Chapter 33 - The Red Shoes

A while back, for several days, a limousine parked in front of my house. It was a fancy foreign car, twice the size I was used to seeing. The second morning I opened my door and saw it, I observed an older couple in the car. The gentleman had a full head of white hair, and the woman had dyed hers red. Both of them seemed healthy and attractive. The following morning when I rode my bicycle away from the house, they watched me. When I returned after work they were still there. This went on for several days.

One evening I returned home as the sun was setting and found the old couple standing by the door of the car. While I was still some distance away, they bowed to me.

"I didn't believe it," said the old woman, "so I asked some people. You are Lu!"

"It doesn't matter, really." I answered. "I stopped receiving people two years ago."

"We are not here as curiosity seekers. It's hard to believe that you are Lu. You dress so plainly, live in such a small house, and ride a bicycle! We nearly left without seeing you. We risk your rejection now and ask to see you."

The couple was very polite, unlike many visitors. Often, when I rejected them, I saw visitors become surly and charge that I had no compassion. Some raised fists at me and kicked my door. I always kept silent in handling those visitors. This time, however, I felt that courtesy should be returned.

"What can I do for you?"

"We have a son who is mentally disordered."

"Perhaps he needs a psychiatrist."

"Yes. We have seen many doctors. I am a psychiatrist myself. But this doesn't seem to be an ordinary case."

I didn't know how to answer.

"My son's name is Ch'iao Ke-hua" he went on. "He is thirty-seven. When his symptoms appear he lays on the floor shaking, holding his head, and crying that he has a headache. It seems very painful. The time is always the same: 2:00 a.m. 'til 3:00 a.m. During that time he mumbles, and his voice sounds like a woman's. He shouts and insults his ancestors, using more four letter words. When he is coherent again he remembers nothing of what he said."

"These days, people don't believe that one can be possessed by spirits," I said.

"Yes, as a psychiatrist, I know all about the psychological factors; yet when my son's symptoms began he recited all kinds of trivial details about my ancestors that he didn't know to begin with. I have practiced medicine for a long time. I've always believed in modern science and in medical technology. I am, however, aware of many unusual cases. Now I see this happen to my son! I have to believe it!"

"Well, in that case, give me your son's birthrate and his current address. Come back tomorrow and I will give you an answer."

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

The address on the note was Malaysia. That evening I saw a mysterious vision. Beautifully dressed fairies were dancing in a palace, spinning to beautiful music. Among them I saw one dressed in a green skirt. She moved lightly, like a butterfly arnong the flowers. Next I saw a pond with a corpse floating on it. The face was swollen and white, and some of its teeth were missing. The corpse wore a green skirt and new red shoes. The two visions switched back and forth several times.

Next I saw a young man accompanying the green-skirted lady near a shoe store window.

"I love those red shoes!" the lady was saying.

"How about me buying one pair for you every day?" the man said to her affectionately.

"Oh, wonderful!" She leaned close to him.

"Annie! You are easy to please!"

She blushed. "Don't praise me. I am not that nice."

In my meditation I could see the whole picture, but I didn't know the reason behind it. It appeared that Ch'iao Ke-hua hurt her, but they seemed to be such a loving couple. Who was the lady? I wondered what answer and what cure I could tell the old couple when they returned. I felt unsure of myself.

They arrived the next evening, anxious and hopeful.

"Have you found some way to cure my son?" the wife asked.

"Who is Annie?" I asked.

The woman looked surprised and shocked. "Oh, she was a loose woman."

"What does she do?"

"She was a dance girl."

"Does your son have any relationship with her? Where is she now?"

"She's dead. It's been several years. The newspapers said suicide. My son saw her once or twice and took her home a few times. That's all."

"We hope there is a remedy for him," the old gentleman said.

I hadn't been sure until now what the problem was. But now I knew that Annie's spirit possessed Ch'iao Ke-hua.

"When you return, buy red shoes and give them to Ch'iao Ke-hua to wear," I said.

"But Ch'iao Ke-hua is a man!" his father protested.

"Yes. He is a man. But he has to wear woman's shoes," I persisted.

"Well,. . ." the old man paused, wondering what to make of my answer.

"As long as it cures him of his screaming and crying every night!" the old woman said.

They thanked me, bowed and left.

I forgot about the whole thing after that. What reminded me of it again was a letter I received from Malaysia:

"Dear Mister Lu,

"About six months ago we were very fortunate to read your book about spiritual and psychic matter. We were especially gratified to visit you even though you are no longer receiving people. We would like to invite you to visit us. It would be our honour to escort you around Malaysia. When we returned to our home we followed your instructions. At 2:00 a.m., when our son's symptoms appeared, we gave him the red shoes to wear.

The symptoms disappeared when he wore the shoes. My son is very grateful for your help. Yet we still have some small difficulty. We hesitate to bother you again, but perhaps you can help."

"After the fifth wearing of the shoes, this method was no longer effective. Every five days we've been buying new shoes. Our closet is piled high with red shoes! Do you have some method to solve this problem?"

"We realize that your help has been very great already and are sorry to bother you again on this small matter. Please respond to this letter."

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