A Hungry Ghost Festival

It was a humid September night in Singapore and Ah Ma Ling stood in front of the Tan’s family apartment flat. She was dead for almost ten months now and on the eve of the Hungry Ghost Festival*, she decided to pay a visit to her family. 

To her disappointment, Ah Ma Ling quickly noticed that the Tan family had not prepared any offerings for her and her husband this year. 

“Ingrates!” Ah Ma Ling said, puckering her lips. 

During her time in the Tan’s family apartment, she always made sure that her son, Ben and her daughter in law, Janice, prepared some offerings for the dead during the festival. And now, ten months after she’s dead, they seemed to have already forgotten all about it. 

Ah Ma Ling floated into the apartment premise and wondered what happened to her beloved family…

####

When Ah Ma Ling reached the living room, she noticed that everyone seemed to be asleep. Everything was dark and the apartment was very quiet. The clock on top of the television set showed that it was 12:30 a.m. 

Next to the television set, she saw a framed picture of herself. On the bottom of the frame, there was a golden inscription that says “Romans 14:8- Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” 

The words didn't make sense to her. Who was the Lord she wondered, and since when did she become his property?

Just as Ah Ma Ling was inspecting the inscription closer, she suddenly heard a loud knock on the wall. It came from the room behind the television set. The room belongs to her granddaughter, Jane. 

When she passed through the wall and floated into Jane’s room, she saw that her granddaughter was seated on the floor, massaging her right thumb. Ah Ma Ling figured that her clumsy granddaughter must have snubbed her thumb somewhere.

Jane was wearing a scantily silver dress and her face was all made up. Her small lips were covered in bright pink lipstick and her eyelids were painted with a cobalt blue eyeliner. Ah Ma Ling thought that her granddaughter was dressed like a Chinese courtesan and she was wondering why she’s dressed up like this when she’s all alone.

But before she managed to reach a logical conclusion, Ah Ma Ling saw Jane stood, walked to her smartphone that was strategically hung on top of a full length mirror, and tapped it a couple of times. A moment later, she took two steps back and made all these slow sleazy movements that seemed to be some sort of a dance.  

Ah Ma Ling shook her head in disgust, not expecting her granddaughter to be acting like one of those karaoke escorts. Just as Jane was reaching the climax of her dance move, her phone started vibrating and the name Ber Han appeared on her screen. It was a video call.

“Aiyoh, call me for what.” Jane said in annoyance.

She swiped her phone and soon her boyfriend’s face appeared on the screen. 

“Wah, Babe! You look so pretty! You knew I was gonna call is it?” Ber Han said. 

“You wish!” Jane said. “I was just planning to upload this Tik Tok video when you called.”

“Whoa, nice. Show me leh.” Ber Han said.

“It’s not finished! Thanks to you, I think I need to do another retake.” Jane said. “Why you call me so late?” 

“Well, I thought I just wanted to check on you and see if everything is okay.” Ber Han said. 

“Why?” Jane said. “Do you think my face looked like someone who had a problem?”

“No, it’s not like that.” Ber Han said. “I bumped into your father this afternoon in the Kopitiam and he was complaining about you.”

Jane folded her arms uncomfortably and all her bubbly vibe suddenly disappeared.

“And?” Jane said.

“And, he was just telling me how you don’t want to help him in the store anymore…” Ber Han said measuredly.

“Aiyoh, you know my reasons already lah…” Jane said. “I have no passion for baking bread. Ever since I was a kid, I made it very clear that I don’t want to continue his kaya toast store… and yet he never listened.”  

“Okay, maybe your Dad has a better plan for you?’ Ber Han offered.

“Please, ever since I was a little girl, my dad was always working, working, working and missed all my school activities.” Jane said. “How can you expect me to accept a plan made by a man who never knew me?”

“Err… maybe you should talk to your mother.” Ber Han said evasively.

“Aiyoh, my mother is also the same thing. She’s always busy with her Christian groups and prayer meetings that she seemed to forget that she has a family. If I share this problem with her, she’ll probably just tell me to pray to the Lord and attend one of her Bible study groups…” Jane said.

Ah Ma Ling’s ears pricked at the mention of the word “the Lord.”

“I thought your family was Buddhist?” Ber Han said.

“Well, apparently a few months ago my Mom converted. One of her friends successfully dragged her into one of those mega churches in the city. She’s been asking me to go but I figure that she’s just using Christianity as an escape from my father.” Jane said.

“Escape? Why are you so judgmental?” Ber Han chuckled.

“It’s true!” Jane squealed. “I’ve told you how my family had fallen apart when Ah Ma Ling passed away ten months ago. Now all Mom and Dad do is fight every day.”

When Ah Ma Ling heard about all this, she left her granddaughter’s room and floated into her son's room next door, not wanting to hear what her granddaughter was going to say next. 

####

When Ah Ma Ling reached the master bedroom, she saw that her son and daughter in law were sleeping deeply. They were not facing each other and in the middle of their bed was a wall of pillows and bolsters that separated them like a barbed fence.

Ah Ma Ling told herself that she will do everything in her power to unite her family. 

####

Early in the morning, just before dawn breaks, Ben is already up in his bed. Ben is a pudgy man with a crew cut hair style and thin mustache. When he frowned his friends joked that he looked like a Hong Kong mafia hit man.

Without even turning to his wife, he took his clothes and went to the bathroom. About fifteen minutes later, Ben was already leaving his apartment for the Kopitiam* next door. Unbeknownst to him, Ah Ma Ling was trailing right behind him like a Private Investigator.

As he was walking into his kaya toast stall, he was greeted by his friend, Chin Chee Guay, the owner of the fish-ball noodle stall next to him.

“Oy, Ben! Why are you still coming alone? I thought Jane was going to help you after she graduated?” Chin mused.

“Aiyah, you know how kids nowadays lah. I’ve been trying to involve her in the family business and asked her to help me around the shop, but she said that she has no passion in serving kaya toast.” Ben said, switching on the light switch on his stall. 

Chin chuckled at this statement and turned his attention to the noodles he was cooking. 

“You know the other day, Jane announced that she no longer wants to help me in the Kopitiam and becomes an influencer.” Ben said. 

“Influenza?” Chin asked, amused.

“No, no, influencer…” Ben said. ”Brands pay her money to recommend products through her Instagram page.”

“What kind of work is that?” Chin said. “Does she even get paid doing that?”

“I don’t know…” Ben said. “She does receive a lot of free clothes though.”

“Wow, that’s not so bad.” Chin said. “So what does she do?”

“That one I also don’t know.” Ben said. “But I sometimes saw her dancing in front of her phone like some sleazy Chinese KTV* girls.”

“Aiyoh, don’t tell me she’s making those stupid Tik Tok videos.” Chin said. “My daughter used to make one of those videos too. You better ask Janice to stop her from doing that”

“Eh. Is it that bad?” Ben mused.

“It is! Imagine who you think will watch these girls’ dancing videos. Think of those old perverts who are probably salivating and masturbating to your daughter’s video right now.” Chin said. “I think you should seriously talk to your wife.”

“Aiyoh, talking to Janice also no point.” Ben said, raising his voice. “Ever since she attended that church in the city, all she does is pray, pray, pray, and attend church meetings. When she’s home, all she does is stare in front of her phone and read those Corona news to me.”

When Ah Ma Ling heard all this, she shook her head and decided to make a visit to her daughter in law.

####

When Ah Ma Ling returned to the family’s apartment she saw that the front door had been filled with people’s sandals. When she floated into the living room, she found that her daughter in law was praying with four other women who were dressed in simple clothes. Her daughter in law’s hair was all rolled up and she was wearing a simple white blouse that seemed two sizes too big. 

Ah Ma Ling can’t really comprehend what they are saying because they are speaking in strange languages.  After the strange ritual was over, the woman with grey hair asked if there’s anybody here who has a prayer request. Ah Ma Ling was amused to see that her daughter in law was the first woman to put her hand out.  

“Yes, I saw your hand sister Janice.” the grey haired woman said. “Anybody else?”

After another minute of silence, the grey haired woman told her small congregation to open their eyes and asked sister Janice to share her troubles.

“Thank you sister Esther for your wonderful prayers and this opportunity to share my woes with you all.” Janice began. “After following your suggestion to remove the family relics, I had a big fight with my husband again yesterday. This time it’s about the food offering we need to provide for his ancestors.”

Ah Ma Ling scoffed when she discovered that her good for nothing daughter in law has been the person responsible for removing her yearly sacrifices.

“He called me names and complained that I was an ungrateful wife who does nothing but play phone all day.” Janice said. “But this was not entirely true. It’s true that we don’t talk much nowadays, but that’s because every time I tried to share my point of view, he always cut me off and told me to listen to him first. Eventually I gave up talking to him and rather play with my phone instead.”

Sister Esther and the three other women in the group nodded emphatically and made a concerned look. 

“In the book of Matthew the Lord tells us to not resist an evil person. He said If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” Esther said. “In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul said do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. So be patient sister Janice and let the Lord do his work.”

The group nodded and said amen almost in unison.

“Eh, but Janice ah.” said a skinny woman sitting next to her. “Why don’t you ask your daughter Jane to talk to her father? Isn’t a good daughter supposed to be the glue of the family?”

“Aiyah, Jane is a basket case.” Janice said in exasperation. “My daughter is always going out with friends until late at night doing not know what. Then when she’s at home, she’s always busy making this funny funny dancing video.”

The whole group hissed in disapproval and shook their heads in disbelief. When Ah Ma Ling finally grasped how dysfunctional her family had become, she floated out of the apartment in great sadness.

####

Ah Ma Ling decided to observe her family for another two days. If her family was still acting the same way, she will do something about it.

####

Two days later, when the family was gathered around the dining room to enjoy their dinner, Ah Ma Ling was standing on the far left corner of the table. Just as Jane was about to reach for a piece of fried meatball in the middle of the table, Ah Ma Ling used all her physical power to shake the dining table right and left.

Thinking that it was an earthquake, Ben, Janice, and Jane quickly jumped out of their chairs and stared into one another with concerned faces. When that stunt got their attention, Ah Ma Ling made herself visible to her family members and stared at them with cold angry eyes. 

“A-Ah Ma Ling?” started Jane in disbelief. “Is that really you?” 

“You stupid stupid girl!’ Ah Ma Ling said. “Who else do you think it is?”

“B-but y-y-you are d-dead.” Janice muttered. 

“Yes and thanks for your insistence not to offer me any good sacrifices, I decided to return and pay you a visit.” Ah Ma Ling said.

“Aiyah, Janice, I told you already.” Ben said, slapping his head. “Mother is angry because you insisted on not offering her any sacrificial food.”

“Silence!” Ah Ma Ling said. “I was initially planning to show myself only to Janice and gave her the shock of her life for not offering me any sacrificial food. But looking at the pathetic state my family is in and how dysfunctional it has become, I decided to visit you all!”

“A-are you going to p-possess us?” Jane asked. 

“No, but you better listen to me well or else I’ll do worse than that!” Ah Ma Ling said. 

It’s been a while since the three saw Ah Ma Ling this angry, so upon hearing that threat they quieted down and turned their attention to Ah Ma Ling.

“First I would like to start off with you, my granddaughter.” Ah Ma Ling said. “You better stop making all those stupid dancing videos on your phone and start acting like a proper daughter. Your Pa and Ma is going through a rough patch in their marriage and the last thing they need is a dancing monkey. So start spending more time with them and if necessary, help them treat one another better.”

“Yes! Yes! That’s very good, Mother. I totally agree with you.” Janice squealed.

“Silence! You are next!” Ah Ma Ling said, turning her gaze to Janice. “Daughter, you’ve been a good and patient wife for the past thirty years. But why have you ruined yourself with this strange Jewish religion? Yes, a little faith in higher beings is a good thing; but when you use faith as an escape from reality, you are just deluding yourself and hurting everyone around you. Jane needs a mother figure and Ben needs a wife. So start acting like one!”

Ben made what sounded like a muffled laugh, but it quickly stopped when Ah Ma Ling turned her gaze onto him.

“And you my boy, you’ve been nothing but a nuisance in this family. Firstly, your family member is a human being and not a speaker piece. You don’t talk to them, you talk with them. If I can get a dollar every time you uttered the words ‘ni ting wo jiang*’ I would probably be a millionaire by now. Stop expecting them to treat you the way you want to be treated and start showing them how you want to be treated. A boy demands, but a real man sets an example.”

When Ah Ma Ling finished her words, she saw that all her family members were no longer looking at her but was staring at the dining table with a downcast look on their faces. She knows that her words have reached their hearts.

“Okay… That’s all for me. I hope when I return next year, this family will be like how I used to be when I left months ago.” Ah Ma Ling said. “You are all a family, so start acting like one!” 

With that, Ah Ma Ling vanished from the dining table and returned to the afterlife, leaving Ben, Janice, and Jane flabbergasted. 

####

At the next Hungry Ghost Festival, as Ah Ma Ling promised, she dropped by the family apartment again. This time, when she stepped into the family apartment’s front door, she saw various Chinese delicacies and yellow papered mansion. 

Ah Ma Ling smiled to herself and floated into the family apartment with great excitement. Like last year, when she stepped into the flat, she saw that everything was dark and quiet.

The clock on top of the television set showed that it was 12:30 a.m. and next to the television set, she saw a framed picture of the family. Everyone in the picture seemed to be happy and Ben and Janice were holding one another like a newlywed couple. Under the photo frame was a golden inscription that says, “You are all a family so start acting like one.”

Ah Ma Ling chuckled and was looking forward to seeing her family again tomorrow morning.

*Hungry Ghost Festival- it's believed that the gates of the afterlife open to allow spirits to roam the Earth on this particular month. The festival is also a celebration to honour ancestors and relatives

*Ah Ma- Grandmother

*Kopitiam- Singapore food court that served various local cuisines

*KTV- Karaoke 

*Ni Ting Wo Jiang- Chinese phrase for you listen to my words