Fathers and Law: Lom and Fah Book One

Chapter 41

Run's phone rang. Seeing it was Mek, he excused himself from the table. "What's going on?" he whispered. He didn't want his parents eavesdropping.

"I saw Fah!" Mek yelled.

"You did?!" Run gasped, His parents looked at him from the other room. Realizing they were paying attention to his conversation, he slowly turned his back to them. "How is he? Did he remember you? What did he say?" Run hadn't stopped for a breath between questions.

"He is not the Fah we remember," Mek said in a monotone voice before sighing.

"What?" Run began whispering. "What do you mean by that? Is he okay?"

"Physically he looks tired and pale, but considering what he's been through, that's to be expected. Mentally he's not right. He has no memory and he was terrified of me. When I walked up to them, I was friendly and greeted them by name. Fah grabbed Lom's hand and hid behind him." Mek forced a laugh. Logically he knew it hadn't been intended as a personal attack but still...

"Wow, poor Fah. I wonder why he's so afraid?" Run wondered if Lom was brainwashing his brother.

"I guess not remembering anyone or anyplace is scary."

"Hey, do you want to come by and tell my parents? Believe it or not, they're still up." Run said the last part loud enough for his parents to hear.

"Run, what is wrong with you? We're not on death's doorstep yet. We can stay awake, sometimes as late as 9 PM!" Khun Adi loved teasing his sons.

"What were you doing, Run?" asked Mek.

"Me? I was playing a game with Tin but he fell asleep on the living room floor."

"You might want to put him to bed so I can speak without upsetting him. I'm not sure if it will make him sad, or scared for Fah." Mek had no idea what Tin could and couldn't handle but he thought it wiser to let Mint and Khun Adi decide and share the news their way.

"You're right. Come on over. I'll have my dad put Tin to bed. If his back can handle carrying him still. You know judges, they sit around all day and lose their muscle tone." Run said the last part loud enough for Khun Adi and Mint to hear.

"Your father is plenty strong. He's my handsome, strong, man, aren't you, Sweetheart?" Mint rubbed her husband's back and smiled at him.

"When they want a model for Hercules they contact me!" laughed Khun Adi.

"Dad, no one wants to hear what happened to you fifty years ago," said Run. Khun Adi picked up Tin and disappeared upstairs.

"Who's coming over?" asked Mint.

"Mek, he has some news."

"I'll slice up some fruit. Please bring another glass for him and make sure there is water in the pitcher, please." Mint headed to the kitchen.

By the time Mek arrived there was a platter of sliced mangos, bananas, papaya, grapes, and durian. Mint had received the durian from a neighbor earlier in the day, pre-sliced. She was grateful not to have to deal with the smell.

Run added a glass of water for Mek while his parents greeted him. As an afterthought Run grabbed four beers. Returning to the table he handed everyone their drink.

"Mek, Run tells us you have some news. Have you found where Lom is keeping Fah?"

"No, not yet." He kept a straight face as Mint and Khun Adi's smiles faded. "However, tonight I ran into Lom and Fah on the street and spoke to them."

"How is he, how is Fah?" asked Khun Adi loudly.

"As I told Run, physically he's okay. He looks pale and tired, but he almost died from an overdose, he was shot before that, so he appears much better than you would expect. He's walking fine and save for a bandage on his arm, you can't tell what he's been through."