Since Phuong was a little girl, her mother always told her that her father was busy with a special mission far away, and that he could only come home on Christmas when Santa Claus gave him a ride in his sleigh. Phuong believed that and told herself that she had to be very good so that her father could work with peace of mind. Every Christmas, her father bought her a present and even wrote her a long letter. But Phuong never got to see her father because on Christmas night it was cold and drizzly, her mother often told Phuong to go to sleep before her father came home and she would wake him up. But every time Phuong fell asleep and when she woke up, her father had already gone to work far away. This Christmas, Phuong was determined to stay awake until her father came home.

Now in second grade, Phuong can read and write fluently. On Christmas Eve, Phuong will reread all the letters that her father sent her so that she will not be sleepy anymore. And when she gets home, Phuong will write a letter to Santa Claus saying that she does not need any gifts, she just wants him to let her father play with her longer than usual. She must write it all at once, otherwise, if there are too many letters, Santa Claus will not be able to read them.

***

In the small room, the rhythmic sound of the sewing machine, each stitch is neat and clear on the fabric. Loan is sewing cloth bags for Santa Claus to put gifts in during Christmas. Waiting for her daughter to go to school, Loan temporarily put aside her unfinished work, hurriedly went to the wooden chest, opened the lid, her eyes came across a small, pretty letter, the ink still very fresh. She read each round stroke on the paper, her heart suddenly ached, tears just kept flowing down her cheeks. But Loan was startled, quickly wiped away the tears when Hung - Loan's classmate, called Loan worriedly.

Loan looked at Hung in surprise, his eyes and smile made her a little embarrassed. Hung was Loan's high school classmate, he lived in a rented house 2 alleys away. This area was home to poor people from the countryside who came to the city to work, some worked as workers in the industrial park, some sold goods on the street, life was poor and hard, but everyone lived with love.

Hung works as a brick factory worker, and in his spare time he makes deliveries. Loan stays home to receive orders for processing, and in her free time she sews stuffed animals... she sells online, and whenever a customer places an order, she asks Hung to deliver it. Hung's family situation is also very difficult. He is 30 years old and has not thought about marriage. Someone jokingly said: "If you are busy working, you should find a girl to marry. Nowadays, girls are getting more and more valuable, if you get a few more years, you will definitely be single." At that time, Hung smiled and said: "Marriage is fate, it's not something you can have if you want it."

Hung often stopped by to visit Phuong and her mother. They seemed to like each other very much. Phuong once said that besides her father, Uncle Hung was the one who bought her gifts the most. Small gifts like a few lollipops, a hair clip or a box of crayons... were enough to make Phuong happy all day. But today, the gift was a princess dress. Loan knew that every time she passed by the clothing store at the end of the alley, Phuong would stop and admire this dress. She knew her daughter liked it but didn't dare to buy it, it cost several hundred thousand, too expensive for her and her mother's life. Phuong only dared to stand from afar and admire it, never once asking for it. This gift made Loan both surprised and embarrassed. After all these years, Hung hadn't changed, still as honest and sincere as before.

When Phuong came home from school and saw the new dress hanging in the corner of the house, she shouted happily:

- Mom, that dress is so beautiful, did you buy it for me?

- No! Uncle Hung gave it to me. He said I studied well so he rewarded me.

- Mom, why is Uncle Hung so nice to me?

- I love you! Because you are a good boy.

- I love him too, mom!

The joy and innocent thoughts of a child suddenly warmed Loan's heart. She smiled, if only time could be turned back, she would probably nod in agreement with Hung's clumsy confession before he joined the army that year. Only after all that time and so many events happened, did she realize how sincere and lovely that confession was. But it was too late, now Hung deserved to find a better half than the current Loan.

***

The church bells rang out, each time ringing sweetly, the moment people joyfully welcomed Christmas, closing their eyes and clasping their hands in prayer. It was very late but little Phuong still hadn't slept, she was sitting there next to the wooden chest, fondling each item, she read and re-read each letter her father had given her. As soon as she saw her mother, she shouted loudly:

- Mom, do you think I look good in this dress?

- Yes, very beautiful!

- Tonight I will wear this dress and wait for dad to come home.

Loan was silent, looking at her child's happy and excited face, her heart ached. What should she do now? No matter how much she explained, it would only hurt her. She couldn't bear to...

- Mom, why is dad taking so long to come home? Did the reindeer sleigh break down on the way?

- Yeah, maybe so - Loan said with a trembling voice.

- Mom, I'm so worried about dad, it's so cold tonight - Phuong said while sobbing.

Loan hugged her child and gently encouraged him: - Be good, dad is fine. Why don't you go to sleep, and when dad comes home, mom will call you.

- No, I have to wait for dad to come home before I go to sleep!

Feeling helpless, Loan sighed and suddenly thought that she should tell her son: “Dad is gone” so that he would not have to hope, after all, that man had abandoned him in the womb, maybe that would be better. Before, because she loved her son, she lied that her father was working far away, only coming home on Christmas Eve to visit, he worked with Santa Claus and traveled around the world to give gifts to many children and do good things. So every Christmas, she prepared gifts and wrote letters and put them in the wooden chest.

- Mom, I told my friends that dad comes home every Christmas and gives me presents, but they don't believe me. They even say I'm bragging. - Phuong cried.

- Mom, mom… I'm sorry! Hot tears rolled down Loan's cheeks. She gathered all her courage. Maybe it was time to tell her the truth.

- Mom, do I not have a father? I once heard the ladies at the end of the alley say that.

Little Phuong's question was like a needle piercing her mother's heart. The house suddenly became dark, the door slammed shut, not knowing what was happening. Loan rushed to open the door, just as the room lit up, a Santa Claus appeared.

- Sorry daughter, there was a traffic jam today so I came home late.

Baby Phuong looked bewildered.

It's Hung. Loan opened her mouth in surprise:

- What are you going to do, Hung?

Hung took off his Santa Claus mask, smiled at Phuong and said lovingly:

- You know Phuong really wants to see her dad, right? Santa Claus sent Phuong's letter to you. If possible, I want Phuong to call me "dad", can you help me? - Hung smiled and held little Phuong in his arms.

Little Phuong nodded slightly in agreement, leaned over to Hung and whispered, “Dad Hung,” her voice was small but filled with emotion. Loan stood there rooted to the spot, her mind in turmoil, she really didn’t understand what was happening before her eyes. Gathering all her courage, she encouraged her son:

- Phuong, you've seen your dad, go to sleep!

- No, I'm afraid I won't see you when I wake up.

Hung lovingly comforted little Phuong:

- Don't worry, daughter, Daddy Hung won't go anywhere. Daddy will stay with you two. Daddy will sing you to sleep!

Little Phuong's eyes slowly closed, she fell asleep on Hung's shoulder without realizing it. Loan was still surprised, she said eagerly: - Hung, leave her there and go home, thank you Hung for loving little Phuong so much. But maybe tomorrow when you wake up, Loan will tell you the truth.

- What is the truth? The truth is that Hung wants to be Phuong's father, right?

Loan's face suddenly became hot, she was shy:

- Stop joking, Hung!

- Hung is not joking, Hung really wants to have a family with Loan and Phuong. Loan, do you agree? - Hung's big hands grabbed Loan's cold hands.

Loan was so moved that she couldn't speak. But her cold hands were gradually warming up.

Tran Tu