27.i Of Peach Soda Pop and Pilfering

~ Ham Song ~

Dear Traveler, the pig was not at all trying to hide his amusement at each of the monk’s failed attempts to bully all of the vending machines around town.

“One of these things has to have a trap door, or a secret code — something!” Bodhi grunted as they kicked the base of the soda pop machine with their heel.

Ham Song yawned from his spot on the curb where he had been stationed as a lookout. So far, Ham Song’s Luck seemed to ward off any village residents from catching wind of Bodhi’s unsavory behavior.

“Are you satisfied yet, monk?” Ham Song snorted as he escorted them out of the alcove. “We’ve scoured the whole village, lifted every stone, and shaken every vending machine until it burped up a complimentary package.” As he said this, Bodhi tossed another free soft drink over their shoulder. Ham Song grunted greedily as he skewered it out of the air with his tusk and lapped up the fizzy liquid that bubbled into his mouth.

“I know. I know,” Bodhi grumbled. They slowed their walking and propped their arm on the side of the nearest building.

Leaning their forehead against their sleeve, they sighed, “Ham Song, wait. I… I need a minute.”

Ham Song waited until he dislodged the soda can from his tusk and kicked it off into a water drain before coming closer to the monk.

This might have been the first very real time Ham Song looked upon Bodhi with pity. He thought back to his conversation with Sun Ritsu on the ferry.

“Monk. Why is it so important for you to handle a drink at all hours of the day? Do you not have better ways to cope with your frustrations? It’s my understanding that your kind dedicates their entire lives to such things.”

Bodhi turned their head so that only one of their gray eyes was visible. After a long, weary look, they whispered, “You… you wouldn’t understand.”

Ham Song shifted uncomfortably from hoof to hoof as his throat constricted from the curse.

Trust me, I’m an immortal. I understand more than you think.

Instead, Ham Song found his way around the curse. He swallowed the lump in his throat and said, “Try me.”

After a beat, Bodhi turned their head so that both of their eyes were on the hog. Then they straightened their spine a little. Ham Song gave an encouraging grunt, shuffling a bit closer to their ankles.

The monk opened their mouth to speak when a sudden downpour of sparkling, glistening light interrupted both of the spirits’ visions.