Travelogues by Bill Pfeil
Short Story:
A Fantasy with Ae
© Copyright by Bill Pfeil, 2006
I try to spend some time in the Thai boonies. I would pick a small town remembered from a Bangkok Post travel section, and rent a motorcycle to explore fascinating rural Thailand. I am polite and friendly, and Thais usually respond in even greater kind.
The only internet shop in this small village was in a run-down building sharing space with a tiny sundry store and a beauty salon. Ae was leaning to one side of the doorway, arms folded, watching the lazy late afternoon. As I approached, she began to stand more at attention. Here was a girl with that stunning Thai silhouette. She stared at me quizzingly as I parked my motorcycle and walked toward her. "Internet?" I asked, although I could see the archaic monitors through the window. "Chai, ka" as she backed into the shop continuing her gaze.
There were several short-cropped kids still in their school uniforms at old flickering computers, lurching to and fro with their interactive game, exclaiming at every explosion. Ae directed the fan, and leaned over a keyboard to connect. Long hair almost to the table, the lines from square shoulders to small waist made that famous Thai 'V.' Arms and hands were from a sculptors dream. Her shirt rode up enough to reveal strong well-defined back muscles. I noticed fleetingly that for such a thin girl, she sure had a shape on her. Underneath a silk wrap-around showed long thin legs and butt that begged for attention. I don't remember ever thinking posture was sexy until Ae stood up to offer the chair to sit down. Classic Thai form. Then I noticed her one flaw - - on her pretty face was cheek acne camouflaged under a thick layer of cream. No doubt from raging hormones which helped create this beauty.
Initially, Ae did not display the typically overt friendly manner of most Thai shopkeepers. She stared at me curiously with intense almond eyes. When I sat at a computer, she went to her desk to read. I fained a computer problem. She attended immediateIy, explaining that I hit a wrong key in such a kind sweet voice that I almost said 'wow' out loud. I watched her fingers dance on the keys to restore English characters. She seemed overwhelmed by my sudden appearance and friendliness, and displayed no more emotions than an interested observer. OK, I would present a confident, even athletic, image for her to safely replay in her mind later. After my e mails, buoyed by plans for Ae, I cheerfully said I'd see her tomorrow. She gave me her first beautiful smile and a slight shy bow with palms together.
It has served me well to make many possible future plans, then choose spontaneously the best option for the moment. The next morning I motorcycled the narrow cement jungle roads, neighbor villages, subsistence existence of families in modest huts, and fishing communes along the river. Some Thais would return my wave, others just look. Kids would say "hallo, hallo" at a farang (foreigner) not often seen here. I soon found myself back at the internet shop just after 10 am UIOT (universal internet opening time) in rural Thailand. Ae still had wet hair, even rounder breasts than I remembered, thicker cheek cream, and was surprised that I was her first customer of the day. She wore slacks revealing that alluring gap between her legs that went all the way up. I was amused at her scurrying around turning on computers, fans and straightening chairs. She warmly returned by smile.
Waiting for the slow dialup, I casually asked her name and does she have a boyfriend. "Ae." "No." But the long pause between responses surely indicated she had lots of suitors. She lives with her parents and loves her village. She wanted to know why I came to rural Thailand . We loudly agreed country life was better than city life. At that, her joy floodgates opened. You don't make friends, you recognize them. In just two brief meetings, I felt we've been friends for a long time.
I would visit Ae several times a day. Just to say hello and to soak up the joy from this truly happy girl. And enjoy the feminine shape. With great animation, she'd tell some story (although I understood only parts) that to her was amusing, and break into peels of laughter. I notice little things. For instance, she talked with arms and hands moving like in an exotic Thai dance. And one foot would roll on a heal with toes circling. My god, everything about her was expressive.
Certainly Ae was told about her astounding attractiveness. But she was self-conscious about those blemished cheeks, and often pulled strings of hair over them as we talked. I knew the cause. Ae was just dripping with estrogen, certainly making her wildly fertile. Sperm would flap over a bare floor to get to her. Here was a women of all women. A find of a lifetime.
The next few days Ae encouraged interaction. She would show pictures and things she made. We became physically playful. It was easy and it was erotic with Ae. One visit I arrived to Ae again in the afternoon. We were alone, before the wave of uniformed schoolboys inundated the internet shop for their beeping and banging game fix. Responding to her welcoming warmth, I said that I had been writing a story about her which I updated each visit there. She put her hand on her chest in amazement and demanded I read it to her. Although she could speak no English, she leaned over my shoulder looking at the screen and laughed and laughed as I translated the developing story.
Ae put her hand on my shoulder. I importantly kept reading without a pause. Then I could feel her fingers ever-so-slightly caressing. When finished, I stood up and made an arm gesture as if to say 'there you have it.' . She was speechless. Sensing a critical moment, as light-hearted as I could manage, I told her about my rented bungalow, and I'd love her to visit. She knew it, said 9 o'clock, after her family is asleep. I hurried out the door to avoid anything anticlimactic.
That evening was our moment of all moments. Our personal universe became the entire universe. I felt I’d come home. She felt the same.
Ae's father was shocked at my introduction to the family, but her mom seemed more receptive. I assured them of my intentions to see Ae again next trip next month. We had a glorious, yet still secret farewell evening. I received brief e mails daily in atrocious English, despite her copying love poems from a book. I told of work with my 3 businesses and I’d see her soon. Romantic memories of other Thai girls were pushed aside by Ae's presence into my life.
I did return the next month to the announcement Ae was pregnant. The decision was easy that she would become the woman to represent all women to me. Despite the huge cultural difference and frequent trips abroad. We had a long elaborate Buddhist wedding. Seeing how happy Ae was, her father finally softened. We bought the land at the bend in the river where Ae played as a child and layed on the soft grass looking at the clouds. Ae likes laughing and touching, which was constant. And she likes her garden, working with skin totally covered in the cool early mornings and late evenings.
These are happy years I had always dreamed of. Ae's cheeks became unblemished. She had no anger in her at all. I couldn't argue with her even if I were to try. We resolved dilemmas through discussion. Passion never was threatened. She loves life, so it was easy to love Ae. Our gorgeous daughters Bee and Cece started to read both Thai and English soon after they could walk. Now 11 and 10, they already read everything the local high school had to offer, and devoured books I'd bring each trip. Their school, at Ae's urging, allowed them 4 hours daily of private study. Each trip, they would excitedly recite from memory what they had learned in my absence. Bee wants to be an astronaut. Cece wants to work for the United Nations. After she is Miss Thailand.
Bill's Farm, Box 317, Kaunakakai, Hawaii 96748
Phone: 808-567-6734
Email: BillPfeil@yahoo.com
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