Chapter 1 (2/2)
about anything and as long as I live, I will protect the value of our family.
After that,
Ta Cheoum’s condition got worse. He seemed to be trying to grasp for breathe.
He got weaker and weaker. As time drew close to his death, he spoke to the kind
doctor in hoa.r.s.e voice, “Doctor, I will die in the next 2 or 3 minutes. I thank
you so much for your kindness for taking care of me and my medicine fees and
ask nothing of me in return. I do not have anything to pay you back. Oh! I can
no longer hear. Chet, my son…”
Chao Chet
hugged his father as if not wanting to let his soul leave his body. However, it
was of no used. His wish can’t be answered because people born, grow old, get
sick, and die. No one can escape that. Even lord Buddha had to face death.
Finally, at
the same time the moonlight started to disappear, Ta Cheoum took his last
breath and pa.s.sed away in the hug of his son.
Life as
an orphan
Only after he’s
done with the funeral, did Chao Chet realized, “I’m all alone now, there’s no
relatives or anyone to depend on. Forget it, I have to go through all the hards.h.i.+ps.
I’m an orphan now and like father said, [Chet, after father can no longer be
here, your life will be like a flotsam floating on the river].”
Chao Chet
thought that the world is a big and happy world for other people, but it’s a
small and cruel world for him, an orphan without any relatives who doesn’t have
anyone to depend on. No one would want to help a poor man like him. He thought,
“Why is my life so hard? But, as a man, I can’t fear hards.h.i.+p. I have to go
through all the hards.h.i.+ps to see what it’s really like.”
Chao Chet
was standing against the wall thinking of finding a job. He then looked up to
the moon in the sea of cloud that is showering its light all over the place.
Along with the cool wind that is travelling the place, there’s the sound of
monk chanting from Wat* Preah Pi Theara. Hearing the chanting sound, Chao Chet
started to think of his father who has recently pa.s.sed away. Not knowing what
to look at, Chao Chet returned to the room. Inside the room, there’s the dim
light of the oil lamp, the place where his father used to sit and eat Sakae Naa
(Combretum quadrangulare). But now, there’s only him alone. Without him
realizing it, tears then started to fall down his cheeks.
[*Wat = a
type of Buddhist temple.]
At that
moment, Chao Chet turned and saw a familiar person dressing in while walked in.
Chao Chet stood up and asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s me.
Chao Chet?” the man replied and asked.
Chao Chet
knew that it’s the doctor, he invited, “Please come in, doctor.”
The doctor
then entered the house and sat down as invited by Chao Chet. “How are you
doing, Chao Chet?” The doctor asked.
Chao Chet
replied, “Doctor, if it’s about the physical condition, I’m doing fine. But, I’m
very depressed. Since the death of father, I can’t seem to see any light.
The doctor
nodded his head and continued to ask, “Have you found a job yet?”
Chao Chet
replied with a meaningless laugh, “Doctor! I can’t find any job here, every
positions seems to be out of reach for me. Although I did learnt a lot, but it
seems that all the knowledges can only be used to check some doc.u.ments and
monitor the program of theater and cinema.
The doctor
replied with sympathy, “I also pity you, Chet!” and advised, “You are a man.
You will need to face with more hards.h.i.+ps in the future. Let me think if I can
help you with anything.”
Chao Chet
remained silent. After a moment of thought, the doctor smiled and exclaimed, “I
know! I have an uncle who is quite rich. You might get a job if he agree to
help. But, the job might be a little hard at the beginning.”
Chao smiled
and replied to the doctor, “I can tolerance any hards.h.i.+p as long as I can a job
to earn a living so that no one can look down on me. Even if it’s digging the
ground, moving heavy stuff… I’m willing to do any of them.
The doctor
looked happy and replied with satisfaction, “I always thought that you are a
man that can do anything. But, Chao Chet! The job is not in this city. It’s in
Pailin city.”
“Pailin, is
it?” Chao Chet lost his smile and replied, “People say that life is very hard
there. Only the Kula people can bear to work there. I’m afraid I can cope with
the climate there.”
The doctor
advised, “You are right, but many people got sick because they were careless. Didn’t
you learn some remedies to take care of yourself while taking care of your
father?” He then continued, “My uncle used to be an official, his t.i.tle was
Hluong Rotano Sambath*. He is 50 years old now. He is a good man and also has
good relations with the Kula people. A few weeks ago, he sent a letter to me
looking to recruit someone to work for him. Mining gemstones needs honest
people. I trust you.
[*an official
t.i.tle]
Chao Chet
replied, “Mining gemstone is a new thing for me.”
“The Doctor said,
“It’s better than doing nothing, right? If you accept the job, I will send you
there soon because I believe that you’re a hard worker that would definitely
please my uncle.”
Chao Chet saluted
the doctor to show his grat.i.tude. Before he bid farewell, the doctor left Chao
Chet a letter.
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