40The pavilion has filled up like the night before. Packed with members of the Soka Association, the three hundred chairs that John ordered are not enough. Latecomers have to stand in the aisles and at the back. I take my seat in the front row next to Kit, John, Liz, Dave and my two nephews. How stiff and awful we look. Such a pained gaze in our eyes. Kan Jieh is the only one who appears at peace, counting her prayer beads quietly, oblivious of the crowd. A sudden resentment against the old amah seizes me. Ashamed, I scan the faces behind me; it’s not Kan Jieh’s fault that Ah-ku had taken her secret to her grave. I spot Weng with a group of elderly men at the far end. Relieved, I turn back to the altar where Mr Tang is leading the prayer service again.
“Nam… myoho… renge… kyo…” the crowd
