M-whY

Recall several weeks ago, I had jettisoned my jeans to save space in my pack. I didn't need another pair, and certainly would've felt better had Deer not spent so much money on me. But her expression when she presented the gift tod me I should just accept it, which I did happily. I'd find a way to carry it.

It was a bit small, so we returned to the store and picked up one a size larger. Satisfied with the way it looked on me, she took me to a spa, where she had an appointment for a massage. She instructed me to lay down on one of the chairs.

"I'll be in the back," she said as someone moved behind me to give my first ever beauty treatment. Lying on my back while all sorts of creams were spread all over my face, I found the situation I was in highly amusing. But I remained poker faced, lest I disturb the hands that were massaging my scalp.

I woke up just as my masseuse was finishing. Deer was already done and had taken care of the bill. Having been treated to all this, I felt it was my duty to at least buy lunch. Afterwards, my sugar momma had to go to the office.

"Do you want to come with me?"

"Okay." I had nothing else to do.

Deer took me back to her condominium to put on some business attire. She gave me a tour of the grounds first. Out back was the largest outdoor pool in Bangkok. The decor was just as impressive as the size. Garden islands were sprinkled throughout. The far end was modeled after a beach. Chairs were few and sparse, unlike many resorts that tried to fit as many people poolside as possible.

"Does everyone who lives here get membership?"

"No, you have to pay for it."

"It must be expensive."

She told me the yearly cost. I finally let my face show what I felt. NYC and LA probably have more exclusive clubs, but for Thailand, this wasn't pocket change.

As we walked by the aromatherapy room, the sauna, the fitness center, she pointed out distinguished persons. A famous singer, a TV star. She could've been pulling my leg, and many things she said often could be construed as arrogant, but the way she mentioned things so casually, it didn't sound like someone who was bragging. As her guest, I was allowed to sit by the pool while she went upstairs to change. She was back before long.

"Ready to go?"

We hopped in a cab and crawled through the mess that is Bangkok traffic. At this point, I need to give some background on her career, to shed some light on how she's able to live so extravagantly, and so that future entries will make a bit more sense.

The best way to describe her job is as a distributor of herbal health tonics. Most of her time was spent in Chiang Rai, where she had successfully monopolized the market of northern Thailand. Though technically she worked for a company, she enjoyed all the benefits of being self employed, like setting her own hours and answering to no one. The only figure she looked up to was a distinguished doctor, the developer of the tonic. She referred to him as her boss, though from what I've seen, he played more of a mentor role.

The way I was dressed, it would've been inappropriate for me to go into the office building. I waited in a bookstore in a shopping center nearby. It'll only take half an hour, she said. All she had to do was sign for some deliveries and she'd be done. But half an hour turned into an hour, and then two. I had soon finished reading the five english magazines in the store.

Deer came back clutching an important looking document.

"I've got good news," she said excitedly. In her hand was an invitation to an awards ceremony in Chiang Rai. I couldn't read what it said, but judging from the looks of it, it looked like a really big deal. "I need to buy a new dress!" she exclaimed as we climbed into a taxi. But as she perused the invitation, she became distressed.

"I need to be in Chiang Rai tomorrow morning. It starts at 8:00am. How am I going to get there?!" It was around 6:00pm. The last flight left at 7:30pm. That wasn't enough time to pack and get to the airport. Especially with the traffic.

(Why the invitation hadn't gotten to her earlier is still a mystery to me. Probably company bureacracy or something.)

Previously she had been a bit shy about bringing me home, as she lived with relatives. I was still her "secret" friend. But now she didn't seem to care anymore. She brought me back to her residence, where we ascended to the 34th floor of a 35 story building. When we entered, a couple of her nephews who had been lounging about immediately snapped to attention and greeted me with a wai, a traditional Thai greeting where the hands are placed together in a prayer like fashion. My hands were full, but I tried my best to return the gesture.

It's one thing to read about what happens in a Thai home. It's another thing to actually see it in person. Despite living with two older sisters, Deer was obviously the head of the household. She was treated with respect by everyone, and as her guest, I recieved the same favors. Her nephews left the room immediately when we entered, observing the traditional custom of keeping one's head below their superiors when passing them. Not an easy task considering Deer wasn't exactly a tall person.

Deer took a couple minutes to make me feel at home before returning to her fretting. "What am I going to do," she kept saying to herself. She got online to check flight schedules, and found that there was a morning plane that left early enough, but couldn't book it as flights within 48 hours had to be booked over the phone. She tried calling, but couldn't get through. It was imperative that she get to Chiang Rai the next morning. The ceremony wasn't something that could be blown off. However, things just weren't going her way. She looked on the verge of a breakdown.

I certainly felt bad to see her like this, but since it wasn't happening to me, I hadn't quite pressed the panic button yet. My head was still clear enough to think.

"Why don't we go to the airport now so you can buy the ticket?" We knew there was a flight the next morning, it was just a matter of booking it.

She brightened at my suggestion. "Good idea, I didn't think of that." Then she asked, "Do you want to come too?"

"Yeah, I'll go with you to the airport."

"No, no. Do you want to go to Chiang Rai with me?"

The thought of flying to Chiang Rai with Deer hadn't crossed my mind until that moment. My next destination was supposed to be Chiang Mai, the cultural center of Thailand. Flying directly to Chiang Rai would take me past Chiang Mai, which meant I'd eventually have to do a bit of backtracking. But the way she asked, combined with the prospect of spending more time together... ah, what the hell...

"I'll go."

It just wasn't her day. The taxi driver, for some reason, wasn't clear on directions to the airport, and we ended up taking the long way there. We finally got there, and bought two tickets for 6:40am the next morning. With reservations in place, Deer was finally able to relax.

"I feel better now," she sighed.

There was one last issue to be resolved. How and where would we meet tomorrow?

"I can meet you at the airport at five..." She didn't seem to enthusiastic at this suggestion. "Or... do you want me to sleep on your floor tonight?" She nodded.

She turned her phones off and we sped back into city in silence. Changing plans and making snap decisions at a moment's notice... This is what makes life interesting!

Thanks to everyone for their support and comments! Knowing people are reading keeps me motivated to continue the updates!