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Raya lay in her bed with her eyes wide open looking up at her ceiling. It was a pretty shade that could only be described as sunset orange. Maybe once her duties for today were complete, she and her daughter would paint the ceilings the colors of a sunset. Honestly, she'd rather do that physical labor rather than what Cara really wanted.
Her 11 year old wanted to ride Tuk Tuk like she does. Raya herself picked up riding him at 15 and she thought she was too young. Through clever words and her natural charm did she finally agree to it.
Somehow painting her ceiling sounded like more fun. Raya sighed as she turned on her side and eyed the door as long back hair disappeared with a swish. She sighed and had to get up as she could make out figures starting their breakfast meal. Her ba was talking with Cara, his voice heard down the hall.
She put a hand on her forehead and sighed once again, really not ready for this.
“Raya it’s time to get up,” said her father standing in her doorway. “Guess what, your precious jewel here convinced me to give you the day off. I’ll be doing your chief duties so you can teach Cara how to ride Tuk Tuk.”
Cara, dressed and prepared to leave at the minute's notice, grinned from behind her ba. She giggled before running off to the kitchen to get more to eat. Honestly that girl could eat three meals and still be hungry. Raya could only remember when she was that age and sighed.
“Ba, do you think that Cara is a little too young to learn how to rid Tuk Tuk?” she asked, her hair brushing against her cheek and eyes curious. She was kind of forced into learning how to ride him because of the state of their world at the time. Not only that but Cara had Pema her own Tuk Tuk who was too small to learn how to ride. “Admittedly, I’ve been nervous since I told her yes.”
Benja looked down at her and looked thoughtful. Honestly eleven was a little too young, but he knew how his granddaughter felt. She was excited and had been pushing for weeks now. It would be unfair for her to get told just before the first lesson. Slowly he began to shake his head no and Raya looked a little downcast.
“I understand your nervousness but it’d be unfair,” said Benja echoing his previous thoughts. “I know I was scared to death when you got hurt the first time.”
Raya thought back to when she broke her wrist. It wasn’t a big deal at the time, but her ba watching her get hurt had to be difficult because he wasn’t there to protect her. Now she was going through the same process that he went through.
“It’s like that time I broke my wrist. She’s just going to have to try and fail and I’ll be forced to watch,” said Raya muttering to herself the last part as she headed toward the kitchen herself. Unlike the others she didn’t get a chance to eat yet.
“But you’ll be there to help her stand up again,” said Benja as he kissed his daughter's head. “Go, have fun. Tell Tuk Tuk that I said hello.”
With that she grabbed something light to eat and then saw Cara standing next to the gates, ready to go. Her foot impatiently tapping against the dirt. Tuk Tuk had rolled over and bobbed his head as if saying hello back. Her father went back inside to tend to some matters as Raya smiled at her daughter.
“Finally,” said Cara with an exasperated look on her face.
They chatted briefly about her schooling, friends, and general joking did they reach just the outskirts of town where they would practice. To her surprise and a little suspicious did she understand why Cara wanted to learn.
Naarmi and her son, Chai (short for Surachai), stood there with his arms crossed and Phom Pia braids tossed over his shoulders. Serlot there as well as Chai was petting him and his own younger version of Serlot there. From what she could guess is that she wanted to learn to ride Tuk Tuk when Chai got his own pet to ride. Cara looked disappointed thinking that she could have brought Pema.
“Well I guess this is a joint lesson,” said Raya joining them. “Are you ready to start?”
“I’ve been ready,” she said as she eyed Chai getting ready himself for the lesson.
After learning how to properly get off and start, the two kids were already chasing after each other. Honestly it was kind of amazing how quickly they picked it up. Tuk Tuk was gentle and Chai’s pet seemed to understand what was going on. Raya gazed as she helped Cara get adjusted on the top. They’ve been riding together of course. This was the first time that she was getting a hold of the reins by herself.
“They are going to grow up and get married to each other. Then we’ll be mother-in-laws,” said Raya to Naarmi with a chuckle.
“Nah, we’re already raising them together. We are their mothers,” said Naarmi, rolling her eyes a little. “Alright, let’s get this party started! Do you want to race?”
“No racing yet,” said Raya firmly grateful the kids didn’t seem to hear her. “Come on Naarmi we have to let them get used to it. Maybe racing next week.”
“You’re being over protective,” she said as she squared her shoulders turning to Raya with a small grin on her face. “I get it though. Chai couldn’t get his grip on Arun right away and got scraps all over his legs. It’s not the worst thing he’s done but I still wondered if he was ready.”
Raya laughed knowing exactly what Chai has done through the years. He had more bumps, scraps, and bruises then anyone she knew. They sat next to each other as Raya rested her head on Naarmi’s shoulder. Naarmi’s hand on her thigh as they watched the kids get their bearings. She could feel Naarmi play with a strand of her hair braiding tiny strands together. The hot sun getting higher in the sky as she fanned them with her hat.
Tuk Tuk was gentle and Arun looked tiny next to Tuk Tuk as Raya stood up to see what was going on. Naarmi frowned as they watched Cara jump off Tuk Tuk and on Arun. By extension falling over and knocking Chai off.
“Hey you two,” yelled Naarmi as they raced over to the kids.
Chai and Cara were laughing about something as they checked over them. They sounded alright as they compared their latest bruises from landing on top of each other.
“How about we take a break,” suggested Naarmi.
“We could go to the river,” said Raya, agreeing. “First one there on foot can pick dessert tonight.”
Naarmi and Chai would eat at their place and vice versa back and forth for years. They knew each others houses like the back of their hands. With that Chai and Naarmi were already ahead of them as Cara kept pace with her mom. Raya could only grin at how fast she got compared to a year and a half ago when she wasn't as active. Behind them their pets were watching amused knowing that they could catch up at any minute.
“Thanks for letting me do this mom,” she said, “I love riding Tuk Tuk and I can’t wait for Pema to be old enough for me to ride. Can we come back tomorrow?”
“You got to catch me first for me to decide that,” said Raya, ruffling her hair pulling forward.
With that they were racing to win this race determining to beat Chai and Naarmi who weren't as far ahead as they thought.