Birthday cake

I remember this day last year, his birthday coincided with a charity event at the Provincial Oncology Hospital. As usual, he and the volunteer group planned to deliver rice and water to the patients there. A cake was ordered in Nha Trang, waiting for him to bring back to Ninh Hoa to celebrate his birthday with his family. However, an unexpected event turned that day into a profound memory, making him and everyone remember it forever.

While the group was distributing rice to patients at the security room right at the hospital gate, a young girl suddenly burst into tears near the birthday cake that was temporarily placed in the security room. Seeing her timid appearance and red eyes, he walked over to ask. At first, the girl was shy, but then choked up and said: “Today is my dad’s birthday. Maybe this will be my dad’s last birthday, but my family doesn’t have enough money to buy him a birthday cake.”

That sentence made not only him but also the whole volunteer group silent. The girl's eyes showed helplessness, full of pain but also contained boundless love for her father. He looked at his cake, suddenly an idea came to his mind. Without hesitation, he turned to the volunteer group and said: "Let's bring this cake to celebrate the girl's father's birthday". Hearing that, some members wondered: "But the cake says "Happy Birthday to Dad Ban". Is that weird?". He smiled, half-jokingly: "It's okay to erase the word "Ban", only "Happy Birthday Dad" will remain, everyone will understand. The important thing is the meaning!".

After finishing delivering food and water to the patients, the volunteer group went with the girl to her father's room. On the way, something unexpected happened. When the elevator stopped on the second floor, a Grab driver suddenly walked in, holding another birthday cake in his hand. A member of the group happily said: "I just called to order the cake, you brought it up just in time!"

When entering the hospital room, both the group and the girl felt choked with emotion. The father, thin and tired, suddenly had bright eyes, looking at the cake with unconcealed joy. The newly brought cake was also placed next to it, and the group decided to hold a small birthday party right in the hospital room. Everyone sang "Happy Birthday to You" together, the atmosphere in the room seemed to light up with happiness. The father had tears in his eyes, holding his daughter's hand tightly as if to thank her for her filial piety. The girl smiled through her tears, her eyes shining with emotion and gratitude towards the volunteer group.

The birthday cake was not just a material gift, it was a symbol of love, sharing and kindness. For the girl and her father, it was the most meaningful gift in difficult days. As for him, it was a birthday without candles or parties, but it was complete and memorable...

NGUYEN THANH TAM

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/sang-tac/202501/chiec-banh-sinh-nhat-54e02e4/