diamonds sales were non-existent during the run-up to Valentine's Day.
At least for the masses.
The wealthy were splurging on big ticket items. 6-figure purchases of watches, diamonds, and jewelry. The good items were still rolling for Wall Street. None of these sales trickled down into my pocket and I was entertaining a tempting offer from Sam Royalle to run his go-go bar in Pattaya. Working papers and $5000/month.
"I'll be your first customer," said my favorite cousin at Winter, where we tucking into Dover Sole and a very expensive bottle of French wine. He had regained his position in high finance. Money was once more no object. Only something to be moved here and there. How never made sense to me, which was why he earned the big money.
"Be only happy to serve you." Nightclubs, diamonds, and road trips were my forte. "It's only the first of many and one day we'll open one here."
"You open a Thai go-go bar in Manhattan and there'll be traffic jams in New Jersey of lonely guys trying to get there."
"All wanting to hear that famous cry "hey sexy man'."
"And no to mention 'love you love time'."
"Ah, the classics." We clinked glasses. My cousin lived the Pattaya experience through me. He was faithful to his wife and so was I. Him 15 years. Me 3. It seemed like only yesterday I saw Mem and she would always be young. Especially since the mother of my son, Fenway, was three decades younger than me.
"Have you told Richie Boy about this move?"
"Not at all." I still held out hope for making a big score plus working night at a bar was a deadly proposition for a 57 year-old man. I liked to drink and Mem was more than a little 'hueng' or jealous. "Try telling your wife that you're not fooling around with go-go girls."
"I do and it's the truth."
'I can be strong too." About the women it was easy. Drink was my one unforgiving vice. "Another reason is that the police have announced a crackdown on Pattaya Go-Go Bars to arrest foreigners backing sex bars.
The news came from the Pattaya Times.
Interpol was reportedly opening an office in Pattaya to nab farang fugitives. I had met several of their officers at the Buffalo Bar on 3rd Road. They always joked that they were on duty.
The Pattaya Times advised bar owners to clean up their act, although Sam Royalle said this was the same story every time the Thais change the head of police. More tea money for the Police Benevolent Society. I told none of this to my cousin and I certainly wasn't mentioning to Richie Boy, at least not until after the February 18 deadline.
It's only five days away.
Will Plan B survive to save me from plan A?
"It's not the despair I mind so much as the hope." Woody Allen.
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