When you think you’re looking at a woman in Thailand
*
The reflection from the mirror potentially foretold the same story.
Sontaya was getting ready for a visit to one branch of her family, this one on her father’s side. She reinforced a purplish-pink stick on her lips. For every year in the past, her lips had shone only with a colourless gloss, part of toning it down, part of going with the flow, part of not overawing the simple folks. Maybe this year would be different after all.
She put her brand-new lipstick away, an impulsive purchase before returning to her hometown. The shade was the purplish pink, but “Mangosteen” was its patented name. She decided against a third repeat of the black eye-shadow. Twice would suffice.
Rajaburi is where she’s from and, every year, that’s where she finds herself for a week at the most. This province has yet to stand as tall as such other destinations in the country in the eyes of international visitors. This is not to say that it doesn’t speak to a lot of locals who look for nostalgia.
Sontaya’s mother is half-Thai-half-Mon. The Mons Myanmar
Her father’s side is generally better off. And yet, the fact alone doesn’t seem to be enough; they exhibit their superior situations whenever a chance arises. A family gathering like this one couldn’t be a better time. The most “out-spoken” of all is her father’s eldest sister, Sontaya’s very Auntie dearest. Auntie has one married daughter who lives in Bangkok
“I’m very okay with this cousin of mine,” Sontaya shared. “We talk once in a while. I’ve got no problem with her being dull on top of being plain.” “Ouch,” I said. “I’m not a diplomat. I call a spade a spade,” Sontaya explained.
My friend knew for a fact that her cousin’s husband, Auntie’s much-vaunted “son”, (also a successful engineer), was having an affair with a cousin of one of her colleagues. Everyone knows everyone else, and of this everyone should be reminded every once in a while. This year, Sontaya was thinking that, should the auntie irk her too royally, she would splash the very truth on the woman’s living room wall for all to revel in. The damn wall needed repainting anyway.
The only problem was that her own mother, a picture-perfect sister-in-law, would not be too pleased.
Vicious Auntie aside, her minions, the little neighbours, were equally toxic. Last year, they went on and on with their hearsays. Oh, the son of that house was a doctor and he made so many figures per annum. Wait, one daughter two houses down had a PhD. Her sister was a flight attendant who only served first class. Back to the first daughter, she was a professor for a big uni. Never mind which one (they couldn’t remember the name). The pay wasn’t much but the prestige!!! What was up with this illiterate salt-of-the-earth? What was the deal? What was their fucking point? These “high-flyers” weren’t even their children. Sontaya did her best being the home-coming queen, listening, nodding and smiling. Her fine feathers were not to be ruffled.
Everyone knew that she taught Thai to foreigners back in Bangkok
Actually, after she told me why, I realised that I didn’t. Foreigners learn Thai because
1. some are planning to settle in Thailand
to test the water. (To see if there’s still time to change their mind?);
2. some come every year because it’s cheap and warm (the weather). These repeat customers no longer want to tour all day;
3. some are setting up businesses and prefer to dig through primary sources, not translations;
4. some are using Thailand Myanmar
(In other words, people study the language because they are tired of waiting for the Thais to rise to the occasion.)
**
Sontaya’s relationship with her father isn’t a cosy one. Nor is it stormy, mind you. From her description, the old man sounds like Mr. Bennett from Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, whose main occupation is to retreat to peace and quiet, letting his wife take charge of all things. When his first son was born and was followed by the second one, the man was said to be living in a state of self-assurance that his name would multiply through his two heirs. If any lesson in life is to be gleaned from this, it’s to, never be too presumptuous - at least not yet. Sontaya’s big brother, while the hair is crew-cut and arms pumped-up, doesn’t seem to be on his way to father any children either. Despite his physique and style, Sontaya isn’t shy in assigning words like “she” “her” and “hers” to this only sibling of hers.
Their old man is withdrawn. Before, Sontaya had thought she knew why. Then, it went on to feel like a combo of things. Now, she suspects that it’s more than meets the eye. So, she’ll keep her observations to herself. This is to respect his privacy, to reciprocate his for her choices in life.
Sontaya considers herself a level-headed person, at least most of the time. While not lampooning her mother’s worship of fortune-telling, she doesn’t cheer it on either. The laws of this land dictate that, in the absence of a will, inheritance of deceased parents must be divvied up equally between or among children. Their mother is aware of this, but she is inclined to give it all to her “daughter”. Her straight-looking son stands little chance. Her long-time fortune-teller maintains that only one of the two is worthy.
And, what then are the “heiress”’s plans with the money if it’s lavished her way?
Well, with the name that means, “mythical”, her plans won’t be exactly magical…..although they would be pretty special. Once that happens, she’ll trace wherever in the globe that thrills her. Never mind the fact that, through this splurge, it will all be gone. You won’t be able to take it with you either, correct?
But bear in mind that we’re not contemplating anyone’s parent dying. Gratitude to the elders is more glittery than any gold especially here in Thailand
This year, not out of character, the butch brother opted out of his planned visit at the last minute. He and his latest beau had flown off to an island down south instead.
Now, back to Sontaya’s new stop at Auntie’s house. Ready?
Auntie pissed her off more than ever. Her “reason” was that, as another year had passed, how come her nephew-turned-niece didn’t seem any better off? Was it because of “the choice” she had made in life? Well, time for the love affair of Auntie’s son-in-law to be plastered on the wall? Kidding!
Instead, Sontaya unloaded it onto her mother. The poor thing looked as hurt as she did vindictive. Hurt because a cheating husband could happen to any woman. Vindictive because it wasn’t humanly possible not to feel patronised by the woman sometimes. However, whether or not Sontaya’s mother would use the information would be left up to her.
The almost-picture-perfect “daughter” could tell that she had earned her mother’s respect with this bit of discretion.
***
About a sex change, my friend would be a fraud to deny ever having considered it. But now, her mind is firm. With what she has, there is a “market”. While not actively looking to court and, as a result, not getting much, it’s not exactly a drought either.
Thankful for her permission to use this story, I’m proud to announce to all eligible males out there that my friend is single and yearns to date. Yes, she instructed me to write this line down without mincing it. “Tell them I yearn to date,” she said. For any who are curious, Sontaya is an Aquarius.
Because of what she keeps, I sometimes refer to her as a he. But as she once said, “It’s no big deal”. It’s up to you, really, to use a she or a he with her.
There’s one small request though, do treat her like a person. She is a person and so are you.
****
Read my debut novel, "25", right here
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TWGBHZU
