ByBussell Lee
Hawker
I know of this lady who lives somewhere in the upper Serangoon Road area,
you know, in one of those tiny bungalows in a labyrinth of lanes. She reads the future
by using Tarot cards.
I was introduced to her by a friend. I was fascinated by these things, you see,
and I wanted to learn more about them. went to her house. It was very dark inside.
She shut all the windows and doors. I wondered how she could stand the heat. The
room was very elaborately decorated, full of wall-hangings and ornaments. Some of
then looked exotic. And there was wonderful fragrance in the air, it came from some
kind of incense she was burning.
Madam KK, this wore a pakistani veil and dress. But she was Eurasian. She
had these large black, eyes that wound stare unmovingly at you and made you feel
uncomfortable. She was an intimidating person.
She told my fortune by reading the cards. There was a crystal ball on the
table too, but she didn't use it. She explained very patiently to me what all the
symbols ,meant, and their positions, what my future wound be like.
Her predictions were very true. I went there five times and every time what
she foretold came to pass. She seemed to know many things about me. She was
quite amazing.
I admired her so much I wanted to learn the skill of reading the Tarot from
her. But she said a person must have special capabilities to use them, and I hadn't
inherited the "gift". I asked what she meant by "special". Then she demonstrated.
She stood up and disappeared!
It scared me so much because I knew only ghosts could do things like that.
I didn't wait for her to return and quickly scampered out of the house. If you have
to be a ghost to learn the Tarot, then forget it!
But I remembered to leave her something in this big glass bowl she kept by
the table. She said she used it to save up money to give to charity. I gave her
double the usual amount. I didn't want her knocking at my door, asking for her
fee.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
BLOODY BEAUTIFUL
By Russell Lee
Confectioner
This happened to my niece. She invited a group of friends home
on a public holiday. They played with a board which had alphabets you
could roll around which then, formed words. The contraption was very
expensive and it was for talking with the spirits. Then one of her girlfriends
wanted to talk to her grandmother. She asked her grandmother what life
after death was like. When they were rolling the thing, the girlfriend felt a
nip on her forefinger. It began to bleed.
But the thing continued to move. The blood stained the board and
to everyone's alarm, it formed the Chinese character for "beautiful".
The girlfriend, after some thought, realised why it had to be so. Her
grandmother had to communicate by using blood instead of spelling it out
on the board. The reason was evident to her: her grandmother didn't
know any english.
Confectioner
This happened to my niece. She invited a group of friends home
on a public holiday. They played with a board which had alphabets you
could roll around which then, formed words. The contraption was very
expensive and it was for talking with the spirits. Then one of her girlfriends
wanted to talk to her grandmother. She asked her grandmother what life
after death was like. When they were rolling the thing, the girlfriend felt a
nip on her forefinger. It began to bleed.
But the thing continued to move. The blood stained the board and
to everyone's alarm, it formed the Chinese character for "beautiful".
The girlfriend, after some thought, realised why it had to be so. Her
grandmother had to communicate by using blood instead of spelling it out
on the board. The reason was evident to her: her grandmother didn't
know any english.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
TOUCH ME NOT
By Russell Lee
Dentist
A few years ago, I visited the Bato Caves in Malaysia during
Thaipusam.. It was a fascinating time. Although it wasn't entirely new
to me, having seen kavadis being carried in Singapore before, it was
nevertheless an awe-inspiring experience, particularly since the place
was much larger and there must have been thousands of Indians
there at the time.
Though I am actually half-Indian, my family and I are Mormons.
I found the procession itself quite bizarre, but my children, both teen-
agers, insisted on revelling in the mystery of it all. They squeezed into
crowd and pressed their way to the front of the spectators to get a
better view.
The Hindu followers trooped past.
I had learnt a little about the rituals. The believers or Suibra-
maniam have to fast for sixteen days, during which they are counselled
and then hypnotised by their priest. On the day of Thaipusam, silver
wires, spears, needles and all sorts of sharp things will be attached to
their bodies. For some it is to prove their devotion, others to do
penance. The ashes of the dead will be smeared on the wounds. This
is said to invoke the assistance of the spirits in the ordeal these wor-
shippers would be undergoing.
There at the Batu Caves the trial was fiercer than anywhere else.
All devotees not only had to endure the pain of self-mutilation, they had
to persevere and compel themselves to climb 272 steps leading up to
the temple! These people must have such overpowering faith.
And I recall standing there, watching in awe. I suddenly caught
sight of my son, David, who reached out and touched one of the
believers passing by The boy had no respect for other religions. I was
about to call out to him to stop it. But David fell back instantly at the
contact. He shouted in pain.
I rushed over to him. And be kept howling, while the worshippers
danced all around him in a trance. Then I looked at his hand. It was really
strange, for his fingers were scorched all over.
I took him to a doctor in town, who simply prescribed an ordinary
ointment used for burns. I sensed that David's injury was more that just
that., My intuition proved correct.
That night, David just screamed in agony. He complained about his
hand hurting, as if his flesh was truly in flames. I was extremely worried,
but apart from praying there was little I could do. Perhaps in the morning,
I could take him to see another doctor.
It continued till dawn. I was putting ice on the wound throughout the
night. At daybreak, David fell asleep abruptly. He looked as if he were
dead. I got rather frantic, but discovered he was in deep sleep. At least,
his breathing was slow and constant, and there was no fever.
It was then I saw glowing golden smoke drift out of his fingers into
the air. It was a translucent, twirling shape, which dispersed into the at-
mosphere like any natural gas.
I now think it was the spiritual manifestation of a dead person that
I saw. It must have entered David's body when his hand touched the
ashes. That was why David felt such pain. It was a pain derived from that
Thaipusam pilgrim.
Served David right. It was time he learnt to respect other religions.
I must say it was also an eye-opener for me.Now I know what a dead
person's soul can look like. There is only word for it Beautiful.
Dentist
A few years ago, I visited the Bato Caves in Malaysia during
Thaipusam.. It was a fascinating time. Although it wasn't entirely new
to me, having seen kavadis being carried in Singapore before, it was
nevertheless an awe-inspiring experience, particularly since the place
was much larger and there must have been thousands of Indians
there at the time.
Though I am actually half-Indian, my family and I are Mormons.
I found the procession itself quite bizarre, but my children, both teen-
agers, insisted on revelling in the mystery of it all. They squeezed into
crowd and pressed their way to the front of the spectators to get a
better view.
The Hindu followers trooped past.
I had learnt a little about the rituals. The believers or Suibra-
maniam have to fast for sixteen days, during which they are counselled
and then hypnotised by their priest. On the day of Thaipusam, silver
wires, spears, needles and all sorts of sharp things will be attached to
their bodies. For some it is to prove their devotion, others to do
penance. The ashes of the dead will be smeared on the wounds. This
is said to invoke the assistance of the spirits in the ordeal these wor-
shippers would be undergoing.
There at the Batu Caves the trial was fiercer than anywhere else.
All devotees not only had to endure the pain of self-mutilation, they had
to persevere and compel themselves to climb 272 steps leading up to
the temple! These people must have such overpowering faith.
And I recall standing there, watching in awe. I suddenly caught
sight of my son, David, who reached out and touched one of the
believers passing by The boy had no respect for other religions. I was
about to call out to him to stop it. But David fell back instantly at the
contact. He shouted in pain.
I rushed over to him. And be kept howling, while the worshippers
danced all around him in a trance. Then I looked at his hand. It was really
strange, for his fingers were scorched all over.
I took him to a doctor in town, who simply prescribed an ordinary
ointment used for burns. I sensed that David's injury was more that just
that., My intuition proved correct.
That night, David just screamed in agony. He complained about his
hand hurting, as if his flesh was truly in flames. I was extremely worried,
but apart from praying there was little I could do. Perhaps in the morning,
I could take him to see another doctor.
It continued till dawn. I was putting ice on the wound throughout the
night. At daybreak, David fell asleep abruptly. He looked as if he were
dead. I got rather frantic, but discovered he was in deep sleep. At least,
his breathing was slow and constant, and there was no fever.
It was then I saw glowing golden smoke drift out of his fingers into
the air. It was a translucent, twirling shape, which dispersed into the at-
mosphere like any natural gas.
I now think it was the spiritual manifestation of a dead person that
I saw. It must have entered David's body when his hand touched the
ashes. That was why David felt such pain. It was a pain derived from that
Thaipusam pilgrim.
Served David right. It was time he learnt to respect other religions.
I must say it was also an eye-opener for me.Now I know what a dead
person's soul can look like. There is only word for it Beautiful.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
LETTER FROM HELL
By Russell Lee
Student
This is my brother's story.
He doesn't like to read, but while in school there were always
lot's of projects to complete, so he didn't have much choice.
Once, he was doing on Chinese mythology and picked up a
book about Hell. It was a swell book and had lots of vivid des-
criptions of the various punishments and torture techniques
used in the eighteen different levels of Hell. While he was flipping
through the pages, a slip of yellow jotter-book paper dropped out.
He opened it.
It was letter in Chinese. It was written in a strange manner
and there were many words that he didn't understand. But on the
whole, the letter talked about reclaiming the life of a person
called Lee C----Y----, living in the Katong area.
My brother thought it was some kind of sick joke until the
next morning he saw the obituary of the very same person the letter
had mentioned. He went back to the library aqnd found the book.
But the letter was gone.
Where did it go?
Student
This is my brother's story.
He doesn't like to read, but while in school there were always
lot's of projects to complete, so he didn't have much choice.
Once, he was doing on Chinese mythology and picked up a
book about Hell. It was a swell book and had lots of vivid des-
criptions of the various punishments and torture techniques
used in the eighteen different levels of Hell. While he was flipping
through the pages, a slip of yellow jotter-book paper dropped out.
He opened it.
It was letter in Chinese. It was written in a strange manner
and there were many words that he didn't understand. But on the
whole, the letter talked about reclaiming the life of a person
called Lee C----Y----, living in the Katong area.
My brother thought it was some kind of sick joke until the
next morning he saw the obituary of the very same person the letter
had mentioned. He went back to the library aqnd found the book.
But the letter was gone.
Where did it go?
Monday, October 24, 2011
BLOOD-SUCKER
By Russell Lee
What? You don't believe there are pontianaks? Just wait till
you hear this one
I lived in a zinc-roofed house in the forest pretty near the
Botanic Gardens. Its was quite secluded and most people didn't
know about it, although you could usually get a peep at it, When
you passed by the road. Outsiders had a name for us. They called
us "squatters".
One evening, when I was eight, I was walking home after
playing the whole afternoon. I think it was some time between seven
or eight, whilst crossing a little bridge that sat over a ditch, I saw a
shadow standing very still behind a banana tree. It was planted
beside my house. I didn't think it was cursed or haunted.. But it was
so dark then shadow looked so threatening, I could't but tread
softly, fearing to attract its attention. I thought the shadow must be
the awful creature my mother told me about to keep me from coming
home late, the pontianak.
I took care not to make a sound. But, accidentally, I stepped
on a twig. C-r-a-c-k! I saw a face look from behind the banana tree.
It was pure evil!
The creature had white glistening teeth. Its hands held some-
thing white and bloody. To my horror I realised it was my pet rabbet,
Joey. The creature had killed Joey! I felt angry, sad and frightened all
at the same time. Then the creature's mouth widened into a smile.
I ran away as fast as my legs could manage. Behind, I
could hear the creature in pursuit. My heart thumped faster than a firing
machine-gun. I could almost feel its hot breath on my neck. I tripped
and fell.
The pontianak and past me but it turned round. I never felt
more afraid in my life. It was too late to run.
When you are cornered, you have no choice but to fight.
I summoned every ounce of courage in my being and picked up the
nearest object and threw it at the creature. The metal cake-can hit
the pontianak's eye. It howled in pain. In my panic and bravado, I
quickly picked up debris on the ground and flung it. The rocks, sticks
and glass bottles hit the creature. My last missile, a red brick, slammed
into its forehead and it started bleeding.
"Eeeeee!" it howled.
The pontianak scuttled away in fear. Encouraged, I chased it,
anything I could pick up. The thought of what it did to Joey made me
really angry. I chased the pontianak until it disappeared into the dark-
ness. I would have liked to have gone on chasing it but was out of
breath. I tried searching for Joey but could not find him.
What? You don't believe there are pontianaks? Just wait till
you hear this one
I lived in a zinc-roofed house in the forest pretty near the
Botanic Gardens. Its was quite secluded and most people didn't
know about it, although you could usually get a peep at it, When
you passed by the road. Outsiders had a name for us. They called
us "squatters".
One evening, when I was eight, I was walking home after
playing the whole afternoon. I think it was some time between seven
or eight, whilst crossing a little bridge that sat over a ditch, I saw a
shadow standing very still behind a banana tree. It was planted
beside my house. I didn't think it was cursed or haunted.. But it was
so dark then shadow looked so threatening, I could't but tread
softly, fearing to attract its attention. I thought the shadow must be
the awful creature my mother told me about to keep me from coming
home late, the pontianak.
I took care not to make a sound. But, accidentally, I stepped
on a twig. C-r-a-c-k! I saw a face look from behind the banana tree.
It was pure evil!
The creature had white glistening teeth. Its hands held some-
thing white and bloody. To my horror I realised it was my pet rabbet,
Joey. The creature had killed Joey! I felt angry, sad and frightened all
at the same time. Then the creature's mouth widened into a smile.
I ran away as fast as my legs could manage. Behind, I
could hear the creature in pursuit. My heart thumped faster than a firing
machine-gun. I could almost feel its hot breath on my neck. I tripped
and fell.
The pontianak and past me but it turned round. I never felt
more afraid in my life. It was too late to run.
When you are cornered, you have no choice but to fight.
I summoned every ounce of courage in my being and picked up the
nearest object and threw it at the creature. The metal cake-can hit
the pontianak's eye. It howled in pain. In my panic and bravado, I
quickly picked up debris on the ground and flung it. The rocks, sticks
and glass bottles hit the creature. My last missile, a red brick, slammed
into its forehead and it started bleeding.
"Eeeeee!" it howled.
The pontianak scuttled away in fear. Encouraged, I chased it,
anything I could pick up. The thought of what it did to Joey made me
really angry. I chased the pontianak until it disappeared into the dark-
ness. I would have liked to have gone on chasing it but was out of
breath. I tried searching for Joey but could not find him.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
STARRY, STARRY NIGHT
By Russell Lee
Remember the amusement park in Kallang that used to the
favourite haunt of many a couple? It's gone now, but one
incident in that place well haunt me for as long as I live. It hap-
pened on the Ferris wheel.
It was a cool night and my girlfriend was holding on to me.
We were enjoying the romantic starry night when we both saw
a hazy figure moving rapidly towards us. As we were almost
reaching the apex of the structure, the wheel stopped. We were
trapped in the meshed-up cubicle. In fear, we waited.
The figure came rapidly and melted into the cage as if it was
the most natural thing to do. What shocked us further was that
the figure didn't stop. It went right through us and out of the cage.
Then there was this sick feeling in our hearts.
My girlfriend and I felt very depressed and upset. We went
home immediately and fell into a miserable state for a few days.
We broke up soon afterwards. Some bomohs that I went to
see said it was a spirit that was being punished by a god. It
just happened that we were in its path and it shared its feeling
with us.
Till this day, the feeling of misery still overwhelms me sometimes.
Remember the amusement park in Kallang that used to the
favourite haunt of many a couple? It's gone now, but one
incident in that place well haunt me for as long as I live. It hap-
pened on the Ferris wheel.
It was a cool night and my girlfriend was holding on to me.
We were enjoying the romantic starry night when we both saw
a hazy figure moving rapidly towards us. As we were almost
reaching the apex of the structure, the wheel stopped. We were
trapped in the meshed-up cubicle. In fear, we waited.
The figure came rapidly and melted into the cage as if it was
the most natural thing to do. What shocked us further was that
the figure didn't stop. It went right through us and out of the cage.
Then there was this sick feeling in our hearts.
My girlfriend and I felt very depressed and upset. We went
home immediately and fell into a miserable state for a few days.
We broke up soon afterwards. Some bomohs that I went to
see said it was a spirit that was being punished by a god. It
just happened that we were in its path and it shared its feeling
with us.
Till this day, the feeling of misery still overwhelms me sometimes.
Monday, October 17, 2011
A THRILLER
By Russell Lee
An army corporal serving at Cable Car Towers was performing
guard duty. There was another guard with him, but they had to take
turns staying awake. One was snoring in the guard-room while the
other sat in the little booth on the ground floor.
He was reading a book of ghost stories.The story he was reading
was reading was entitled "Demon Lover".Ah Seng flipped the pages
eagerly, his eyes glued to the book. Ah Kow, his eyes fellow guard,
gave off a loud snort behind. Ah Kow turned onto his side and
began mumbling something. He must be having a nightmare, for
there was a twinge of horror in his voice.
Ah Seng ignored the disturbance. The ghost stories were ex-
trembly absorbing, for these were the sleazy kind you find from
Hong Kong. Perfectly mind-boggling. He consumed page after page
of The Erotic Ghost Story when an eerie wind blew.
It sounded like the sighing of a sexy woman.
Ah Seng looked up from his book and scanned the surroundings.
Trying to pick out things in the darkness was always a creepy process.
You will your eyes to pierce through the murky cloak, but simulta-
neously, your inner springs of fantasy burst into action, concocting
the wildest of creatures to delude your sharpest senses.
What was that whitish shape that flitted across the steps? And
that grey shape squatting so still in that corner? Was it a . . .
His imagination wandered; but Ah Seng restrained himself.
Now, this is no way to stand guard. You won't last through to morning.
scaring yourself like that.
Then he thought he heard feet shuffling. Ah Seng pinked up
courage and emerged from his booth. He switched on his torchlight.
"Who's there?" he shouted.
Silence. No one was there.
Ah Seng heaved a sigh of relief. In the night, he thought he heard
another sigh of relief-and it wasn't his. His heart racing, Ah Seng yelled,
"You! Show yourself! Stop playing tricks, this is not funny!"
And it showed itself.A horrible head with gigantic, bulging eyes
flew past him. It was leering wickedly, its white teeth showing, its lips
were red as blood. And dangling, where the neck was detached from
the body, were the innards the throat, the intestines, the veins. . .
"Ahhhhh!" Ah Seng's blood-curdling scream pierced the silence of
the night.
The Medical Officer examined his body three hours later. He
pronounced the poor soldier dead.His conclusion was Ah Seng had
died of a heart attack.
The Duty Officer called up the other guard for questioning. This
corporal revealed all that he knew: I really don't know what
happened. You see, I got up in the middle of the night, sir, for a
leak. I went to the toilet and relaxed, when suddenly I heard
him scream ... like killing pig like that. When I came out, he was
already lying son the floor."
Everyone was quite mystified. What could have happened?
What did Ah Seng see that frightened him to death?
They searched around for clues, but there was hardly anything
helpful. They did, however, see in a nearby tree, a kite caught in the
branches.
It had a happy face, with big eyes and a wide smile. And
dangling in the wind were strand stand of colourful crepe paper.
Innards? Throat? Intestine?
An army corporal serving at Cable Car Towers was performing
guard duty. There was another guard with him, but they had to take
turns staying awake. One was snoring in the guard-room while the
other sat in the little booth on the ground floor.
He was reading a book of ghost stories.The story he was reading
was reading was entitled "Demon Lover".Ah Seng flipped the pages
eagerly, his eyes glued to the book. Ah Kow, his eyes fellow guard,
gave off a loud snort behind. Ah Kow turned onto his side and
began mumbling something. He must be having a nightmare, for
there was a twinge of horror in his voice.
Ah Seng ignored the disturbance. The ghost stories were ex-
trembly absorbing, for these were the sleazy kind you find from
Hong Kong. Perfectly mind-boggling. He consumed page after page
of The Erotic Ghost Story when an eerie wind blew.
It sounded like the sighing of a sexy woman.
Ah Seng looked up from his book and scanned the surroundings.
Trying to pick out things in the darkness was always a creepy process.
You will your eyes to pierce through the murky cloak, but simulta-
neously, your inner springs of fantasy burst into action, concocting
the wildest of creatures to delude your sharpest senses.
What was that whitish shape that flitted across the steps? And
that grey shape squatting so still in that corner? Was it a . . .
His imagination wandered; but Ah Seng restrained himself.
Now, this is no way to stand guard. You won't last through to morning.
scaring yourself like that.
Then he thought he heard feet shuffling. Ah Seng pinked up
courage and emerged from his booth. He switched on his torchlight.
"Who's there?" he shouted.
Silence. No one was there.
Ah Seng heaved a sigh of relief. In the night, he thought he heard
another sigh of relief-and it wasn't his. His heart racing, Ah Seng yelled,
"You! Show yourself! Stop playing tricks, this is not funny!"
And it showed itself.A horrible head with gigantic, bulging eyes
flew past him. It was leering wickedly, its white teeth showing, its lips
were red as blood. And dangling, where the neck was detached from
the body, were the innards the throat, the intestines, the veins. . .
"Ahhhhh!" Ah Seng's blood-curdling scream pierced the silence of
the night.
The Medical Officer examined his body three hours later. He
pronounced the poor soldier dead.His conclusion was Ah Seng had
died of a heart attack.
The Duty Officer called up the other guard for questioning. This
corporal revealed all that he knew: I really don't know what
happened. You see, I got up in the middle of the night, sir, for a
leak. I went to the toilet and relaxed, when suddenly I heard
him scream ... like killing pig like that. When I came out, he was
already lying son the floor."
Everyone was quite mystified. What could have happened?
What did Ah Seng see that frightened him to death?
They searched around for clues, but there was hardly anything
helpful. They did, however, see in a nearby tree, a kite caught in the
branches.
It had a happy face, with big eyes and a wide smile. And
dangling in the wind were strand stand of colourful crepe paper.
Innards? Throat? Intestine?
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