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| Illustration: Tran Thang |
Just finished the last class of the school year, Quyen put all her textbooks in her bag and prepared to leave when she suddenly saw a little student still sitting absent-mindedly in the classroom at the back of the class. Quyen looked at the time and slowly walked towards the student.
“Why don't you come home? Are your parents late to pick you up?”
The little friend looked up at Quyen and then answered wearily.
"I still have to learn piano at the center next door."
Quyen was stunned. Quyen had been teaching at this English center for more than 3 years, it was normal for many students to study many subjects at the same time in modern cities like today. Every year the English center accepts more and more students, some of whom were truly passionate about foreign languages, but many of whom were forced to come to class by their parents.
During the 9 months of sitting in school, the children had to study continuously from early morning until late at night, on weekdays as well as on holidays. Sometimes Quyen feels sorry for the children so the center had very little homework, mainly spending time studying and playing so that the children could be more comfortable. Just like today, Quyen and other teachers closed their classes for this year, together with the center agreed to let the children have 2 weeks of summer vacation before returning to school.
Quyen asked: "If the center lets you take a break, why don't you ask your parents to let you take a break from piano lessons? You can wait until you learn English again and then learn piano."
“My mom said why stay home for 2 weeks, go to music class.”
Before Quyen could say anything more, the little boy looked at his watch, put on his backpack, and walked out of the classroom. Looking at the boy's tired appearance, Quyen felt extremely sorry for him. Quyen thought to herself that with the hustle and bustle of modern life, it seemed like city children had gradually forgotten what summer vacation was.
***
Quyen had just driven her bike into the yard when she heard her nephew's sobbing echoing along with her sister-in-law's shout.
“Mom said no means no. If you don't study math, stay home and study English with your youngest aunt. You're not going anywhere.”
"Mom, let me go to my grandparents' house to play. During the summer vacation, you promised to let me go visit my grandparents."
“That was what mom promised when you were at the top of your year-end results, but now what? You almost didn't get your bonus. Stay home and focus on summer school.”
Quyen pursed her lips and entered the house, speaking in a low voice.
“Big sister, I plan to go back to my hometown to visit my parents the day after tomorrow, can you take Bao with me? While we're down there, let grandpa teach him how to swim. Don't you want him to learn how to swim? I'll only be gone for 2 weeks, it's not too late for you to send him to summer school when you get back. I promise you, I'll tutor him very carefully this summer.”
Quyen and Bao looked at each other. Both of them were waiting for Bao's mother to nod.
Seeing her sister-in-law silent, Quyen intended to persuade her again, but luckily her second brother came home from work and added his own words.
"Let Bao go back to his hometown for a few days. He has been studying for a whole year. It's a shame to let him have summer vacation if he doesn't take a day off. In the past, you gave him 3 months off. Can't you give him 2 weeks off now?"
With the unanimous persuasion of Quyen's two brothers and Bao's nagging and begging, Quyen's sister-in-law also agreed to let Bao and Quyen go back to their hometown for a 2-week summer vacation. Bao was so happy that he couldn't sleep for 2 nights in a row because he couldn't wait to go back to his hometown.
Early in the morning, Bao got up and got dressed without anyone waking him up, ready for the trip. Bao was 8 years old this year, but this was the first time he had returned to his paternal hometown for the summer.
The two aunts and nieces took a sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to their hometown. When they got off the bus, they only had to walk a few hundred meters to reach Bao's grandfather's house.
Because she wanted to surprise her parents and siblings, Quyen did not inform them in advance about her return.
The two aunts and nieces ran happily on the country road, along the road were rows of portulaca flowers interspersed with bright yellow night-blooming cereus flowers in the early morning. Bao happily ran in front, Quyen slowly walked behind with two suitcases of luggage. One suitcase contains all the toys and gifts that Bao had prepared for his grandparents and two younger siblings in the countryside.
As soon as he arrived at the house with a hibiscus fence, Bao saw his two younger siblings playing chess in the yard. Bao happily received.
"Na, Xoai, Bao is back."
The children's voices also rang out.
"Ah, Bao, Bao, come home, grandma!"
"Mom and Dad! Bao is home."
Quyen dragged her luggage into the yard and saw three children happily hugging each other and jumping up and down.
Quyen's parents and her siblings also came out of the house. Seeing Quyen and Bao, everyone was surprised and then happily came out to welcome them.
Grandparents hug Bao and kiss him.
Quyen smiled and pushed the suitcase towards Bao. Bao opened the suitcase to give gifts to Na and Xoai. There were also gifts from his grandparents and uncle and aunt that Bao had also carefully prepared.
Na received the doll and smiled. Xoai hugged the bag of cooking toys and also smiled brightly. Xoai asked Bao:
"Bao, are you coming home for the rest of the summer? Come to the city. I'll take you to my friends' house to play."
Na also interjected:
“This afternoon, come over to Hanh's house to play house. Her father just built a beautiful house. If we bring her toys, she will be very happy.”
Bao hesitantly asked Na and Xoai:
“Huh? You two aren't going to summer school? I'm only coming home for two weeks, I have to go back so I can go to school.”
"Why do you study during summer vacation, Bao? Back home, we just have summer vacation to play."
Quyen looked at Na and Xoai innocently asking Bao, then looked at Bao's bewildered eyes and felt sorry.
Bao was silent, perhaps because he didn't know how to answer. When he was Na and Xoai's age, Bao also had to study for 3 months in the summer, so there was no summer vacation. All of Bao's friends in the city had to go to summer school, no one stayed home for summer vacation. Bao softly said to Quyen:
“Living in the countryside is so great, little sister. No need for summer school. If only I could be born in the countryside too.”
Quyen's parents and siblings all heard Bao's whispers clearly. Everyone sobbed in pity for him. But several times they called their sister-in-law to advise Bao to take less summer classes, but she always said that children in the city were different from those in the countryside. If they weren't sent to school, they wouldn't be able to catch up with their friends when they started. More importantly, if they weren't sent to school, at home they would just hug their phones or stick their faces to the TV or computer all day. Sending them back to the countryside was not reassuring, because they were at a mischievous age and were afraid that many unfortunate things would happen, and they would bother their grandparents, uncles, and aunts.
***
During the 2 weeks in the countryside, Quyen enthusiastically took on the role of babysitter. Every day Na and Xoai took Bao out to play all sorts of games. One day, they went to Xoai's friend's house to play marbles. At first, Bao was shy because he didn't know how to play, but after a while, he loved it and laughed happily every time he won.
One day, Na took Bao to her best friend's house near her house to play in a hut. The hut was built from water coconut leaves, with banana leaves underneath so they could sit and pretend to be buyers and sellers at the market.
One day, Bao was taken by Na and Xoai's father to the ditch to catch fish. At first, Bao was afraid of getting dirty, his face grimaced when his feet got muddy, and when he touched his hands in the mud, he was afraid that the fish would bite him and the crab would pinch him, but after a while, he was submerged in nature, chasing fish and falling down, his face dirty but still smiling happily.
Then on the first day of swimming lessons with his grandfather, Bao struggled to drink water a few times, but with Na and Xoai's encouragement, after only 3 days, Bao was able to swim unsteadily. In the middle of the river with scattered water hyacinths, the three children were bathing in the river, laughing and talking happily, making the whole river bustling.
Every time Bao went out to experience something, Quyen took out her phone to record a video and sent it to her sister-in-law. Quyen wanted her sister-in-law to see how happy and joyful Bao was when she had a real summer vacation. Quyen believes that her sister-in-law would be more relaxed with Bao's studies. Children at this age need to have a happy childhood with a memorable summer vacation, not be buried in studying all year round. Then when they grow up and think back to their childhood, they will have no happy memories other than their parents forcing them to study.
As the day to return to the city approximately, Bao looked sad. Na and Xoai were also sad. Quyen wanted to ask for Bao to stay longer but didn't know how to start the conversation.
The last night in the countryside. As dusk fell, Na and Xoai invited Bao to go catch fireflies. Under the moonlight, the children bent over bushes and fumbled in the, occasionally there were shouts of joy, laughter and joy showing off their achievements.
Quyen held the phone and pointed the camera at the children. On the screen, her sister-in-law's eyes gradually changed, her expression also became more and more gentle. Quyen said in a low voice:
“Are you reminiscing about your childhood? Summer must be this clear, right?”
Quyen saw her sister-in-law's eyes turn red, tears gradually rolling down her cheeks. But then she smiled and said to Quyen:
"Yes, the summers in the past were so clear and warm. So if the youngest sister can have another 2 weeks of summer vacation, she can let Bao stay longer."
Quyen happily called Bao to answer the phone, telling him that his mother would let him stay in the countryside for two more weeks. He and both Na and Xoai were happy and cheered.
Quyen smiled at the kids and then quietly sent a message to the English center manager asking for 2 more weeks off.
SNOW ALWAYS
Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/202507/truyen-ngan-mua-he-trong-veo-62b0741/
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