Sabaydii,

Here is the continuation of a series 'Coming home'

entitled 'Meeting an old friend'

Hakphaang,

Kongkeo Saycocie

Slowly

Our ferry boat took off

Then out of nowhere

A tall and haggard man

Wildly waved at us

For some unknown reasons

The boat stopped

Waiting for the man 

To jump on board

As I later know

The man was a crew member

Working in this part of the country

For quite some time

To my surprise

The man was no other

But my grammar school buddy

At Thadeua[1]

A town 3 miles north of ThaNaLeng[2]

Telling you the truth

I almost didn't recognize him

His hair was mostly grey

Most importantly

There was nothing left of his own self

I remember

When we last met

When I was about to leave the country

Full of life he was

So not to embarrass him

More than he currently was

I gently tapped his shoulder 

and said among other things

'You will be fine'

Will he in reality?

I am not sure

With no college education

Or even high school diploma

His luck would be hard

To come by

Before we ceremoniously parted

I looked at him in his eyes

Shook his hand firmly

And said

As much to convince myself as he

'You will be fine'

Fine?

What a strange word 

It rang in my ears

Are the people I met

All over the country fine?

Or is it just for a few people

Lucky enough to be blessed

With this basic word?

Seeing my friend

Wave me a long goodbye

I felt like 

Something stuck in my throat

I don't know

When this uneasiness is going to leave me

What I know is

The image of my friend

Will likely stick in my troubled consciousness

For a long time to come...

8.11.03