The final night was held for the funeral wake of Neng Mengjai. Tonight marked the 6th and last night, and Mam Jokmok was the host of the event. Mam spoke in an interview about his younger brother, saying
At first, I didn’t think Neng had passed. When Ice, Neng’s wife, called Pim, I thought they had broken up, not that he had died. Neng was very kind and often came to our house, always dropping in to relax whenever he visited. Tonight, I even invited Neng to come back to my place to have a beer together—told him to come tonight. Also, Mam and Mod shared a chilling story.
"We arrived in Vientiane on March 18, but due to the fluctuating cold and heat, I caught a cold. On the morning of March 19, my wife woke me up saying that Neng’s wife had called—Neng was gone. Half-asleep, I thought they’d split up. I just thought that. Then she said no, he had passed away. I was shocked and started coordinating with Ball and the others.
Ball wanted to hold it for three days. I asked him, ‘Ball, I want to cremate him.’ So, we agreed on those three days and gave it our all. After that, I’d continue. I told Ball I’d handle things and get the comedian association involved. Then I called Oba, Siang Noe, P’Jib, Chuan Chuen, P’Ped, Chernyim—they all agreed and wanted to attend the cremation because it was so sudden."
In the last 4-5 years since COVID, we’ve been together all the time because we filmed many movies together. Lately, he came to my house often, usually stressed. I didn’t want to pry; I just let him sit, offered food, and tried to comfort him. It broke my heart the day he died."
But Pim, Mam’s wife, loved him very much?
"He called Mod ‘mother’—both husband and wife. On days without work, they’d sit together at home, eat meals, cook, like a real couple. Sometimes he’d visit at night; sometimes we were there, sometimes not."
On the day we heard the news, Mod had been crying since morning but didn’t dare wake anyone. I thought they had broken up. I heard from the loudspeaker ‘P’Neng is gone,’ and thought he had left Ice. That was the meaning we took."
What was Neng’s charm?
"He was polite, knew manners, and appreciated people. He often spoke about Ball, saying without Ball, he’d be lost. Ball was like a brother, friend, and father to him. He said this when he was down, and I told him, ‘I understand.’"
Lately, his face looked dull, but I didn’t dare ask him or tell anyone. During the event, Ajarn Der felt his face had changed but didn’t dare say anything. The last time I saw Neng was just over 10 days ago."
From now on, I’ll be supporting his wife. The rest I’ll handle with the association. Ball has already managed part of it. He loved Neng dearly. Yesterday, we spent the whole day together in Vientiane because Ball had a concert. We talked; he was a bit down, grieving like people who have lived together. Even though they had disagreements, on the last day you think about the good times. We were all sad."
What did Neng say to you the last time you met?
"I asked if he’d been checked by a doctor. He said not to worry, that he was fine. He joked around, as usual."
Anything you want to say to Neng?
"If I could tell him, I don’t know if he’d hear me, but he left too soon. Sometimes he wouldn’t go to the doctor because he was stubborn. When he came to my house, he always relaxed, but he was unsteady."
Just now, I was joking by his coffin, saying, ‘Who’s going to drink beer with me now? I’ve got it chilled. If you want to come, come tonight.’ I invited him to my home, the place he used to sit. When he was working, he usually didn’t drink, only when he was free."
Loved him like a son?
"Like a son or nephew. Sometimes I felt tender toward him. If you look closely, he acted in 3-4 films recently. I don’t want to face his wife because I’d cry with her—I’m easily moved to tears. I don’t want to see Ice’s posts because I feel sorry for her. My wife cried with her too."
Losing someone you’ve been with almost your entire life is like losing yourself. We don’t know who will be next. It’s year after year that comedians keep passing away."
Also, Mam and Mod fondly recalled that while in Vientiane, they were talking with Ball about keeping Neng for another three days. Ball agreed. But while they were talking, Neng’s wife called crying. Then someone knocked on the door—when they opened it three times, no one was there. On the third time, they got goosebumps and thought, ‘That’s it.’"
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