Birthday cake dilemma, absence noted

Today is Nong Mew’s birthday. He’s 1.

We will have a party at Ball’s place tonight. Mum mentioned something about my buying the cake, but I may decide against: I could do without the B400-500 expense.

I asked boyfriend Maiyuu if he’d like to make one instead.

‘Cakes which look flashy seldom taste good. I make tasty cakes, but they tend to look plain,’ he said, declining the offer.

We thought about buying a cake at the Tops supermarket, but decided against, as Ball’s girlfriend Jay used to work there, and would recognise whatever cake I bought as one of theirs.

Maiyuu knows of a specialty bakery close to here, which he has offered to visit this afternoon on my behalf.

Nong Mew has barely started to eat solids, but the party is really for the adults, not the kids.

‘How affected – holding a birthday party for a kid so young,’ said Maiyuu.

Shock...even slum people can do affected middle-class things!

Let’s add that one to the little book of sins and omissions which judgemental readers of this blog are compiling against Ball and his family.

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‘Do you have anything you want to tell me?’ asked Ball last night, as we settled down to a drink.

‘You mean, do you want to know if there some reason I have been away for the last few days?’ I asked.

‘Yes,’ he said.

‘No dramas...nothing in particular,’ I said. He looked relieved.

‘What do you do all day at home?’ he asked.

‘I read, talk to the boyfriend, sleep, watch TV...nothing much.’

Ball’s girlfriend Jay also remarked on my absence.

Ball and I took a few whiskies, listened to music, and with his elder brother watched football on TV. We also played with the kids, chatted...did what normal families do (can you cope with that, dear reader?).

‘I haven’t seen you for days,’ said Jay, who was lying on the couch. She has a cold; actually, most of them do.

It was a busy night in the slums. Outside, people were partying. Ball’s place itself was host to 10 people. The place was a-heaving. Were they blotting out the misery of their lives or just drinking because that's what people in the slums do?