saw Nang Oje enter the yard. Suddenly Nang
Piew’s mother, who was busy dyeing cloth in the back, called out to Nang Gie, "I’m
over here!"
"Oh, I thought nobody was home because it was
so quiet. My mother asked me to come and borrow a ladder from you, Auntie, to collect
betel leaves. She plans to visit relatives and would like to take some betel as a
gift."
"Go right ahead. The ladder is stored on the
side of the barn. By the way, Gie, has your belt been found yet?"
"No, Auntie. I’m afraid it’s lost
forever. Mother is very cross with me. She thinks that I’m irresponsible."
Up in the house, Nang Piew listened quietly. When
she was sure that Nang Ole was not there to inquire about the belt, she felt a little
relieved and went down to meet her in the yard.
"Where’s your mother going, Oie?"
asked Nang Piew, trying to keep her voice as calm and friendly as possible.
"She said she was going to Bahn Lak Sao to
ask a relative for some help in finding a soothsayer who can tell us the whereabouts of my
belt. She may leave tomorrow or the day after."
Upon hearing this, Nang Piew felt more worried
and, in quite a hurry, guided Nang Oje to the barn where the ladder was kept. She helped
Nang Gie by carrying the other end of the ladder and walking behind her.
"So you haven’t found the belt
yet?" asked Nang Piew.
"No, Piew. I’ve looked everywhere. Oh, I
miss it so much."
"Maybe it fell in the river." Nang Piew
tried to deflect Nang Oie’s belief that someone had really taken it.
"No, I don’t think so. I searched
through the water all over that area and I haven’t found it."
The two arrived at the front gate. Nang Piew
released her end of the ladder and let Nang Oie carry it home by herself as it was not
very heavy.
After dinner that evening, there was another
gathering at the kuan bairn’s house. The crowd that gathered this time
was bigger than usual. People came to watch, to witness the event. .............. |
