1bigblackblog

BAGUS !

the food stall of mister mana jirajumrus
sits inside the concrete floored entrance hall
and a dozen meters from the hat lek taxi stand.
i order green chili fish with garlic pumpkin
and fried peas. fifteen baht

as i begin to eat mister mana walks over
" you can eat spicy food, what is your country ?"
i tell him california. he says
" california!, a big country, a faraway country! america, yes ?"
i smile, nod and remove a fishbone from my mouth

mister mana continues " i have one friend, thai people,
he go to america, minnesota. after some years he make
a video, send to me. wah ! he live big house, rich !
he drive mercedes benz, number one car! he have
girlfriends, young! blond hair, wah !! i tell wife i go america
visit friend. she find video, watch ! see young girls,
see blond hair, wah ! i no make visit "

he speaks to his wife and she takes a small bowl,
puts a hardboiled egg in it and gives it to mister mana.
he sets it next to my plate " for you, free, no pay ".
pointing to a jar on my table he says "nam pla, put on egg,
bagus ! you know ' bagus '? funny word, sumatra people,
indonesia. i work five years, mining. i speak indonesia,
learn 'bagus', meaning ' good '

mister mana turns and greets a customer, an old woman.
they chat for a few moments and he calls to his wife.
she brings a bowl of soup to the woman's table.
he says to me " before, america a friendly country,
a happy country ! now, america a enemy of every people "

he points at the egg " cut half, put nam pla, bagus !"