Every single morning when you wake up, just wish may I be healthy, happy and free from suffering and may all beings in this world be healthy, happy and free from suffering.
Start the day with universal love and kindness.
With Metta,
Da
May all sentient beings be free from suffering
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Meowy Reunion
It's Qingming time again and the temple is crowded with humans coming to pay respects to their beloved departed ones. This annual festival is dedicated to remembering and honouring the deceased and apart from offering food to them, they also visit their tombs and clean them up. So the "Palace" in our temple had been a hive of activity since the last two weeks.
We of course held daily prayers at the Palace and the air is often filled with smoke from burning jossticks which always make my eyes smart.
One morning I had stopped near HD and PH 's niche to wipe my eyes. HD was talking to PH in low tones and I couldn't help but overhear what he said.
"You know, PH," he was saying. "All our friends here are very lucky, they have their children, grandchildren etc. etc. who come and visit them...." He paused and sighed. "I don't have anyone. My Dad died when I was a toddler and left my Mum penniless. She had no choice but to put me in an orphanage where I grew up. She visited me a few times, then she stopped coming and I never saw her again."
"Same here," interrupted PH. "My parents deserted me when young and an uncle grudgingly took me in. He hated me because I was a burden to him, so in the end, I ran away and got involved with some hoodlums. That was when I lost my head!"
HD laughed and cried, "That was when we met! Remember I had fallen off the balcony of my apartment after that fight with my late wife's lover....I'm so glad we met, PH! You've been such a good friend and companion!" and he gave PH a hug.
All this time, they were unaware that I was standing near their niche and I was rather touched when they hugged each other.
Then HD said rather wistfully, "If only I knew what happened to my Mum...."
PH then saw me and said, "Oh there you are, Vege Cat, can you help HD?"
"Er...help?" I said. "How?"
"Find his mother for him!" he said.
I must say I am flattered that these two spooks think I am the cat version of Sherlock Holmes or Superman but sometimes they ask too much. Do they think I have nothing to do at the temple?
"Look, guys," I began and before I could continue, a ginger cat appeared from nowhere and ran towards HD.
"Meow, Meow, Meow," she cried non-stop.
"What does she want?" asked HD, looking down at her.
"Er ... she's calling someone named "Bum Bum"?" I translated, quite puzzled.
"OMG!" exclaimed HD. "Did you say "Bum Bum"? That...that was the nickname my mum gave me when I was small! But ... but how did this cat know?"
The cat started mewing again. Meow, Meow, Meow.
"Quick, translate!" yelled an excited HD.
I couldn't believe what she said.
"HD, she said she's .... she's your mother!"There was a stunned silence.
The cat started talking again. Meow, Meow, Meow.
"She said after she left you at the orphanage, she struggled hard for a living and some years later, when she returned to the orphanage to get you, they told her you were no longer there. She died soon after and was reborn as a cat!" I translated breathlessly.
HD's eyes grew big and round with awe as he gazed at the cat.
"Are you...are you REALLY my mum?" whispered HD, his green face going pale. (Now I know what they mean when they say someone's face went "as pale as a ghost".)
"Alright, just to further prove who she is," said HD. "Ask her what was my favourite toy when I was a baby!"
Meow, Meow, Meow.
"A pink feeding bottle with a cat's face?" I translated, trying to stifle a giggle.
"Mum, it's really you!" cried HD and he bent down and scooped the cat into his arms.
HD started weeping, so did PH. After a while, they finally stopped wailing and HD asked, his voice trembling, "But Mum, how did you know I'm here?"
Meow, Meow, Meow.
"She said she had a dream in which she saw you and PH in this temple. She could recognise you despite your injuries. It was only then that she realized that you had died and she immediately came here to see you or what's left of you....!" I translated.
I couldn't believe all this was happening, it's the first time I've met a human who had reincarnated as a cat and acted as her translator!
"Mum, can't you stay with us for a while? I'm sure Head Nun wouldn't mind." said HD, looking at me.
Just then Head Nun came along.
"What's going on here? Where did that cat come from?" she asked.
I looked at HD who nudged me and muttered, "Tell her."
Why that clever spook! He knew Head Nun wouldn't believe him if he told her, so he was making me tell her. I cleared my throat and said, "Head Nun, you probably won't believe this, but she's HD's (ahem) mother!"
Head Nun looked at the cat, then said, "Well, I'm not surprised. A dog once appeared in the temple and said he was the father of one of our deceased ladies here in the columbarium."
"Oh! Er - you don't mind if she stays here for a few days?" I asked.
"Only until the end of the festival." Then she walked away.
Needless to say, HD spent a jubilant few days with his mother before she left for her home with a family of humans who had been desperately searching for her since the day she came to the temple.
I don't know whether Head Nun believed the story but she was kind enough to let HD's mother share meals with me and gave her a soft cushion to sleep on. As for HD, he asked his mother to teach him how to "meow". I dread to think what's coming next....
Monday, March 25, 2024
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Asudem - Part 2
Now that the Chinese New Year festivities are over, I have more time over the weekends to listen to CC's discourses. He is very happy that more and more people from the village are coming to hear him and are genuinely interested in the Buddha's teachings.
One such Saturday, after CC had finished speaking, I saw a little boy run up to him carrying a box. "This box is for you, bhikkhu*," he said. (*ordained monk)
CC was rather surprised and asked who sent it.
"Nenek Gila*", replied the boy. (*Crazy Grandma)
"I've never heard of her," said CC. "Why do you call her by that name?"
"Because she's crazy," said the boy. "Just take it, ok?" and he thrust the box into CC's hands.
CC took it and showed it to me. "Look, Vege Cat, it's tightly sealed with tape and there's only a small hole at the side."
Somehow my sixth sense told me that this box was not an ordinary box and contained something dangerous.
"CC, be careful. What if there's a bomb inside? If I were you, I'd just throw it into the river."
CC laughed and said, "Who would want to kill me? I think you've been watching too much TV, Vege Cat! Let's go over there and open it." He started pulling off the tape and just as he opened the cover of the box, something suddenly popped out - something black and slimy.
"CC, it's a snake! Run!" I yelled. I took to my heels and climbed up a tree. But CC was unperturbed. He was looking at the snake which was black in colour and had its head sticking out of the box, and to my astonishment, he started talking to it!"Hello, friend," he said gently. "Nice to make your acquaintance. What's your name?"
The snake rolled its eyes at him and I was shocked when it began to speak.
"Look, let's not waste time. I won't hurt you, just let me get out of this box and be on my way," it said.
"Sure, but first tell me more. Where do you come from and who sent you to me?" asked CC.
The snake sighed impatiently, then said, "My name's Putih (White). I'm actually a white rabbit and the youngest girl in the family. Nenek Gila captured me some time ago and turned me into a black snake. She's a witch, you know and she has kept me as her "pet" since then. I was imprisoned in my cage all the time and she kept using me for experiments. Then today she told me she's sending me to your temple and instructed me to bite you to death...!"
"What?" gasped CC. "But why? I don't even know her."
"It's something to do with her stepdaughter. It seems you saved her from a curse she put on her..."
"OMG, you mean Asudem? Oh now I get it, Nenek Gila is Asudem's stepmother and she wants to take revenge on me for saving her stepdaughter!"
"Something like that," said Putih. "Look, I don't want to bite you, you're a good person, so let me go on my way. I want to go back to my family and friends, I miss them so much....."
"But you can't go back as a snake, they'll be terrified of you!" said CC.
"Oh I never thought of that," said Putih, looking crestfallen.
"Look, I think I can help you," said CC. "I've got some holy water which we used to save Asudem. Maybe you'll turn back into a rabbit when I pour it over you."
"Oh really?" cried Putih excitedly. "Then let's get on with it!"
Fortunately for Putih, the holy water did work and she turned back into a white bunny.
"Yippee!" she yelled. "Thanks, bhikkhu, now I can go home!"
"Wait, wait," cried CC. "Can you tell me where Nenek Gila lives?"
"Ask the boy who brought me here," and before CC could stop her, she ran out of the door. CC laughed and shook his head. "What a delightful creature," he said.
"CC, why do you want to know where that evil woman lives?" I asked curiously.
CC smiled and said, "I want to transform that woman into love itself."
CC managed to find out the address of Asudem's stepmother and said he would visit her soon. "You can come along if you like, Vege Cat, but if you're too scared, I shall go alone."
"CC, are you sure she won't poison you or turn you into a toad?"
CC patted my head and said, "Don't worry, I'll be safe. Remember, she has been stripped of her powers by the WU (Witches Union), so she can't harm me. I have faith in the Buddha, He will also protect me."
Scared as I was, I could not very well let CC go alone in case something should happen to him, so we set off together a couple of days later.
Nenek Gila's hut was located deep in the forest and we had to struggle through thorny bushes, brambles and muddy paths. CC had brought with him a basket of fruits as a "peace offering" which he hoped would pacify the witch.
At first there was no answer when CC knocked at her door but after some time, it slowly creaked open to reveal a small old woman with long, untidy hair, beady eyes and a crooked nose. I could see that she was startled when she saw CC, she probably thought that her pet snake had killed him.
CC smiled and gave her the basket of fruits. She grabbed it, then growled, "What do you want? I see that dumb snake of mine has spared you. So now have you come to humiliate me?"
CC flashed her another sweet smile and simply said he wanted to talk to her. The witch hesitated, then opened the door wider for us to step in. I didn't expect her to do that, it must be CC's radiant smile and honest face that did it!
I never knew CC could be such a charmer. He is wonderful with words and soon gained her confidence. He told her stories of the Buddha and His teachings, he talked about love, forgiveness, compassion - and in the following weeks, we could see her gradually change.
And that was how a simple monk with a good heart transformed an evil woman into a devotee of the Buddha. Hard to believe? Of course it took time but CC never gave up. People living in her vicinity soon noticed the remarkable change in her and when she started making kueh (cakes) for the children, they changed her name to "Nenek Kueh"!
Friday, March 8, 2024
Asudem
After everybody had settled down, CC began his discourse which was held in the grounds of the temple. I sat on a boulder at the back and had a good view of the congregation. I was pleased to see that a few cats had also come and the rest were elderly and middle aged humans.
Halfway through CC's discourse, I saw a woman with her head covered in a thick shawl come in and sit on the ground at the back. I couldn't see her face because the shawl hid most of it but she appeared to be listening intently to CC.
CC had also noticed her and when he had finished speaking, he went up to her and being naturally very curious, I also tagged along.
"Madam," said CC, smiling. "Welcome to our temple. I haven't seen you here before. Are you from another village?"
She nodded her head and said that her house was on the outskirts of the village. It was getting dark, so CC offered to escort her home. I saw that she was quite old, very frail and thin and walked with the aid of a stick.
The woman's house was further than we thought and we reached it after trudging along for something like half an hour. Our journey was slow as the woman could not walk very fast. It was a small dark hut and the woman went in first to light an oil lamp hanging by the window. We saw that the hut was sparsely furnished and there were only a table, a couple of chairs and an old torn mattress for a bed.
"Please come in," she said. CC thanked her but politely declined. "I am sorry, Madam, but I have to get back to the temple. I have things to do."
To our surprise, the woman suddenly burst into tears. "Please don't go, please, please...." she sobbed. CC and I looked at each other and of course we couldn't just leave her like that.
"What is the matter, Madam? Can we help you?" asked CC kindly.
The woman stopped crying, wiped her tears, then said imploringly to CC, "Please, you've got to help me!"
"Sure, if I can," replied CC, looking a bit baffled.
The woman sat down, composed herself, then whispered, "My name is Asudem. I live all alone her toe. My father died a few years ago and since then my stepmother had been very cruel to me. She dabbles in witchcraft and had always been jealous of my youth and beauty, then one day in her wrath, she put this curse on me, then chased me out of my father's house ..... I've been wandering round on my own since then...."
She paused for a while, then continued.
"I didn't know what to do. I dared not go near people because of my appearance. Luckily, a kind witch who knew what my stepmother had done, felt sorry for me. Although she could not undo another witch's curse, she could tell me how to get rid of the spell. She told me that only a monk who has a kind and compassionate heart can save me and I should look for him. When I chanced upon your temple and listened to your discourse, I knew at once you are the one to save me!"
CC was looking rather bewildered now.
"Er...me? But how?" he asked.
The woman then pleaded, "If I show you what the curse did to me, promise you won't be frightened and run away, please?"
CC agreed though I could see he did not know what to expect. He does have a heart of gold and will do anything to help anyone in distress.
Seeing how frightened we were, she quickly covered her head with her shawl and dropped on her knees before CC.
"Please help me," she cried, tears running down her face.
A shaking CC managed to pull himself together, then stammered: "But what must I do? I haven't the faintest idea how to remove the curse!"
The woman replied, "The kind witch said all I need to do is to bathe in 9 tubs of holy water sprinkled with sprigs of willow and the curse will be removed!"CC thought for a moment. "Well, I think I can arrange it but you must give me some time, at least another two or three days," he said. The woman was so happy that she kept bowing to CC until he gently told her to take some rest.
"CC," I said when we left the hut. "I can't imagine how she can live with those ... those horrible snakes in her hair all this time, how awful it must be! What are you going to do?" My legs were still weak from the shock, it was the most hideous thing I had ever seen.
"I feel very sorry for her too," said CC. "Look, when I get back to the temple, I shall get my monks together, if you want to help out, you're welcome."
For the next three days, CC and six monks sat before a huge container of water and chanted powerful Buddhist mantras over it from early in the morning till late at night. I also joined in whenever I could. He had told the whole story to the Chief Monk who also sympathised with the woman's plight.
On the fourth day, the holy water was ready. But how to transport it to the woman? Luckily, the Chief Monk had connections and he borrowed a friend's lorry and that very night, CC drove it with the water (which had now been divided into nine containers with sprigs of willow in each container) to the river bank as instructed by Asudem. I sat at the back of the lorry to make sure the containers did not fall out.
Asudem said she would bathe herself in the water at the stroke of midnight and was already waiting by the river bank. She also said that it would be safer for us if we left but CC and I thought it would be better to stick around in case she needed help, so we hid behind some bushes.
"Quick, just do it, it's midnight already!" shouted CC. With trembling hands, Asudem started pouring the holy water over her head while lightning flashed, thunder rolled and heavy rain gushed down in torrents. When she had finished the last container, we saw to our amazement that the snakes on her head had disappeared and she had transformed into a beautiful, young woman, her true self!
We sighed with relief and thought it was all over but it was not. A brilliant streak of lightning suddenly appeared from the sky and headed straight for Asudem. CC saw it coming, leapt out of the bushes and pushed her away. The lightning missed them by a hair's breadth and struck a tree instead.
"Let's go back to the temple, we will be safe there," shouted CC as the storm raged on.
The three of us jumped into the lorry and CC drove at breakneck speed back to the temple in the pouring rain. Once safely inside, CC bolted the door and told us to be quiet. As he suspected, the evil sorceress did not dare come near the holy vicinity. The storm suddenly abated and then all was quiet.
To cut a long story short, Asudem decided to become a nun to express her gratitude to the Buddha for saving her and chose to join a nunnery in Thailand.
As for the evil stepmother, we heard that she had been punished and stripped of her powers by the Witches Union for her cruelty not only to her stepdaughter but to other innocent beings as well. She would never bother Asudem again. Witches also want justice, thank God.
Monday, February 19, 2024
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Waltz of the Spooks
It's Chinese New Year again and the temple has once more come alive with devotees coming to pray to the Buddha and also their departed loved ones. The "Palace" had never been so busy!
As usual, on CNY's eve, Head Nun prepared a special dinner for the nuns. This time she came up with fried rice, pumpkin soup, mock mutton curry and stir fried broccoli. For me, I had some mock fish stew with rice and my usual soya bean milk. It might not be a "grand" dinner but to us, we are more than grateful for the food on our table. We were all eating away heartily and talking about this and that when suddenly, we heard some loud wailing which seemed to come from the Palace. We looked at each other and for me, goose pimples started running up and down my spine.
"Well, I guess I shall have to investigate," said Head Nun, putting down her chopsticks. Turning to me, she said, "Vege Cat, you come along as well."
"Er ... me?" I gulped. Frankly, the Palace was the last place I wanted to go especially with all that wailing.
"Yes, you!" said Head Nun firmly. I had no choice but to obey.
We walked quickly to the Palace and Head Nun opened the door. It was rather dark and the only light came from the oil lamps which were burning on the tables below the tablets of the dead. The wailing immediately stopped as soon as we entered and we were rather surprised when Humpty Dumpty (HD) and Pumpkin Head (PH) came rushing towards us. (Incidentally, only Head Nun and I can see them, which is just as well otherwise the nuns would be screaming hysterically everyday).
"Head Nun, Vege Cat!" gasped HD. "Thank goodness you're here!" I saw that a number of spooks were standing in a group behind him and were making quite a bit of noise.
"What's going on, why this commotion?" asked Head Nun. As I hid behind her, I couldn't help but admire her courage and fearlessness - nothing seemed to scare her, not even all those spooks.
"Well," began HD. "Our friends here are getting restless. It's CNY eve and they want some excitement. They say they're bored and want to go out and paint the town red, some even said they don't want to come back to the temple. But I told them it's not safe out there, even for ghosts. Just listen to all that din caused by heavy traffic and fire crackers - I'd rather stay here!"
Head Nun looked at the group of spooks and said gently, "My dears, I can understand how you feel. You were once part of the world outside and you can't help but long to be back there to relive (so to speak) your old days, especially at this festive time. Actually there's nothing to stop you all from walking out, in fact I'm sure many of you have wandered out many times before but you all came back. So you know there's nothing wonderful about the world outside. It gave you a lot of pain and suffering before it took your lives and put you here. HD is right, it's not worth going back there. You are lucky that your kith and kin found you a home here, this place is now full and there's no more place for people who want to be put here when they're gone. Even I don't have a place here. I would advise you to stay here and enjoy the peace free from any encumbrance, but of course, if you insist on running out of this door now or any other time, then I can't stop you, but remember, if some wandering ghost were to come along and seize your niche, then I'm afraid I can't do anything to help you to regain possession of it even if you want to come back."
When she finished, the spooks started whispering among themselves. Then the old lady spook, the one who was so happy that her daughter had come home from overseas to see her, spoke up.
"Friends, Head Nun is right. We have a wonderful resting place here and we shouldn't risk losing it after so many years here. I don't know about the rest of you but I am staying put."
"Well said, Madam," chipped in HD. "But I don't see why we cannot enjoy CNY eve here. I'm sure Head Nun won't mind if we have some fun, what say you, Head Nun?"
The other spooks started voicing their support and Head Nun, though a little taken aback, said, "I have no objection so long as you're quiet, behave yourselves and don't get drunk on the rice wine your relatives have offered you. Is that clear? And HD, since it's your idea, I want you and PH to be responsible and make sure there's no trouble, then report back to me tomorrow."
Both HD and PH nodded their agreement and the spooks cheered happily. Then, to my shock and utter amazement, the old lady spook grabbed another spook and started waltzing up and down the hall. Soon the other spooks joined in and as they danced, they hummed some oldies softly and kept to their word to be quiet. I just couldn't believe my eyes!
"Hey, Vege Cat," said Pumpkin Head, coming up to me. "How about dancing with me?"
"Me? Oh no, I can't dance ...." I stammered.
As usual, Head Nun came to my rescue. "Vege Cat and I have to go back to finish our dinner, if you all don't mind. The nuns are waiting for us and we wouldn't want them to come here looking for us and ruin your fun."
With that, she signalled to me and we both left the Palace and locked the door quietly behind us.
"Phew!" I said, wiping the sweat from my forehead. "Head Nun, I can't believe what I just saw. And I'm even more amazed you agreed to let them have their own party!"
Head Nun shook her head exasperatedly and said, "This is the first time in the history of temple that the dead souls have asked to have some fun and I hope I am not wrong in agreeing to it. I shudder to think what they want to do next!"
I was quiet for a moment thinking over something Head Nun had said earlier. Finally I plucked up courage to ask her. "Head Nun, how come you don't have a place in the Palace when you've been with the temple for so long?"
She smiled again and said, "When I die, I want my remains to be brought back to China where I was born, that's why. So you won't have me watching over you when I'm gone," and she laughed and gave my head a playful knock. I felt a tinge of sadness when she said that and prayed silently that she would be with me for as long as possible.
The nuns were all very curious when we rejoined them and asked what we discovered. Of course we couldn't tell them the truth, so we said it was a stray dog howling. We finished our dinner and washed it down with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, given to us by APK's mother.
The evening ended quietly since there was nothing to do and everyone went to bed early. As I lay in my basket, I wondered what was going on in the Palace but didn't have the guts to find out!
The next morning, HD told Head Nun that the spooks had a whale of a time - everyone was happy and there was no more talk about leaving the temple. In addition, two spooks fell in love while dancing, two found out that they were lovers in their previous life and another two discovered that they had died at the same time in the same hospital on the same day.
Sometimes I wonder whether we can believe everything HD tells us.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Happy Chinese New Year
 |
| 2024 Year of the Dragon |
The way to a happy new year is through forgiveness, compassion and understanding, and the way to find true happiness in the new year is to let go and live in the present moment.
May the blessings of the Buddha be with you always.
With Metta,
Da
Saturday, January 6, 2024
New Year Fireworks
I had a date on New Year's eve with Ling at the Club. She had taken the night off having found someone to replace her, so we sat outside on the patio with our drinks, away from the noise inside. I was surprised that the Club wasn't as packed as I expected it to be. There were one or two tables of old tomcats having some kind of reunion and a few stragglers drinking on their own.
"Thanks, Ning for spending time with me," said Ling. "I'm glad I don't have to work tonight, those old geezers are going to get drunk any minute and start mauling me, yuck!"
I laughed and said, "Have you ever thought of getting a different kind of job like an acrobat or perhaps a lion tamer in a circus?" I teased.
She gave me a playful slap on my cheek and we both burst into laughter. I told her that it was good to see that she had got over that scoundrel JJ and hoped that he would never bother her again.
But I spoke too soon. We heard some movement in the dark and saw a shadowy figure approaching us. Ling gave a gasp when she saw who it was.
"JJ?" she whispered.
It was indeed a very scrawny and disheveled JJ. He was so thin that a few of his bones stuck out. He sidled up to her and said in a voice that trembled, "Ling, may I talk to you? I can understand if you don't want to talk to me. Look, here's some money, it's not much....that's all I could get to return to you ....please take it ...." he stopped there, coughed and brushed a tear from his eyes.
"Shit!" I thought to myself. "That jerk certainly knows how to act!"
Ling hesitated, then took the money and counted it . "It's a hundred short," she muttered.
"Sorry, please forgive me..." He turned and stumbled into the night. I was watching Ling and hoped she wouldn't fall for his play acting. But much to my chagrin, she did.
"Wait!" she said. "Look, can I get you something to eat? You look like you haven't eaten for days."
He stopped, then turned to look at her, a sly smile on his face.
"Thanks, I would much appreciate it."
"Wait here," said Ling and she ran back to the Club.
We stood staring at each other, then he said, "So you're Ling's new boyfriend, eh?"
"Shut up!" I growled. "Look, I'm warning you, you leave Ling alone, you hear?"
He laughed, then his face changed and he snarled, "Don't you dare threaten me! Just mind your own business or you'll be sorry!"
Before I could say anything else, Ling returned with some chips and a glass of beer. He gobbled both down, then purposely in front of me, gave her a kiss. "Thanks, sweetheart," he said.
"JJ," began Ling and I could see that she was sorry for him. "What have you been doing all this time?"
"Oh, this and that. Well, I'll be going. Goodbye, Ling and oh, I hope your boyfriend takes good care of you." And he turned and went off down the road.
"Looks like he's living off the streets now," said Ling, rather sadly, I thought, as she gazed after him.
"Ling, I hope you're not thinking of helping him after all that he did to you," I protested.
She smiled, then said, "Don't worry, Ning. I won't. He needs to learn that he just can't go around swindling people."
We sat outside until after midnight. Fireworks and fire crackers were booming around us and making quite a din as the humans welcomed in the new year. After a while, I decided to go home and bid Ling goodnight.
As I walked along the streets, I bumped into a few merrymakers who were wishing each other "Happy New Year" and some even bent down and patted me.
Then suddenly out of nowhere a couple of cats wearing masks jumped on me, dragged me to a dark alley and started beating me up. I tried to fight back but they were too strong for me. When they had finished, I felt like I had been run over by a steam roller.
Then, I heard a voice above me say "Had enough? Next time you try to be funny with me, my friends will rip you apart and throw you into the sea!". Before I passed out, I thought it sounded like JJ.....
"Ning, are you okay?"
I nodded, my throat dry and parched. She gave me some water, then said, "You know who did this to you?"
When I didn't answer, she said, "It was JJ, wasn't it?"
"Could be...." I whispered.
"Ning, one of our staff going home saw the whole thing. He ran back to the Club to tell me and we called the police. They managed to catch all three of them, JJ included. They're behind bars now. What did you say to him last night that made him so mad?"
I shrugged and said I could not remember.
I then asked, "Where am I?"
"This is my room at the Club," she said.
"W..What?" I gasped.
"We took you back here to get your wounds treated," Ling explained. "The boss said you can stay here temporarily until you recover since you're a regular customer at the Club."
"Oh." My head was so heavy that I could not say anything more and fell asleep.
The next morning, Ling woke me up.
"I've got news for you," she said slowly. "JJ hung himself in prison last night."
Damn. I was hoping I could get my revenge on him when I'm back on my feet. I hope he will be reborn as a worm or cockroach, I can't wait to grind him to bits under my heel....!
Monday, January 1, 2024
New Year Blessings
May you and all members of your family be blessed with a long, healthy and happy life. May the blessings of the Buddha Dhamma Sangha be with you all, always.
With Metta,
Da
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