SEVENTEEN-b

Shelly – Merging Family

Song Brit's grandmother's name is Yai Yeem (ยายยิ้ม - Grandma Smiles.) Mom said, "Chan pen Ling Noy Yai (ฉันเป็นลิงน้อยยาย - I am Grandma Ling Noy.) That makes me Grandma number two. The boy smiled and hugged her leg. "Yai Yeem is number one."

Mom was being gracious and did not want any ill feelings. Momma ask Yai Yeem if she wanted to help with dinner. Evidently our acquired grandma was familiar with a western style kitchen. She told Mom that she had worked for an American family until recently. They paid her four hundred Baht a month ($20.00.)

Momma explained to Yai Yeem that we were having vegetable fried rice with several extra meats, peppers and sauces on the side for supper. Within seconds Yai Yeem looked in every cabinet, refrigerator and nook. She had rice boiling, was cutting up veggies, shelling peas, cubing steaks, chicken, shrimp and was heating a large wok and two small woks on the stove.

Momma touted, "I blinked my eyes. The steak was basting in one of the smaller woks while chicken was cooking in the other one. Rice, veggies, cooking oils and spices were blending in the larger wok. She pureed the peppers into mild, medium and hot. She made several sauces which were in small bowls. The table was set for eight. Iced tea was in glasses. The heated and warmed dishes were covered to retain the heat. She yelled in English and then in Thai that the meal was ready, and everyone needed to wash their hands.

Shelly said, "She is faster than a whole room of cooks. Everything smells good and fresh."

I said, "I have never seen any one person cook as fast as she did. She is the super cook of Thailand. Maybe even the world."

Momma reiterated, "She is one heck of woman. Shelly and Brit, you better treat her right. I have been watching her. Everything tastes perfect. The smells set our mouths to water."

Song Brit said, "When she tells you everything is ready you better hurry, or nothing will be left!"

My son was correct. The men had eaten most of the meal until the serving bowls and plates were empty. The women were savoring each bite and were limited to one serving.

Momma's lawyer had pushed the paperwork through to make Song Brit our son. In fact, he had never been documented previously. Thus, it was easy to claim him as our biological son.

Boy meets Dog

Son of Dog came in my parents' home with Jimmy. He trotted over to Song Brit and stared at him for a moment. Their eye level was the same without Son of Dog hopping his paws on the boy's shoulder. Song Brit threw his arms around the dog's neck, and Son of Dog lick the lad's face again, and again without stopping. Jimmy told Brit Junior he loves you. If he likes you he will lick you once, but the dog loves you because he keeps licking your face.

The new friends rendered the same smirk. I knew they would be best buddies forever! Jimmy looked at his new nephew and said, "He is your dog. He chose you. Nobody owns Son of Dog! Yet, he has decided to be your dog."