By Father Joe Maier, Bangkok Post Sunday, Spectrum Section, Nov. 22, 2009

With the sound of that lady judge's voice still ringing in her ears - even after three months in the kids' slammer for girls - Miss Angela came to us here in Klong Toey in a prison van from a Bangkok Girls' Remand Home - middle seat, sandwiched between two custodians.

That lady judge had said: "This is outrageous! Eighteen-hundred pills? Lock up this child and throw away the key, to protect her." Then sternly to the arresting officers: "You catch those criminals who used this child. Take her away. Hide her. Protect Her. Educate her as long as you can, at least till she's 18. Do whatever you have to do." And she added bitterly: "You tell the mother, if there is ever any buying and selling to do - and I do not want to know about any of it - tell her to sell herself - never her children!"

Through thick and thin, 'almost momma' Rin and her two little sisters are always up for another round of 'phong pah' By Father Joe MaierPublished in the Bangkok Post: 18/10/2009. Spectrum section.

It's a love story that needs telling. Three of the most fabulous children on the planet and their giggles galore version of phong pah - something like "blind man's bluff", with a Thai whiff of "hide and seek" added for spice.

It's a glorious game. Phong pah means something like "thumbs up, I found you!" And you say the word "phong" loudly as you hold up your thumbs when you find the person who is hiding.

Except our Miss Phae can't quite manage the word "phong" so the other two cut her a bit of slack, letting her just say "dhaah". Plus, she isn't sure about "thumbs" so she gets to raise up her whole arm. Actually, Miss Phae is probably the best player. Yes, she's blind, but oh boy, she can really hear! That's her secret weapon.

And "pah" is what you say when you touch whoever is "it" - who is looking for you - but you find them first and touch them before they see you. That's when you say "pah!"

Now Miss Rin, way oldest of the three, considers herself most certainly the best phong pah player in all of Thailand, maybe even the planet. It's a matter of "face". Besides that, she's the "older sister" and almost their real momma.

The old man and the sea, and his granddaughter

by Father Joe Maier

The Moken people might struggle to eke out a living, but their spirits - like those of the sea - endure

It's true. The kids do swim and wade in water up to their neck to school when the tides are in. And they love it. Stilt houses on the shore have no connecting bridge so they swim the 50 metres - clothes and books held dry above their heads with one hand.

Great fun for 7-year-old Miss Jhin and the other children. Not every day, but according to the tides. And cameras. The tide had gone down and a boat arrived from the mainland with the camera lady - not the regular morning boat bringing the teachers and fresh food to cook for the school breakfast and midday meals.

Miss Jhin's favourite teacher, the one she trusted the most, Ms Phrong, introduced her kindergarten class to the camera lady from the government census office. Miss Jhin pulled her shirt over her face: "No Way! No pictures! I don't' trust anybody that much!" She was absolutely certain - no doubt - for sure - that she'd be captured in the camera and would not be able to get out. She didn't know why or how, but she just knew. Just like the television: how did they get out of the picture? But she suggested to the camera lady that she take not just one but several pictures of her four-year-old brother. She didn't dare giggle as she told her this wonderful idea!

No parents, no food, no home

It's the pits to be hungry when you're eight years old. Even with practice. And Master Moe had lots of practice.

Once again Mum and Dad were doing "government service", as it's called. Not locked up in a cell, per se, but it was suggested to them that they stick around the station for a few days and nights. If they strayed? The evening news would report they were "shot while attempting to escape". Lethal, most serious stuff.

"Government service" also meant eight-year-old Master Moe would again act as head of the household, and seven-year-old cousin Sai as "mum" for the younger three, Master Dhuey, Miss Gig and one-year-old Miss Gook.

With Moe and Sai in charge, that day they didn't go to school, after the early morning raid. Too shocked. Too hungry. That night the younger three cried for their momma till dawn, and nature took its course with baby Miss Gook doing her baby thing - poop, soaking the bedding, and the place stunk with a mighty odour!

Early next morning, Moe and Sai were awake and the younger three slept when the drug control lads raided their shack again, just like they did the day before dawn when they "invited mum and dad to visit the station".