Thai

Nam's studio in Ari on a Friday evening at the end of the rains, her desk under calendar proofs, Jack come to take her home: a hotel's calendars, my work till New Year; every single weekend?

The studio in Ari at one o'clock, Jack with a bag of noodles from the pier, Pim the owner out of a meeting: Jack, noodles!

The family's house behind the pier at nine, Nam home late and pale, Aunt Oy with a plate and Grandma at the table: Nam, you're pale; you should eat something; I should shower first, Mom; Aunt Oy's right, you ought to eat first; you too, Jack?

Master Wichai's yard on Khlong Bang Luang, a customer from Amphawa wanting a small teak paddle boat, the master handing it to Jack whole: Jack, this boat is yours; mine alone?

The yard the next morning, Aunt Somjai, sixty, who sells coconut sweets from her boat at Amphawa, with a box of them and a tape measure: I want you to make it light; light, and I want it to last too; I want you to measure the old one; the stove, the coconuts, the ice, and me; then wider than the old one; I want it named Little Sweet; I want Nam to come and paint the name; I want the deposit before the wood is cut: I want you to.

Nam on the phone from a taxi stuck on Sukhumvit in the rain, Jack at the cinema at Siam with two tickets: Jack, the traffic hasn't moved for half an hour; what a pity, I've got the tickets; I should have taken the Skytrain; you should have left at six; the hotel should have called in the afternoon; don't be angry, Nam; I'm not angry, but it's a pity about the film; give the tickets to Tee and Bee: what a pity, and should have.

The yard on the day of the planking, Master Wichai lending Jack his two young helpers, Ek and Boy: today the two boys are yours; what should I have them do?

A coffee shop in Ari after work, a client who changed the green five times and a printer who printed the wrong one: the hotel changed the green five times; in your place I'd take tomorrow off; in your place I could; in your place I'd tell Pim; really?

The canal at the yard on a December morning, the boat on the water, blue, Little Sweet on the bow in Nam's hand, Aunt Somjai with the paddle: Jack, you row it first; I'd rather you rowed it; better that I fall in?

The last night of the year on the pier, the family's boats tied up, fireworks over the river from the far bank, Nam's rush over: the last calendar is delivered, I'm free!

The family table on a January evening, Tee's wedding to Bee on the calendar: we've chosen, the last Saturday of January; the morning in Nonthaburi, the evening here; and what if it rains?

Dinner at the house behind the pier, Bee across the table from Jack at last: Jack, at last we meet; I hid him, so that you don't ask; ask away, so that I'm ready; can you get Tee to dance?

A gold shop in Yaowarat, Tee and Jack at the counter for the gold the groom's family brings: welcome, what kind of gold are you looking for?

A Sunday at Bee's parents' wooden house by the river in Nonthaburi, Uncle Chai come to ask for Bee and Jack carrying the fruit: come in, did you come by boat or by car?

A tailor's on Charoen Krung, Tee in the jacket, Jack along, Bee on the phone: this jacket, the shoulders are too wide; if only they were narrower; the trousers, narrow leg or straight?

The house behind the pier the week before the wedding, Grandma and Aunt Oy teaching Jack the procession trays: Jack, you carry the sweets tray; both hands, never put it on the ground; and if my arm hurts?

The pier at evening the week before the wedding, Uncle Chai, Tee and Jack over a net: Tee, listen to your wife, even when she's wrong, listen; and when she's right?

Bee's parents' house in Nonthaburi on the last Saturday of January, the procession up from the pier at a shut gate: the gate is shut, how much to pass?

The evening party on the pier, tables on the three boats, boat noodles and juice, the host with a microphone: please welcome the groom's friend; congratulations, Tee and Bee; thanks, next it's your turn; Bee, you look like a queen; may you be happy too; the drums are for you, Jack, dance; I congratulate the drums, I don't dance; dance, Nam is waiting: congratulations and their answers.

The pier the morning after, Tee and Bee leaving for a week on Koh Samet, Jack with the shed's keys: here are the keys to the boat shed; if anything happens, call Dad; what could happen?

Aunt Oy's stall after closing, Tee and Bee in the room over it since the wedding: we'll have to find a new place now; this room isn't a home; I really have to have a kitchen; then you'll have to look in Thonburi; has to be near the Skytrain too; then there's no choice: Wongwian Yai; you'll have to come too; I'll have to bring Nui: you'll have to, and there's nothing for it.

The mouth of the soi on a Sunday morning, Nui on his motorbike: what must the flat be like?

A lane behind Wongwian Yai, the second floor of Nui's cousin's building: here's the flat, two rooms, a kitchen, a balcony; can it be eight thousand five hundred?

The first Sunday of March, Nui's cousin's pickup in the lane and too many plants: so many plants, Bee's?

The yard's office on Khlong Bang Luang in March, Jack's year running out: your visa runs out next month, here's the list; when it's signed, then go to Chaeng Watthana; and if they ask for more?

A photo and copy shop on Charoen Krung: next, what do you need?

The immigration office at Chaeng Watthana: number two hundred and twelve, window six; please submit your documents; here, the form, the passport, the letter; in the event of a move, please report; I'm still in the same room; in the event of travel, window nine; come back in a week for the stamp; in that case, next week: the formal if of the office.

Aunt Oy's stall on a hot March noon, the stamp due in a week: sit, Jack, even if the wait is long, you have to eat; even if I'm not hungry?

Window six a week later, a year's extension in the passport: Mr Reed, extension of stay, one year; you must report every ninety days; every ninety days?

The pier at dusk in April, Jack's parents on the phone and Jack relaying to Nam: Mom asks whether November is hot; hot, but at night the river is cool; Mom asks whether Aunt Oy will like them; as long as they eat well, that's enough; if it weren't for you, I'd have gone home by now; if it weren't for Jack, I'd paint for free; say it in Thai; welcome, both of you: if it weren't for, and the level's ifs.