Money speaks louder than words!

(Part 1)

© Travelers' Net
Text & photos by Joe Josef

"I didn't recognize her at first. She looked different without the fancy clothes and the make-up"

We have a Fai Dab!

At six in the morning Lek wasn't looking that sharp. Her eyes were closed and if the music hadn't been so loud I could've heard her snoring. But then again, she had had a tough time. It was low season, there were only few farangs around and she had not yet operated in this particular field long enough to work up any number of boyfriends to send her money from abroad.
In spite of her girlish looks Lek was a mature woman, you see. She had three kids to take care of and an old father, who was working up horrendous hospital bills way back in Chiang Rai. I knew Lek had been on the prowl many days in a row. It was understandable that she was tired.
All around us the sights and sounds of late-night Patong were flashing and wailing. I ordered a bottle of Jacks Daniels, fought off a couple of farang-starved girls and leaned back. Somehow this place - bamboo chairs, red neon and all - took me way back to old 'Nam. I remember a certain girl, what was her name, Trang? She had a couple of kids too. She could do things with her body... And she was smart, too. She had GI's lined up outside her apartment.
Anyway, I sat and kind of meditated while everybody were doing their thing. Slowly the level of whisky in the bottle sank close to the bottom. It felt good in a strange way to just sit there and watch Lek curled up in her bamboo chair like a kitten. Every once in a while a bartender would bring me some ice.
Then, abruptly, the power went and Patong was transformed into a black well of darkness. Hundreds of mouths cried out at the same time. Lighters were lightened, candles put on fire and one of the bars had a temporary flashlight on. Lek awoke and let her eyes roam like a hare's.

No Ploblehm

-Arrie..., she said (that's Thai for "Harry") -what you do?
-Nono, I said, it's not me, we have a fei dab.
-Ah... she sighed. In the flickering light of a candle she looked so young. Almost like a frightened child.
-It is allright, I heard myself saying, I'm gonna take you home!
She began to gather her things - purse, keys, comb - right away.
-Where you motobike?
I ordered the bill and thought things over. I wasn't really prepared to spend the rest of the night with Lek. I just felt I ought to bring her home and let her get some sleep. But when I sensed her slim body leaning onto my not so slim body and her arms around my equally not so slim waste, vows disappeared.
We rode up Sai Nam Yen, passed Vises Hotel and Andys Umbrella Hut, which was still open. Leks bungalow sat in a row of new buildings in a soi off Nam Yen. Everything was still new and shiny. As we passed by the last corner, I heard someone call out my name. I looked back and it was Dao.
Yes, Dao the starry-lipped singer from the Coffee-shop with the long name that meant something like "A place where your heart can relish". I almost did not recognize her at first - she looked different without the shining clothes, the make-up and the boots.
Dao beckoned me to come in, obviously she had something to show me. I hesitated. What about Lek? But then Lek said:
-No ploblehm. I go sleep, you come later!
She hopped of the bike and disappeared into her bungalow. I followed Dao into her living room. She smiled and revealed these white teeth that took me back to the coffeshop, where she used to stand with long legs and all.

Baby please don't go

-So how is work? I asked.
-Fine! she said very fine! Everything is good.
She made it sound like it was not good at all.
-I will show you something! Dao grabbed my hand and dragged me off to the bedroom. There she sat down on the bed without letting go of my hand. I looked around. A bed, a close-hanger, a picture on the wall.
-What do you want to show me? I asked.
Dao shook her head a little and pulled me closer. Her eyes were black pearls in a nightly forest, beyond her lips lay the promise of eternal bliss. I felt her sweet breath on my nose. Longingly my lips touched hers. Bluntly Dao jerked her face back.
-What's the matter? I asked.
-Nono, sorry! Dao exclaimed. She flung both her arms around my neck and covered my cheek with kisses.
-I sorry! I want you, okay?!
Feverishly she began to take off her clothes, exposing a black brassiere.
Even through the haze of my drunkenness I sensed that this was not right. I turned to go.
-I come back tomorrow, okay?
Dao leaped towards the door and blocked my way.
-Please, she said, don't go, stay with me tonight? Don't you like me?
I drew a deep breath.
-I like you Dao. Even more then that, I think you are very sweet and very beautiful, but...
-Okay, then stay!

Mask of Asian agony

Her lips were in my face again, her tender body scented of templeflowers. Like two kitten in the Garden of Eden we floated in space. The airy sound of the fan transmuted into heavenly strings. How could somebody I knew so little know so much about my deepest desires? I stroke her peachy cheeks.
And got wet fingers. Dao was crying. I wanted to look at her face, but she tried to hide it with her hands.
-Listen sweetheart, I said this does it! What is wrong? C'mon, you can tell me!
-Please, don't ask, she sobbed. Mai pen rai, it is not important!
She tried to hold me once again, but it was too late. She couldn't stop the tears and the sorrow. Her face - once so sweet and happy, turned into a mask of Asian agony.
Finally, through sobs ands moans, out came the story. Dao's mother back in Isaan had been on a bus one not so lucky day. Trying to avoid a head on collision with a truck, the driver made a sudden turn and the bus landed 100 meters down in a ditch. Two people died, the driver fled the scene and now her mother had a broken back and no money to get it fixed.
So Dao decided to do, what everybody had told her, was the only solution. But it wasn't easy. She was disgusted by men who were much older than her and she didn't have the psyche to go through the rituals of the game. She tried to get drunk, but the alcohol only made her vomit and gave her a headache. She got fired from the coffeshop because she failed to show up...
So. Finally Harry Fox came along. And even though I was riding with Lek on the pillion, Dao decided to try he luck.
I looked down on her sad face wit the red lips and black eyes. There was only one thing to do...

...to be continued