that I can be more use there than here now. What do you reckon?
I reckon that that is your decision, Lek, but what does Craig think about it? He is your husband and therefore the one you should be asking this question, not me.
Yes, I know, but... Im just not sure...
I never followed you around when you were growing up. Did I do wrong? Why do you think that you have to be at your daughters side and not your husbands?
Soom has her own mistakes to make like we all did and still do it is part of growing up. Will you be there when she meets her first lover too?
I would like to be, yes! And if hes not good enough Id...
Lek could see her mothers smiling eyes although no mirth showed around her mouth.
You can only do what you can do. You could not be here for the first part of Sooms life, but that is not so bad. I did my best and you were here for the last eight years. Soom is a good, level-headed, intelligent girl, now is the time to give her some headroom let her practice what she has learned dont keep her hemmed in.
She may start to think that you think that shes stupid and you dont want that do you? Not when she is in a big Bangkok university with all the rich kids. They will give her enough complexes already.
What is your true concern?
Money, Mum, if I am honest. I want the university fees for the full, four-year term of the course in my bank account right now, so that I know that money will not stop her staying at university. I want to see it, in a bank book.
Yes, I see. We would all like enough money in the bank to be safe, but that is not how it is for working class people like us, unfortunately. What does Craig have to say about it all?
She didnt want to say that she hadnt consulted him or that she was thinking seriously of going back to work, so she said, He doesnt want to live in Bangkok. Nor do I really, since I dont know anyone there except Chalita and her husband and I couldnt just hang around with them all the time. Sis has her own life to lead. Maybe I could live in Pattaya, its only an hour or so away.
She didnt want to say that she hadnt consulted him or that she was thinking seriously of going back to work, so she said, He doesnt want to live in Bangkok. Nor do I really, since I dont know anyone there except Chalita and her husband and I couldnt just hang around with them all the time. Sis has her own life to lead. Maybe I could live in Pattaya, its only an hour or so away.
Craig doesnt think we can afford to live in a city and hes probably right. I would have to find a job to pay the rent and most of the university fees...
I see, said her mother slowly. Like that is it? How old are you now? Thirty-nine, forty? Not old certainly, but getting old to be doing some types of job, dont you think? Your job opportunities would be limited by your qualifications, lack of experience and age, I imagine. What sort of work did you have in mind?
I dont know Mum. I only know bar work and basic bookkeeping. Perhaps I could get a job as a cashier in a bar, or a receptionist in a hotel or working the till in a shop.
Dont you need qualifications to be a bookkeeper these days? I think you do, unless your family gives you a job. Have you spoken to Beou about it?
No, not yet. I just told Craig and hes gone to Nongs to think about it and get drunk, I suppose. He took it rather badly although I did kind of hit him with it out of the blue.
It is a shock to me, I cant imagine what he is going through. He gave up everything to come here to be with you. All his friends, his family, his connections... and now you are dumping him. Not a very nice prospect, is it? Now that hes spent most of his money too. It makes you look heartless, my dear, although I know you are only thinking about the security of Sooms future.
However, you are married now and you and Craig must work as a team. This may sound like your concern alone, but it is not. We might not be able to help you financially, but we would miss you if you left again. It has been so..., so homely, like the good old days, having you around again for the last eight or nine years.
Then there is Soom. Have you asked her about your idea of moving down with her? Perhaps she was looking forward to a lot more freedom. That is one of the perks of going away to study, isnt it? To learn about life in the real world, learning to stand on your own two feet? And shell have you hanging around criticising her every mistake.
If you want the advice of an old woman, I would say not to abandon the people who love you the most. Look for ways that we, or you and Craig can sort this problem out together. Talk to him properly, dont just tell him this is how it is going to be.... He has his pride too and if you push him into a corner, he may leave you and I think that you would regret that sooner or later. Probably sooner too.
Soom would miss Craig too. Well, we all would. We have all become fond of him and his funny little ways. Hes a breath of fresh air sometimes.
Do you think that I should go to him now, Mum?
That is up to you, Lek, but maybe it is better if he thinks things through on his own for a little while longer. Give him an hour longer and that will give you time to think what to say to him and cook him something nice. What is his favourite? Oh, yes, Paneng. Put some of your love into a Paneng for him and if hes not back by the time its ready, take him a bowl to the shop.
Thanks, Mum, you always know what to say just at the right moment... whereas I, well I just rush in and... Do I get that from Dad? Ill give it a shot. Do you fancy some curry too? Ill make enough for all of us.
Craig was well into his fourth pint when Lek appeared at his side. He actually smelled her coming before he saw her, or at least he had caught a whiff of his favourite Thai meal being cooked somewhere near by.
Hello, telak. I have brought you something to eat. You not eat all day and drinking with no food is no good. As soon as she had mentioned drinking and an implied criticism, she regretted it.
Who cares? Go to Bangkok, then you wont have to watch, will you?
I did not mean anything, my dear, honestly. May I sit down and join you? I think I need a few beers too.
I dont need a few beers, I want a few beers... Sure sit down, what do you want? A Leo? Nong! Can I have a Leo, a glass, some ice and another Chang, please?
Lek was unwrapping her parcel of food and two dishes that already had servings of white, fluffy rice in them. She passed the bowl of curry, a bowl of rice and a spoon to Craig, so that he could serve himself first in the traditional way.
Thank you. It smells very nice. Thanks, Nong. Cheers, my dear, bottoms up! When are you off? Oh, yes, in two weeks...
I want to talk to you about that, Craig. I am so sorry that I sprang it on you so suddenly like that. It must have been a terrible shock. I should have been more... more subtle. Is that the right word?
Well, its one of them and you certainly were not it.
Yes, I know and I am sorry. She put some more curry into Craigs bowl before taking a little for herself. You understand the problem though, despite my inept way of putting it, so I have come to you now for advice. You have more experience in money matters than I. I am only a blunt farm girl at heart, what do you think that we could do together as a family to solve this crisis?
Craig knew that he was being buttered up, but he also knew that it was Leks way of apologising. It was very rare for her, or any Thai for that matter, to actually say the word sorry and she had said it at least six times that day already she preferred to show it in deeds.
I know how important Sooms education is to you. I know how much you blame your own previous circumstances on your own lack of a formal education and I know that you dont want the same for Soom. An education with papers qualifications is like a guarantee. I know you think all that and I agree with you.
So, I propose using my visa guarantee money to help you and Soom. That takes the pressure off for now. It means that I will not get a twelve-month visa extension next month, but maybe its time we had a holiday anyway. We could go to Laos Vientiane for a holiday and pick up a three-month visa while were there. I have a few ideas for replacing the visa money, but there is no rush for that. How much do you need right now for Soom?
I give her twelve thousand Baht every month for expenses. Later I will need sixty thousand, but not right now. In six weeks. I have most of that money, but then I have no reserves for if there is a problem. That is what worries me.
Yes, OK, Lek. Tell Soom that you will transfer the money into her bank account on Monday and in the meantime, we can start planning our holiday to Laos. Cheers! I mean it, cheer up. We both need to.
Lek felt a lot happier now that the foreseeable problem had been sorted out. She had a year to find next years payment and she still had fifty thousand in the bank.
Craig could see that the storm had passed but the sky was definitely still very overcast.
2 THE VISA RUN TO LAOS
Vientiane, the capital of Laos was not actually all that far away, as the crow flies, but getting there was a very different story unless one flew, which Lek and Craig decided against for financial reasons. Lek took the bus into Phitsanulok with one of her girlfriends to buy the bus tickets the day before they were about to leave. This too was not a long journey, but it could easily take six hours to get there and back. Lek liked to take a friend so that they could make a day of it do some shopping and eat lunch somewhere nice. This was the plan for the day also.