Last week, while wandering through the local market, Borey spotted a lonely, uninspiring watermelon. There was nothing special about it. Just a round, greenish looking kilo of melon. But Borey was unable to resist it. He doesn't even remember what he paid. He doesn't care. He had the only watermelon in the market.
Borey is a bit of a watermelon snob. He likes his melon plain. No salt or other accompaniment. His only fetish is that the melon must be cold. Just out of the refrigerator cold. So, as soon as they got home, he place the fruit carefully on the highest shelf of the refrigerator that would fit it. And there it stayed, through the afternoon and into the hot, sweltering evening.
As is customary in Borey's neighbourhood, dinner is often a “pot luck” affair, at which four or five local ladies provide a generous assortment of Isaan foods. This time of year there is much in the way of bamboo curries and various wild mushroom treats to eat alongside the grilled or stewed fish and meats. That evening Borey didn't dwell on the various courses. His mind was on the contents of the refrigerator. So, as soon as Borey had amply sampled all the dishes, he made his move. After a quick “I'm full”, he was off to the rear kitchen, where he opened the refrigerator and pulled out his prize. Borey, being no slouch with a knife, made short work of the melon, quickly filling a serving platter with red, succulent slices. (Minus those slices which found their way down Borey's throat.)
Borey returned to the dinner party, carrying his platter with pride, and placing it at the center of the throng. A murmur of “watermelon” went up. But their real surprise was when they tasted the almost ice-cold melon. It had apparently never occurred to the locals to refrigerate a watermelon, which is hard to believe as they will put ice in perfectly good cold beer. Borey thinks that there was true admiration for the falang and his remarkable innovation. The watermelon was rapidly consumed.
Since that night, Borey has returned daily to the local markets in search of another watermelon. But he is always disappointed. He is told that it is the end of the season, and that he has already purchased the last watermelon.
The above picture is only a fictional representation of the last watermelon. It is meant only as inspiration while looking forward to the next season.