Fireworks to Thailand

by J. R. Bonham

  “Oh, it was, it was,” she gushed. “So much fun we had there. The Irish boys were something else! D’you remember Grimey?” she asked Jan, who laughed so much it was almost a guffaw.

  “Oh yes, I do! How funny, I’d almost forgotten about him.”

  “Grimey?” asked Mike perplexed.

  “Oh, yes it’s a long story, I’ll tell you one day,” Jan replied, remembering a boy who worked on the dodgems in the fairground. He always looked dirty, so they gave him that name.

  “We’d better get a move on. Do you need to use the bathroom before we go? We’re going up to the farm now. Kai has already left and is getting the steaks for the barbecue on the way.”

  They confirmed they were fine. Afterwards, Jan was annoyed with herself. She could have had a peek in their luxurious bathroom. She imagined gold taps, marble surrounds, or even something more sumptuous, perhaps.

  Marian got into the front of the car with the chauffeur even though Jan thought that she would normally have sat in the back. They arrived at the farm and Marian dismissed the chauffeur.

  “He’ll probably go back to Bangkok where his family live. He has a few days leave now. He’ll be here in time to take us back and take you to the airport,” Marian confirmed.

  “This is a lovely place you’ve got here,” said Mike enthusiastically to Marian.

  “Why, thank you,” she accepted his compliment. “We like it here. It’s much cooler than in Bangkok. It’s not too bad this time of year, but you can imagine how hot and humid it gets in the summer.”

  “It’s just the right temperature now,” Jan added.

  “Yes, it is, it’s perfect. The chauffeur will drop off your cases at your chalet before he goes. Now, let me show you around.”

  She went into a large paddock where there were about fifty calves.

  “Aren’t they sweet?” Marian pointed towards them. “They’re only a few weeks old. The mothers are in a field further away and the bulls are kept in another field.”

  “They’re gorgeous. Come and have a look, darling,” she beckoned to Mike who had hung back to look at some pigs. “And how many bulls d’you have?” Jan enquired.

  “We have three,” Marian replied. Jan didn’t know a lot about farming so she didn’t really know what questions to ask. She would have to let Marian show them around and just sound interested. They walked for about half an hour with Marian showing them different animals and stables.

  “Do you have any chickens?” Mike asked. “I used to rear chickens when I was small. Well, actually my parents did. They had a smallholding. With chickens. That’s all. Apart from cats. Lots of cats.”

  “Oh, how interesting,” Marian looked at him rather oddly. “How small?”

  “Very small actually. Infinitesimal. Hardly worth mentioning really.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Jan thought she would try and dig him out of the hole he had just dug for himself. “You must tell me about it one day.” ‘But not today!’

  They ended the tour back at the house where they noticed smoke was pouring over the wall of the garden.

  “Come and meet Kai,” Marian beckoned them. “It looks like he’s started barbecuing already! Come on, don’t be shy, come with me. Kai!” she shouted. Kai came over to them, all the while wiping his hands on his apron.

  “How good to meet you at last,” he said in such a friendly manner that it put them at their ease. He shook hands with them both warmly. “I know I’ve met you before, Jan but Mike, it’s a pleasure.”

  “The pleasure’s all mine,” Mike said affably.

  “Well, that’s the niceties over and done with. Would you like a drink before we eat? What would you like?” Marian asked them both. “We have everything, so just name it.” With that, she went over to a table where sat a small bell which she rang.

  “What about a glass of red wine?” suggested Jan. A maid appeared and Marian spoke to her in Thai.

  “And you, Mike?” she asked him.

  “I’ll have the same, thank you.” Marian ordered drinks for them all and beckoned them to a table to sit down.

  The maid appeared just minutes later with a tray and upon it four glasses. As she put each drink on the table, she bent her body almost double. Jan and Mike both thought this was rather strange. Marian noticed them looking at the maid and explained.

  “It is the Thai custom for the servant to bend lower than the master so as not to crowd him, or her. In this case me. And you. It shows who is boss. I just thought I’d better explain.”

  “Thanks, that explains a lot,” Jan noted her friend’s explanation.

  “Kai will be along soon, once he has the barbecue under way,” Marian informed them. “Don’t be alarmed, there’s always smoke at the beginning, he hasn’t burnt anything, at least not as far I know! He’s usually very good at it. The maid will bring out the salad and rice and then we’ll eat. I know it’s a late lunch but we usually eat at this time. Hope it’s OK for you. We’ll have a snack later on, tonight.”

  “That’s fine,” Jan replied. “It’s just nice to see you again after all this time and with our letters toing and froing. It’s so good to be here at last. It all seems so surreal.”

  “I’d like to make a toast to you for making this all happen,” Mike interjected and Jan nodded in agreement.

  “To Marian,” they both said in unison, raising their glasses.

  “I’m not sure if we would have had the nerve to go through with it…” Jan stated. “Well, I’d better speak for myself. I’m not sure if I would have had the nerve without your help,” she concluded. “Thank you so much.”

  “I’m sure you would have. I was just a small catalyst. I’m so glad it’s worked out well. Now you can come out here and see us as much as you like.”

  “Thank you,” said Mike.

  “I’m busting to tell you something. I’m sure Kai won’t mind me telling you. We’ve put in a bid for some land in Australia and it’s just been accepted. We will start building on it in a few months, once the architect’s plans have gone through. It’ll be amazing. It’s on land belonging to the golf club on the Gold Coast. It’s called Mount Coolum. It’s very near the sea, just a stone’s throw.”

  “How exciting. We’re hoping to go to Australia at some point. There are so many places on my list where I’d like to go. Mike’s been all over the place but I’ve been virtually nowhere,” Jan told Marian.

  “All in good time,” Mike interjected. “For now, though, let’s just enjoy the company of Marian and Kai who’ve been so hospitable. This is just fantastic. You’re so lucky to have such a beautiful place.”

  “Why, thank you. Here comes Kai with the steaks. Come on, get stuck in!”

  Next day, Marian’s children came for the day especially to see Jan again and to meet Mike. He had heard so much about them.

  “It’s really lovely to see you all again,” said Jan. “I’m so glad you were able to make it in your busy schedule.”

  The two older boys were working for their father in the hotel which was owned by the family. Cathy, the daughter, was still at boarding school although she was going to finish that year and then work for her father too.

  The following days were spent going out and about in Kai’s car. He and Marian were pleased to be able to show Jan and Mike much of the open areas around the farm and some days they travelled much further afield, sometimes as far as the borders. Burma to the west and Cambodia to the east. They had many delicious meals out; Kai delighted in telling them of his gastronomic interests and that he enjoyed going far and wide to satisfy his palette at different restaurants around the country.

  The week at the farm soon came to an end and the chauffeur arrived to take Jan and Mike to the airport. Marian said that she would go home with Kai and so they all said their goodbyes.

  “Good luck with your Australian venture,” said M
ike to Marian and Kai. And then to Jan, “I’m so glad you persuaded me to bring you here and we must come again soon.”

  “I do hope so,” said Jan excitedly.

  Chapter 37

  “Oh Dad, get a grip will you?” Louise said rather unkindly to her father. She had been exasperated with him the last few days. “You’ll have to get used to the idea that she isn’t coming home.”

  “I can’t bear the thought of never seeing her again.” Geoff went off to put one of his favourite CDs on. He alternated between two different ones and had had them on for many hours of the day since Jan left. ‘Lady in Red’ by Chris de Burgh and ‘Three Times a Lady’ by Lionel Richie. They made him cry, but that’s all he wanted to do. He was very depressed.

  “Oh NO! Not that song again. Give it a rest, Dad, will you?” Louise shouted.

  The phone rang and Louise went to answer it. It was her grandmother, Betty.

  “How’s your dad, today? Is he any better?”

  “No, he’s worse if anything. He’s very emotional, moping around all day. He’s taken to the drink too. I’m really worried about him. I’m worried he’ll do something silly when none of us is here. Steven and I have to go back to work. Dad can’t work in his state of mind. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

  “Right, that’s decided me. If you can fetch me, I’ll come and look after him. For however long it takes. OK?”

  “OK Gran, thanks. I’ll come and get you in about an hour.”

  Betty arrived with her suitcase, in for the long haul if need be.

  “Right, young man, let’s get you sorted out,” Betty began, not liking what she saw when she noticed the dark circles under her son’s eyes. “Have you washed and shaved today?” She was well aware that people with depression don’t look after themselves, and personal hygiene is the first thing that is forgotten. “You need to pull yourself together and I’m here to help you through it.”

  Geoff pulled a face and disappeared into the bathroom, partly to get out of the line of fire of his mother’s nagging as he knew there would be more to come.

  “Dad? I’m going to stay with Dean for a while if that’s OK with you?” Louise asked her dad when he emerged, looking a little better after having had a shave.

  “Like a rat leaving the sinking ship, d’you mean?” he replied.

  Louise felt embarrassed then that it was so obvious that she wanted to get out of the misery of that house. And Steven had already started spending less and less time there.

  “Gran’s here to look after you,” Louise began. “Dean and I have lots to talk about with our wedding and it’s better we do it at his house without any distractions. You remember that he proposed to me a few weeks ago? And then all this with Mum blew up and the wedding has been on the back burner. Well, we really want to get on with it now.”

  “Well, you’re old enough and ugly enough to know what you want, so you’d better just do it. Don’t worry about me,” Geoff replied as he was just about to put on another CD of the music which reminded him of his loss. He loved the expression ‘old enough and ugly enough’ and he used it a lot. Both he and his mother seemed to have an expression for everything.

  Louise went to her room with her hands over her ears. She threw a few bits and pieces into an overnight bag and prepared to go.

  “I’ll keep in touch, or you can ring me anytime if you want,” she said. And then she disappeared out of the front door without waiting for an answer.

  “Right dear. You look a little better now. Would you like a cup of tea?” It was Betty’s idea of a cure-all: a nice cup of tea.

  “I haven’t drunk tea for years, surely you know that!” he moaned.

  “Oh, yes, I mean a cup of coffee, silly me. I’ll go and put the kettle on while you turn that music off. We’ll sit down and have a nice chat and you can tell me how you’re feeling.”

  Geoff huffed as he went into the sitting room to turn off his favourite music. ‘What on earth does she want me to say to her? I’m feeling bad enough without this! Doesn’t she know men don’t like to discuss their feelings, especially with their mother!’

  He sat down with Betty over a hot drink, but he just stared into space without saying very much. He was lost for words but she could see how bad he was feeling and so let it go. He left it a decent time but then felt he just had to get out of there.

  “I’m going out,” he told his mother.

  “But I haven’t been here very long!” she complained. “Where are you going? D’you want me to come with you? Are you sure you’re in a fit state to drive? How much alcohol have you had already?”

  “I’m fine, I haven’t had much today. I won’t be long, promise. I’m going to visit some of Jan’s friends and see if they’ve heard from her.”

  “D’you think that’s a good idea, Geoffrey? They’ll be on her side, don’t forget. They might only tell you things they know you want to hear. And it might not be the truth.”

  “I just think that it’ll help me to understand, that’s all.”

  He got the car out and started off. He only knew a couple of addresses, so it wouldn’t take long. He started off by going to Margaret’s house. He felt that he knew Margaret and her husband, Fred, as they had had dinners together, although not very often. Also, they had looked after Hamish when he went away on holiday with Jan.

  He rang the doorbell and Fred answered it.

  “Hello Geoff, long time no see,” he said kindly. “What can I do for you?”

  That made Geoff step back in surprise. ‘Doesn’t he know?’

  “I was just wondering if you knew that Jan has left me? I expect Margaret knows. Is she here? I just wanted to ask her a few questions, if she didn’t mind.”

  “Yes, Margaret did tell me. I’m so sorry, mate. Look, come in. Margaret has only just popped down to the shops, she won’t be long.”

  Geoff stepped into the house and Fred ushered him into the sitting room.

  “You must be devastated. I know I would be lost without Margaret. Would you like a drink? Tea or coffee I mean. I see you’re driving.”

  “Thank you, coffee would be great.” ‘Something stronger would be more useful but I must pace myself. I had a couple earlier.’ “Thank you for being so kind.”

  “It’s the least I can do. I expect you might like a man-to-man talk as well as talking to Margaret? Us men should stick together!” Fred went to put the kettle on and soon came back with a cafetière of coffee and two cups on a tray with a plate of biscuits. He poured the coffee and offered the biscuits.

  “I’m not really sure what I was going to say to Margaret, apart from maybe ask her how long she had known that Jan was going to leave.”

  “Oh, I can answer that! It was a huge shock to Margaret I can tell you! No sooner had Jan told her and the others at the club than she was gone. Like a ship going off into the night, if you know what I mean. Here one minute and gone the next. Margaret came home and told me, the day Jan told her. I think Margaret tried to talk her out of it but to no avail, she had made up her mind. Although from what Margaret has told me since, Jan had a wobble on the day she left. She wasn’t sure if she was actually going to go through with it. But obviously, she did.”

  “Yes,” said Geoff sadly. He looked quite lost and Fred felt very sorry for him. Just then Margaret drew up in the car and appeared with bags of shopping.

  “I always get more than what’s on the list!” Margaret was complaining as she came in through the front door. Fred went out into the hall to greet her and to take the weight of some of the bags. He was making funny faces and nodding his head towards the sitting room. “Whatever is the matter with you?” she asked him.

  “Nothing is the matter, only we have a visitor,” he said still nodding towards the sitting room, pulling faces. Margaret put the bags down and went into the sitting room, curious.

  “Oh!
Hello Geoff,” she began and went over to give him a hug. “I think I know why you’re here.”

  “Yes, I’ve had a nice chat with Fred. I just wanted to ask you how long you knew about Jan leaving. Not that knowing will make it any easier for me. Fred said you only knew a day or two before she left.”

  “Yes, that’s right. It was a huge surprise to all of us at the club. She never confided in any of us beforehand, I can tell you that much. Anything more I’m afraid I just don’t know, sorry.” Margaret wasn’t prepared to tell Geoff that she had heard from Jan since her leaving, in case he asked awkward questions. Jan had rung her twice to tell her how she is and how happy she was that she made the break.

  “OK,” Geoff stood up to leave. “Thank you for the coffee and chat. My mother’s just arrived so I’d better not leave her too long. She reckons I need looking after but I think her being there might be a hindrance!” Geoff started towards the door. He wanted to be alone.

  “Look,” Fred began, “if there’s anything we can do, please just ask. You have all our sympathies. Look after yourself, take care. Bye.”

  Geoff got into his car but instead of starting the engine, he sat there and cried.

  ‘That wasn’t much help to me. It isn’t going to bring her back. I’d better not leave Mum alone for too long. I’ll visit Sheila another time.’

  As he arrived home, he saw Steven’s car in the drive. He hadn’t spent much time at home since his mother left, leaving Louise to pick up the pieces, not that she had been there much either. He was in the kitchen with his Gran having a cup of tea. Betty always had the kettle on and thought a nice cup of tea was the answer to everything.

  “You said you weren’t going to be long!” she moaned.

  “I’m a grown man, Mum, in case you hadn’t noticed. I went to see a friend of Jan’s to see if she could throw any light on why she left. She wasn’t very helpful as it turned out. I will go and see Sheila, from Jan’s old workplace, at some point. She might be more help.”