“Where are you going?” Lena asked her son, Jeff, watching him pull on a bright red singlet.

““Where else—running lah!” Jeff replied, already reaching for the door.

“Aiyoh, it’s the first day of the Seventh Month and it’s getting dark soon. Don’t go lah,” Lena warned.

“Mum, relax lah. I’m just going to the park behind for a short run. Two rounds only. I’ll be back before dark.”Jeff replied impatiently.

Lena frowned. “That place is so quiet and eerie. Just stay home!” 

“Don’t worry, Mum. Nobody will be placing offerings or burning joss paper there, so I won’t ‘accidentally’ step on any things and offend the Good Brothers,” Jeff teased with a sly grin. 

He slipped out the door before she could protest further, the door clicking shut behind him. 

Wah… it’s so quiet today. There’s really nobody here, Jeff thought, taking in the wide, empty park expanse before him. Two quick rounds and that’s it. Can’t wait to get back and eat this morning’s offerings. 

As Jeff picked up his pace, a faint scent of burning joss paper lingered in the air. The park was completely empty—unusual for this hour, when the evening breeze normally brought out other runners and families.

Rounding a bend, Jeff glanced across a wide patch of overgrown lallangs. Standing on the far side was a man dressed in a white top and black shorts, his arm raised, slowly waving back and forth. 

Is he waving at me? Jeff wondered. He gave a quick wave back and kept running. But when he turned to look again, the man was still waving—unblinking, motionless except for the rhythmic sway of his arm. 

Does he need help? I better check it out.

Jeff veered off the paved path, heading into the grass toward the lallangs. As he ran, he realized he had never seen this part of the park before, despite running here every week since his family moved in six months ago. The smooth concrete had given way to a rough, unfamiliar dirt trail. 

Ten minutes passed. Jeff stopped to catch his breath, sweating heavily, but the man in white still stood in the exact same spot across the field waving. He seemed no closer than when Jeff had started. 

Jeff finally stopped. Alarm bells started going off in his head. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long, twisted shadows across the trees. What is going on? Okay lah. Enough already. Better turn back to the main path.

Jeff spun around and sprinted back the way he came. But the dirt trail seemed to stretch endlessly into the twilight. Twenty minutes turned into forty. No paved path appeared. No streetlights turned on. Every direction looked identical, swallowed by the oppressive silence of the park.

When Jeff finally collapsed against a tree, gasping for air, he looked up. Across the lallang field, the man in white was still there. Still waving. Still the exact same distance away.

“Am I lost? How can I be lost in an open park?” Jeff whispered, his voice trembling.

Then, through the gloom on the distant main path, he caught the motion of a figure jogging past. 

Oh thank God, another runner! Jeff thought, desperate. Raising his hand high into the darkening sky, Jeff began to wave violently toward the runner, shouting for help… 

One Year Later

“Girl… can you help put away the offerings for your Grandpa and your kor?” Lena sniffled, wiping away a tear.

“Mum, don’t cry,” Jasline said softly, placing a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “Maybe Kor is still out there somewhere. Maybe he’ll just walk through that door anytime now.” 

A few blocks away, Eng shouted to his wife, “I’m going for a run, dear!” 

“It’s the first day of the Seventh Month and it’s getting dark soon. Don’t go lah!” Suzie called back from the kitchen.

“Aiya, since when did you become so superstitious? I’m just going to the park behind for a short run,” Eng chuckled, pulling on his shoes. 

Outside, the park was unnaturally quiet, devoid of any living soul. 

As Eng rounded a corner, he paused. Standing across a patch of lallang was a figure in a bright red singlet, waving at him. 

Is he waving at me? Eng pondered. He gave a polite wave back and kept jogging. When he turned around, the figure in red was still standing there, arm swaying rhythmically back and forth. 

Does he need my help? 

Eng veered off toward a faint T-junction where an unfamiliar dirt trail split off into the patch of lallangs. Inside the trail, about 500 metres away, the figure in red stood motionless, continuing to wave. 

Eng started running toward him… 

Back home, Suzie glared at her phone. It was nearly 8:00 PM, and every call and message to Eng had gone un-answered. 

“Where is he? All the food is going cold!” she muttered angrily to the empty room. Outside her window, the night grew pitch black, and the heavy air smelled faintly of burnt ashes.

Moral of the Story

Maybe Jeff got lost. Maybe Eng took the wrong trail. Or maybe, during the 7th Month, some trails are better left unexplored.

So if you’re heading out for a run during the 7th month : respect the offerings and don’t disturb burning joss paper; kick the offerings;  stick to familiar, well-lit routes; run with a buddy when possible.

And if a stranger standing across a dark patch of lallang waves at you… just wave back from a safe distance.

Do not look back. Especially if he/she seems to be calling you.

Maybe, just maybe he/she is looking for a permanent running companion in the nether land.