"Fruits are sweet. Flowers are fresh...and the sunset is beautiful!!...and eating fruits is best of all!"
With those saying to herself, Lalisa picked up a grape from her basket to her mouth and enjoyed eating it.
She was at the edge of a small rolling river. She was sitting on a mattress and enjoying the sun that was about to be going down.
"It would be great if this is a big ocean instead of a very tiny river." She sighed down.
Just then she heard a loud voice from behind.
"Hey..Lisa... hey..!"
It was her classmate and best friend since high school. The girl was running towards her.
"Heyyy... .Malik...Im here....!"
"What are you doing here!"
"Enjoying the sunset!"
"What...this is not so Lisa like!"
"Why?"
Lisa asked backed. Her eyebrow up her face a little.
"Because I mostly found you either enjoying horse ride or climbing up tall trees...or dancing...Hehehe it's so surprised to see you sit so still!"
Lisa laughed.
"I do sit still sometimes. Different activities at different times...!!"
"Umm ..Yep!..Ohh by the way, a guy friend told me to give this letter to you"
"Letter? What letter? From whom!"
"A love letter of course!...it's one of our old classmate at 12th grade... You remember that Nat boy.."
"Oh..Natty boy...Ahh..yes..I get it now. Take that letter back and tell him I feel indifferent."
"Why not read first?"
"Well...I don't think so..by the way Why are you standing there. ..come here to sit...have some grapes... You see the sunset is very beautiful!"
At that very moment,Bam Bam or Kunpimook, another of Lisa's neighbour friend came near to river.
"Hello..good late afternoon girls...!"
He was laughing too.
"What news is making you this cheerful, gentleman!"
Lisa said.
"No...not really!" Bam Bam.
"I just can't help how you girls give news to each other by shouting here...aloud... hhehe..if I were that guy I will be embarrassed!"
"Why?"
Bam Bam laughed again.
"Nothing lady.... your straightforwardness to this Natty guy is good!"
Was he meaning it?
Lisa did not want to think about it anymore.
"Now you guys. Just enjoy the winter wind on my farm. I mean garden...hmm the sunset will be gone soon...will you guys stay to dinner!"
"Umm...I need to go back home before dark...Hehe my parents are waiting!"
Malik said...
"And I need to go back to resort too...!"
"You guys are staying short!"
Lisa was disappointed.
"By the way, Bam Bam!! Where were you yesterday evening... you said you will visit here!!"
"Ohhh...I forgot ...but I'm really sorry Lisa."
Bam Bam looked a little sad and sorry!
"It's my senior friend....his visit was very sudden and...!"
"Hmm...I see ...it's this SENIOR FRIEND then.....that you missed to visit here then..I hate him....!"
Just at the time...the sunset went down.
"Nahh...but it's getting dark..let's go back to your house!"
Lisa packed up her things she brought here...a basket of grapes mattress, etc.
With some talking along the road.
Malik and Bam Bam did not stay for dinner. They would like to go back to their home quickly.
That left Lisa to say, "Well, let's go horse riding tomorrow...It's holiday....!"
"Okay...girl!"
Lisa went up to her room.
She felt everything boring at the moment somehow.
********************
Manoban's family had been living in the edge of Chiang Rai Province for a little more than two decades.
Mr Chou Lei was from an upper class, rich family from Taiwan.
More than two decades ago, he fell in love with Rasa Manoban, a Thai lady who went to study at Taipei with scholarship. His family was against their relationship
Nonetheless, the flames of young love was strong. Lei chose to run off with Rasa than doing as his wealthy family wanted him to which was to marry the lady of their choice.
He had followed Rasa all the way to Thailand and her family welcome him warmly. Lei tried best to help Manoban family all the best he could. He learnt Thai quickly as native and doing business on grape farm was his joy. Soon, a daughter was born to Lei and Rasa. They called her Lalisa. She grew up to be a healthy, strong, sharp tongue yet compassionate soul. She can be gentle when time comes.
When she was young, Lalisa (or Lisa as she was mostly called by her parents and friends,) liked playing both feminine and masculine ways. Yep, she liked to play with small pots making food, selling salad (popular with Thai female kids). She also loved running there and this, climbing up the trees and playing football. She was well known to be good at high jump.
***************
That evening, Mr Chou Lei received a letter from his eldest brother from Taiwan.
Dear Lei
I hope you have been doing well. It's was all good all these years. Although you were in different place, we have been able to communicate.
Your daughter must be quite lady now. I'm sure she will be as beautiful and elegant as Rasa.
And....
I think it's time that perhaps the Chou family could reunite for once. You are Chou. We are brothers. Although, our mother seemed cold about you and your family. I'm sure it was only a surface. I'm sure she still really love you. If you just allow, I really want to support Lalisa in her farther studies. I want Lalisa to come to Taipei and soften our mother. I'm sure she can do it. Please brother, let's unite.
I will be coming to visit you this Sunday.
All the best of regards,
Your eldest brother Simon.
At that very moment, Lisa came up to the living room where Chou Lei was reading the letter. His wife was sitting beside him.
Lisa was cheerful for the day. But her cheerfulness was gone once she learned about what her uncle has written to her father.
"No, I'm not going. Papa and Mama..I don't want to be part from our Manoban farm yet. Im still enjoying learning about plantations here.!"
Her parents try to persuade her. But Lisa was so disappointed to leave her beloved place.
She would keep herself even from herself parents then who were encouraging her to go.
But when Chou Simon arrived, he seemed such a gentle uncle that Lalisa finally agree to go.