Beer Garden Girl

Beer Garden Girl, water color on paper, 5x7 inch

She works in a beer garden off Soi Nana, the early shift from eleven AM until nine PM. For two weeks, every day, a German man has come to see her.  He buys her a few drinks and they go to a nearby hotel. He gives her more than she asks. He talks to her in broken English, almost the same as hers. He’s over 50 and kind, also nice to her friends. Tonight he’s flying back to Germany and gave her some flowers when he said goodbye.  He promised to come back, he’s not sure when.  She smiled and wished him good luck. Inside she’s crying.

Girl from Burma

Girl from Burma, water color on paper, 5x7 inch

She was smuggled into Thailand from Burma, has learned some Thai and can say the four English words she needs to work  Nana Plaza, “Pay bar for me” 

To negotiate price, she uses fingers, thumbs and hands, the universal sign language of commerce around the world.  For yes or no, she nods or shakes her head, facial expressions emphasize a point. Sometimes she even smiles.