Spring in PHUKET

Chapter 5

The evening sky was gradually turning from fuchsia orange to ripples of indigo purple, spreading to touch the sea in the horizon, as the men closed the coral for the day, letting the horses relax and graze on the grass and hay...

Singto joined his dad at the fence and they started walking back towards their home...Singto's gait was slightly stiff after hours on a saddle...

A sense of satisfaction filled him, as he pulled off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair ruffling up the flat strands...

"It's not the same without David...he was the life of any place he went to..he and Krist could sure bring a smile even in the toughest of times..tat boy has the most infectious of smiles in Phuket and his dad had the best sense of humor..."Papa Boon sighed, he missed his best friend and partner of a lifetime...it was as though a part of him died along with David...

"Yep, they were quiet a team, now why are you suddenly gloomy as hell? " asked Singto,  turning to watch Waan come towards them after dropping the pony in the stable..

"Comes from getting old son,  we are stuck with the past, reminiscing the good old days and the fun we had, we never held grudges, nor did we hold back our passion..we lived to the fullest, giving double of wat we got.." he replied thoughtfully..

Singto nodded...

"I wish we had a swimming pool" Waan said breaking into their conversation.

"Well we do have one..the best, Natural kind." Papa asserted..

"Not tat hole of mucky water Daddy, I want a nice fancy one, like how aunt Nam has got and Buffy too.."

"Swimming pools cost money honeybee.." Singto told her..

"I know daddy,  I wish we were rich.."she sighed..

"Life's tough little one, sometimes it makes u work hard for wat u want..."

"It's a bummer..huge bummer" sighed Waan.

"You know I don't really fancy going to that dinner tonight..I have never liked dressing up.." Papa Boon complained..

"Grandpa now u know that s a huge lie, don't you...you love dressing up.." Waan teased...

"Now how would u know tat?" He asked surprised..

"Well, I have seen u staring at the mirror in ur room, admiring urself.." she said with a knowing smile..

Her words brought back memories of the same words from another person, who he loved more than anything....

Papa Boon recalled his wife's reflection that had joined him in the mirror those days..." You do think u're a handsome hunk don't u Boon?" She would then turn him around and smooth the wrinkles or collar of his shirt.."truth is u are..."and give him a beautiful smile...

He let himself be taken by the fond memory for a moment, as he thought of his wife and the malignant tumor tat had taken her away..she had fought with everything she had, never letting her smile dim or her happiness ebb..

Singto had been the one who had broken the most..he had not even shed a tear, standing like a zombie holding her lifeless hand..if it had not been for Krist, Boon didn't know wat he would have done to bring Singto back to normal..the young boy had never left his son's side, always talking to him and pushing him to respond..he had cried only after all the people had gone and Krist had dragged Singto into his room, with words admonishing him of worrying his mother, who was looking at how miserable he was from above..

He had cried then clinging on to the younger, spilling his soul's fears and insecurities for a full two hours, as Krist listened to him..silent tears flowing down his own cheek..hurting for his best friend...