We all know the street hustlers and bar boys learn from each other. Their come-on lines are the same, their attitude mimic each other and  in so many ways they seem to have gone to the same school of hustling. But some have failed miserably. and need some remedial training.



One afternoon on the sois of Sunee, a young Thai came up to me and said, "Hi...you remember me?" It had been 4 yearss since I had been in Thailand so my old age struggled to place the face. "Boys Studio Hotel", he said, "My name is Aik." Ah yes, it was a one nighter one my 1st night in town.



I was on my way to Monty's Pool so I invited him to join me for a drink. He was still quite handsome but a little rough around the edges. He said he was working at a night spot in Sunee. We reminissed about days gone by.



When it was time to head back to my apartment he was reluctant to say goodbye. I ask him back for a drink and some food ONLY.



In the room he ask to use the shower...of course. I made some sandwiches and rum&cokes that he enjoyed and we talked some more. Finally I told him I had to get ready for a meeting. I got up and took Bt300 from my pocket and told him how much I enjoyed his company and maybe we could meet again.



He took the money then said, "I think you can help me". Here it comes I thought but I never reject a plea for money out of hand. I am prepared to access the situation and if there's a real need then I will help out as I can. "What's your problem?"



"I think you can give me Bt6000."



"WOW! That's a lot. What do you need it for?"



"I lost my cell phone and I need another."



"A CELL PHONE...that's your problem."



"Yes. My family may be having a problem and they can't get a hold of me."



"6000 bhat?  I just gave my friend 700 bhat to but a second hand cell phone. Why do you need 6000?"



"2nd hand is no good. I want a new one"



"Aik...it's time for you to go."



His pestering then became more urgent saying that he knew I had the money to give him. I told him that even if I did I wasn't going to give him money for a cell phone. He started to get beligerant whereupon I moved down the hall saying if he didn't leave I would call for security. Finally he left, grumbling.



When I handed him the 300 bhat I was about to suggest I would like to off him sometime.



How did he ever come to think that this would be a good line to use. I met him once again while sitting in an open bar. He stared at me pathetically and I slipped him a 100 but no words were exchanged. He had planted a seed of fear in me.

I love your “reports”, Doug. You write them well.



I am afraid that when a boy begins with a request for a pair of 5000 baht shoes or a 6000 baht phone my reaction is to laugh, hold the door open for him and say “have a nice day”.



Did he really remember you after four years? I guess he did but there are some boys in Pattaya who use “Do you remember me?” as an opening line with strangers. “No, I don’t remember you”, I tell them.



Sometimes bargirls have asked me on the street if I remember them, and then I can say with 100% certainty that I don't.



With a male it is more likely to be true, but the number of Thai boys I have been involved with is limited. I am quite sure I would recognise any of them even years later, and usually this person who claims to know me is not my type anyway so it is unlikely I ever had anything to do with him.



This leaves me wondering if they mistake me for someone else, or if they are shooting blind, hoping to meet someone who do remember them, or if it is just a trick to get the conversation going.  

..have a bit of heart with these people. They aren't the most sophisticated on earth and they're trying to survive in a very tough place. There are'nt a lot of options..sometimes I wonder how we would be if the tables were turned. Most of us come from countries that have good social security benefits. Thais can only dream of how it would be to be one of us even when unemployed !



The best thing is to not allow the scene to even eventuate, no matter how friendly you want to be.



Mind you, most mornings I look in the bathroom mirror and say "remember me ?."..only to be rewarded with a moronic blank look.

Edited by: Pearl of the Orient at: 26/11/05 9:22 pm

homintern is on your IGNORE list.

I look in the mirror in the morning and see a 7 inch nose hair growing out the left nostril.  It wasn't there yesterday (the hair, not the nostril) ... how is it possible for it to grow to that length overnight?



I also see hair sneakily trekking south from the top of my head (where it's supposed to be) and taking up residence in my ears.  As Seinfeld said a few time, ".. what's up with that? .. "



I have checked out my guy while he's sleeping ... no hair in either places.  What's up with THAT??    



Cheers ...

Edited by: Smiles2 at: 27/11/05 11:35 am

Well, he did SOME things right.



He got you to take him to your room. He got you to serve drinks thus lowering

your resistence. (always a no-no, alcohol could make him violent).

He got you to allow him to take a shower and probably came out in a towel

looking all sexy to tempt you.



And most of all, he got you to open your wallet in the first place.



I think he deserved more than what you gave him.



 

Quote:

---

Sometimes bargirls have asked me on the street if I remember them, and then I can say with 100% certainty that I don't.

---

Could they perhaps be the mothers of the boys you date?

homintern is on your IGNORE list.

Quote:

---

I generally look in the mirror each morning and say "Who the fuck ...?" But that's the good thing about Alzheimers - you meet new people every day

---

Yes, and these 'new people' are manifested on the forum every day.