amazing stories

Chapter 6 Children in the River (1)

I died when I was 7 years old.

The moment of death is short.When I saw that my body was tightly entwined by aquatic plants, I realized that I could not go back—that day, I promised my mother that I would go home early for dinner.

My funeral was simple, with twenty plastic chairs and a few tables, relatives surrounded my mother, who had fainted from crying several times.My father smoked one cigarette after another - I've never seen my father smoke.Then a torrential rain, common in the Gulf of Siam, brought the funeral to a hasty end.People did not find my body, only I watched it swell and deform day by day.

In the first few months, my mother often came to the river and called my name. She walked along the river from sunrise to sunset.I tried answering her, though I knew she couldn't hear anything.Two years later, my mother was pregnant again, and my father worried that she would think of me often when she stayed here, so he decided to sell his belongings and move to the city.Maybe they will feel better in this way, I don't blame them, it's just that from that day on, I don't have a home anymore.

Whenever there is a thunderstorm, I often sleep in the cat's kennel, and over time I made a new friend.It is a white cat, I call it "White".By the way, my name is Wit.

There are many dead people in this river area every year. After their bodies are salvaged, their family members put them on the memorial tablets, and there will naturally be offerings.But because people didn't find my body, my mother was always reluctant to admit my death, and she didn't let the family set up a tablet, let alone offer incense.Bai told me that if the lonely souls in the river have no incense to offer, they will ask the water god, so I decided to ask for some offerings.I remember that day my physical body completely rotted into mud.

The water temple is in the lower reaches of the water, where the current is fast and dangerous.In front of the temple gate of the water god, there are many ghosts carrying their doubles who were dragged into the water.I have seen water ghosts pull people into the water. They can transform into beautiful girls and children who fall into the water. When the living people get close enough, they will reveal their real bodies and drown them.

"Wit."

I heard my name called for the first time since death.

"It's really you!" A dark elder brother suddenly put his face in front of my eyes.

"I am the well in the plantain grove, have you forgotten? You came here to make a wish a few years ago, think about it."

The well in the banana grove?By the way, I remember that there is indeed a well in the plantain forest behind the mountain in my house.It is rumored that many people committed suicide by throwing themselves into wells there in the past, so my family often took me there to burn paper and worship during the Ghost Festival.

"You are the first person to come to make a wish to me. No one would make a wish to me on Ghost Festival. Besides, no one died in my place, and I don't know where the rumor came from."

Jing's expression was not too happy.

"By the way, what are you asking the Water God for?"

"I want to ask for some incense and offerings." I looked at him timidly.

"Your family didn't set up a memorial tablet for you? There are so many orphaned souls in the Water Temple, when are you going to go. Come to me!" He dragged me away without waiting for my answer.

The banana forest has never changed. I used to come here to eat bananas with my friends because our school is not far from here.I don't know what the school is like now.

Jing picked some offerings and put them in front of me: "Although it is rumored that I have died here, the only good thing is that many people come to offer offerings here every year, and these offerings are all exclusive to me. Yes Now, have you thought about pulling a double, so you don't have to wander around the river all day."

"I don't want to hurt anyone." I shook my head.

"That's it...then you have to wait. But don't worry, Lord Water God and I are also friends. I will put your name in it and wait slowly. One day it will be your turn to have an offering. Although I can't help you realize your wish when you were alive, but I can still help you with this little favor after you die."

He patted me on the shoulder, and we just sat on the mouth of the well and chatted.I heard him tell a lot of weird stories, including lizards, snakes and spiders, plantain essence, and yin and yang eyes...

While chatting, a girl kept peeking at us, although she pretended she didn't see anything.Judging by her age, she seems to be fourteen or fifteen years old.

"Her name is Lan, and her grandfather once ate Lord Rahu's offerings, and was punished by Lord Rahu, who opened her yin and yang eyes." Jing said disapprovingly.

"She can see us..." I was a little surprised.

Jing picked up a rotten banana and threw it over, causing her face to change in fright.

"Lan, what are you doing so fast!" Another girl asked pantingly after chasing after her.

"What are you looking at?"

"Me? No..." She replied, speeding up her pace on purpose.

"Haha!" Jing was very satisfied with his prank, "Anyway, in the future, if you want to make offerings, come to me, and I will introduce some friends to you someday."

(End of this chapter)