tale. Onlookers sitting within earshot, overhearing the blunt manner of the husband, wondered how Khun Yay would deal with the situation.
"So Teacher! What would you say it was that I've seen?" As soon as the man had finished his question, Khun Yay opened her eyes and looked at him, saying, "What you saw was a hungry-ghost [peta]. That hungry-ghost was one of your late relatives."
The man looked at her in angry disbelief before protesting, "No relative of mind would ever end up as hungry-ghost!"
Khun Yay didn’t make any reaction to the man’s childishness. With no sign of irritation, she continued to sit there impartially as was her normal manner. Even though he’d said he didn’t believe her, he couldn’t help mulling over the possibility of one of his relatives having become a hungry ghost. Khun Yay showed no sign of annoyance, but it was the onlookers who felt angry with the man instead for his lack of consideration for the nun — half anger and half curiosity to see how she was going to deal with the situation. She calmly explained, "Your relative was formerly the temple’s MC but embezzled temple incomes for himself. When he died, that’s why he has arisen as a hungry-ghost in his present lifetime."
"Impossible! There’s no relative of mine who has ever been a temple MC. Teacher! If you’re so smart, go ahead and tell me the relative’s name!"
As usual, Khun Yay had nothing by way of untoward reactions. She told him calmly, "He went by the name of Rasamee."
"If it’s the name ‘Rasamee’, it’s certainly no rela-