Draining the Ponds

Early one morning Paa’s mum came round and said would I drive the car because they were draining a fishing pond, I jumped at the opportunity, little realising that my truck was to be fish transporter and fish selling vehicle for the whole day. The day was great fun however, I didn’t go in this time because of a foot rash, heat I think. They drained two ponds and got hundreds of fish. Mainly two types, one a catfish with spikes, which got me (more about that later). There were two eels and about six green snakes. The star of the show was Joe, a boy about 10, who is an expert at picking up all the fish and snakes, there are a couple of pics, one of him with a snake.
Just at the end I was washing fish and through the net a catfish spiked me. It was explained by action that pain could travel up my arm. Paa’s mum sucked the blood out for a few minutes then Paa’s grandma and granddad came to heal me, they spat red stuff on the tiny wound then made hand gestures as if to tell the poison to go away. It worked I go no pain, I think they were overly worried because I was a ‘farang’ (non SE Asian) or westerner.