TWO FAT FARANGS

This one IS different

It’s been almost six weeks now since I last posted, and not one comment or email enquiring about my whereabouts or well being. Will goes awol and our inbox gets inundated with well wishers.

Anyway, if anyone’s interested in what I’ve been doing, apart from searching for Will, I’ve been breaking the number one rule of owning a bar - getting involved with one of the girls who works for me. It was after I got back from Chiang Mai and found that mamasan Pu had sacked our most apathetic worker, and replaced her with the most stunning girl we’ve ever had.

Nam is different to all the other bar girls I’ve ever met (that old chestnut I hear you say, but hear me out first). There’s no point in trying to describe her physically, because haven’t they all got great little figures, long straight black hair, and cute faces. she’s at least different in the fact that she’s never been with a customer from a bar. Mine was the first that she worked at, and I quickly made sure that nobody had chance to bar fine her; much to the annoyance of a regular burly Dutch guy we have in. He quickly took a likening to Nam, and I’ve heard from other girls that he can be a bit of a beast in the bedroom. I actually felt quite nauseous thinking of what he might do to her. I’ve never felt that protective of any girl before.

I asked Nam to come upstairs for a chat, and gently explained the situation to her - what working in a bar entailed (at only twenty she looked far too naive to understand exactly what she’d gotten herself into), and what Ruud VanHardon’s intentions would be. She dropped her head and said she realised what she was expected to do, but that she desparately needed the money.

I understand the game, that these girls can earn so much more in the industry than doing anything else, but when, Like Nam, they’ve got potential to be so much more it is a shame.
At the turn of the year, Nam was at university in Udon doing very well in business studies, then her father was killed in a motorcycle accident. Her mother, broken-hearted, had a nervous breakdown and Nam dropped out to take care of her younger brothers and sisters (five of them). Her auntie took over the household so Nam could come and earn some money. She came to Pattaya in search of work (honest work), and when she couldn’t find something immediately she phoned an old school friend who just so happened to work in my bar.
These girls are utterly devoted to their country, but their country does nothing to help them when they really need it. Put in her position in the UK the DHSS would take care of her, and probably help fund her studies also.

Nam’s English is very good, and after the bar closed that night we stayed up chatting. In the morning I threw a dice and asked if she’d take me to Udon for a holiday (I needed it after the weeks of worrying about Will). To cut a long story short I had a wonderful time. I fell in love with Nam very quickly. Even though I don’t ever expect her to ever feel the same way, I promised to take care of her. I gave her 50,000 baht, and told her to go back to university, and any money she needed to take care of her family I would always help.

I’m a fool, but sod it, even if she never loves me I know she likes me - maybe even respects me - enough to want to keep me. She says the age difference doesn’t matter. She cried when I gave her the money, overwhelmed that she’d be able to finish her studies and not have to worry anymore.

I’m back at the bar now, and feel tired of this lifestyle - the late nights, the weird customers. I’m having fantasies of settling in Udon, building a house and setting up camp with Nam. I’m going back in a few weeks, and can hardly wait.