Adventures in merit making

Saving fish and other animals from the cooking pot is part of an ancient Thai tradition, known as tam boon. It does not always go as planned. (Island Daze #29)

Dozens of eels wriggle in a circular bin at my feet. Frogs step on one another’s heads in hopeless attempts to climb out of the deep baskets that contain them. Still-flapping catfish would also like a chance to find a way out of the fresh market and back into the freedom of a pond or a river. Is it possible?

Every passing shopper decreases the chances o…