Smell of an oily rag

Maiyuu bought a small garland of flowers for his mother the other day, to mark Thai Mother’s Day.

He draped the garland over an old black and white picture of his Mum, who died when he was in his mid-teens.

He erected her picture on top of the TV, where he could see her during the day. Normally, she sits in a frame we have hanging on the wall.

At first I didn't notice her, sitting in her new pride of place.

'What are you doing for your Mum today?' I asked.

'She's on the TV,' Maiyuu replied matter-of-factly.

I looked. The TV was airing some American comedy rubbish. I couldn't see his Mum anywhere, and what would she be doing on that show anyway?

'Where?'

'On the TV!'

I felt one of those strange Thai moments creeping upon me. A Thai has just explained something to me in the simplest of terms, but I still don't get it.

'There!' he exclaimed, pointing.

Ah. found her.

I didn’t see the garland laying ceremony. Maiyuu being Maiyuu, I doubt it was anything elaborate, as he dislikes pretence.

He would have bought it, draped it over the picture, and that’s that.

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Five minutes' walk away, at Ball’s place, Mother’s Day was going far from well, at least for Ball's Mum.

A couple of months ago, Ball's mother entered a petrol venture with Kung, a wormy neighbour from the slums.

Kung, a small, wiry man with greasy hair and large tattoos, drives about town, buying cheap petrol from dubious sources, for sale elsewhere. He employs Ball’s younger brother, Beer (Mr B), to help him lift it into the back of a pick-up truck.

On the night before Mother’s Day, they were stopped by police.

At the time, Mr B was doing what he does best – sleeping, in the cabin of the truck. Mum owns the vehicle, which she bought at oily Kung’s urging.

When I dropped in to Ball's place on Mother's Day morning, I found Mum rifling through documents, looking for her house registration and home ownership papers.

Police from the local station, where Mr B and Kung spent the night in the cells, had asked for them.

She was to spend the rest of the day talking to police, and the next day as well.

Mr B was finally bailed late yesterday. Police have laid theft charges against him and Kung, which they will have to fight in court.

The truck, which stank of petrol fumes, has been impounded.