Mail and Gadgets

Chapter two - Just around the corner

Picture taken from Google.
I just love that smile
Enjoy

"Oh my life is changing everyday, every possible way.
Though my dreams, it's never quite as it seems, never quite as seems,
I know I felt like this before but now I'm feeling it even more because it came from you.'
                                                        Dreams-The Cranberries

As the bus comes to a stop, Arthit descends onto a bustling high street. Early morning shop owners and street vendor's we're just opening,  pulling up front window shutters or putting out their goods. Delivering Vans dropping off parcels filled with new merchandise or picking up parcels to deliver. It was noisy and the sweet scent of spicy goodness was already drifting out of shops or from food stalls.

Arthit stops at a small flower stall, grinning. He  bows at the seller as he buys a white Gardenia, placing it into a small bag. As he leaves his sleeve brushes against someone and he gets a slight scent of white musk but he is too busy in his own thoughts to pay attention so after he thanks the owner, he walks on, moving into the flow of people hurrying to start their day, trying to reach their own destinations.

As Arthit turns onto Khao San Road and walks the path he takes almost every day, a breeze blows past, lifting up leaves and other bits off the pavement floor. They drift up into the air and then settle again before another small breeze blows past.

Arthit enters his favourite cafè, approaching the counter with a smile. N'Mork, Co-Owner of the establishment and boyfriend of the owner, looks up as Arthit approaches. He gives him a raised eyebrow but doesn't comment as Arthit orders his usual pink milk and a Chinese doughnut. After N'Mork finishes the order Arthit is still smiling. He collects his order and waii's goodbye as he leaves, holding the door open, with his elbow, for a woman to enter and getting a Wai as thanks.

N'Mork watches him leave. That was very peculiar. The film 'Invasion of the body snatches' is the first thing that comes to mind.

As Arthit leaves, he turns the corner onto a small side street, arriving at a grey faced shop with the sign above a large window. The words, 'Just around the corner,' reads across the top in large faded letterings. As he approaches his destination, he spots Rome, his friend and one of the shop assistants, sat on the front step with his phone in his hands, typing. A large pumpkin rests on his lap. As Arthit gets closer, Rome looks up from his phone and puts it away in his pocket. He clutches the pumpkin, under his arm and stands up. He greats Arthit with a waii.

"Sawadee Karb, Ay'Arthit. "

"Sawadee Karb, Ay'Rome." He says, attempting a bow, "How are you today? Did you sleep well? Isn't it just a wonderful day."

He passes Rome his drink, food and the bag holding the flower as he unlocks the metal shutter on the door, pulling it up. Just then, behind them a taxi stops suddenly, narrowly missing a truck coming the other way. As both drivers jump out to scream and shout insults at each other, Arthit has the door unlocked.

"Don't you just love Bangkok in the Autumn. "He says, sighing dreamily.

He takes back his things and walks into the shop. Rome raisers one immaculate eyebrow at him. Who is this and what have they done to Arthit? Arthit is never this chipper in a morning.

He turns back to watch as the two men jump back into their vehicles, still shouting insults at each other and drive off in different directions. Then he turns back around and followers Arthit through the door.

As they enter, Arthit switches on a light switch, next to the door. It throws light into the dark, quaint, little shop. Black metal shelving, reaching from floor to ceiling, line each wall. Each filled with boxes containing gadgets of different types.  On the far end, a shelf is reserved for Robots, ranging from small to large. From old and new.