Chocolate love cupcake, family outing

A chocolate fudge cupcake, with runny chocolate inside, and a love sign in white sugar powder on top (file corrupted - sorry). Maiyuu left it for me on the kitchen table last night.

I came home from work late. He had gone to sleep by the time I arrived, but stirred himself to heat up the main course - spaghetti pork balls, which he had made earlier.

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Earlier, I dropped in to see my son. Oops, I mean Ball.

I know how much reading those words will upset some readers. Delicious!

Let’s start again. Mum called in mid-morning, inviting me around for a few drinks.

She had spent the previous day playing Hi Lo, which explains why, for the whole of the previous 24 hours, I did not hear from her.

‘I did well,’ she said, referring to her winnings.

I arrived an hour later, but Mum was nowhere to be seen. Ball played man of the household - ‘Come in for a while!’

He looked like he could do with a few beers.

‘What did you do yesterday?’ I asked.

‘I just hung around home,’ he said.

He did not bother to call, but then most contact usually goes through his mother.

I looked around. Despite having called me only shortly before, Mum was absent.

I made an excuse to leave, and returned an hour later.

By then, Mum was back. She had issued instructions; she and the rest of the family were getting ready for a trip to the Lotus superstore.

Present were Mr Ball, who was just finishing up a shower (one hour). His younger brother, Mr B, was next (another hour). Also present among us were Kae, their elder sister, her boyfriend Tum, the two children of the household, and a niece, Nong Fa.

I bought a bottle of beer and awaited Ball’s presence. After a shower, he must apply make-up, and lip gloss. This can take another hour.

Mum found a make-up compact upstairs in Ball’s room one day as she gathered up the washing.

‘At first I thought it might belong to his girlfriend, Jay. Actually, it was Ball’s,’ Mum told me later. ‘He likes expensive stuff.’

Ball does not need make-up, as his skin is already pale. But make-up removes blemishes, especially under the harsh neon lights of a department store.

'I feel put out. You were both at home all day yesterday, but no one invited me,' I told Ball and Mum.

Thais love a good pouter, because they do it so well themselves. Ball laughed, and Mum apologised.

'The place was crammed. I could barely move. I don't think you would have enjoyed it,' she said.

Mum asked me if I’d like to go with them on the family trip to Lotus.

I accepted, as I like seeing people in different environments.

We headed off in two taxis.

Before shopping, we took a meal at a Japanese-style restaurant. At Mum’s suggestion, I sat next to Ball.

He looked nervous at first, as he usually does when he hasn’t seen me for a while.

His brother was sitting opposite, so he busied himself talking to him.

Ball and Mr B appear to speak a language of their own. They laugh at each other constantly. One needs only to speak a couple of words, and the other giggles. I have no idea what is going on. I am not sure their mother does either.

Mum is seldom off the phone when we go out. As we sat waiting for our order, Mum called her elder sister, inviting her to join us.

‘My purse is heavy. Come and help me make it lighter,’ she joked.

I laughed. Ball, who noticed me laughing, decided he had better join in too.

Two adults were enjoying other’s adult conversation. If he wants to be a grown-up, he should show his appreciation.

I shunted dishes down to the end of the table, where Ball and his brother could get at them.

When we go out together, I am the oldest one there, apart from Mum. I act as Dad, helping Mum.

This gives Ball a break from acting as the senior member of the household. He jokes about with his brother, or helps manage the toddlers.

Ball and Mr B are great with the kids. They kiss and fuss over them constantly. At home, they change them, bathe them, feed them - do whatever is needed to help Mum cope.

Ball’s make-up had left his face within moments of our leaving home, as he can’t stop kissing his baby sister and brother.

In the supermarket, where we headed next, Ball, Kae and I took turns to wheel the shopping cart, or push the pram.

In the sports section, Ball and his brother took out footballs, and played with them.

Ball, a fan of English football, can do clever things with one foot. He can keep the football in the air as he kicks it lightly with one foot slightly off the ground.

Mr B, himself an English football fan, performs tricks with his head.

When Ball tosses the football at him, he head-butts the thing back into his brother's hands. Where do they learn these techniques?

Trolley full, we headed for checkout. Mum paid in 100 baht notes. They looked like winnings from some gambling game, which is exactly what they were. We found two taxis, and headed home.

I had to leave for work, and did not get a chance to see Ball again that night.

However, I called him before bed. He sounded chirpy, as if he had enjoyed his day.

‘I will see you tomorrow. We can have a few drinks together,’ he said.

Does Mr Ball ever wonder what this farang is doing in his life? Maybe I am just some lonely middle-aged farang he happens to know.

I am not sure it matters. We have fun, enjoying family life together.

I come from a large family, as does Mr Ball. I miss family life, while Mr Ball has yet to experience anything different.

Maybe one day he will.