Be Careful What You Wish For

Part 4

"You do realize that an umbrella isn't much better than a spatula." Phupha raised an eyebrow.

"Still, I have skills."

Mix nudged Earth and whispered, "Since when?"

"He doesn't know that." Earth glanced at Mix before focusing all his attention on the man in the middle of the room. "I repeat, state your name and your business please."

Phupha shrugged, "My name is Phupha Viriyanon. As for my business,... your guess is as good as mine."

Mix leaned into Earth and whispered close to his ear, "He says he's from Pha Pun Dao Village and that he just appeared in my bed. I think I might be dreaming."

Earth pinched Mix's arm hard.

"Ow!"

"Can you feel pain in a dream?"

"N-No. But, what other explanation is there?"

Phupha interrupted, "I am not crazy. I just appeared here. I have no ill intention or will toward either of you. I just want to get back to my Tian."

Earth studied the figure across the room contemplatively. "Are you an apparition?"

Mix shook his head, "No when I woke up in bed, his arms were cuddled around me and very real."

Earth looked at Mix. "His arms were where?"

Mix touched Earth's shoulder, "Around my –"

" – Nevermind," Earth said to Mix.

He studied the man across the room from head to toe. "Okay, I believe you."

"Wait, what? Just like that?" Mix asked with disbelief dripping from all his pores.

"Yes. He looks a bit like the drawing on the cover."

Mix looked toward Phupha. "He does not. I'll prove it!"

Mix carefully skirted around the figure in the center of the room and ran upstairs. He grabbed the book off his bed and raced back down the stairs to Earth.

He shoved the cover in Earth's face. "See, he looks completely different."

"Umm, Nong?" Earth said calmly, except for the shock in his eyes.

"What?"

"Look at the cover."

"What, why?" Mix turned the cover to face him and stared. He blinked several times, but the image didn't change.

Phupha was no longer present. Tian looked a little forlorn. "H-He's not there. He was there, but he's not there." Mix poked at the image as if it would somehow reappear with his touch.

Danger long since forgotten, and umbrella and spatula abandoned, they became absorbed in looking at the cover.

Suddenly, as if by Magic, Phupha appeared at their side. He looked over Mix's shoulder at the cover of the book. "What do you mean –"

Mix jumped straight up and rammed his shoulder into a solid, rocklike object.

Thud. Phupha rubbed his chin while staring hard at Mix. Dissatisfaction was written all over his face.

"I apologize," Mix said.

Phupha nodded. "What do you mean? You mentioned my name and the cover of a book?"

Mix held the book up, "The picture of the character in this book is missing, and you're standing here."

"Wait, that's a drawing of Tian."