The Fighter

I have lunch with Tatuporn most days and lately, he has begun to share more details about his past and his opinions of the present.

One day, whilst sharing a coffee, he told me:

“Singapore so different from Thailand. Lots and lots of families piled high. Back home, I had my own lane, land and farm.”

I ask him about his parents.

“They were farmers and reasonably successful. But then we lost a lot of money and started to struggle. At the time, I was 16 and fit from working on the farm so I began competing in Muay Thai. For five years, I was a fighter.”

He reveals his scars to me. They run along his legs and arms, with one giant one ripping all the way from his wrist to his elbow.

“Ah, this one bad. I was put to fight a guy twice my size. My wrist burst open from blocking his blows, so my trainer stitched it quickly, then the stitches burst and ripped open after a few more hits.”

He tells me he was quite good and for one fight he would earn 2000 SGD. He used the money earned from his fights to buy a cow and from this, managed to build a sugar cane plantation worth 250,000 SGD.

“I had many people working for me. My family was supported and it was a good time.”

As he continues describing his business, a lorry drives by.

“I had two of these. Very expensive, cost me a lot.”

I wonder if he realized the double meaning I derived from this.

He continues,

“My lorry, was in accident, small car, many people die.”

I feel uncomfortable at this point, as though I am betraying his trust, but he assures me it’s fine to mention.

“I lost everything, they want money. I did not have and I have to leave country. I stay in Singapore since and rarely seen my children. I enjoy Singapore, opportunity to work, I am thankful for, but here, it is money first, heart second. I can educate my children thanks to this work and hope the money I save can build a small chapel to help people who need it back home.”

It seems he is is always fighting for something better. I hope he wins.

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