Little suffering in Thailand

What happened to me recently falls under the heading of minor suffering. When, after exactly sixteen hours, it stopped raining for a while, but the electricity was still not working after six hours, so I hadn't been able to make coffee, I had to get out for a while.

I drove to Pattaya and took some pictures of streets where the water was up to half a meter high. Then I went to a large department store to drink a cup of coffee. I tried to close my ears to the sound system, twenty yards to my left, using its full three thousand watts to provide appropriate background music, and a large-screen television, ten feet to my right, on full blast to keep the waiting staff awake . The coffee was nice though so I ordered another cup.

Just before I wanted to ask for the bill, I suddenly realized that there was a problem. The sweat of fear broke out on me. My wallet was in a red jacket, and that red jacket hung over a chair in my room. No money with me. The coffee was thirty Baht a cup. So together sixty Baht. There is a pocket in my shoulder bag, where I always keep small money. Normally I walk blankly around with coins. Now I counted it and came to thirty-four Baht. Not enough. Because cash shortfalls are deducted from salary Thai shop girls horrible to non paying customers. Understandable. Moreover, they cannot imagine that rich foreigners have no money. If I could make it clear to them that I would be back in half an hour, they wouldn't accept that, even if I left my passport or camera behind. Desperately I looked around to see if an acquaintance wasn't passing by by chance. You come across them everywhere and always, but not when you need them.

Three tables away, another foreigner was sitting all the time. A bit strange man, because he had been counting large piles of money for everyone to see. The best way to get a knife in your back. I walked up to him and said in English, can I ask you something. That was allowed. I asked him if he was still here for the first half hour. He said, probably yes. I explained my problem to him, asked if he could lend me thirty Baht. I would return it within half an hour. I was willing to leave my camera or even a box of cigars with him as collateral. It was human. He gave me thirty Baht and I thanked him very much and went back to my place relieved.

I asked for the bill. I got it and read: sixty-five baht. Sixty Baht plus five Baht tax. I gave the girl my sixty four baht and explained that I was one baht short but would come back later. She counted it and skilfully concluded: that is not correct, it is one Baht too little. Adamant. The sweat of fear returned. Fortunately, my benefactor saw that I was in trouble again. He came to my table and solved the matter.

I left the business and drove home as quickly as possible. After half an hour I was back, but my philanthropist had already disappeared. He told me he came here every day, so I'll go again tomorrow, but he'd probably be killed by then. I will not forget his last act.