Thai

The family's table behind the pier the morning after the talk, Uncle Chai and Aunt Oy with the list of what a groom's side does: sit down, we must talk about the engagement; the groom's side brings the trays and the ring; how much should the sin sod be?

Master Wichai's yard on Khlong Bang Luang, Jack at the glue pot with a favour to ask: may I trouble you for a moment?

The pier at closing time, Nam with a printout from the district office: I printed the list; the embassy letter certifying you're single; then the translation and the certification; the letter, or the passport too?

A translation shop on Wireless Road near the embassy, the translator at her desk: good morning, what are we translating?

The consular office at Chaeng Watthana, a queue ticket and counter twelve: number one hundred and four, counter twelve; I'd like the translation certified; the originals and the copies, please; my friend's was sent back; it matches, it will certainly be certified; express, how much in all?

A gold shop in Yaowarat, the shopkeeper behind the glass: welcome, a ring or a chain?

Aunt Oy's stall at the head of the pier, Grandma on her stool, a notebook on the counter: how many from your side?

The mouth of the soi, Nui on his motorbike: I hear the trays are coming down this soi; I'll have the boys move the bikes for you; have the children hold the gates too; silver gate, golden gate, you'll have to pay; how much do I give each child?

A bench at the pier, the card's proof on Tee's phone: Nam sent the card, read it with me; we respectfully invite you to honour us with your presence at the wedding; who talks like that?

The Bang Rak district office on the fourteenth of February, couple number eighty-eight, Tee and Bee as witnesses at the counter: couple eighty-eight and the witnesses; Mister Jack, do you consent to marry Miss Nam?

The family's house behind the pier on the evening before the wedding, mats and chairs everywhere, Grandma giving the orders: first wash the floor, then lay the mats; the procession comes at nine; what do I do first in the morning?

The soi on the wedding morning, Nui's drum at the front and Bee's chain across the way: make way, the groom's side is coming; stop, have you brought the ring or not yet?

The family's house at ten on the wedding morning, the couple kneeling with their hands over the tray and the elders in a line with the conch: kneel, both of you; may you love each other for a long, long time; may you have a good life and children soon; may your boats float and your house not fall; may you grow old together; thank you, Grandma; don't move, thirty more to come; my hands are freezing: the blessing that begins with the two words for may you.

The pier at noon on the wedding day, both families lined up for the photographer: bride and groom in the middle; the bride's side on the left, the groom's side on the right; Grandma can't stand that long; a chair for Grandma, in front; groom, move in a little; he's standing on my dress; move back a little, smile; my face hurts from smiling: the words that put people in their places.

The pier at seven in the evening on the wedding day, lanterns on the boats and Tee at the microphone: ladies and gentlemen, the groom would like to say a few words; on behalf of us both, thank you all; thank you for taking me in; enough, let's eat; the som tam is hot, for the brave; music, the bride and groom first; Tee, I don't dance; tonight you have to: the words for speaking to a gathering.

The pier at midnight after the party, the guests gone and the river quiet, the couple on the edge with their feet over the water: I'm so tired; me too, and happy too; same here, the river's so quiet; Tee cried too, did you see?

A bench at the pier two days after the wedding, Tee reading flat adverts off his phone: this one, Khlong San, old house, fourth floor; how many square metres?

The pier in the afternoon, Jack on the phone to the number in the advert: may I speak to Khun Nit?

Four flights up an old wooden house in Khlong San at four in the afternoon, Khun Nit opening the shutters: the stairs are rather steep; the floor is quite lovely, old wood; the kitchen is rather small; good enough, we eat at the pier; the bedroom's not very bright; open the shutters, the sun is on the river side; the water is not too strong, not too weak; we'll take it: the little words that measure an adjective.

Khun Nit's table on the ground floor of the house in Khlong San, two copies of the lease and a pen: the lessor is me, the lessees are you; clause one, one year, from March; paid by the fifth; clause three, the deposit is returned when you move out; can we paint the bedroom?

Moving day at the old wooden house in Khlong San, Tee's pickup at the gate, Nui's bike and four flights of stairs: the truck's full, what goes up first; the mattress first, carry it up on your back; the boxes are in, who takes them up; carry the box of plates carefully; the fridge, lift it, don't drag it; count to three, then lift; Grandma's rice pot goes up first; bring some water down to me: the carrying verbs and the direction words after them.

Master Wichai's yard on Khlong Bang Luang at closing time, the old man's hands on the table: sit down, my hands are old; in March you're the lead builder; I've only been here three years; Lek can't read a boat drawing; what would I be in charge of; look after the whole work side, the men, the timber, the timing; and the new customers; the new ones you look after: being in charge of a matter and looking after a side.

The yard's table on Khlong Bang Luang, two copies of a work contract and Master Wichai's pencil: clause one, the employer hires the employee; from the first of March onwards; wages of thirty-two thousand a month; work Monday to Saturday, eight to five; ten days' leave a year; clause six, social security; the employee looks after the tools; that one is for Lek: the clauses of a contract, from a date onwards, hire and wages.

A counter at the labour office, a queue ticket and the work permit's new position: please take a queue ticket; please submit the form and the documents; I'm changing position, same employer; please attach the new contract; here, the marriage certificate too; not needed, sign on page two; when can I collect the permit; within seven working days: the official's two words for please, and the verbs submit, attach and collect.

The yard on Khlong Bang Luang, Khun Preeya from the small hotel at the end of the next soi: the hotel's guests want a wooden boat; how many people does it seat; eight, with a canopy; seven metres long, two wide; made of teak; how deep, the pier is shallow; half a metre, not deep; a quotation this week, please: long, wide and deep with metres, made of, and seats so many people.

The yard's table on Khlong Bang Luang, Master Wichai's pencil and the price of a boat: timber first, a hundred and twenty thousand; the engine ninety thousand, the canopy forty; labour for three men, a hundred and fifty thousand; four hundred and thirty thousand in all; add ten percent just in case; four hundred and eighty thousand, including the engine; excluding tax, write that down too; almost half a million: the big numbers, the total, including and excluding, and percent.

Khun Preeya's office at the small hotel on the river, the quotation on the desk: the hotel agrees, with conditions; what conditions; three instalments, the first on signing; and the last instalment; the last on delivery; delivery on the first of November; and if it's late; late, a thousand a day off: the instalments of a deal, the document's when, and delivery.

A timber yard in Bang Pho, planks under a tin roof, Lek along to look at the wood: teak, how many planks; forty planks, two and a half metres long; nine hundred a cubic foot; let me see them first, this piece is cracked; pick your own, same price; and two logs, please; delivered by boat on Thursday; boss, his Thursday is Friday: the counting words for planks, logs, pieces and things, and the cubic foot.

The yard floor on Khlong Bang Luang at eight, the log on the trestles and Jack's first morning as lead builder: good morning, everyone, today we plane the log; Lek, plane it slowly; yes, boss, and the boy; the boy is not to go near the saw; careful, boss, the floor's wet; don't smoke near the paint; he sounds just like me; the boss is politer than you, Master: the words that run a crew, do not, forbidden, careful and slowly.

The yard's table on Khlong Bang Luang, the first instalment in the account and a receipt in Jack's hand: transferred, a hundred and forty-four thousand; received, I'm writing the receipt now; received the sum of a hundred and forty-four thousand; from the hotel, as the first instalment; the tax number and the date too; the lead builder signs, it's Jack's boat; this receipt is issued as proof; one day you'll have a yard of your own: the sentence of a receipt, and the end of this level.