little self-respect was deleterious. It was fine for the brain to
forfeit logical restraint for that relaxation of fleeting pleasure that
couldn't be sustained or for one to use whatever was before him, but
someday he wanted a wife as much as he now wanted to think that he was
living up to his ideal of the fraternal benefactor. He didn't want his
whole life obsessed by the inconsequential pleasures of his night
sports.
Kazem disheveled Jatupon's hair with his fingers and slapped him
on the head.
"Where the hell were you all day, you bum?" he asked. "You
thought we'd start work again so you took off." He laughed and sat down
on the sole wooden chair that was the furniture of the apartment.
"I don't want to talk to you," Jatupon said.
"I bought you both some clothes. I don't know if any of it will
fit since neither one of you came with me. Also, I had to see a movie
all by myself. Suthep could have had some type of a tom yam tasting
popcorn. They called it Mexican."
"Why didn't you get a girlfriend and bring her with you? Isn't
that what they are supposed to do: go with you shopping and to movies?"
Jatupon sneered.
Kazem felt an icy sword in his heart. "I wish I could take these
clothes back. Neither of you deserve anything."
"Why don't you get a girlfriend and leave me the hell alone,"
continued Jatupon as he turned over on his side and glared at him.
Kazem lit a cigarette, smoked, and blew it into his brother's
face. "Because you love it too much." He paused. "You're right about
me getting a girlfriend. I should get a nice Chinawoman like your
brother Kumpee and then run off with her leaving the two of you to eat
worms from the sidewalk. What a good idea, Jatuporn."
Jatupon turned away from him and feigned sleep.