The Love we Share

Chapter 1

1999

Rain sat on the sidewalk of his father's restaurant, drawing something on the ground. A moving truck passed by, hitting a bump on the road, and a chair fell out, right in front of the little boy. His father ran out of the restaurant, hoping that nothing had happened to his son. A man also got out of the truck, keenly apologising. "I am so sorry Nong! We were shifting, and it's my fault that we took this open truck," the man said. "Don't worry, he is fine. Aren't you Rain?" his Pa asked. Rain nodded happily. "Sorry, let me introduce myself. I am Pakin. I am a police officer and just got transferred to the nearby station. So I am just moving into this neighbourhood with my wife Pensri and son Phayu," the man said, as he pointed into the truck. Rain was truly thrilled seeing a big brother in the truck and smiled at him, but the boy didn't smile back. "I am Graf. This is my restaurant, he said, pointing behind. Everyone waiied politely. "That's wonderful, we can drop in if don't feel like cooking," Pakin said, smiling. Graf also smiled.

Pakin and his family left soon after. Graf looked at his six year old son. "So what are you doing here my silly boy? Instead of eating your meal inside?" he asked. Rain looked up at his Pa. "I am drawing Pa. See, now I have to only draw you," Rain said, pointing at the cute drawing that he had done on the sidewalk with chalk of himself and his Pa. Graf was touched, hugging his little son and carrying him. "How about some ice cream for my sweet little boy?" he asked. "Two ice creams Pa," Rain said, looking slyly at his Pa. "Two ice creams then for this cunning boy, if he finishes his lunch first," Graf said. Rain nodded happily and his Pa carried him inside.

"The neighbours seem like wonderful people," Pakin said as his wife and he worked in tandem, fixing up their house. "Yeah, the neighbourhood aunties who came up to give us meals, said that the man we met before? P'Graf? His wife died last year in childbirth," Pensri, Pakin's wife said. "That's sad," Pakin said. "I guess," she said, without much emotion. "Losing a child and a wife must have been hard for him," Pakin said. "Not so different from us," Pensri said, making Pakin look at her with despair. He knew what she was talking about, but prudently chose to remain silent.

Phayu sat in his room looking at the picture of his perfectly family. He was jolted out of his thoughts when he heard his mom coming. He tried to hide what he had as quickly as possible, but his mom saw him do that. She pushed him aside and pulled out the box. When she saw his little treasures, she was furious and not only did she tear up the photo, she threw the whole box away in anger. Rain saw her throw the box away and was surprised. When the little boy opened the box and saw the little things inside, he was touched. He took the box back home and tried to piece together the picture.

Graf called out for Rain for dinner, but Rain was busy in his own world. So Graf walked into his son's room. "What are you doing my little fellow?" he asked sweetly. "Look Pa, look at what I found," Rain said, showing his father the little treasure box he had found. He also showed the torn-up picture that he had slowly glued together. "What is this baby?" Graf asked, knowing well what it was, but wanting Rain to answer. "The new aunty threw it away. So I took it and fixed it. It has the Phi from upstairs!" Rain looked excited. "Little boy, let's throw it back away, okay? Let's not keep this!" Graf said, sounding worried. "No! No Pa! Rain found it, Rain will keep it! Rain said, pouting. His pout and cute doe-eyes melted his father and he agreed.

"Do you know who it is baby?" Graf asked. "It is this Phi's sister no?" Rain asked, looking at the picture. "Yes, but she is where your mama is, so don't ask them about it, okay?" Graf asked. Rain nodded solemnly. "Is she also a star Papa?" Rain asked. "Yes baby, and she is also watching over her brother like your mama is watching over you, okay?" Graf said. "Okay Papa. I am happy they are together. They can talk to each other also no?" Rain asked, smiling. "Yes baby," Graf said, ruffling his son's hair. It humbled him how wonderful a child his Rainy boy was. Unlike his nickname, Rain was more of a sunshine boy than a gloomy one, and Graf could find no reason to say no to anything Rain asked of him. "Come, let's eat dinner, okay? You can do this later," Graf said. Rain nodded and skipped out happily to wash his hands.