Let her fly alone. Maybe someone will snatch her up over there, Margaret frowned.
A stifling evening before the holiday should have been filled with anticipation and pleasant packing.
But tension hung thick in the flat of Edward and Grace. At the centre of the sitting room, like a monument to worry, stood Mrs Margaret Taylor, clutching the TV remote.
I wont allow it! Have you both lost your heads? Her voice, long used to ruling a classroom (she was a retired teacher), had a steely ring.
Frozen on the TV screen was the image of a grim-faced presenter, gesturing at a map of Southeast Asia and drawing alarming red arrows.
Grace, packing her suitcase with remarkable composure given the atmosphere, only sighed.
Shed rehearsed this scene before. Edward, his face a picture of weary patience, tried to break in.
Mum, honestly, enough! This is all nonsense! Were going to a proper hotel, with a reliable package deal
Nonsense?! Margaret threw up her hands so abruptly the remote nearly hit the wall. Edward, open your eyes! Shell drag you straight to your doom! In Thailand every other persons a people trafficker! Youll get sent to fetch a beer down some alley andpoof!never seen again! They’ll harvest your kidneys, your liver, anything they can, and cart them off in a cool box! Her she pointed melodramatically at Grace, shell be sold off or worse! I saw it on an exposé!
Grace stopped folding clothes and gazed at Margaret, curiosity written on her face. She took a pause Edward never could have held.
Mrs Taylor, Grace said quietly but clearly, do you really believe every Thai is a surgeon-mafioso pimp in disguise?
Dont take that tone! Those are facts! Its on the telly! People looking for cheap thrills head over there and the next thing, their families get a Royal Mail parcel full of spare parts!
Edward rubbed his face.
Mum, its scaremongering for pensioners who miss excitement. They do it deliberately, you know. There are millions of tourists each year
And thousands go missing! Margaret shot back. And you, Grace, youve already bought the tickets, havent you? No refund?
I have, and I wont be cancelling. Graces reply was simple. Weve been saving for two years. Ive checked all the reviews, spent ages on forums, went with a reputable tour operator. Were not going to go roaming about back alleys at midnight. Well take the tours, sit on the beach at Pattaya, eat tom yum
Theyll poison you for sure, goodness knows what they put in those soups, muttered Margaret darkly. Edward, love, I beg you, come to your senses. Let her go alone if shes so desperate. Her risk, her problem. At least youll come home in one piece. A mother just knows when something bads going to happen.
The silence was thick and suffocating. Then Grace spoke, perhaps voicing what shed wanted to say for years.
All right, she said, snapping her suitcase shut. Youre right, Mrs Taylor. Fortune favours the brave. Ill go alone.
Grace! What are you Edward was utterly taken aback.
You heard your mother. Her instincts are kicking off. I cant be responsible for your kidneys and your liver, can I? Nor can I risk you being shipped off to slavery. You stay home. Enjoy tea with Mum and watch conspiracies on telly. As for me,she gave a frosty smileIll brave that inferno alone.
Margaret looked both triumphant and stunned. Shed won, but Graces readiness to face all her terrors alone was bewildering.
Quite right, she said, but with much less gusto than before. You asked for it.
Edward tried to protest and reason, but Grace was resolute. The night before her flight, they lay silently back to back.
Maybe youll change your mind? he asked.
No, was all Grace said.
*****
The plane landed in Bangkok, and a rush of humid, spicy air enveloped Grace like a heavy blanket.
Was she afraid? Not in the least. She just felt tired and incredibly curious. True to her plan, she spent the first days wandering through lively streets, marvelling at the dazzling temples, sampling delicious street food.
No one nicked her purse, let alone tried to abduct her. The cheerful market sellers simply smiled shyly and tried to haggle over ten baht.
She posted a photo in the family WhatsApp group with Edward and Margaret (who had insisted). Smiling Grace with a fruit cocktail before turquoise sea. Caption: All organs intact. Not a slave yet. Awaiting further developments.
Edward sent hearts back. Margaret read the messages and watchedbut kept quiet.
Then Grace travelled north, to Chiang Mai. There, at a small family guesthouse, the owneran elderly Thai lady called Nongtaught her to cook authentic pad thai, and everything changed.
Nong, speaking with broken English, reminded Grace strikingly of Margaret.
She fretted about her own daughter, whod gone to work in Seoul.
Shes all alone there, its cold, people dont smile, strange food, Nong complained, stirring noodles with vigour. Saw on TV, radiation in the air, everyones angry!
Grace looked at Nongs worried face and suddenly burst out laughing. She laughed until tears came to her eyes.
Nong stared, bewildered. So Grace used gestures, phone pictures, and simple words to explain about Margaret, about telly, about the kidney and slavery fears.
Nong listened, eyes wide, then began to laugh as wella clear, joyful laugh like bells.
Oh, mums everywhere! she exclaimed. Were all the same! Afraid of the unknown. Thai telly shows rubbish too!
Later that evening, under close stars on the verandah, Grace called not Edward, but directly video called Margaret.
Margaret looked tired, guarded.
So? Still alive? she demanded without so much as a hello.
Still in one piece, Mrs Taylor. Organs all present, look!
Grace panned the camera around the verandah. Nong emerged, bearing sweet tea and fruit, and beamed, her smile lighting up at the sight of the stern Englishwoman on the screen.
Hello! Nong called cheerfully. Your daughter-in-law is brilliant! Great cook! Dont worry, Ill look after her! No slavery! She hugged Grace.
Margaret stared, from Nongs smile to Graces calm, sun-bronzed face.
And the organs? Margaret managed, her certainty wavering.
Everything just as it should be, Grace smiled. And an improved appetite too. Mrs Taylor, its beautiful here, and everyones lovely. Nong says her daughter is in Korea, but she worries sick, convinced its cold and everyones rudeall because the telly said so.
There came a long silence.
Put her on, this Nong, Margaret said at last.
Grace handed the phone over. The two women, thousands of miles and worlds apart, spoke for ten minutes.
They didnt understand a word, but seemed to get the gist. Nong nodded and laughed, Margaret frowned at first but then gradually softened.
At the end, she even managed an awkward smilea far cry from the mask of terror.
After they hung up, Edward messaged: Mum just switched off the TV. She muttered, Had enough of this scare-mongering, and asked when youre coming home.
Grace didnt reply at once. She gazed up at the stars over Chiang Mai, then took another photoshe and Nong, arm in arm, both beaming for the cameraand sent it to the group.
Caption: Found a kindred spirit. Off paragliding tomorrow. Organs tickety-boo. Kisses x.
The flight home felt easy. Edward met her at the airport, Margaret a little further off, clutching a mismatched bunch of bright asters.
She didnt go for an embrace, but nor did she cause a scene. Clearing her throat, Margaret held out the flowers.
Well? Alive then?
As you see. Still self-possessed, no new owners.
Oh, come now, Margaret grumbled, flapping a hand. Tell us then Hows your Nong?
On the way back, Grace spoke of temples, of food, warm people, and funny encounters.
Margaret listened, even asked the odd question. The living room television sat silent.
In its black screen, three figures could be seen: a husband gently embracing his wife, and a mother-in-law at last ready to see the world not through a lens of sensationalism, but the eyes of one who had actually braved the inferno and come home wholeand happy.
That evening, as they sat with tea, Margaret, testing the waters, murmured:
Next year if you both fancied maybe Id tag along? Just dont take me anywhere wild
Edward and Grace glanced at each other and grinned. It was a surprise: Margaret easing her grip on her fears.
But a few days later, she popped round, cheeks flushed and agitated.
Im not going with you, after all! And you, Grace, simply got lucky! I saw on telly, a whole group rescued from captivity recentlyI dont want to end up there!
As you wish, Grace said, shrugging.
Edward, nothing for you over there either. Plenty worth seeing in the UK! Margaret declared, with an air of finality.
Her son shook his head but didnt argue, knowing by now it was pointless.
