"Take Our Friend"

Those days punters for three digits and four digits often resoughted to worshipping dieties under big trees or remote jungle areas and more daring ones adhered to worshipping at cemetery especially those new graves where a pregnant female had just been buried there.

Praying under the big tree could not be that dangerous as those were normally deities worshiped regularly by others.Whereas jungle deities could be fatal.When praying here many had the services of men going into a trance to give them their winning numbers.Those days there were known cases where the person going into a trance were hurt by biting their own fingers and body.This being so because a fierce tiger deity had gone into his body turning him into a carnivorous animal demanding for a meaty meal before giving in to their demand for the four correct numbers.

Well.as far I was concerned these were only stories and I had not experienced them first hand.Anyway they were told by regular punters but such stories could be true.That was why I say when going to seek spiritual aids for a small fortune,always go along with trusted friends,friends that do not give you away in times of need.

During those days in Taiping there was also another popular tales about few friends who went into a cemetery to seek their fortune.Before that they had scanned through the latest deaths roll buried in that cemetery with the help a caretaker there.Running through the list they selected the grave a recent burial of a pregnant woman.

Their trip was well prepared with sluaghtered chicken,roast pork and an assortment of fruits.
Joss sticks,white candles together with Joss papers which were indispensable.They also had the service of a person who was an expert in going into a trance.Altogether there were about six of them.

They arrived at the cemetery past midnight and as the place was remote they did not leave the car without a guard.One of them was selected to stay behind to take guard of the car,while the rest went into the grave yard which was a distance away.They arrived at a new grave,that was the grave of a pregnant woman who had just passed away recently.

Offerings and Joss sticks were all lighted up before the grave stone.When all were ready the man who was supposed to go into a trance speared a sharp green bamboo into the middle of the grave.Such poking of a length of green bamboo into the middle of a grave is never good omen.That bamboo was to lure out the spirit of the dead women from her grave,which was considered a cruel deed to the dead.

These wretched people without due considerations just did that cruel thing.Following he began to chant his prayers.He chanted and chanted for more than an hour but still no sign of the ghost coming forthwith.Despite these he never gave up and began continuing chanting his prayers relentlessly.

Everyone around were getting restless in the very cold and mosquitoes filled environment,but all remained silent accept for a few beatings on their bodies and hands to chase away the mosquitoes which seemed to be a plenty that night.The cold breeze blowing did not eased their anxieties nor tension.

Then out of no where the man going in the trance suddenly gave a loud weird shrieked of a fearful woman in raged.Shouting,"Why you wicked man,why are you doing this to me???"."Your piercing of the green bamboo really hurts,anyway what you want from me???",she demanded in frightening shrieking tone."You are frightening my baby as well,What do you want from me???".She continued to speak through the man in trance.

'Please, we are very poor soul and we seek your help to enrich ourselves,please give four winning digits for the next race".,the leader of the group asked.Continuing the man in trance murmured many inaudible things which those present could not understand.Then they pleaded with her to be more clear and specific.

She appeared annoyed and shrieked frightfully at them said,"I need a man to accompany me.Can anyone of you fill that place???".That struck fear into the few worshipers withall shaking their stupid heads vigorously,but after some thought one smart alec suggested that she take their friend guarding the car.

Smart move since all did not want themselves to be her company,the best alternative was their unknowing friend who was guarding their car."take him that is guarding the car,he is a very nice guy,suitable for you",said the smart guy,all others aagreed in unision.What are friends for???.Such unworthy friends he had,giving him away without his knowledge.

In their mind that just a request from the ghost which colud not be true nor materealized that easily.Besides they thought when they came to the bridge they will surely think of a way out of that mess.But do not play,play with the ghost especially a pregnent female ghost they can be fearlessly ruthless.

The ghost in tranced gave them the four numbers loud and claer on a paper,well written.Having done so the ghost left.The happy men burnt all the joss sticks and insense papers etc and before going pulled off the bamboo from that grave.The man in the trance made sure of that otherwise it seem the ghost might follow them home,the that will be more fatal.

They all returned home without telling the poor guy taking care of the car what really had transpired.Well as for the four digits ,all banged heftily on those numbers.You know what that number was announced as the first winning four digits and all struck if rich.

All struck it rich including the fellow in charge of the car,in happiness that promise they made came clearly to their minds and before they could offer any help to that man.That man at that very instance was knocked by a car and passed away that very instnce.All of a sudden their happiness turned gloomy and saddened by the death of their friend.He was their good friend but were they his good old friends???.

Friends in need really.

When going any where in groups never leave your so-called friends,let alone allow them to make your dicision for you.Do not be like that guy guarding the car.