Chapter 02. A Brother Lost

In a somewhere in Phuket, there lived a young female merchant. Her only family was a 14-year-old younger brother. Their parents had passed away a very long time ago.

One day, around 9 PM, she severely punished him, due to her brother made a small fault.

Younger brother: “(Getting his alms hit) Ow!”

Merchant: “(Hitting palms with a fly swatter) You rascal!”

When the beating stopped, she loudly reprimanded him.

Merchant: “If you do that just one more time, I will really ground you!”

Unable to bear how terrifying his older sister was for hitting his palms before even finding out the whole story, he went into his room, got under the blankets, and cried all night long.

 

The next day, at 6 AM, the merchant went into the room to wake up her brother.

Merchant: “(Opening her brother’s room door) Wake up, it’s 6 AM! You won’t get up? (Looking around the room) No, where is he?”

The brother had disappeared. She got into a small car and searched everywhere for her brother.

Merchant: “(At a some boy’s house) Haven’t you seen Tawan - my younger brother?”

The booy shook his bead.

Boy: “No, Miss. Tawan is not here.”

This time, she met a lady working at a small shop.

Merchant: “Aunty, by any chance haven’t you seen Tawan?”

She rode in her car, going here and there searching for her brother.

Merchant: “Tawan, where are you? Tawan! Answer me!”

She regretted punishing her precious and only younger brother over a small fault after having lost their parents. Looking up at the sky, she spoke inwardly to her parents:

Merchant: “(Looking at the sky) Mother, Dad, I'm sorry. I should have taken good care of my only brother, but I couldn't control my anger and ended up caning him deeply. My heart breaks thinking about how terrified Tawan must have been. Please protect our Tawan so he can return safely without anything happening to him. If he only comes back, I will warmly forgive him and never punish him over trivial matters again.”

No matter how much she regretted it and no matter how much she searched, the whereabouts of her brother remained a mystery. A few hours later, she went to the entrance of a department store and set up a large billboard in front of it.

Merchant: “Tawan, I am sorry. Come back home quickly. Let's meet here tomorrow at 1 PM.”

 

The next day, at 1 PM, she went to the department store entrance where she had set up the billboard. However, standing in front of it were five boys, all names ‘Tawan’ - and every single one of them was a runaway. Among them was her own brother, Tawan, who had fled from his sister, terrified and aggrieved after being struck on the palm with a flyswatter.

Heart pounding, she slowly approached her brother. Though she had every reason to be angry, the moment she saw the boy’s deeply crumpled face and his red, swollen palm, a heavy wave of regret and guilt washed over her. Dropping to her knees, she brought herself down to his eye level and gently reached out her hand.

Merchant: “Tawan, I am so, so sorry. Even our parents passed away, I should have protected you, but instead, I lashed out and scared you on purpose just because I was frustrated. Please, let’s go home now.”

At his sister’s heartfelt tears and apology, the tears the young boy had been desperately holding back finally burst forth. After a moment’s hesitation, he threw himself into her arms. Hugging her only brother tightly, she vowed deeply - to her brother and to their parents in heaven - that she would never raise a hand to him again, no matter the reason. Oblivious to the clamour outside the department store, the siblings held each other warmly, letting all their anxiety melt away.

 

On the way home, she applied ointment to Tawan’s swollen hand and cradled him gently. Tawan held his sister’s hand firmly in return. Promising never to be parted again, the two siblings headed home together.