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| Illustration: Phan Nhan |
The sound of the practice drums these days has become more crisp, the children wading in the fields suddenly looked up to listen and whispered excitedly:
- School is almost back, I can't wait to go to school, I miss my class so much.
- You should think about the pile of homework at the end of the day. Oh, where are the days of playing around?
Only Quoc was silent. He carefully waded through the water that the adults had just harvested, bent down to pick up a duck egg that had dropped while running in the fields, smiling as he thought about pouring the meatloaf so that when his father and he came home from work, they would have a different dinner.
- Come over to my house to talk to my parents about the school opening day so you won't miss it. Have you come yet, Quoc?
- Do you think his father let him go to school?
Then, as if they had misspoken, the children fell silent. The sound of the school drum suddenly stopped, making the afternoon even more lonely. After the rice harvest, adults often let the children let the ducks loose in the fields, and the ducks would take advantage of the opportunity to eat their full bellies from the remaining rice grains when the harvester was running. The children herded the ducks and gleaned the last batch of rice, but they still had full bags. Letting the ducks loose in the afternoon would often pick up a few eggs that the ducks had laid in the fields, and when the afternoon ended, when the first rays of sunlight began to fade, they often rewarded themselves with games like flying kites on the dikes.
In this poor countryside, going to school is a luxury, even though there is a lot of support, because of the burden of food and clothing, every family member is a factor in making a living. Quoc's family only has two fathers and sons, his mother felt sorry for the poverty and left when he was still a baby, his father had to carry him to beg for milk from everyone in the neighborhood, he grew up in the love of the neighbors. Children in the countryside often find joy for themselves in simple things. On the days of the rice harvest, when their parents were working hard in the fields, they were also bending over with a bowl of banh duc and a spoonful of fish sauce to gather together to catch grasshoppers. Quoc remembers the moments when he was with his mother, every time his mother made banh duc, he often sat beside her to sprinkle peanuts on it. Sometimes when they stuck to his hands, he would lick them, the crunchy, nutty taste was extremely delicious. When his mother had not finished making, she still scooped out a bowl of banh duc for him to eat first...
- Have you caught many? I caught them all.
- I also have a whole bag, just thinking about salted grasshoppers makes my mouth water.
In this countryside, adults do big things, and children often find joy by helping adults. Catching grasshoppers is not only a meal to make ends meet, but also to keep them from harming the rice. In Quoc's mind, all he could think about was coming home early to cook rice for his father before he came home from his tiring afternoon. He suddenly remembered making a few scarecrows to guard the fields, which he had planned to do yesterday but then forgot to chase away the birds that ate the rice.
The day her mother left, she was too young to remember much. But in fact, she didn't think her mother had really left because she had left home several times. Ever since she was a baby, then came back. Then when she grew up a little, she felt sorry for the poverty, couldn't bear it anymore and left again. Every time like that, her father didn't say anything, just silently accepted the going and coming, so she knew her father loved her mother very much. However, this time she really left. At first, her father waited but then couldn't stand it anymore. As she grew older, her father began to change his personality, started drinking more and every time he saw her face that looked exactly like her mother's, he would beat her to death. Even though he often beat her when he was very drunk and just one beating was enough to leave red, painful marks on the child's skin. She knew her father loved her, the proof was that he had never abandoned her, he always brought her anything delicious, that was when he was sober. Although he was a man of few words, father and son rarely talked to each other. As for going to school, every year to go to school was like torture for him. He knew his family was still poor, although he was very studious, he did not dare to mention it to his father, but he still wanted to go to school.
Mr. Linh pushed the creaky door open and entered the house after a tiring day of running the cart. Quoc could smell no alcohol on his father, so he quietly served the meal, gave his father a wet towel to wipe his sweat, and whispered:
- Dad, is the teacher coming home today?
Here, every school year, because there are few students coming to school, teachers often come to school before the opening ceremony to encourage students to go to school. The school is small, with few classes. When they grow up a little, they will be recommended to go to town to study. His father raised his head slightly to think, then focused on eating again. He picked up a bottle of wine from the corner of the table and drank. He looked like he was shrinking back. Every time his father had something to think about, he drank and he was beaten again...
***
- No money to go to school.
Her father spoke harshly to the teacher when he came to her house several times to persuade her. The teacher looked at her helplessly and even saw the marks on her hands. As a young and enthusiastic teacher, he had reported domestic violence to the authorities. Through his struggle and the evidence from those around him, people began to separate her and her father. She would go back to her grandparents to be raised, but now she was not allowed to go to school and was beaten... Her father of course did not accept it. She still remembered that afternoon clearly. Many people came to her house. Her father restrained her. She did not understand why it was the first time she saw her father's tears. But because he was a man of few words and had suffered a lot of damage, he could only hold her and could not say anything.
- Let him go, you beat the kid to death - His grandmother said while crying.
- I don't let the boy go to school either.
The words surrounded him, making both father and son feel numb. Suddenly, his father let go of his hand, the space fell silent as if in response. His father looked at him for a long time, and he suddenly saw the sunset in his father's eyes, making his eyes red. It seemed like he was realizing that he was about to lose him. He was in pain for himself, so he tortured him, without understanding that he also had the same pain as him.
- Let the boy decide.
Someone's voice made him speechless. He helplessly sat down on the ground, he had guessed the answer, there was no reason for it to stay by his side.
- I want to stay with you, dad. I will always be your child.
No one asked why because they saw its sturdy appearance. It seemed that sometimes adults think too much while children are simpler,...
can see who is good to you even though they may hide it with other hurts. His eyes were wet but he quickly turned away, Quoc ran to hug his father, his father's big body seemed to be collapsing on him...
***
Quoc had just dug up some round white cassava roots, the big ones looked like little pigs. In this hot season, having some of these roots to cook water or eat would be very refreshing. He suddenly remembered the pot of sweet potatoes he was cooking at home, which his neighbor was watching, his mouth smiled brightly, and he quickly walked home. His father was passing by and he was skipping home.
- Why are you still here? Why don't you go to school?
- Yes, I have afternoon class today, Dad. I just went to the field to help Aunt Ba glean rice and I dug up some cassava roots. Come home and boil some water, Dad.
His father lifted him up onto the cart and sat beside him, then harnessed the ox and walked leisurely along the village road. He suddenly realized that the small figure had always been there for him and supported him whenever he was tired, but sometimes he selfishly forgot about it because of the pain his family had suffered.
- Are you having fun at school?
- I'm so happy, Dad. The teacher just gave me some more notebooks. Yesterday, he told me that the school is launching a program to reward poor students. If I study hard, I will get a scholarship, which will help our family a lot, Dad.
He chattered to his father about the sunny schoolyard, the red scarves fluttering in the wind. The flag salute every week and the school drum sounded. He told about his lessons at the school with only a few classes but always bustling and crowded. He also told about the times when it rained, the schoolyard was flooded, sometimes the water rose up to his thighs but it was fun to wade through, and he even made a banana raft for his friends to walk on so they wouldn't get wet.
He listened attentively to every word his little son said. Perhaps at the moment he might lose it, he would appreciate it and know what was good for him. Everyone could see a light flash in his eyes.
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