'MY NEW FRIENDS NEED a place to rent for a year, do you know of anything? If you can help me find somewhere suitable, I can help you by giving your nephew a few days of work.'

'Sure thing,' replied the elderly Thai, 'let's go.'

'You donʼt hang about, do you? And about your nephew, Nick will pay him 50 Baht a day to start and see how he goes. Is that okay? About renting the house, I plan to charge half of whatever you agree on for the deposit for our finder's fee. As for the monthly rent, that's all yours. If you nod to the idea and all is agreed upon, they will be our first customers. After that, we'll begin the private housing side of the new business.'

'Great idea, that suits me fine, you get the customers, and I'll find suitable accommodation.'

Khun Daa agreed with a smile, saying he knew the deal and how it would work.

They soon found a lovely wooden beach house. There would be no need to find another place, as they would love this home. Sure enough, the girls fell in love with the old house, positioned to enjoy seeing the sun dancing on the horizon. This was easy. The best job he ever had and in the best place.

A bellow shattered Kev's tranquil mood.

'Where the hell have you been? What have you been doing?'

'Christ Nick, you are not my Mum. What's the matter?'

'What is the matter? What is the matter? I am bloody starving and sweating like a pig in a riot. I have been up that flimsy ladder all day, and with no one to help, that's what the matter is. Do you want me to go on?'

'Oh, a young guy should have come over to help you; I wonder what happened to him?'

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'A young lad turned up, he laughed at my sweaty appearance, so I told him to get lost! In the friendliest way, naturally!'

'Okay, leave it to me. I'll sort it out. Come on; I have got to collect some money. I, too, have been busy. There are two girls I want you to meet.'

Instantly Nick felt better, mainly when Kev told him about their looks. He caught up to Kev as he reached the door.

'Should I tidy myself up?'

'No time. We have work to do.'

The girls had already moved most of their things to the beach house. Not that they had much to move. Their new home comprised one big wooden room on stilts overlooking the beach. It had a toilet and shower at ground level next to the open-air kitchen, which was perfect. Emma and Gi had been to the market and got themselves mosquito nets and basic kitchen utensils. All set. They also placed their rent money in an envelope with Kevʼs name.

Kev introduced Nick. He was not looking his best. Sweat was still running down his face, and his shorts looked stained and stretched out of shape. Nevertheless, he put on his best smile.

Emma and Gi had been friends since school. They came from a small farming village outside Paris. Both were bright at school, and their teachers and parents expected good things. But the young ladies decided further schooling was not for them, at least not for now. The girls were more than attractive. They were stunning. They consistently had to turn down prospective suitors. They needed to escape the attention of childish boys.

These girls were fun, always laughing and joking, and they did not laugh at the big guy's shabby appearance. Nick and Kev were their first guests, and they made them welcome. They served snacks and cold beer in the shade between the stilts on the sand. They all sat on towels, as the girls had not bought any seating. Who needs it when you can sit on the beach?

It was not a shock that the girls found it easy to get friends; it surprised that they chose four-legged pals. The girls had already made friends with the beach dogs. The scabby creatures had made themselves at home.

The only downer for both Nick and Kev was that the girls insisted they were not looking for romance. Instead, friendships, two-legged and four, were all they wanted.

Kev had to return to the guesthouse to settle the rent but promised to return with more beer.

Tomorrow Kev would explain to Nick how their business would work. Tonight was for fun, using the not-so-hard-earned cash.