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- username: chunkypeanutbutter
name: hoa - vietnamese - 'like a flower'
✺
She made a promise, a promise that she was determined to keep.
The time had finally come for the young kalon, and this time she was going to be ready.
---
Hoa felt the bus tremble as it rolled across the unpaved dirt roads, and heard the lonely clutter of luggage banging around in the back. She glanced down at a crumpled note she clutched tightly in her hands, and then watched the city slowly dip beyond the horizon as she folded it neatly into her bag. As the bus finally lurched to a halt at its last stop, she thanked her driver and stepped out into a wave of heat. The old machine blew hot dust at her as it sped back off to civilization, and Hoa made the rest of her journey by foot.
The village was just as she had last remembered it, full of bustling life and song. Children played out in the streets, tagging and chasing each other, taking breaks only for mothers calling meals out. A guitarist strummed faintly from down the street and fathers were talking and laughing by their cattle. Hoa felt her heart swell with joy as she came upon childhood friends and distant family, all very happy to be able to see her again. Making her way through the town, she finally came upon her childhood home and knocked on the door.
She heard a few meek footsteps inside approach the door, and slowly unlocked it. Inside a tiny, huddled frame stood her mother--a woman who had once towered over her was now a head shorter. They quickly embraced in a hug that seemed to last for years, and she was ushered inside to talk about her new life.
Listening intently to every word, a shaky hand clutched a small cup of tea as Hoa told her everything she wanted to hear.. They chatted about her schooling, her profession, the friends she'd made, if any of them were husband worthy. Not just yet, Mother, but they just laughed regardless. The city was great, but it could get a bit lonely there. Although there's more people around, there just isn't the same kind of community connection you could get here. Money's great, but it's not the only thing you need in life.
The house had always been a bit crowded, that was just the only way to survive around here. Most houses held 4-5 families in the village, if money was strapped it was more. Privacy was a very rare thing around here, something Hoa had completely forgotten about growing up now understanding how cramped it felt in here. She frowned a little, and thought for a few moments.
Hoa thought hard about the paper she'd been looking at on the bus, and decided to pull it back out one more time.
"Listen mother... I know it's been an awfully long time since we last met up to have a chat. I just want you to know, I've been thinking about this letter you sent me a few months ago and I use it as inspiration."
She pulled out the note, and it reads:
Dear Hoa... my little summer flower.
I hope you are doing well in the city. I know it can be hard, going away to college, going away from your family, but we want to remind you that we are still here standing by your side. No matter what you do in life, you should take everything life throws at you and try to spin it in a positive. Our opportunities to be in your shoes were taken from us, but I am so proud of you for doing what you're doing right now. And we could never be happier to see the first one in our family to get a college education was you.
We know you're going to do a great job. You're a brilliant young girl and don't let anyone put you down.
Love,
-Papa and Mama
As she had been reading this, Hoa pulled out a small white box that tinkled when you shook it, handing it to her mother. Upon opening the box, a look of confusion crossed her face until she realized what it was. And then, she about fainted.
Her mother threw herself into Hoa's arms and wept, not as a cry of sadness but of pure joy for what had been in the box was nothing more than a yellow house key.
She then pushed the key back into Hoa's hands, and shook her head while wiping the tears away.
"But..." her mother stuttered, "This is... far too kind of you... we don't deserve this, I--"
"You have, though! You have more than earned it, for raising me and all my siblings and doing such a great job. I want to give back to you," Hoa insisted.
Her mother sighed, and looked at the ground. "Well... to tell you the truth, the real reason is... your father's gotten really sick."
Hoa looked at her in shock. Tears... slowly dripped from her face. What does that mean..?
"The doctor is here every night," she explained. "He can't move from his bed at all anymore. We are both too old to enjoy it anymore... although I would have loved to be closer to you." her face was wet with tears.
Hoa tried to rationalize with her. "No, no, it's okay! You can still come and move in near me. It's totally fine, we can even get Papa to a proper doctor, maybe--"
Her mother shook her head. "It's far too late now... your father is a very stubborn man. I don't think he'd ever want to move to the city, anyhow..." she sighed. "He prefers to pass in this house, near family and friends... he doesn't have much time left at all.
"I'm so sorry, Hoa. Thank you for the gift..."
(978 / 1000)
✺
She made a promise, a promise that she was determined to keep.
The time had finally come for the young kalon, and this time she was going to be ready.
---
Hoa felt the bus tremble as it rolled across the unpaved dirt roads, and heard the lonely clutter of luggage banging around in the back. She glanced down at a crumpled note she clutched tightly in her hands, and then watched the city slowly dip beyond the horizon as she folded it neatly into her bag. As the bus finally lurched to a halt at its last stop, she thanked her driver and stepped out into a wave of heat. The old machine blew hot dust at her as it sped back off to civilization, and Hoa made the rest of her journey by foot.
The village was just as she had last remembered it, full of bustling life and song. Children played out in the streets, tagging and chasing each other, taking breaks only for mothers calling meals out. A guitarist strummed faintly from down the street and fathers were talking and laughing by their cattle. Hoa felt her heart swell with joy as she came upon childhood friends and distant family, all very happy to be able to see her again. Making her way through the town, she finally came upon her childhood home and knocked on the door.
She heard a few meek footsteps inside approach the door, and slowly unlocked it. Inside a tiny, huddled frame stood her mother--a woman who had once towered over her was now a head shorter. They quickly embraced in a hug that seemed to last for years, and she was ushered inside to talk about her new life.
Listening intently to every word, a shaky hand clutched a small cup of tea as Hoa told her everything she wanted to hear.. They chatted about her schooling, her profession, the friends she'd made, if any of them were husband worthy. Not just yet, Mother, but they just laughed regardless. The city was great, but it could get a bit lonely there. Although there's more people around, there just isn't the same kind of community connection you could get here. Money's great, but it's not the only thing you need in life.
The house had always been a bit crowded, that was just the only way to survive around here. Most houses held 4-5 families in the village, if money was strapped it was more. Privacy was a very rare thing around here, something Hoa had completely forgotten about growing up now understanding how cramped it felt in here. She frowned a little, and thought for a few moments.
Hoa thought hard about the paper she'd been looking at on the bus, and decided to pull it back out one more time.
"Listen mother... I know it's been an awfully long time since we last met up to have a chat. I just want you to know, I've been thinking about this letter you sent me a few months ago and I use it as inspiration."
She pulled out the note, and it reads:
Dear Hoa... my little summer flower.
I hope you are doing well in the city. I know it can be hard, going away to college, going away from your family, but we want to remind you that we are still here standing by your side. No matter what you do in life, you should take everything life throws at you and try to spin it in a positive. Our opportunities to be in your shoes were taken from us, but I am so proud of you for doing what you're doing right now. And we could never be happier to see the first one in our family to get a college education was you.
We know you're going to do a great job. You're a brilliant young girl and don't let anyone put you down.
Love,
-Papa and Mama
As she had been reading this, Hoa pulled out a small white box that tinkled when you shook it, handing it to her mother. Upon opening the box, a look of confusion crossed her face until she realized what it was. And then, she about fainted.
Her mother threw herself into Hoa's arms and wept, not as a cry of sadness but of pure joy for what had been in the box was nothing more than a yellow house key.
She then pushed the key back into Hoa's hands, and shook her head while wiping the tears away.
"But..." her mother stuttered, "This is... far too kind of you... we don't deserve this, I--"
"You have, though! You have more than earned it, for raising me and all my siblings and doing such a great job. I want to give back to you," Hoa insisted.
Her mother sighed, and looked at the ground. "Well... to tell you the truth, the real reason is... your father's gotten really sick."
Hoa looked at her in shock. Tears... slowly dripped from her face. What does that mean..?
"The doctor is here every night," she explained. "He can't move from his bed at all anymore. We are both too old to enjoy it anymore... although I would have loved to be closer to you." her face was wet with tears.
Hoa tried to rationalize with her. "No, no, it's okay! You can still come and move in near me. It's totally fine, we can even get Papa to a proper doctor, maybe--"
Her mother shook her head. "It's far too late now... your father is a very stubborn man. I don't think he'd ever want to move to the city, anyhow..." she sighed. "He prefers to pass in this house, near family and friends... he doesn't have much time left at all.
"I'm so sorry, Hoa. Thank you for the gift..."
(978 / 1000)
✺
