“What does Kazem say about this?”
“What he says doesn’t matter. What does it matter what he says?”
“I guess none but I want to know.”
Suthep paused. He wasn’t accustomed to confessions in the confessionals of tree branches. He sighed and spoke with begrudging reluctance. “ I’ve explained this to him for months. He has told me many times that he wants me to stay here. He always gets angry whenever I talk about it. Now I’ve stopped talking and am doing it, aren’t I? No, he does not want anything to interfere with his notion of what big brothers ought to do. He acts like he is a lot older than I am. Anyhow, he is obnoxious: always dropping by my business when he can’t catch me here pretending to be concerned that I might need something. Most of those times he was just trying to persuade me that we need some type of joint savings.” He coughed a deep chronic continuum that shook his body. He was of an average build but seemed to Jatupon as gaunt and sickly at such moments. “I laugh at his face each time he does that. I’ve been there, done that. Kumpee made us saps enough.”
“After Mother and Father’s death we were stunned.”
“Maybe. Maybe or just believing that only bad things would happen which is probably about right. Anyhow, I’m more or less gone. You both should be thankful to be rid of me so that you can carry on without being witnessed.” He laughed. “Go ahead and look innocent and confused.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“About looking innocent and confused?” asked Suthep in a chuckle. He also wanted to keep the conversation murky.
“About any of it.”
“Good, stay that way. None of us want to know anything-least of all me. Here, you can help me by taking a bag.” As Jatupon reached for a bag he uncorked his flatulent gas.