Addendum to Elephant Sign…

 

HOW WE LEARN

(Homage to Gary Snyder’s poem “Axe Handles.” When making an axe handle the pattern is not far off…)

Cast of characters:

Kip: Harry’s honorary and grateful father. Farang.

Ao: Harry’s mother, Thai woman.

Harry: Ao’s baby. A year and two month old baby.

Phone rings, answered.

Kip: Can speak to Mama Ao?

Ao: I speak now.

Kip: What are you doing?

Ao: I take care of Harry. Wait-wait.

Ao: Harry, you not do.

Harry: AAGGHH! (Translation: But I want to do.)

Ao: Harry, (with increased motherly firmness); You not do. (Translation: That ain’t gonna fly.)

Harry: AHHH, AHHH, AHHHA (Crying; Translation: Maybe crying will work.)

Ao: MAN MAM MAN MAM (Picking up Harry in a loving way, and gently raising Harry up and down. Translation: I love you Harry, but that ain’t gonna fly either.)

Harry: AHHH AHH, AH, (Stops crying, starts smiling. Likes being picked up. Translation: Oh what the fuck, that didn’t work either. Was worth a shot.)

Mama Ao puts Harry down. Harry starts motoring around the room smiling and heads for the door, goes outside. Early morning, cool, sunny out.

Kip: What’s Harry doing now, Ao?

Ao: Harry walk-walk, go outside.

Sound of Harry playing saxophone music in background on his toy organ.

Harry: AAGGHH! (Translation: It’s a beautiful morning, I think I’ll go outside for awhile, and just smile. (Young Rascals song).