2:Breakfast Tales And New Beginnings

Kamon, the mother and grandmother are busy setting up the breakfast in the dining room. The main dishes served were jok (Thai rice porridge),khao tom (Thai rice soup),khai jeow (Thai omelette). The side dishes being fried Thai sausages (sai krok) fried rice (khao pad),fresh vegetables and dipping sauce (nam prik). The snacks and sweets were kanom krok (coconut rice pancakes),pa thong ko (Thai donuts), mango sticky rice (khao niew mamuang), the drinks - Thai milk tea (cha yen),herbal chrysanthemum tea and fresh fruit juice watermelon juice.

The morning sun peeked through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the family gathered around the table. The rich aroma of freshly cooked jok (Thai rice porridge) and khao tom (Thai rice soup) filled the air, mingling with the scent of sizzling khai jeow (Thai omelette). Plates were piled high with sai krok(fried Thai sausages), khao pad (fried rice), and an array of fresh vegetables, each paired with a tangy nam prik dipping sauce. The family sat together in the cozy dining area, their chatter and laughter creating a comforting atmosphere.

Mother, with her graceful demeanor, carefully poured hot cha yen (Thai milk tea) into cups, the rich orange color contrasting against the green and yellow of the fruit-filled table. Aunt served the kanom krok (coconut rice pancakes) and pa thong ko (Thai donuts), while Grandfather shared stories of his younger days, making everyone laugh. The sweet, creamy khao niew mamuang (mango sticky rice) was the perfect treat to wrap up the meal.

As they ate, Father sat at the head of the table, his usually calm expression now tinged with excitement. "I have something important to share," he announced, his voice steady but filled with anticipation.

Everyone paused, their utensils hovering in mid-air. "What is it, Pa?" the daughter, Kamon, asked, her curiosity piqued.

Father smiled and placed the envelope on the table. "I got the job offer from the school in Bangkok. We'll be moving there soon."

A hush fell over the table. For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of soft clinking as people processed the news. Kamon stared at her father, trying to understand. "Bangkok?" she whispered"But... that's so far away. What about school? What about everything here?"

Her younger brother, Tee, leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "Well, I think moving means I get the big room, right? I can't wait to live in a bigger space!"

Kamon shot her brother a glare, her voice rising. "No way! The big room is mine! I've been waiting for it for years!"

Their grandmother, who had been quietly sipping her herbal chrysanthemum tea, shook her head with a chuckle. "You two are always fighting. The big room is for whoever needs it most."

But Tee was not to be outdone. "I need it more! I'm younger and-"

Kamon crossed her arms, interrupting. "No way, Tee. I've always been the one who keeps the house in order. Plus, I'll be the one helping Mom with the cooking, so I deserve the big room."

Father chuckled softly, sensing the tension rising. "Why don't you both stop arguing and focus on what matters? We'll all have a new adventure ahead of us."

But the squabble over the big room continued, much to the amusement of Aunt, who added in teasingly, "I think we need a lottery to decide who gets the big room."

The moment was lighthearted, filled with the usual familial banter, but underneath the playful fighting, Kamon and Tee knew this move meant change. It wasn't just the room they were fighting over; it was the beginning of a new chapter, one that would take them far from the comfort of their home.

Grandfather leaned in, offering his wisdom with a calm smile. "Change is difficult, but it's also a chance for growth. You'll both have new opportunities in Bangkok. And don't worry, there's plenty of space for everyone."

As the meal wound down, the family enjoyed the sweet treats of kanom krok and pa thong ko, washing them down with fresh watermelon juice. Kamon couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and unease, the thought of leaving everything familiar behind gnawing at her. But with the support of her family, she knew this would be an adventure they would all face together.

Father stood up and raised his glass. "To new beginnings," he said, his voice full of hope.

Everyone followed suit, clinking glasses and sharing smiles, even as they continued to joke and argue playfully. Despite the challenges ahead, one thing was certain- this family would face whatever came next, united and ready for the journey.

After breakfast, the kitchen was a flurry of activity as Kamon's mother gathered up the plates, bowls, and cups from the table. "I'll take care of these, you two go ahead," she said with a tired but loving smile, motioning to her parents.

Grandmother and Grandfather exchanged a knowing look before nodding and rising from their seats. The sound of their creaky old bones moving signaled the start of their morning routine. Grandfather stretched, cracked his knuckles, and shuffled off to the front door with his newspaper in hand. "Time to catch up on the world, or at least pretend to," he muttered under his breath.

Grandmother, with a more purposeful pace, turned toward her daughter. "I'm heading to your sister's place to sort out the room for the family. They'll need a place to stay while they figure things out." She paused and looked at her daughter expectantly. "Oh, and don't forget, I need to get the keys to the gate from her. You remember last time, right?"

Kamon's mother groaned. "Oh, right. You almost had to scale the fence last week to get in!"

"Exactly," the grandmother said with a half-smile, picking up her purse. "And I'm not doing that again. Now, you make sure everything's ready here for the restaurant. We need it to stay open; the bills aren't going to pay themselves."

Grandfather was overhearing the conversation as he sat on the porch, squinted at the newspaper with a playful grin. "Ain't that the truth," he said with a chuckle. "Might not pay for the bills, but it'll pay for some of my coffee this morning." He patted the newspaper for emphasis. "And with my luck, I'll probably win the lottery today."

Grandmother rolled her eyes and waved off the comment. "You've been 'winning' the lottery for years, but the only thing you get is more of those soggy croissants from the bakery."

With that, Grandmother turned to leave, but not before giving Kamon a long look. "And tell Kamon not to let her grandfather drink too much coffee before he opens the shop. We don't want him knocking over another plate of noodles like last time."

Kamon's mother sighed, exasperated but amused. "I'll tell her. Thanks, Mom."

Grandfather was overhearing this last partGrandfather was overhearing this last part, added with a wink, "If the noodles are knocked over,

at least they land on something soft. Like my patience."

As grandmother walked off, the grandfather settled into his chair outside, the sound of his newspaper rustling filling the quiet morning air. "Now, let's see if there's any news that's worth pretending to care about today," he mumbled, fully prepared to spend the next half hour reading the newspaper while the rest of the family prepared for another day at the family restaurant.

Kamon stood in her room, sorting through a pile of clothes scattered on the floor. She carefully picked up each piece, inspecting them to see which ones were dirty. The soft hum of the ceiling fan did little to distract her as she tossed the clothes into a basket, ready to head for the laundry. She neatly folded the clean ones into drawers, breathing a sigh of relief that the task was almost done. Once everything was sorted, she grabbed the laundry basket and made her way to the backyard, ready to hang the clothes on the drying line. As she reached the back door, Kamon paused, noticing her mother talking to the neighbor, Mrs. Suriya, who had a reputation for knowing everyone's business.

Kamon could barely contain her curiosity as she overheard snippets of the conversation while pretending to hang her clothes. Mrs. Suriya was speaking with great fervor, mentioning something about Kamon's family packing up and moving. "They've been planning to leave the village for months now," Mrs. Suriya said, her voice rising with excitement. "I heard they're leaving for good!"

Kamon's eyes widened, frozen in mid-air with a laundry peg in her hand. She blinked in disbelief. 'What? Leaving?'

She stepped closer, half-listening, half-panicking. Her mother gave a soft chuckle, apparently unaware of the misunderstanding brewing. "Oh, no, Suriya," her mother corrected with a smile. "We're just taking a vacation for a week. We're not leaving forever!"

Kamon couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity. It was typical of Mrs. Suriya to jump to conclusions without knowing the full story. She couldn't wait to go inside and tell her mom about the hilarious gossip that had been stirred up, especially after Mrs. Suriya had made it sound like they were moving to another country.

Kamon shook her head and continued hanging the laundry, the light breeze carrying the scent of soap and fabric softener. She smiled to herself, thinking about how her family's "move" would surely be the next hot topic of conversation in the village for weeks to come.

Surasak, Kamon and Tee's father, spent the morning strolling through the village, his pace steady as he made his way from one familiar face to the next. He was on a mission, spreading the news of the family's upcoming move and his new job.