Thai

Uncle Chai brings Jack by long-tail to Master Wichai's yard on Khlong Bang Luang: this is Jack; what are you thinking of doing?

The house behind the pier, the evening Jack said yes to the yard: I'm going to work at the yard, a year; why a year?

The yard at seven on Jack's first Monday, an old teak boat up on blocks: you have to be here at seven; yes, seven in the morning; today you have to sand the boat, by hand; do I have to do the whole boat?

The mouth of the soi on a Tuesday evening, Nui on his motorbike: I'm looking for a room in Sathorn; my cousin has rooms, Soi Suan Phlu; can I see one?

The fourth floor of the landlady's building in Soi Suan Phlu, Thursday at six: this is the room, bed, fan, air con; how much a month?

The last Sunday of January, Jack's bags by the stall, Aunt Oy's boxes of food and Grandma's instructions: before you go, eat first; after I eat; before you sleep, call your mother; after I get to the room; after work, come and eat noodles; Friday, after work; before dark, let's go; I don't want to go at all; next week you'll be back for sticky rice: before doing and after doing.

Sathorn pier at half past six on a Monday, Jack's first commute: which boat goes to Memorial Bridge?

Noon at the yard, the noodle boat tied up at the steps: do you like boat noodles?

A Saturday on the Skytrain north, then Nam's studio: next station, Ari; you came to Ari?

Yaowarat at Chinese New Year, red lanterns, lion dancers and food on every corner, Tee and Jack in the crowd: happy Chinese New Year, hungry?

A Saturday in March at the yard, Nam with her brushes and Master Wichai watching: the letters should be gold, gold on red, like the old days, you should hold the ladder, should I bring water, you should bring a chair, you two should eat first, you should come every Saturday, he should learn the boat language first: should.

The pier on an evening in March, Tee, Nam and Jack planning a weekend: next Saturday, Ayutthaya, shall we; by train, shall we; OK, Saturday morning; the seven o'clock train, OK; shall we stay a night; a guesthouse by the river, OK; shall we hire bicycles; OK, and a boat round the island; OK, six in the morning, Hua Lamphong: shall we and OK.

The ordinary train north on a Saturday morning, Tee asleep two rows back, Nam and Jack talking: Pi Jack, how many hours is the train; about an hour and a half, Khun Nam; just call me Nam; then call me Jack; no need to be polite now; OK, Nam, it's hard; with Tee you're not polite; Tee is a man; and I'm your friend; OK, friend, look, rice fields: friends' Thai.

Ayutthaya on a Saturday afternoon, the heat, three bicycles and a vendor with coconuts under a tree: it's too hot; too hot, but too beautiful; you talk too much, coconut; forty baht each; forty isn't too expensive; cold enough; cold enough, thank you; the big temple, is it too far; not far enough, one more temple; you're too strong, Jack: too and enough.

The desk of a guesthouse by the river in Ayutthaya on a Saturday evening, Nam bringing the bicycles back: have you booked yet; booked already, Thanakorn, two rooms; have you eaten yet; not yet, still open; still open, the rooms are ready already; which floor; the second floor, is Nam back yet; not yet, Nam is coming; has the boat left yet; not yet, six in the evening: already, not yet and yet.

The river at Ayutthaya at sunset, the three of them in a hired boat, the temple on the bank: what do you think of Ayutthaya; I think it's beautiful; I think this boat needs Jack; I feel the boat is fine; on the water I feel like home; I feel good on a river too; I think the sunset is beautiful; I think Tee is hungry; I really feel hungry; I think Tee is always hungry: I think that and I feel that.

The noodle stall in April, the week before Songkran, Aunt Oy and Nui briefing Jack: it's Songkran, don't bring your phone; put it in a bag, don't wear nice clothes; can I go to the yard; don't go to the yard, it's closed three days; be careful, everyone's wet; don't worry, I'll walk; and don't throw water on Grandma; certainly not; throw it on Tee, he throws first: don't, must not and be careful.

Songkran morning in the house behind the pier, water on Grandma's hands, the family custom: children, come, water on Grandma's hands; Jack, you first; may you be healthy, Yai; may you have luck, and a good wife; Mother, don't; what, may he find one; thank you, Yai; may you be strong, Yai; may you both be happy; go outside, go and get wet: wishes with may you.

The water fight in the soi on Songkran afternoon, Nui with a bucket, Tee with a water gun, Jack with a bowl, a woman with talc paste: Jack, take this; hey, then we splash each other; help each other, Nui's bucket is big; happy Songkran, young man; happy Songkran, thank you; let's splash Nui together; together, one, two, three; you two, wait for each other; wet together, friends; a good day in the soi: each other and together.

The yard the week after Songkran, forty degrees at noon, Master Wichai and Jack: from tomorrow we start at six; six in the morning; at noon it might be forty degrees; then I might get up at five; next month there will probably be rain; might the yard flood; it might, but probably not; tonight I'll probably sleep with the fan on; you'll probably sleep at the yard, like me; that might be good: might and probably.

A Sunday at the pier at the end of April, and Nam's friend from the studio comes to see the boats: you're Jack?

The yard in the first week of May, Master Wichai at the bench: may I take three days off?

The van counter at Ekkamai at half past seven, then the ticket window at Ban Phe pier: which one, Ban Phe?

Sai Kaew in the hot-season sun, the shallow water, Bee on the sand, Nam and Jack in the sea: I'm scared of the sea; Bee is scared of everything, dogs, lifts, dark places; not so, I'm not scared of Tee; are you scared of the sun?

The beach restaurant on Sai Kaew, tables in the sand, the waiter, Tee and Bee: grilled fish, one; I want everyone to try it; squid too, not spicy; papaya salad not spicy, for Bee; let me order the rice; Thais let the guest eat the eye; you want me to eat the eye?

The stars over Sai Kaew, Tee and Bee ahead on the sand, fruit juice, and Nam asks what Jack misses: do you miss Seattle?

The last morning on Sai Kaew, early, Tee and Bee asleep, Nam and Jack at the water's edge: you're up early; I like the sea in the morning; I like it too; Nam, I like you; I know; you know?

The pier, the Monday after the island, the bags out of the pick-up, Tee and Jack: Jack, you and my sister; Bee told me, how long has this been going on?

The house behind the pier that evening, Aunt Oy, Uncle Chai and Grandma, Nam beside Jack: Jack, we know already; the whole soi knows, Nui told me; Uncle Chai, I like Nam; are you serious about my daughter?

The pier, an evening at the end of May, the first cloud over Thonburi, Nam and Jack: the rains are coming; promise you'll stay the whole year; I promise, the whole year; in the cool season, Chiang Mai, promise?