Carer R leaves, SMS intercepted

Carer R walked into Ball’s home unannounced.

As is the Thai habit – or is it Thai slum habit – he just strolled into their living room as if he was part of the furniture. Don't bother knocking, mate - we're all friends here.

When he saw me sitting in the corner, he made a quick excuse, and left.

Carer R leaves for the Northeast today, to live with his wife’s family.

The last time I spoke to R about his plans, he said he would pick up casual work as a labourer.

Ball will be sad to see him go, but I won’t. We fell out several weeks ago over his persistent habit of dragging Mr Ball out to drink until the early hours.

Carer R liked the idea that he was friends with a farang, and did not appreciate it when I stopped showing interest in him.

I began to see him in a new way, and wondered how we ever regarded ourselves as friends.

Several hours later, he turned up again, bottle in hand and looking worse for wear.

Former taxi driver Lort wandered in a moment later. ‘Uncle...take a drink with me...send off your nephew to the provinces,’ R slurred.

They are not really family. The reference to ‘nephew’ is part of a cloying Thai habit of turning everyone into some relative or another when they want to pretend they are close.

Lort, who does not drink the brown stuff, wasn’t interested, and turned down his offer.

Shortly after he arrived, R sent out Ball to buy in more supplies. That was bad news – it was almost midnight. With his mother’s blessing, he had been drinking with me since early evening.

We watched TV, and along with the others – Ball’s girlfriend, elder sister, and her partner – did our bit to entertain the kids. Now, however, it was time he went to bed.

I sat in the corner quietly.

I overheard R make a couple of remarks about the brown stuff, which were intended to wind me up. He knew I wanted Ball to call it quits for the night, but didn't care.

'I don't have any money,' I heard Ball reply.

And: 'I can't have much more. Tomorrow I have to go to work.'

Ball had found the courage to say 'No', but I didn't know how much longer he could keep up that strong act.

Mum was away. I called her, and composed a text message, telling her about the unwelcome guest.

Mum is no fan of R, for the same reason as I dislike him. However, she's Thai, so she's pleasant to his face, while I am farang, and am not.

Five minutes later, Ball’s mother called me back. I gave the phone to Ball, who spoke to his mother. ‘No, I won’t have too much,’ he said.

When he finished, he noticed the text message on my phone, which I was just finishing up when his Mum called.

It wasn’t intended for his eyes, but he read it anyway.

‘I want to go home, but bloody R has turned up. If we’re not careful Ball won’t get to bed in time for work,’ the message said.

As Ball gave the phone back to me, I thought I detected the faint traces of a smile.

I didn’t embarrass myself too much, it seems. Ball doesn’t like me nagging, and who would. Occasionally when he’s in high spirits, he will ask to be left alone.

For the most part, however, Ball doesn’t appear to mind that we fuss over him.

Girlfriend Jay, who had been with us all night, was waiting patiently for Ball to finish. She, too, wanted rest.

While R took a toilet break, I made my excuses and left.

I called Mum this morning. Her son managed to get to work, though I am sure he has an aching head.