Page 73 of In Darkness and Dank

“I can’t do that on this phone, Mom.”

“How many fingers can you fit into the waistband? Are they too tight?”

“It’s fine, Mom.” Kittisak smirked, pausing at the edge of the dock. “Thank you for everything. The swimming trunks are great, the pictures, the deodorant, all of it.”

“Those Swedish Fish are for Shu,” she said firmly.

“I know.” Kittisak grinned. “He’s gonna love them.”

“I’m bringing some when we come next week.”

“Wait, so, it’s a yes? You guys are coming down here?” Kittisak’s grin grew.

“Yes!” His mother laughed. “The company is paying for everything, and of course, they want us to do an exclusive interview as a family to hear our feelings about you dating one of the Rife.”

“Your feelings, huh?” Kittisak snorted. “And what are those exactly?”

“Sure beats the hell out of a Mini Cooper.”

Kittisak laughed. “Thanks, Mom.”

“You know that your father and I are very happy for you,” she said more sincerely. “We can’t wait to meet Shu, and we are so very proud of you.”

“Thank you—”

“Now, we still expect you to finish college, of course.”

“Yes, Mother.” Kittisak sat down on the edge of the dock so he could dangle his feet in the water. “I will. I promise. They’re gonna get Internet and all that out here soon. I can totally take online classes.”

“Still botany, yes?”

“Well…” Kittisak kicked the water absently. “I think I’m gonna switch to something else.”

“Oh?”

Kittisak grinned. “Thinking about going to culinary school.”

“Really?”

“Look, it will still totally tie in to botany. I want to study the different ways to cook all the amazing ingredients out here. Shu taught me so much cool stuff, and it’s so good. Like, wow, there’s this one thing that looks like a giant green bean with fluffy white stuff, but it tastes like vanilla ice cream. It’s delicious. And oh, I came up with this honey sriracha glaze for fish. You just wait until I cook for you!”

His mother laughed. “That sounds wonderful.”

“Yeah?” Kittisak fidgeted. “I was a little nervous telling you.”

“More nervous than telling me that you were almost failing biology and got lost in the rainforest?”

“Okay, technically, I didn’t get lost. I ended up exactly where I wanted to be.”

She laughed again. “Fair enough, sweetie. I know that you will be amazing at whatever you decide to do. If you write a cookbook, I will buy the first copy.”

“It’s yours.” Kittisak saw Shu’s shadow moving closer in the water. “So, when are you guys coming?”

“I believe we fly out on Friday?” She paused. “The flight is ten hours or so, and I think we should get to you by… Sunday. I think that’s right.”

“Who’s your guide?”

“Mr. Paiva!” she replied. “He insisted.”

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