The Rent Collector

Sang reads the other essays from Sopeap and thinks about the lessons—of love, irony, kindness, and anguish—she learns from each story. However, the book does not tell her where to find Sopeap, though the note at the end does tell Sang that Sopeap left her some books at her house and tells Sang where to find the key.

Sang next thinks to look at the hospital for Sopeap. She discovers that Sopeap quit treatment several weeks prior and refused an opportunity to travel to Thailand for experimental treatment. Sang then goes to Sopeap’s home, which is located outside of the dump and much more of a real home than Sang’s own—not only does it have “two rooms, solid walls, and a pitched roof,” it also has a “front door that locks” (226). Sopeap is not there, but when Sang and Ki go inside, Sang sees hundreds of books. Then she locates a list of the dozen families from whom Sopeap collects rent, including Ki and Sang. Sang questions Sopeap’s neighbors, who know only that Sopeap left a few days before. Ki then suggests finding out who owns the land on which he and Sang live, reasoning that the landowners will know where their rent collector might be.