The Strange Day Helper (Chapter 3)

This morning Tieu Long opened his eyes and still didn’t see Quy Rom anywhere. 

He intentionally woke up early, extremely early, but Rom always got up earlier than him.  As usual, he rode off with the bicycle.

Tieu Long mad as hell.  Without bothering to brush his teeth, he flew out to the backyard.

The immediately image of Tac Ke Bong bending to hoe the ground somehow rubbed him the wrong way.

- You have nothing else to do Tac Ke Bong? – Tieu Long asked in an irritated voice.

Tac Ke Bong looked up at his friend, his face confused:

- And…?

- “And and” yourself!  What is so important that I see you hoeing that same spot everyday?

- I’m turning the soil so my mom can plant cabbages.

Tac Ke Bong’s answer quickly deflated Tieu Long.  He came back here and hasn’t helped his aunt Nam Sang till the soil for one day.  And now suddenly also caused trouble with Tac Ke Bong.  It’s something unacceptable.

Tieu Long decided to change the subject:

-Quy Rom already went out to eliminate the ghost?

-Yeah.

Tac Ke Bong answered and returned to tilling the soil.  But suddenly he looked up:

-Umm, so you really bought into Quy Rom story about busting the ghost?

-Tst!- Tieu Long shrugged – I’m not a little kid anymore!

-You mean you don’t believe?

- How could I believe!

Tac Ke Bong wetted his lips:

-What about the bruise on his shoulder?

-He could’ve gotten that anywhere. – Tieu Long brushed his nose – To obtain a bruise on one’s shoulder is too easy!

Tac Ke Bong didn’t say anything.  He silently returned to his work, tilling the soil.  It seems Tieu Long’s reasoning failed to penetrate past Tac Ke Bong’s skull.

-So do you believe him? – Tieu Long edged closer to his friend, his voice lowered.

Tac Ke Bong wiped the sweat off his face, hesitating:

- I really don’t know.

The way Tac Ke Bong answered was a departure from the normal response he gave, which caused Tieu Long to be irritated.  He kicked a rock into the fence, half growled:

- Either you believe or you don’t! “I really don’t know” is a not an answer!

Tac Ke Bong bit his lips:

-Why would Quy Rom need to invent a story? How could he think of a story that well.  Sounds like a honest to god story!

-Then you don’t know anything about Quy Rom. – Tieu Long slapped his friend’s shoulder, smiling in pleasure –He is the master of lies.  There is nothing that he can’t think up. His mouth is smooth like butter, sweet as honey, and his lies can bring the ants out of their colony.

Tac Ke Bong glanced at his friend

-Are you comparing me to ant?

-I’m not comparing anything!- Tieu Long scowled and snatched the hoe from Tac Ke Bong – Give it to me, I’ll help you.  Why don’t you look for another hoe!

Tieu Long is really put-off with Tac Ke Bong.

Tac Ke Bong didn’t side with him.

Yesterday, Tac Ke Bong expressed his suspicion at Quy Rom.  However, ever since he saw the bruise on Quy Rom’s shoulder, he is starting to be half-convinced.

He even said:

- That bruise really was caused by a ghost.  You didn’t live in the countryside so you wouldn’t know, for me I’ve seen that kind of bruises too many times.

Tieu Long didn’t bother to argue.  It was his turn to sullenly tilling the soil.

That evening Luom herded the cows past the gate, Tieu Long tossed the hoe and came over:

- What do you want older brother? – Luom looked at his brother.

-Why don’t you herd the cows in and then come out here, I have something to discuss with you.  This is important.

In a moment, Luom sat down next to Tieu Long on the steps in front of the porch, his feet and hands were all dirty because he was too curious about the “important something” to wash his hands and feet like usual.

Tieu Long looked directly into this little kid’s face, his voice very formal:

-I will ask frankly, and you better be honest with me Luom.

Luom’s stomach churned:

-What is it?

-Why don’t you just say “yes!”

Luom swallowed hard:

-Okay.

-Do you believe that Quy Rom is really fighting the ghost in the neighboring hamlet? Tieu Long asked in a clear and loud voice, his eyes intently focused on Luom’s face, expecting Luom to shake his head in disbelief.

-I really don’t know.

Luom answered exactly like Tac Ke Bong did this morning.  The only thing Tieu Long can do this moment is to cradle his head with his hands, exhaling hard:

-You and Tac Ke Bong are step siblings, but how is it that you guys have the exact same answer, Luom?

Luom detested anyone who compared him to Tac Ke Bong. 

-How could I resemble Tac Ke Bong?- Luom protested.

Tieu Long slapped the kid’s shoulder and explained:

-Just this morning when I asked Tac Ke Bong, he gave me the same answer.

Right then Luom no longer seems interested in protesting.  If Tac Ke Bong also said the same thing, Tieu Long can’t really blame him.

Luom plucked a strand of hair from his head, hesitatingly said:

-Well, actually…

-Actually what?

-That whole business of exorcise the ghost.

-And what about it?

Luom took a deep breath:

-To verify whether brother Quy is saying the truth or not, we have to secretly follow…

-That’s right, Luom! – Tieu Long yelled, clearly he has been waiting for the exact suggestion – I can’t believe you are smarter than I imagined.  Slow-wit like Tac Ke Bong would take until midnight to think up the same solution.

His older friend’s generous praise caused Luom nose to puff up with pride.  He pretended to be humble in an effort to make his nose smaller:

-Well, not that smart!

- Really sharp witted! – Tieu Long in good humor, then he narrowed his eyes –But the important thing is who gonna followed your brother Quy?

Tieu Long’s question caused Luom’s stomach to tighten, he felt like he is walking into a trap.  He glanced at Tieu Long with an alerted eyes and started to speak circuitously:

- I’m not that big.

Tieu Long smirked:

- I know.

-I also don’t know martial art.

-I am also aware.

-I have to herd the cows out every morning.

Tieu Long snorted:

- Aren’t you afraid of ghost?

Luom’s face reddened with his friend’s frank statement:

- I used to be afraid.  However, now I’m…I’m no longer afraid.

Waiting for that very opening, Tieu Long smiled broadly:

-Then you will be the one who follows Quy Rom.

- Me? – Luom shot up as if a tree-branch just fell on his head – Why can’t it be you or Tac Ke Bong?

-Tac Ke Bong always adamantly believed in Quy Rom’s story, for sure he wouldn’t want to anger the hanging ghost.  As for me, even less likely a candidate.  To secretly follow Quy Rom, I have to be out of the house before he does.  But if he woke up to find me gone, he will be suspicious. 

Tieu Long playfully punched the kid’s stomach and smiled broadly:

-In conclusion, you are the right choice.

In contrast with Tieu Long’s bright face, Luom’s face slightly crumpled as if he was the accused hearing his sentence in court:

-But I have to herd the cows down to Cat Co hill.

Luom tossed out his last floaty.  However, Tieu Long mercilessly snatched it up:

-Tac Ke Bong will replace you and herd the cows to eat.

Luom’s body deflated like a wet towel.  He regretted that he bragged about how he’s no longer afraid of ghosts.  He knew Tieu Long intentionally led him into a trap, but when Tieu Long challenged him, he couldn’t control his ego.  He was boastful.  And now he has to pay the price for his boasting.

In the end, Luom realized if one wants to live long, one can’t be boastful.  He held tightly Tieu Long arm and begged:

-I’m not afraid of ghost because you said there are no ghosts in this world.  But happen if the hanging ghost is real?

Luom has revealed his rabbit tail but Tieu Long couldn’t bring himself to tease his younger friend. He pretended to be serious and suppressed the urge to laugh out loud:

- You are too quick to forget!  As I recalled, we already taught you the magical word “an ba li bak me hong” to counter ghosts.

Tac Ke Bong was ecstatic to replace Luom in the job of herding the cows out everyday.  Comparing it with following Quy Rom to observe his battle with the hanging ghost, herding the cows out to Cat Co hill was a much lighter task.

In the household, Tac Ke Bong was up the earliest.  This is why before herding the cows out their pen, he is also responsible for waking up Luom, a task handed to him by Tieu Long.

On the first day, Luom was completely on his stomach across from the house and behind the small dirt mound. He then sat up and hid behind the bush of wild pineapple, his eyes glued to the alleyway across the street, anxiously waiting for Quy Rom to ride his bike out.

-Heh, shouldn’t you be taking a dump somewhere else instead of this place Luom? I’ll go tell on your father.

Mrs. Sau Thom was early to the market, and seeing Luom’s acting suspicious behind the bush, she opened her mouth widely and spoke loudly.

- Oh Auntie (translator note: societal term, no family relation), please speak softer! – Luom face turned ashen, more afraid of Quy Rom suddenly appeared in the alleyway and saw him instead of Mrs. Sau Thom telling on his father – I’m out to catch a ran-moi (translator note: lizard, localized).

Afraid that Mrs. Sau Thom wouldn’t believe, he hurriedly stood up and then just as quickly squatted down.  It was enough for the old lady to see, despite his suspicious appearance, he was still…he still has his pants on, which means he wasn’t taking a dump out in public.

Fortunately for him, the moment he squatted down, Quy Rom also came outside from the alleyway. 
Arriving at the village road, Quy Rom swung his foot down and cast a glance around him before pedaling off.

-Brother Quy biked toward Nga Ba market. – 5 minutes later, Luom happily stood in front of Tieu Long and reported his finding.

-You are really something Luom. – Tieu Long encouraged the little kid – I realized your talent is comparable to detective Sherlock Holmes.

Luom doesn’t know about Sherlock Holmes, but he thought a skillful detective probably is someone who wasn’t suspected to be someone who took a dump behind the bush.  He didn’t voice his thought, however, his face remained unchanged, he asked:

-So what are we doing brother?

Tieu Long rubbed his nose:

-Tomorrow morning you continue to wake up early like today, run up to Nga Ba market and observed where your brother Quy is heading.