Mind Your Language (衰多口II)

It is important for us to mind our languages wherever we might be. If we go to a foreign place and offended people over there, then we might put ourselves in danger. However, if our big mouths angered those unseen friends around; then they may disturb us for a very long time. We can also lose our lives in long run too as these invisible friends aka ghosts may cause fatal accidents or serious illnesses.

The below story happened to Bob who visited a cremation ash memorial pagoda in Penang Air Itam near Kek Lok Si (极乐寺) about two years ago during the Chinese All-Souls’-Day (清明). Bob now lives in JB would normally pay his late father’s ash in the pagoda a visit during every All-Souls’-Day. And that particular year is of no different.

On that morning, Bob bought some food stuffs and proceeded to the pagoda where his father was laid to rest. His father’s ash urn was located on the 9^th floor amongst other urns. Unlike other families, Bob’s offering was relatively simple and after he had lit the incenses and candles; he has got nothing else to do but to wait until the incenses are burnt halfway. Only after that he would perform a divination to determine if his old pa has had enough before he proceeded to burn the joss papers.

So said, during the mean time; Bob was free to roam about the pagoda. Just as when Bob’s eye sight lingered about on the photo and name plates of each compartment containing cremation ash urn, he suddenly noticed a not-so-pretty young girl died of quite young age. The location of the deceased young lady was just below Bob’s old pa’s compartment. First of all, Bob wasn’t those who are too careful with the language and 4-letter-words would normally be the normal starting ward for him. And after Bob looked at the dead girl’s photo, he started to comment as usual: “What the f**k! I wouldn’t marry her even she is still around!”

After lingered around and commenting on others for a round, he returned to his old pa’s place and asked if his pa has had enough. And the answer was positive. Bob immediately go down to the ground floor to burn all his paper offerings. That would settle the old pa’s business for that year thought Bob. But soon he learnt how wrong he was…

On that night alone, Bob dreamed of an angry not-so-pretty young lady resembled the one in the photo he had commented on. The lady was furious and yelled at Bob: “What had I done to deserve your insult amongst all my friends? Now I am the laughing stalk in town! I will follow you wherever you go and make your life miserable!”

Once the lady said the words, she started to strangle Bob’s neck. And in a dreamy state, Bob struggled with the lady and as he rolled left and right to loosen the lady’s gripe; he fell from his bed and Bob was awaken by the pain in his buttock as he fell bottom first. The same incident happened the following night and hence a consecutive few more nights. Bob’s night mare made him sleepless at night and finally one day, his new car rammed onto a tree by the road and Bob was hospitalized for two weeks. The lady ghost continued to disturb Bob even he was in the hospital.

The first thing Bob was discharged, he called me and asked for my advice. So I said to him: “Why not you pray to your ancestors for help?”

Perhaps he did follow my suggestion and a few days later, Bob called me again. This time he sounded quite happy. The first thing he said was: “F**k! Mr. Liew, your method worked!”

According to Bob, the night after my prayer to my late pa, the not-so-pretty ghost came to disturb me again. Then, my late pa came to her and said to her: “Young lady, please forgive my son. Please give this old man a face as we are neighbours!”

Strangely speaking, as soon as Bob’s late dad said the words, the lady ghost disappeared and she never returned since.

I asked Bob half-jokingly: “Do you dare to repeat the offence again?”

As usual, his reply was: “F**k! No way Sir!”