And we're back again

I stayed away from Ball's family for three days. His mother called every day, as she normally does. My manner was cool, which I thought in retrospect was unfair.

Mum called in mid-afternoon yesterday and asked me to drop in. I saw Mr Ball, who looked nervous, but gave me a bright smile.

I asked him if he wanted a drink, but he said he had just eaten ('No,' in Thai speak). That annoyed me even more, as I was trying to make the peace. I left as quickly as I had arrived.

An hour later I called his Mum to explain my sudden departure. I told her I was unhappy with the way he tossed aside the trousers I tried to buy for him the other day.

Within an hour she had sorted out her son, and asked me over again for that beer.

The poor kid sat so far away from me, close to his mother, that he was almost out of earshot. He was scared I would start criticising him. Mum also fixed the girlfriend problem, after I complained about the way Ball's girlfriend Jay is forever eavesdropping. When I arrived, someone had sent her upstairs to the bedroom.

I explained to Ball why I was upset. He said he didn't like the trousers because they were not his 'style'. As we know, teens only wear things in fashion. I laughed, because I did not consider the style factor when I asked him to try them.

I forgave him, of course. We talked about his girlfriend, who dislikes it when I turn up to see him. I asked Ball if it's because she sees me as a rival for his affections, or simply because I say bad things about her.

It wasn't the gay thing, he said (without actually uttering the word). It was all the bad things which Jay suspects I am saying about her.

'She dislikes you because you are so outspoken and blunt,' he said.

At one point, Jay stormed down the stairs and grabbed a carry bag with great drama. She refused to utter a word, even when he asked, but the message was: 'I am leaving!

I said nothing, as Ball has asked me not to talk to her any more, unless I have no choice.

He followed her meekly upstairs, and the pair talked for 10 minutes.

When he came down again, Ball looked weary and defeated.

I am not sure how to help, except to listen when Ball wants to unload.

I told him that I would carry on being blunt, as that is my farang way.

'You are not even 20, and you are already trapped,' I said.

He is a sensitive type. My job, I said, was to work with his Mum to make him strong and keep him out of the clutches of people who would do him harm.

After our three bottles of beer had finished, and I was about to go home, he asked me for another two bottles which he would imbibe alone.

He knew his girlfriend would pick fights with him after I had left, and wanted to keep going to blot out the experience.

I bought him one bottle...I think that's enough.