MKfan132
sarNie Coma
Thanks for sharing
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[Ch3] Bpoop Phaeh Saniwaat (Broadcast Thai) : Pope Thanawat / Bella Ranee
- Thread starter Cookie_King1970
- Start date
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mondayclover_pz
sarNie Egg
Today 26052019 - Stage drama
Credit IG ...edited clear view
Credit IG ...edited clear view
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mondayclover_pz
sarNie Egg
mondayclover_pz
sarNie Egg
His social media update today - 27052019
mondayclover_pz
sarNie Egg
Bella social media update 27052019
Rosi2
Samee's wifey #42
The place looks so grand! But most stuff in Thailand looks big; when I first started watching Thai dramas - now that's Jam Loey Ruk of course, one thing my sis & I were surprised at are the massive beds, it's huge! One big bed for one person! And the rooms are huge too, they have such a big country everything is on a grandiose scale.
Rosi2
Samee's wifey #42
She's getting more delicate, and pretty as always. (Has she gone slimmer again?) Pale, pastel, dark or dusky pinks it's always her colour.
Rosi2
Samee's wifey #42
Our Khun P still as handsome! I marvel at him & Bells, they have this very busy life with the events, product appearances, TV talk shows, and always as pristine as ever. How do the stars do it? Normal people takes like an hour to get dressed for work everyday & that's already a chore. Bella turns up everytime night & afternoon & morning & day each time like an angelHis social media update today - 27052019
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Rosi2
Samee's wifey #42
Actually Pope don't look so Thai; at times he seems like a tanned Japanese. You should look for this story "The Ginger Tree", about a Scottish woman who had a son with a married Japanese noble. Pope looks like this army General, later a Baron. But it's a sad story, in Japanese culture of those times if it's a girl or a mixed complexion it's not so bad, the mom can keep the kid. However, if he looks Japanese & belongs to a "white" mother, he'll be ostracised by society. So the General "stole" his son & carted him off to a wealthy, upper class family who do not have a male heir so that his high status in life is guaranteed. (The General already has other male children). The last the mother held her baby was she carried him on her back to the "Festival of the Dead", an important night everybody goes there, where they honour those who have gone & float beautiful lanterns in the river so the souls would know where to go. He was taken by the father the day after.His social media update today - 27052019
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The mother persistently stayed in Tokyo looking for her child for over 25 years; and although she still has an ongoing relationship with the General he never told her where their son is. When war came & to save her, the General arranged her passage back to UK (otherwise will be imprisoned as Japan & Europe is at war, & he is much older & no longer has much power in the military) & reluctantly they said their goodbyes. The General committed hara-kiri, this part I don't understand why.
Alright we come to this part! Why I remembered this movie. In a major story like this, made I think in the 1940s, the ship enroute passes Singapore! haha our tiny island Singapore got figured in a historical event!
Well, while at the harbour for supplies, the Captain told her that someone from the Japanese consulate would like to interview her. She's not interested because felt that her life in Japan ended in sorrow but the Captain said there'll be trouble because it's war & the Japanese could stop the ship from leaving. So she met this young Japanese soldier who after the niceties showed her the photo of his family. He also said something about the General, that he only has letters but never seen him. She realised then who he is, and asked if he's had a good life - he said his entire life is happy. She then said the last she saw him was she carried him on her back to the Festival of the Dead. He said "You will see me again - when you go to the Festival of the Dead - we will always meet each other there". She was perplexed and asked him what makes him so sure? And he smiled pleasingly and said "Because I'm a pilot".
Whoaaa so sad! The mother had tears in her eyes but she smiled back at him - because this is the Japanese life after all and facing what he would, to him that would be an honour. Same like his father; everytime she asks will he come see her again he always said he can't promise because death as a soldier can happen anytime - and if it be so, it is an honour.
The young soldier kissed her hand before leaving, it's never said if he knew the depths of her feelings of losing him as a child, or if he loved her. But as his boat sailed away, he turned from his stern position and waved goodbye to her.
Lanterns in the water
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June31sg
sarNie Hatchling
Me too, I am having the same problem
That's why I don't visit much these days... am hoping it will go back to the old layout but everytime I checked, it is this new layout
@Rosi @Friends
As you know Khun Rompaeng had updated PL on her facebook and now 5 chapters have been released for fan. I have translated the chapter I. I’m not sure for the rest. Chapter I is important as it is about the background of the key character of this story “Poodtaan”.
Chapter I
A little girl was looking at shadow of a person. The blur of the dusk made her not be able to see that person clearly. His/her clothes looked strange. It looked like him/her wearing only a shoulder cloth and the bottom part looked like pants. It was so strange that she had to tell her parents sitting at the front of the car.
“Mom, there is someone wearing strange clothes standing on the roadside looking at us.” She told her mother with a voice of a 6-year-old child.
“What? You talk nonsense again” Wipawan said while looking at the speed monitor, 100 km/hour.
“You could drive slower. Are you tired?” She said and asked her husband. He looked tired because he had to get up early to take her and their daughter to make a merit at a wat/temple that was far from the community and afterwards went to a wedding party of his colleague/Subordinate.
“I have told you, let Nai Git drive the car but you would like to do it by yourself. It would be good if we find a place around here to get some rest before.” She said
“Oh no, I would like to get home soon” Her husband Chaimit said. He smiled a little and went back to concentrate on driving.
“Today it was nice to meet Khun Na Sipang at the wat. Unbelievable she was ordained as a nun here for a long time. We knew nothing despite coming here often.” She talked to her husband to get him alert after seeing that he would not like to rest.
(Na = น้า –used for calling mother ‘s younger sister or anyone who is younger than her, Sipang – the name of Gade’s Mom).
“Um” her husband said. “I feel bad for her. Gade should not have died at her young age.
(Translating word by word from Thai Wipawan said “Gade should not have a little merit.” This is an idiom. It means she should not have a short life/she should have had a long life.)
Now she had died for 5 years and Pra RueangRit would be a monk throughout his life. Wipawan said like she mused. What the servant who followed to take care of Sipang at the wat told her was still in her memory.
The servant said “Pra Rueang was very sad when Khun Gade died. He loved her very much. Now he might feel better but he still insisted he would not leave the Buddha monkhood. Khun Yai Naun (Gade’s grandma) was Yoom Oop Pat Taak (attendant of the monk/Pra Rueang) until the end of her life. Laung Por (Gade’s father who was a monk too) had died 3 years ago. Khun Sipang was left alone so she sold her house and came to stay in the wat permanently. I think it is good. I rejoiced in her merit so I came here to live with her.”
“I like Khun Yai Sipang (Yai = grandma). 6 year old Pud taan said.
“Khun Yai is kind to you too. She said your face looks like her daughter when she was young. Why not! Although we are distant relatives we still have some the same blood line” Wipawan said with a laugh and thought of things that happened there daytime in the wat.
Pra RueangRit stared at her daughter. Though the expression of his eyes looked a little strange he would mercy on her because he gave her a red sacred cord with wooden bead. Even Sipang’s servant secretly told her that Pra Rueang never gave anyone a talisman.
“I (Noo) like this wooden bead.” the girl raised the cord pleasedly rubbing the little bead back and forth. The monk in the dark yellow robe with high mercy on his face still was in her memory.
“I like Pra Rueang also. When I grow up I will marry him.” Her confident voice made both Wipawan and Mitchai laughed
“You are precocious” Mitchai warned her with not strong voice.
“It’s true. I love him. Even if he doesn’t love me, I’m ok
Her word that should not be the words of a child make Wipawan had to pretend to tell her with a serious voice”
“It was a sin, he would not leave the monkhood” Wipawan said.
“Mom, there is someone looking at us again” Pud taan said but not finished yet, the sound of the wheel grinding the road surface resounded the road. It was so loud that people who heard felt horrify.
The bright light dived in with loud screams. The shock faces of two adults’ sitting together happened just one moment before their bodies under the seat belt were struck and swung without direction. The little girl sitting at the back her eyes opened widely with shock before everything turned out dark.
Pra RueangRit opened his eyes together with a long sigh. That spirit still was confused and had been seeking a way for thousand years. One of the reasons might be due to his deeds and his decision. Although this life, karma easing up had made the crux of sin and the curse of Jao Gum Nai Wein to 2 women sparse but it didn’t reach of the point of relieving. Maybe Above might have the answer of the whole story. The young monk looked up at the moon. It was just a crescent moon tonight.
***** Jao Gum Nai Wain (เจ้ากรรมนายเวร) =persons with previous deeds on each other = enemies of our present and former lives including all people who we had done bad deeds on.)
***** Above (เบื้องบน) = Heaven, God, Angels etc.
If he passed this life (to have the next life. His smile was like a lotus had just sprung from the water popped up at the corner of his thick wavy mouth. He knew all but he could not resist. Passion had pulled him into the cycle of rebirth and death so firmly because 1 of the 2 women was his beloved one. He didn’t care how many times he had to return to this world. He just wanted these births to bring the one he loved to be together. That was enough.
***********************
Wipawee looked at the little child in front of her reading Aesop's Fables, with the feeling of both despise and sympathy. Her parents died but this child had no any organs broken except for bruises and abrasion and she didn’t say anything for 6 months. Now she was better starting speaking so she could go to school as usual.
In her feelings even she herself didn’t know why she didn't like this child but she was better than other relatives who only thought of the heritage of her parents. This child had many things that were different from ordinary children. Other children would be afraid and cry after the bad incident but Poodtaan was not like that. The clear pure eyes sometimes had strange glitter and looked like she knew what the other people were thinking and accepted her situation at the same time. And when seeing and listening to those relatives her eyes were harsh and she flicked her sight like adults.
“This kid’s eyes were evil, she looked disobedient.” A closed relative visited Wipawee to ask about the heritage of Poodtaan's parents that would belong to their daughter. She seldom liked Poodtaan too.
“She might watch lakorn NamNao too much. Her parents when being alive they indulged their child. Having only one child would be like this”
Wipawee said that comfortably. The reason of her good mood was not because she was the person who took care of Poodtaan but another reason.
It was certain that Wipawee was the person who got the right to manage the heritage of her sister and brother in law. Some belongings, jewelry, gold jewelry were taken out of the house before she got the right. That made her frustrated. So when those relatives were zealous because they could not do anything after the right of everything belonged to her. That made her in a good mood every time she thought about it.
Poodtaan’s parents were careless because they didn’t think their lives would end up so early like this. The manipulation of their property is not difficult. She could do it but she didn’t.
The reasons were that she felt bad for Poodtaan and felt she had to protect her. These feelings were above any reason as well as the feeling of disgusting the child without cause. However, she had to take care of Poodtaan because she was single. She didn’t have any relatives so close as Poodtaan.
***********************
Afternoon hot sunshine made even the green trees wither. It was extremely hot in every molecule of the air. Poodtaan used a loincloth wiped sweat on her face and sighed tiredly when seeing beige stained on the cloth.
“When will there be a good foundation 100 percent not coming off when sweating.
I have to apply every hour. It’s boring to do so.”
“You put the cloth around your head and ears so completely that you could be a mummy. Why do you still complain? Hurry up! After this clump we have another 2 points. That’s enough for today.” This gruff voice came from a big giant man. He reiterated before walking to command the workers who were digging out enthusiasticly.
“P’Mee, aren’t you coming to the site the day after tomorrow? Poodtaan looked up asking him thus revealing her bright eyes catching eyes of people.
“No, I’m not. I have an urgent matter. You have to do it for me. It is not difficult. You just follow our plan.”
“It is terribly hot in Ayutthaya.” She said while jerking her long sleeved shirt soaked with sweat and fluttered the shirt frequently to allow the wind to relieve heat.
“It’s like that.” P’ Mee said. “Anyway after the internship contract expires at the end of this month, would you continue to master?” P’ Mee asked.
“How can I do that? I have no money” Poodtaan told him.
“Hey! What about the money from your parents’ heritage? Is it used up?
“Yes it is, but it’s good to find a job to do. My aunt would stop complaining."
Poodtaan walked to the other point that would be decorated as an ornamental plant garden to tell workers to put seedlings into pits and she helped them too. Her senior who worked for this company came to help as well despite his duty just to oversee the work.
“Come to work at this company if you would like to” P’ Mee continued talking.
Silence was the answer. It was understandable because of her beautiful and outstanding appearance making her a focus of the owner of the company. He was married but he always had news with girls. He flirted every time he met her. That made Poodtaan not think of working with this company.
“Let’s talk about it another time” Poodtaan said.
If there wasn’t any company to work for, she might have to work here for a while but she would be stressed with a gossip about her using connection including having to be careful the snake on the head of the company owner. She hoped a little self – defense she used to learn would help her if necessary.
***** In Thailand sometimes we call an old man who likes flirting with young girls “Tao Hua njoo”
Tao = เฒ่า = Old man
Hua = หัว = Head
Ngoo = งู = Snake
Tao Hua Ngoo = เฒ่าหัวงู = Old man with snake head
Danai, who his friends and his juniors called him “Mee” according to his appearance looking like a kind bear, looked at Poodtaan’s energetic attitude with satisfaction. She was slender but persevering and tolerate. She was appropriate being his junior. There was only one disadvantage that her habit sometimes was harsh (RANG!!!) until it became rumor
*****In a university in Thailand there are some words that use to call people who come to study in the same university before and after.
Roon P’ (who comes to study before and older) = รุ่นพี่ = Senior
Roon Nong (who comes after and younger) = รุ่นน้อง = Junior
Poodtaan was never scared of anyone. Her words could cut to the heart of people different from her appearance. She had a high tolerance but when she lost it she would be like a mad cow being able to run into anyone. But she usually never began any argument first and rather kept quiet. He was quite satisfied with this kind of behavior and she was his sorority little sister too. Their characteristics were similar so he got along with her well.
“’I’ll take you to the hotel” P’ Mee said.
“It’s ok for me to get there by motorcycle. It takes me a short time. But you should go now or you have to drive fast to get home before dark. Poodtaan told him quickly.
Though her memory faded away she knew that her parents had died because of driving fast to get home. She would not like anyone to have the same fate as her family. P’ Mee nodded easily before walking to his car and drove away.
***********************
She caught the heart-shaped locket rubbing around with familiarity looking at the road paved with bricks in front the house and thought back over 10 years ago. She revived with a lost memory that made her not having any feeling about her parents’ funeral. When there was no bond, there was no pain. What she could remember made her feel pictures and surroundings she saw weren’t what she was familiar with. Even her parents picture in the locket she had no memory about them. However the locket always warmed her heart.
The accident would affect her brain more than losing memory because she could learn and understand various things more than other children at the same age. That allowed her study getting ahead after she had to stay for treatment about 1 year since the accident. She would get bachelor degree this year at the age of 20. Before learning what she liked she had to be patient with her aunt. Wipawee would like her to learn medicine more than to learn how to grow vegetables or grass according to her satirical words.
She gave her ultimatum if Poodtaan learned to be a doctor she would pay her money for Poodtaan education. If not she would not pay even a baht she would use the money from Poodtaan’s heritage.
Of course, Poodtaan chose to indulge herself more than her aunt and had gone to study in a distance from the capital. It made her aunt who usually didn’t like her more dissatisfied.
Wipawee unwillingly looked after her. She didn’t love her and sent her to a boarding school after she had recovered from the accident. Poodtann had no close friends. It didn’t mean there was no one came to be friends but it was because of herself didn’t want to associate with anyone. It might be the deep suspicion that she felt with her relatives who came for benefit. Sometimes she felt that her life was empty, had nobody and here was not her place.
Under the fuzzy memory, it had created a summary of her thoughts. 8 year old girl could perceive the thought of adults who came to exploit what her parents built. Even she herself didn’t know that how these feelings occurred. It seemed she used to meet many more events that she was taken advantage and could not protect herself.
The feeling of being bored from being treated and the idea that these treasures having nothing belonging to her, made eight- year - old girl that time didn't pay any attention to what happened as if these were worthless for her. Except for the locket with her parents’ picture that she kept it with her all the time because it presented love and warmth that she nearly didn’t know.
***********************
Poodtaan looked at the plan in her hand before looking at the point that hadn't been dig out. It might be the haze or whatever changed the image of dry mound in front of her into another one with lush shrubs and ditches. She blinked her eyes and found that the mound still was the dry one that it should be.
“I should check my eyes, see mistakenly too often” She said to herself and walked to check some stuff.
***********************
Wipawee weighed her mind before looked up a name on the phone and called. She was nearly moody because of long waiting.
“Sawasdee Ka Khun Pa” Poodtaan answered the phone.
“What are you doing? Why have you just answered? I am waiting”
“I was working but now it is finished. My hands were dirty then so I could not answer the phone.” Poodtaan answered
“I would like to know about your birthday. It’s tomorrow. Would you like to go to the wat? Wipawee asked
Yes, I would. Would you come with me? Poodtaan asked her aunt.
Yes, I would like to talk to Khun Sipang too. I don’t know why I feel uneasy now. Would you like to go there on your birthday or afterwards?
“It’d better tomorrow. The day after tomorrow I have to work for many days.”
After making an appointment both hang up the phone.
Making merit and giving alms might be the only thing that both aunt and niece could get along with. It was one thing that Wipawee felt good about Poodtaan. Although her words might be not good to relatives her heart was not bad.
***********************
This forest temple was still calm as before. Tree wall was like a fence between the monk part and the one that people came to practice as well as nuns. It looked nice and tidy. Mae Chee Sipang looked at a familiar face with a calm and merciful face.
They were so similar!! If this girl was born later than 3 years she would think that her daughter came back to be born again
Although she didn't look like Gadesurang exactly, but they looked so similar that if anyone said they were sisters there would be people believed it. Even gesture was almost similar except for expression of her eyes that were more harsh, not like her cheerful daughter and her figure was much more slender than Gade.
***** Mae Chee = Nun
**********************
"I would like to hear the dharma of Luang Por Rueang. Khun Yai, Khun Pa" Poodtaan said.
"Keep your manners there, Poodtaan” Wipawee reiterated when seeing her niece energetic to meet the monk but she heard only her niece's laugh.
**********************
"The older Poodtaan was the more she looked like Gade” Sipang said with tears in her eyes but she was able to immediately suppress it with a mental practice for many years.
“They were similar but Gade was lovelier” Wipawee said.
“You’re strange. You look after Poodtaan since she was young why do you still find fault with her?”
“I don’t understand myself also. It is not both love and hate. Poodtaan has something that makes me not able to love or hate her. Wipawee told Sipang.
“It might be “Boon Tum Gum Taeng”.” Sipang said
***** Boon Tum Gum Taeng (บุญทำกรรมแต่ง) = the merit and sin that were done in the past life determines the destiny of this life.
Boon = บุญ = Merit
Tum = ทำ = do/make
Gum = กรรม = Karma
Taeng = แต่ง = write/arrange
**********************
A few temple children walked with Poodtaan under the old wooden cubicle but it looked clean before they went to prepare tea and water for Phra Rueang. Some sat down and weaved the mat that remained in order to be Poodtaan’s companion to avoid gossip that a woman was with the monk alone. Poodtaan saw the monk. She felt delighted every time she met him.
“Laung Por Jao Ka, I come to receive blessing for my birthday (Jao Ka)”
The eyes of the monk turned down and still did not move. There were only eyelids twitching a bit showing that he recognized.
After sitting he stared at Poodtaan‘s face.
“You have turned 20, Poodtaan.” The monk said.
Jao Ka” Poodtaan accepted.
“I would like you to insist on consciousness. No matter what happens in your life if you are conscious, everything would go well. No matter what happens badly if you try to solve consciously wisdom would happen and you could get through any problem. This year I bless you just one word “Be conscious!”
Poodtaan was silent. Many years ago this monk just prayed and gave a short blessing and asked about her education, health or life being. What he said would become clear and exactly happened to her. So she had to think about what he told and was always careful.
“What do I have to meet?” Poodtaan asked. The temple boy who talked to each other away also listened. There was a rumor that Pra Rueang knew the future. Some people liked to crack code out of what he said into number and they were lucky winning the lottery.
“You will meet what you have to meet and you cannot keep away. Remember my words, to be conscious, to think well before doing anything because what you do will affect yourself and others.”
Afterwards Pra Rueang prayed for her special long before he went back to his cubicle. Poodtaan looked after him with doubt. She sat cross-legged resting for a while then she prostrated the monk in the cubicle three times.
“P’ Taan what did Laung Por say a moment ago?” A temple boy who was rather familiar with her crawled to ask her.
“What? Are you cracking into number for Pa Nong to buy the lottery again? Poodtaan got up and walked out of there. Three 15 year old temple boys followed her. They still would like to know what the monk said.
“Luang Por would be afraid of Dok Pikul falling from his mouth. He never speaks to anyone for a long time like you. Every time you come here you always had a chance to listen for a long time. And aunts in the kitchen win the lottery nearly every time you come. It is a fortune for our mouth too. Please, think that you make merit.”
“It’s a sin being sarcastic to the monk. Putaan pretended to frown at the boys to make them all less zealous. The one who said slapped his mouth 3 times before putting his hands together to pay respect towards the cubicle.
***** Be afraid of Pikunthong falling from the mouth
This idiom comes from one of Thai Folktales “Pikunthong”. It is one of the most popular plays in Ayutthaya period.
“Pikun” = the name of a tree. Its flowers are fragrant.
Thong = gold
In the folktale Piguntong was a daughter of a governor. She was very beautiful and when she spoke there would be gold Pigun flowers (Dok Pikunthong) falling out from her mouth.
The idiom is used for being sarcastic to people who seldom speak or talk to anyone. When we ask them one word they would answer us one word. It looks like they are afraid of Pikun (Dok Pigun) falling from their mouths
***** putting his hands together to pay respect = Wai
*****a fortune for our mouth = Lap Pak = ลาภปาก
This means when aunts in the kitchen win the lottery they will treat the temple boys food also.
“He tells me to be conscious. Whatever I meet, if I try to solve it consciously and carefully. It won’t hurt myself and others. Poodtaan told them.
“How I can crack the numbers then? P’ taan turn 20 this year so I will tell Pa Nung to buy 20.'
“Ha! Would you give me only 20 years old? You have to buy 21, add my age too. Poodtaan said laughing loudly before closing her mouth quickly because of the parish.
“It’s true.” All boys said the same time before Wai Poodtaan and ran towards the kitchen.
Poodtaan shook her head laughing. ‘The lottery is really up in their brains.”
Poodtaan walked back to dharma yard, she found Wipawee sat meditating with other people and Khun Yai Sipang then she looked for shady location and did the same.
Poodtaan remembered the first time she came here with Wipawee over 1 year after the accident. She was trained to meditate. It was so destressed for her. She did it about 5 minutes, she felt so hot like being burned. She had to change sitting to walking around and she met Pra Rueang by chance. He taught her to meditate again as if he knew what she had found. Immediately she sat just less than 5 minutes it happened again. The monk uttered the prayer. The heat reduced becoming comfortable warmth for a moment then cool like the wind blowing and calm.
Pra Rueng told her to share loving kindness to Jao Gum Nai Wain. He allowed her to receive blessing from him on her birthday. He also told her to meditate most often to dedicate the merit to Jao Gum Nai Wain.
When she grew up though there were always temple boys sitting with her alternately depending on who were free, none of them sat so long as her. They didn’t disturb her. Everyone was busy with work under the cubicle sweeping, scrubbing, cleaning or weaving a mat near her. So she and some of temple boys grew up together and knew each other well.
Sometimes Poodtaan thought that if she could not find any job ordination here should be a good choice but there was something in her mind holding her back. She felt she had some things to do. Things that she had to pay and things that she had to get it back. All were a big burden. These thoughts she never told anyone. She had no close friends to open up and she herself did not understand how these feelings happened with her.
**********************
After Poodtaan prostrated Mae Chee Sipang and left the wat. Wipawee drove her to the hotel in Ayutthaya and opened a room at the same hotel as her niece.
“After working tomorrow, come back here quickly I’ll treat you grilled prawns and go back home together the day after tomorrow.” Wipawee said.
Poodtaan was quiet for a while. Wipawee usually didn’t care about her return after she refused to learn medicine. She rolled her eyes once and stared at her aunt’s face still.
Why? I would like to take some rest. It’s good if I have you a companion. It's better than to do it alone.
“Strange.” Pudtann mused shaking her head and went back to her room.
**********************
Today morning sunshine was so weird orange that Poodtaan had to open the curtain looking outside. She put on her clothes and ready for working today. She thought that it was a heavy day because Danai didn't come.
Poodtaan walked down to the dining room. She saw Wipawee having porridge. Wipawee nodded to her. Aunt and niece had food together before moving to their ways without much talk. Poodtaan was walking out but Wipawee called her.
“Taan don’t forget to come back to have food with me” Wipawee looked at Poodtaan’s smile. That smile made Poodtaan’s big eyes bright and created s some feelings for Wipawee.
Her niece walked away her hands that beginning having wrinkle of age holding her left chest that was twitching irregularly like she was losing something. But she was a person who didn’t think much. She brushed away that feeling and picked up her phone looking for interesting places and the place for relax massage to kill the time waiting for Poodtaan.
**********************
Many workers came together and had started working. Some raised the seedlings from the truck that had just arrived. Some dig deep into the ground to prepare the soil for those seedlings. Big trees have been placed before. So today might not be considered a hard task as thought. Many hundreds of beautiful stones were laid down according to the plan by the order of Poodtaan. Everything was going well. After lunch they came back to get work finished as the schedule.
In the afternoon, Poodtaan became a full mummy and got smiles from many workers who were used to working in the hot sun. Suddenly the sound of a hoe hitting steel very loud, the worker who used the hoe digging lost his balance. Poodtaan rushed to see along with many other workers until becoming a small Thai Moung.
*****Thai Moung
When there are accidents, murder or whatever, many of Thai people like to watch. It makes the places crowded and they disobey. Sometimes it is dangerous to be there and sometimes they become an obstacle to staff working. We call crowded like this “Thai Moung”. There used to be hundreds of Thai Mung dead because of explosion.
Moung = crowd around, gather around
"Hey, old stuff (Antiques)?" Many workers with shining eyes rushed together to help in digging. Finally the small steel chest that was not too heavy lifted up. The body of the chest had a slight dent showing thickness and strength. The lock was shuffle by a hoe until it fell off but it looked like everyone hesitated to open it. Although in their eyes had greed, but they all turned to look at Poodtaan.
"Hah! Me? Me open?"
"If it's an amulet let us share, Khun Taan," one of the workers hurriedly told her.
"Or if it's jewelry, Khun Taan chooses first." Another added.
From the fact that they had worked with Poodtaan for almost 3 months, Poodtaan was nice to them and she often treated them some drink and food. So they considered Poodtaan as a part of them.
"If it is valuable, it will be state property. We must notify the Department of Art. We cannot hold it on our own. Aren't you afraid of ghosts to follow to claim?”
She spoke solemnly and secretly smiled when seeing each worker began to have some twinkling of fear because many times when it was necessary to overthrow big trees they usually asked her to buy offerings for tree deity according to the belief. Therefore, if quoting the ghost everyone had to be afraid. If they were not afraid they would be considerate.
Poodtaan stared at the chest of the trouble in front of her carefully while her hand tried to open it. She could not open it quickly because of the stiffness of the rust that caught the chest. When the thing inside appeared, it called the hilarity for everyone. The inside of the chest looked shiny and had no rust and there was old brown rectangular paper with traces of the oil-coating. Besides that, there was no other thing.
Suddenly Poodtaan felt of a strange premonition. She did not want to touch this thing. She would like to find a fire to burn it now. But the realization of rationality told her to open out and let the workers see what was inside. She did not think it was precious because of the weight similar to a book or a notebook. When they realized that it was not valuable, everyone would return to get work finished today.
"Uh ... If it is not a cloth, it would be a book. Poodtaan said to the workers before gently removed the soft thick paper and found the old yellow calico.
The wind began to blow up with the clouds coming to obscure the sun's hot rays. Just a moment it seemed as if there was something gradually obscured the sun. Many workers looked at the sky with doubt but not Poodtaan. She was still opening the cloth with excited heart.
As soon as the fabric was opened, everyone saw the black Khoi book, with letters that were illegible, written in thin, light white with no idea what it was made of.
“It’s a notebook, not amulet or jewelry.”
"Hey, but we can sell it to antiquary." The workers talked to each other. Many people regret it, but many others are interested.
***** Khoi book = Samood Khoi = Thai long book made of pulp from trees of the family Uricaceae
. Poodtaan swallowed. What was in her hand looked like she used to see. Her ears heard some chanting that caused her having hot flashes like she would pass out with the growing pain in the heart. Her hands pulled the fabric away from the koi book in front of her.
As soon as her fingertips touched the ancient notebook, the bright golden light came together with the darkness of the sun in the sky. Many workers began to run away from that scary light. Some of them fell down and were stunned, trying to look at the golden light. Just a moment, that light extinguished with the brightness of the sun that was dazzling again together with a body fleeting with a koi book...... leaving only an empty steel chest and a cloth that blowing in the wind.
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As you know Khun Rompaeng had updated PL on her facebook and now 5 chapters have been released for fan. I have translated the chapter I. I’m not sure for the rest. Chapter I is important as it is about the background of the key character of this story “Poodtaan”.
Chapter I
A little girl was looking at shadow of a person. The blur of the dusk made her not be able to see that person clearly. His/her clothes looked strange. It looked like him/her wearing only a shoulder cloth and the bottom part looked like pants. It was so strange that she had to tell her parents sitting at the front of the car.
“Mom, there is someone wearing strange clothes standing on the roadside looking at us.” She told her mother with a voice of a 6-year-old child.
“What? You talk nonsense again” Wipawan said while looking at the speed monitor, 100 km/hour.
“You could drive slower. Are you tired?” She said and asked her husband. He looked tired because he had to get up early to take her and their daughter to make a merit at a wat/temple that was far from the community and afterwards went to a wedding party of his colleague/Subordinate.
“I have told you, let Nai Git drive the car but you would like to do it by yourself. It would be good if we find a place around here to get some rest before.” She said
“Oh no, I would like to get home soon” Her husband Chaimit said. He smiled a little and went back to concentrate on driving.
“Today it was nice to meet Khun Na Sipang at the wat. Unbelievable she was ordained as a nun here for a long time. We knew nothing despite coming here often.” She talked to her husband to get him alert after seeing that he would not like to rest.
(Na = น้า –used for calling mother ‘s younger sister or anyone who is younger than her, Sipang – the name of Gade’s Mom).
“Um” her husband said. “I feel bad for her. Gade should not have died at her young age.
(Translating word by word from Thai Wipawan said “Gade should not have a little merit.” This is an idiom. It means she should not have a short life/she should have had a long life.)
Now she had died for 5 years and Pra RueangRit would be a monk throughout his life. Wipawan said like she mused. What the servant who followed to take care of Sipang at the wat told her was still in her memory.
The servant said “Pra Rueang was very sad when Khun Gade died. He loved her very much. Now he might feel better but he still insisted he would not leave the Buddha monkhood. Khun Yai Naun (Gade’s grandma) was Yoom Oop Pat Taak (attendant of the monk/Pra Rueang) until the end of her life. Laung Por (Gade’s father who was a monk too) had died 3 years ago. Khun Sipang was left alone so she sold her house and came to stay in the wat permanently. I think it is good. I rejoiced in her merit so I came here to live with her.”
“I like Khun Yai Sipang (Yai = grandma). 6 year old Pud taan said.
“Khun Yai is kind to you too. She said your face looks like her daughter when she was young. Why not! Although we are distant relatives we still have some the same blood line” Wipawan said with a laugh and thought of things that happened there daytime in the wat.
Pra RueangRit stared at her daughter. Though the expression of his eyes looked a little strange he would mercy on her because he gave her a red sacred cord with wooden bead. Even Sipang’s servant secretly told her that Pra Rueang never gave anyone a talisman.
“I (Noo) like this wooden bead.” the girl raised the cord pleasedly rubbing the little bead back and forth. The monk in the dark yellow robe with high mercy on his face still was in her memory.
“I like Pra Rueang also. When I grow up I will marry him.” Her confident voice made both Wipawan and Mitchai laughed
“You are precocious” Mitchai warned her with not strong voice.
“It’s true. I love him. Even if he doesn’t love me, I’m ok
Her word that should not be the words of a child make Wipawan had to pretend to tell her with a serious voice”
“It was a sin, he would not leave the monkhood” Wipawan said.
“Mom, there is someone looking at us again” Pud taan said but not finished yet, the sound of the wheel grinding the road surface resounded the road. It was so loud that people who heard felt horrify.
The bright light dived in with loud screams. The shock faces of two adults’ sitting together happened just one moment before their bodies under the seat belt were struck and swung without direction. The little girl sitting at the back her eyes opened widely with shock before everything turned out dark.
Pra RueangRit opened his eyes together with a long sigh. That spirit still was confused and had been seeking a way for thousand years. One of the reasons might be due to his deeds and his decision. Although this life, karma easing up had made the crux of sin and the curse of Jao Gum Nai Wein to 2 women sparse but it didn’t reach of the point of relieving. Maybe Above might have the answer of the whole story. The young monk looked up at the moon. It was just a crescent moon tonight.
***** Jao Gum Nai Wain (เจ้ากรรมนายเวร) =persons with previous deeds on each other = enemies of our present and former lives including all people who we had done bad deeds on.)
***** Above (เบื้องบน) = Heaven, God, Angels etc.
If he passed this life (to have the next life. His smile was like a lotus had just sprung from the water popped up at the corner of his thick wavy mouth. He knew all but he could not resist. Passion had pulled him into the cycle of rebirth and death so firmly because 1 of the 2 women was his beloved one. He didn’t care how many times he had to return to this world. He just wanted these births to bring the one he loved to be together. That was enough.
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Wipawee looked at the little child in front of her reading Aesop's Fables, with the feeling of both despise and sympathy. Her parents died but this child had no any organs broken except for bruises and abrasion and she didn’t say anything for 6 months. Now she was better starting speaking so she could go to school as usual.
In her feelings even she herself didn’t know why she didn't like this child but she was better than other relatives who only thought of the heritage of her parents. This child had many things that were different from ordinary children. Other children would be afraid and cry after the bad incident but Poodtaan was not like that. The clear pure eyes sometimes had strange glitter and looked like she knew what the other people were thinking and accepted her situation at the same time. And when seeing and listening to those relatives her eyes were harsh and she flicked her sight like adults.
“This kid’s eyes were evil, she looked disobedient.” A closed relative visited Wipawee to ask about the heritage of Poodtaan's parents that would belong to their daughter. She seldom liked Poodtaan too.
“She might watch lakorn NamNao too much. Her parents when being alive they indulged their child. Having only one child would be like this”
Wipawee said that comfortably. The reason of her good mood was not because she was the person who took care of Poodtaan but another reason.
It was certain that Wipawee was the person who got the right to manage the heritage of her sister and brother in law. Some belongings, jewelry, gold jewelry were taken out of the house before she got the right. That made her frustrated. So when those relatives were zealous because they could not do anything after the right of everything belonged to her. That made her in a good mood every time she thought about it.
Poodtaan’s parents were careless because they didn’t think their lives would end up so early like this. The manipulation of their property is not difficult. She could do it but she didn’t.
The reasons were that she felt bad for Poodtaan and felt she had to protect her. These feelings were above any reason as well as the feeling of disgusting the child without cause. However, she had to take care of Poodtaan because she was single. She didn’t have any relatives so close as Poodtaan.
***********************
Afternoon hot sunshine made even the green trees wither. It was extremely hot in every molecule of the air. Poodtaan used a loincloth wiped sweat on her face and sighed tiredly when seeing beige stained on the cloth.
“When will there be a good foundation 100 percent not coming off when sweating.
I have to apply every hour. It’s boring to do so.”
“You put the cloth around your head and ears so completely that you could be a mummy. Why do you still complain? Hurry up! After this clump we have another 2 points. That’s enough for today.” This gruff voice came from a big giant man. He reiterated before walking to command the workers who were digging out enthusiasticly.
“P’Mee, aren’t you coming to the site the day after tomorrow? Poodtaan looked up asking him thus revealing her bright eyes catching eyes of people.
“No, I’m not. I have an urgent matter. You have to do it for me. It is not difficult. You just follow our plan.”
“It is terribly hot in Ayutthaya.” She said while jerking her long sleeved shirt soaked with sweat and fluttered the shirt frequently to allow the wind to relieve heat.
“It’s like that.” P’ Mee said. “Anyway after the internship contract expires at the end of this month, would you continue to master?” P’ Mee asked.
“How can I do that? I have no money” Poodtaan told him.
“Hey! What about the money from your parents’ heritage? Is it used up?
“Yes it is, but it’s good to find a job to do. My aunt would stop complaining."
Poodtaan walked to the other point that would be decorated as an ornamental plant garden to tell workers to put seedlings into pits and she helped them too. Her senior who worked for this company came to help as well despite his duty just to oversee the work.
“Come to work at this company if you would like to” P’ Mee continued talking.
Silence was the answer. It was understandable because of her beautiful and outstanding appearance making her a focus of the owner of the company. He was married but he always had news with girls. He flirted every time he met her. That made Poodtaan not think of working with this company.
“Let’s talk about it another time” Poodtaan said.
If there wasn’t any company to work for, she might have to work here for a while but she would be stressed with a gossip about her using connection including having to be careful the snake on the head of the company owner. She hoped a little self – defense she used to learn would help her if necessary.
***** In Thailand sometimes we call an old man who likes flirting with young girls “Tao Hua njoo”
Tao = เฒ่า = Old man
Hua = หัว = Head
Ngoo = งู = Snake
Tao Hua Ngoo = เฒ่าหัวงู = Old man with snake head
Danai, who his friends and his juniors called him “Mee” according to his appearance looking like a kind bear, looked at Poodtaan’s energetic attitude with satisfaction. She was slender but persevering and tolerate. She was appropriate being his junior. There was only one disadvantage that her habit sometimes was harsh (RANG!!!) until it became rumor
*****In a university in Thailand there are some words that use to call people who come to study in the same university before and after.
Roon P’ (who comes to study before and older) = รุ่นพี่ = Senior
Roon Nong (who comes after and younger) = รุ่นน้อง = Junior
Poodtaan was never scared of anyone. Her words could cut to the heart of people different from her appearance. She had a high tolerance but when she lost it she would be like a mad cow being able to run into anyone. But she usually never began any argument first and rather kept quiet. He was quite satisfied with this kind of behavior and she was his sorority little sister too. Their characteristics were similar so he got along with her well.
“’I’ll take you to the hotel” P’ Mee said.
“It’s ok for me to get there by motorcycle. It takes me a short time. But you should go now or you have to drive fast to get home before dark. Poodtaan told him quickly.
Though her memory faded away she knew that her parents had died because of driving fast to get home. She would not like anyone to have the same fate as her family. P’ Mee nodded easily before walking to his car and drove away.
***********************
She caught the heart-shaped locket rubbing around with familiarity looking at the road paved with bricks in front the house and thought back over 10 years ago. She revived with a lost memory that made her not having any feeling about her parents’ funeral. When there was no bond, there was no pain. What she could remember made her feel pictures and surroundings she saw weren’t what she was familiar with. Even her parents picture in the locket she had no memory about them. However the locket always warmed her heart.
The accident would affect her brain more than losing memory because she could learn and understand various things more than other children at the same age. That allowed her study getting ahead after she had to stay for treatment about 1 year since the accident. She would get bachelor degree this year at the age of 20. Before learning what she liked she had to be patient with her aunt. Wipawee would like her to learn medicine more than to learn how to grow vegetables or grass according to her satirical words.
She gave her ultimatum if Poodtaan learned to be a doctor she would pay her money for Poodtaan education. If not she would not pay even a baht she would use the money from Poodtaan’s heritage.
Of course, Poodtaan chose to indulge herself more than her aunt and had gone to study in a distance from the capital. It made her aunt who usually didn’t like her more dissatisfied.
Wipawee unwillingly looked after her. She didn’t love her and sent her to a boarding school after she had recovered from the accident. Poodtann had no close friends. It didn’t mean there was no one came to be friends but it was because of herself didn’t want to associate with anyone. It might be the deep suspicion that she felt with her relatives who came for benefit. Sometimes she felt that her life was empty, had nobody and here was not her place.
Under the fuzzy memory, it had created a summary of her thoughts. 8 year old girl could perceive the thought of adults who came to exploit what her parents built. Even she herself didn’t know that how these feelings occurred. It seemed she used to meet many more events that she was taken advantage and could not protect herself.
The feeling of being bored from being treated and the idea that these treasures having nothing belonging to her, made eight- year - old girl that time didn't pay any attention to what happened as if these were worthless for her. Except for the locket with her parents’ picture that she kept it with her all the time because it presented love and warmth that she nearly didn’t know.
***********************
Poodtaan looked at the plan in her hand before looking at the point that hadn't been dig out. It might be the haze or whatever changed the image of dry mound in front of her into another one with lush shrubs and ditches. She blinked her eyes and found that the mound still was the dry one that it should be.
“I should check my eyes, see mistakenly too often” She said to herself and walked to check some stuff.
***********************
Wipawee weighed her mind before looked up a name on the phone and called. She was nearly moody because of long waiting.
“Sawasdee Ka Khun Pa” Poodtaan answered the phone.
“What are you doing? Why have you just answered? I am waiting”
“I was working but now it is finished. My hands were dirty then so I could not answer the phone.” Poodtaan answered
“I would like to know about your birthday. It’s tomorrow. Would you like to go to the wat? Wipawee asked
Yes, I would. Would you come with me? Poodtaan asked her aunt.
Yes, I would like to talk to Khun Sipang too. I don’t know why I feel uneasy now. Would you like to go there on your birthday or afterwards?
“It’d better tomorrow. The day after tomorrow I have to work for many days.”
After making an appointment both hang up the phone.
Making merit and giving alms might be the only thing that both aunt and niece could get along with. It was one thing that Wipawee felt good about Poodtaan. Although her words might be not good to relatives her heart was not bad.
***********************
This forest temple was still calm as before. Tree wall was like a fence between the monk part and the one that people came to practice as well as nuns. It looked nice and tidy. Mae Chee Sipang looked at a familiar face with a calm and merciful face.
They were so similar!! If this girl was born later than 3 years she would think that her daughter came back to be born again
Although she didn't look like Gadesurang exactly, but they looked so similar that if anyone said they were sisters there would be people believed it. Even gesture was almost similar except for expression of her eyes that were more harsh, not like her cheerful daughter and her figure was much more slender than Gade.
***** Mae Chee = Nun
**********************
"I would like to hear the dharma of Luang Por Rueang. Khun Yai, Khun Pa" Poodtaan said.
"Keep your manners there, Poodtaan” Wipawee reiterated when seeing her niece energetic to meet the monk but she heard only her niece's laugh.
**********************
"The older Poodtaan was the more she looked like Gade” Sipang said with tears in her eyes but she was able to immediately suppress it with a mental practice for many years.
“They were similar but Gade was lovelier” Wipawee said.
“You’re strange. You look after Poodtaan since she was young why do you still find fault with her?”
“I don’t understand myself also. It is not both love and hate. Poodtaan has something that makes me not able to love or hate her. Wipawee told Sipang.
“It might be “Boon Tum Gum Taeng”.” Sipang said
***** Boon Tum Gum Taeng (บุญทำกรรมแต่ง) = the merit and sin that were done in the past life determines the destiny of this life.
Boon = บุญ = Merit
Tum = ทำ = do/make
Gum = กรรม = Karma
Taeng = แต่ง = write/arrange
**********************
A few temple children walked with Poodtaan under the old wooden cubicle but it looked clean before they went to prepare tea and water for Phra Rueang. Some sat down and weaved the mat that remained in order to be Poodtaan’s companion to avoid gossip that a woman was with the monk alone. Poodtaan saw the monk. She felt delighted every time she met him.
“Laung Por Jao Ka, I come to receive blessing for my birthday (Jao Ka)”
The eyes of the monk turned down and still did not move. There were only eyelids twitching a bit showing that he recognized.
After sitting he stared at Poodtaan‘s face.
“You have turned 20, Poodtaan.” The monk said.
Jao Ka” Poodtaan accepted.
“I would like you to insist on consciousness. No matter what happens in your life if you are conscious, everything would go well. No matter what happens badly if you try to solve consciously wisdom would happen and you could get through any problem. This year I bless you just one word “Be conscious!”
Poodtaan was silent. Many years ago this monk just prayed and gave a short blessing and asked about her education, health or life being. What he said would become clear and exactly happened to her. So she had to think about what he told and was always careful.
“What do I have to meet?” Poodtaan asked. The temple boy who talked to each other away also listened. There was a rumor that Pra Rueang knew the future. Some people liked to crack code out of what he said into number and they were lucky winning the lottery.
“You will meet what you have to meet and you cannot keep away. Remember my words, to be conscious, to think well before doing anything because what you do will affect yourself and others.”
Afterwards Pra Rueang prayed for her special long before he went back to his cubicle. Poodtaan looked after him with doubt. She sat cross-legged resting for a while then she prostrated the monk in the cubicle three times.
“P’ Taan what did Laung Por say a moment ago?” A temple boy who was rather familiar with her crawled to ask her.
“What? Are you cracking into number for Pa Nong to buy the lottery again? Poodtaan got up and walked out of there. Three 15 year old temple boys followed her. They still would like to know what the monk said.
“Luang Por would be afraid of Dok Pikul falling from his mouth. He never speaks to anyone for a long time like you. Every time you come here you always had a chance to listen for a long time. And aunts in the kitchen win the lottery nearly every time you come. It is a fortune for our mouth too. Please, think that you make merit.”
“It’s a sin being sarcastic to the monk. Putaan pretended to frown at the boys to make them all less zealous. The one who said slapped his mouth 3 times before putting his hands together to pay respect towards the cubicle.
***** Be afraid of Pikunthong falling from the mouth
This idiom comes from one of Thai Folktales “Pikunthong”. It is one of the most popular plays in Ayutthaya period.
“Pikun” = the name of a tree. Its flowers are fragrant.
Thong = gold
In the folktale Piguntong was a daughter of a governor. She was very beautiful and when she spoke there would be gold Pigun flowers (Dok Pikunthong) falling out from her mouth.
The idiom is used for being sarcastic to people who seldom speak or talk to anyone. When we ask them one word they would answer us one word. It looks like they are afraid of Pikun (Dok Pigun) falling from their mouths
***** putting his hands together to pay respect = Wai
*****a fortune for our mouth = Lap Pak = ลาภปาก
This means when aunts in the kitchen win the lottery they will treat the temple boys food also.
“He tells me to be conscious. Whatever I meet, if I try to solve it consciously and carefully. It won’t hurt myself and others. Poodtaan told them.
“How I can crack the numbers then? P’ taan turn 20 this year so I will tell Pa Nung to buy 20.'
“Ha! Would you give me only 20 years old? You have to buy 21, add my age too. Poodtaan said laughing loudly before closing her mouth quickly because of the parish.
“It’s true.” All boys said the same time before Wai Poodtaan and ran towards the kitchen.
Poodtaan shook her head laughing. ‘The lottery is really up in their brains.”
Poodtaan walked back to dharma yard, she found Wipawee sat meditating with other people and Khun Yai Sipang then she looked for shady location and did the same.
Poodtaan remembered the first time she came here with Wipawee over 1 year after the accident. She was trained to meditate. It was so destressed for her. She did it about 5 minutes, she felt so hot like being burned. She had to change sitting to walking around and she met Pra Rueang by chance. He taught her to meditate again as if he knew what she had found. Immediately she sat just less than 5 minutes it happened again. The monk uttered the prayer. The heat reduced becoming comfortable warmth for a moment then cool like the wind blowing and calm.
Pra Rueng told her to share loving kindness to Jao Gum Nai Wain. He allowed her to receive blessing from him on her birthday. He also told her to meditate most often to dedicate the merit to Jao Gum Nai Wain.
When she grew up though there were always temple boys sitting with her alternately depending on who were free, none of them sat so long as her. They didn’t disturb her. Everyone was busy with work under the cubicle sweeping, scrubbing, cleaning or weaving a mat near her. So she and some of temple boys grew up together and knew each other well.
Sometimes Poodtaan thought that if she could not find any job ordination here should be a good choice but there was something in her mind holding her back. She felt she had some things to do. Things that she had to pay and things that she had to get it back. All were a big burden. These thoughts she never told anyone. She had no close friends to open up and she herself did not understand how these feelings happened with her.
**********************
After Poodtaan prostrated Mae Chee Sipang and left the wat. Wipawee drove her to the hotel in Ayutthaya and opened a room at the same hotel as her niece.
“After working tomorrow, come back here quickly I’ll treat you grilled prawns and go back home together the day after tomorrow.” Wipawee said.
Poodtaan was quiet for a while. Wipawee usually didn’t care about her return after she refused to learn medicine. She rolled her eyes once and stared at her aunt’s face still.
Why? I would like to take some rest. It’s good if I have you a companion. It's better than to do it alone.
“Strange.” Pudtann mused shaking her head and went back to her room.
**********************
Today morning sunshine was so weird orange that Poodtaan had to open the curtain looking outside. She put on her clothes and ready for working today. She thought that it was a heavy day because Danai didn't come.
Poodtaan walked down to the dining room. She saw Wipawee having porridge. Wipawee nodded to her. Aunt and niece had food together before moving to their ways without much talk. Poodtaan was walking out but Wipawee called her.
“Taan don’t forget to come back to have food with me” Wipawee looked at Poodtaan’s smile. That smile made Poodtaan’s big eyes bright and created s some feelings for Wipawee.
Her niece walked away her hands that beginning having wrinkle of age holding her left chest that was twitching irregularly like she was losing something. But she was a person who didn’t think much. She brushed away that feeling and picked up her phone looking for interesting places and the place for relax massage to kill the time waiting for Poodtaan.
**********************
Many workers came together and had started working. Some raised the seedlings from the truck that had just arrived. Some dig deep into the ground to prepare the soil for those seedlings. Big trees have been placed before. So today might not be considered a hard task as thought. Many hundreds of beautiful stones were laid down according to the plan by the order of Poodtaan. Everything was going well. After lunch they came back to get work finished as the schedule.
In the afternoon, Poodtaan became a full mummy and got smiles from many workers who were used to working in the hot sun. Suddenly the sound of a hoe hitting steel very loud, the worker who used the hoe digging lost his balance. Poodtaan rushed to see along with many other workers until becoming a small Thai Moung.
*****Thai Moung
When there are accidents, murder or whatever, many of Thai people like to watch. It makes the places crowded and they disobey. Sometimes it is dangerous to be there and sometimes they become an obstacle to staff working. We call crowded like this “Thai Moung”. There used to be hundreds of Thai Mung dead because of explosion.
Moung = crowd around, gather around
"Hey, old stuff (Antiques)?" Many workers with shining eyes rushed together to help in digging. Finally the small steel chest that was not too heavy lifted up. The body of the chest had a slight dent showing thickness and strength. The lock was shuffle by a hoe until it fell off but it looked like everyone hesitated to open it. Although in their eyes had greed, but they all turned to look at Poodtaan.
"Hah! Me? Me open?"
"If it's an amulet let us share, Khun Taan," one of the workers hurriedly told her.
"Or if it's jewelry, Khun Taan chooses first." Another added.
From the fact that they had worked with Poodtaan for almost 3 months, Poodtaan was nice to them and she often treated them some drink and food. So they considered Poodtaan as a part of them.
"If it is valuable, it will be state property. We must notify the Department of Art. We cannot hold it on our own. Aren't you afraid of ghosts to follow to claim?”
She spoke solemnly and secretly smiled when seeing each worker began to have some twinkling of fear because many times when it was necessary to overthrow big trees they usually asked her to buy offerings for tree deity according to the belief. Therefore, if quoting the ghost everyone had to be afraid. If they were not afraid they would be considerate.
Poodtaan stared at the chest of the trouble in front of her carefully while her hand tried to open it. She could not open it quickly because of the stiffness of the rust that caught the chest. When the thing inside appeared, it called the hilarity for everyone. The inside of the chest looked shiny and had no rust and there was old brown rectangular paper with traces of the oil-coating. Besides that, there was no other thing.
Suddenly Poodtaan felt of a strange premonition. She did not want to touch this thing. She would like to find a fire to burn it now. But the realization of rationality told her to open out and let the workers see what was inside. She did not think it was precious because of the weight similar to a book or a notebook. When they realized that it was not valuable, everyone would return to get work finished today.
"Uh ... If it is not a cloth, it would be a book. Poodtaan said to the workers before gently removed the soft thick paper and found the old yellow calico.
The wind began to blow up with the clouds coming to obscure the sun's hot rays. Just a moment it seemed as if there was something gradually obscured the sun. Many workers looked at the sky with doubt but not Poodtaan. She was still opening the cloth with excited heart.
As soon as the fabric was opened, everyone saw the black Khoi book, with letters that were illegible, written in thin, light white with no idea what it was made of.
“It’s a notebook, not amulet or jewelry.”
"Hey, but we can sell it to antiquary." The workers talked to each other. Many people regret it, but many others are interested.
***** Khoi book = Samood Khoi = Thai long book made of pulp from trees of the family Uricaceae
. Poodtaan swallowed. What was in her hand looked like she used to see. Her ears heard some chanting that caused her having hot flashes like she would pass out with the growing pain in the heart. Her hands pulled the fabric away from the koi book in front of her.
As soon as her fingertips touched the ancient notebook, the bright golden light came together with the darkness of the sun in the sky. Many workers began to run away from that scary light. Some of them fell down and were stunned, trying to look at the golden light. Just a moment, that light extinguished with the brightness of the sun that was dazzling again together with a body fleeting with a koi book...... leaving only an empty steel chest and a cloth that blowing in the wind.
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Rosi2
Samee's wifey #42
@Amata!! You always stumped me! I love all these detailed translations that you do. Am so happy when there's lots of stuff you write to make us guys understand it all better. You really took the trouble in making such great effort and thank you so much for these. Big, big hugs from Singapore!
Rosi2
Samee's wifey #42
Oh, thank goodness then I'm not the only one. I thought something went wrong. But you are right it's better the old format, neater.Me too, I am having the same problem
That's why I don't visit much these days... am hoping it will go back to the old layout but everytime I checked, it is this new layout
June31sg
sarNie Hatchling
Yes!! And it is harder to insert the emoji with this new layout
I want the old layout back! Also, it used to be easy jumping to other pages, now, I can only go page by page.... urhhhhhhhh