Bangkok Knights Read Online Free

understand you’ re responsible
for the lot. And if you’ ve got more money than the others, then you can expect
to play the banker more often. It’s as simple as that, dam it. Haw! And that’s
why I say, if you really think you have to get married, for some reason,
you either marry an orphan or you’re just a gosh-darned fool.”
    The ladies had come to be standing shoulder to shoulder,
establishing a visible solidarity, and they were not casting kindly glances
Leary’s way. A lesser man might’ve felt distinctly uncomfortable.
    Ernest, meanwhile, was looking happier than he had all
morning, and Leary was clearly pleased his advice was having such good effect.
    “And what about the money for her folks?” Ernest asked.
    “The bride price? That’s nothing. It’s the custom, and
it’s the least of the headaches you got to expect in dealing with the in-laws.”
    “But, that’s... wonderful!”
    “That’s no lie; you almost stepped right into it.”
    “So this is just the way things are. Noi’s not really
after my money; she’s looking after her family, and now I’m part of the
family...”
    It was Leary’s turn to show consternation: “Now you hang
on there a friggin’ minute, Ernie. Didn’t you listen to any of what I’ve been
telling you?” Leary was spluttering.
    “Why don’t you phone her, Ernest?” Nancy interrupted.
“There’s another telephone upstairs in the big bedroom. Go ahead.”
    The resilience of youth. Ernest came bounding down the
stairs a bit later and announced: “I’m going to meet her at home. Thanks, Nancy. Thanks for the breakfast. And thank you, Leary. I needed to hear some good
sense; I’ve apologized to Noi, and explained how I simply hadn’t understood.”
    “You haven’t had any breakfast, Ernest,” said Nancy. “Why don’t you eat something before you go?”
    Ernest’s spirits and his appetite had picked up together,
and it almost make me sick to see the way he went at the cold remains of
the feast. “No, no, Nancy; don’t bother to heat it up. Thanks, but I’ve got to
hurry.”
    Possibly out of respect for Leary’s sensibilities, Nancy waited till after Ernest had gone before telling the rest of us there had been
another reason for this little celebration, something beyond the new house. She
and Leary were getting marriedl She beamed with pride and happiness,
while Leary shuffled around saying “Aw shucks, nothing’s friggin’ changed” as
we all congratulated him. Lek poured fresh coffee all ‘round, and she didn’t
even put any in Leary’s lap.
    “Leary,” I said, “I am happy for you and Nancy’ s one of
the finest women it’s been my pleasure ever to meet, but what’s happened to
Leary’s Law?”
    “Listen to this and remember it,” he told me. “There is
one, like, supervening law, and that is this: ‘You’re never too old to learn
some new way of screwing up.’ You can chisel that one in granite. But what the
heck. I guess that’s what keeps life interesting.”
    I didn’t even mention to Leary that Lek had told me there
was yet one more reason for Nancy’s happiness. Her brother had only the week
before gotten his degree in Electrical Engineering, but she hadn’t wanted to
make Leary lose face by thanking him in front of one and all. That was Nancy for you — a fine lady in every way.

SID’S WAKE
    “That’s one thing,” his mates from the Middle East had
said. “Now old Sid doesn’t have to go back to play in the Sandbox.”
    Indeed, they looked downright envious as they finished
their drinks and prepared to enter the departure lounge. Stack and I had met
them at Sid’s funeral, and we’d met again at the airport to wish them bon
voyage. Looking at their faces as they trooped off, you really might have
believed they would rather have been lying dead under Big Toy.
    Amazing. No one was pointing guns at their heads. But
you’ve got to sock that money away, by Jingo, and you’d better do it quick.
None of us is