Remember Keith Summers? You know, the guy who has been stalking Stickman for the past few months. Well, apparently he leads a double life as a part-time ninja, so all those guys on Mango Sauce who have been talking smack about the crazed blogger had better watch their backs. He has no fear. This comes from his latest blog. Watch out Thailand.

———-A few nights a week I go out on the town and visit the local bars and night clubs. About 2 years ago I was standing at table talking to a couple of girls at a local night spot when an argument broke out between two guys who are standing about 12 feet from me. (The night club is pictured at the right)This place was a small disco/restaurant place. It has a glass enclosed indoor area that holds about 100 people and it has a covered wooden deck outside of about the same size.

These guys looked to be in their 30’s and they started out fairly slowly at first and were just yelling at each other a bit. They were at about 11 o’clock to my position and were not causing anyone any grief. Not much was noticed over the loud music. A few minutes later, a table was shaken and a glass hits the floor and breaks. People saw that. Then rather quickly more glasses were toppled and broke and tempers are flared. Others are beginning to watch. The two jostled each other briefly without throwing punches. I’m noticing the commotion. The normal security guy “Pee Phanom” is outside on the outer deck unaware of the immanent eruption.

Just then, the guy furthest from me (facing my way) picked up a small metal chair and threw it at angle past the other guy and it flew to my 2 o’clock position and a Katoey jumped away from an adjacent table (which is near mine) and that chair slammed into the outer glass wall and bounced down to the floor. I’m surprised the windows didn’t break. No one was hurt.

At that point I felt alarmed and I instinctively made a move. I suppose I was ready for it. I walked right over to disarm the situation. The man with his back to me seemed more passive so I confronted the one who threw the chair. He probably had some unkind words for me but I wasn’t hearing them too well.

I engaged him and wedged his right arm between my two arms. My hands were clasped tight and I twisted my body in a downward motion. I leaned in on him putting the full weight of my body on his arm. He had no where to go but down. I kept telling him in Thai over and over — stop, don’t. I’m watching over my shoulder at the other and he is not moving. I keep pushing down and within about minute my left knee is resting on the cement floor and his body is somewhere below that point partially resting on some of that glass he broke.

I have worn him out. He relents. I sense that he has regained his composure. I slowly let him up. He seems content to walk out and I’m happy to let him leave.

I return to the girl’s table. I assessed my damage. I’m wore shorts on that hot summer night and my bare knee that settled onto the floor was mildly encrusted with small glass fragments. I’m was bleeding a little bit but it didn’t hurt that much. I scraped my knee and clean it up.

A few minutes later, I see that same guy talking to the security guy “Pee Phanom”. They both are on the outskirts of the deck. They must know each other.

Several patrons in the club came up to me, and thanked me for stepping in and reducing that danger. They were very grateful. They were more than grateful they were surprised that I would stick my neck out for them. (I won’t tell you exactly what they said because you’ll think I’m just being boastful.) It’s at moments like these that the Thai community feels like family to me. I felt like I had done the right thing. It felt damn good.

Just then, the man who I restrained returns. He walks up to me. And I don’t see an angry posture, but I’m still on guard. I have not had anything like this happen before. I’m ready for anything.

As it turned out, he came to thank me and he wai’d me in a very respectful way. I couldn’t believe it. I almost fell over in disbelief. At that moment I didn’t quite appreciate what was happening and I didn’t return the wai (as would be customary). Shortly after he walked away and the entire incident was over.

I was later told that both of these guys were off duty police officers. I thought to myself — “oh this is great. I now have to think about having issues with the local police.” I was concerned for a while, but nothing ever followed up from it. That incident happened probably 2 years ago now.

They were drunk. They were getting out of control, and when they crossed a line that suggested they may hurt someone, I make a prudent move to put a clamp on the situation. I didn’t strike anybody. I didn’t get angry.

I was lucky. I could have been hurt. One of the guys could have pulled a knife on me. When you “Step Up”, you have to accept those types of risks.

Techno’ tags: Keith Summers, Bangkok, John Galt, Thailand