The Elephant Gate

Surikitiyia had a mulish expression on her face when it was announced at the breakfast table that Noy Kevin was moving to stay with Captain Thadchai.

"Stop misbehaving, Suri. Noy Kevin will be here every day to take lessons with you," the queen admonished, "And there will be play time together. Plus, he will be eating breakfast and lunch with us."

"With apologies, Your Highness," Thadchai interejected, "he will have morning chores to do first. It would be best if we come to the palace after the first meal." Kevin was surprised. He had to do chores too? The captain didn't say that before! Still, he wanted to move there, and after all, Mom told him to keep his promises. He leaned back over his plate and applied himself to the scrambled eggs and rice porridge.

After breakfast, Suri and Kevin headed to the pool area, flanked by two guards. They stopped at the edge of the patio, but she dragged Kevin by one hand until they were near the far end of the pool, out of earshot. There a stone lion spit water, gurgling sounds tinkling the air. Suri marched until she reached the lion and whirled on Kevin like a flash.

"Why don't you want to stay here!" She demanded. "Don't you like it here?" Kevin took a step back from her ferocity.

"I like it here. It's great! But with the cap'n, I can see the horses and the elephants every day. Even though I have to do chores, he will show me how to be a guard and maybe how to fight and protect people. Just in case I maybe hafta protect you and the king and queen!" Kevin had visions of fierce gun battles from horseback like the Lone Ranger, or swordfights with pirates, or even a policeman protecting people from bad guys.

She sniffed. "But I like you being home, 'cuze it's fun to play with a kid like me." Kevin put his hand upon his heart.

"I promise that we will be best friends no matter what."

"Pinky swear?" He somberly extended his hand, and together, they pledged. The moment was broken when she jumped and kissed his cheek before running away towards the gazebo. "Catch me!"

Kevin thought a kiss from a girl might be yucky, but hers was kinda nice. With a whoop, he chased after her, running through the twists and turns of the greenery.

* * *

Once inside, they both slowed down, aware of the servants lurking in the corners, but they still giggled as they made their way upstairs. Surikitiyia led him to door near the top of the stairs.

"This is the school room," she announced. Just then, Khun came around the corner with a basket of clothes.

"Young miss! Do you want me to open the doors for you?" She set the basket down and pushed the heavy doors wider. "I'll take the laundry down and be back in a few minutes to help you."

The two were left to wander around. Kevin went straight to the books that had animals on them. He could read the names on them, but he wasn't sure they were the alphabet he knew. They just looked a little funny. Up on one of the walls was a chart showing the different symbols. Kevin could make out the "A B C" but they had extra marks above and below the letters.

"Sur'kya, I don't think this is my alphabet. Can you pronounce them for me?" She started with Aa, Ăă, Bb, Cc, Dd, Đđ… The sounds seemed familiar even if the letters looked funny. Kevin thought he could learn it, although he may have to start at the beginning, like a baby. He hoped Sur'kya didn't make fun of him.

"Can you do it again?" He started pronouncing them along with her, trying to get the same inflection right. Maybe that would help him sound more like them, too. And when the housekeeper showed up, he took a couple of books, determined to catch up as fast as possible. Khun Nee took a protesting Surikitiyia away; she had gotten dirty from their playtime earlier.

When he got to his bedroom, one of the servants was packing two small dark blue suitcases. She turned around when she heard him.

"Oh, Noy Kevin! I was putting away your clothes for you. Captain Thadchai plans to take you to your new home soon." Kevin nodded, already thinking about what his new room will look like.

He was curled up on the sofa, going through one of the schoolbooks, when Captain Thadchai knocked on his open bedroom door. "Noy Kevin? Are you ready to go?"

"Almost!" He scrambled to his feet and rushed to the door. "Do you think it's okay if I take a couple of school books with me? Your alphabet is different from mine, and I want to practice before my first day of school."

The captain smiled and ruffled his hair, the gesture already familiar to the boy. "Of course, as long as we remember to return them when you are done."

He carefully stuffed them in the front pocket of one of the suitcases. When he was done, he grabbed the smallest one. The captain took the other and wheeled it out. Kevin took one last look around before walking away.

The foyer was bright with color as the sun streamed down through the stained glass windows. The king, queen, and now-clean princess were there, as well as several servants. Queen Rachini gave him a hug.

"We will see you in two days for your first lesson." Kevin nodded, then bowed to the king, who patted him on the head. He held out his hand to Surikitiyia, who insisted on another pinky-swear. Then a quick wave to everyone else before descending down the front steps to the black four-door pickup truck. It was big and tall, but luckily had running boards so he could climb in. The captain placed the two blue suitcases in the rear seats as Kevin gamely yanked his door shut and fumbled for the seat belt.

Captain Thadchai waited until Kevin was successful in securing it, then he, too, climbed in.

"Well, Noy Kevin, are you ready for your next adventure?"

"Yes, sir!"