A passerby saw something strange and asked curiously, conveniently buying a few lottery tickets for him. He smiled bitterly, showing his missing teeth and slowly replied:
- I'm looking at my son! He just transferred to this school.
- Oh, you are such a wonderful father! But why don't you look directly at me? Why are you looking at me so furtively?
- I… I'm afraid my son will have an inferiority complex…
Illustration: China. |
The customer looked at him, seemed to sympathize with his situation, so he generously bought more lottery tickets:
- Let me buy all these tickets so you can go home early. Keep trying, don't be discouraged, the boy will understand your love!
The guests left. The man thanked them profusely and returned home. On the way home, his heart was heavy with worries and pain. In fact, his son had just transferred to this school in the commune for a week. Like other schools, his classmates often bullied his son. His classmates mocked him for having a disabled, old, poor father who had to sell lottery tickets. “You are a poor boy. Look at your father, with two amputated legs, how can he protect you?” - A student once teased him like that.
Once or twice is not worth mentioning. But the story became more and more serious as it repeated itself so much that the boy always felt heavy when going to school early, during recess or when coming home from school. His friends always followed Hung - the boy's name - like leeches. Anger welled up inside Hung's chest but he still tried to control his emotions. Because if he reacted, resisted or fought, he would be at a disadvantage like in other schools. Of course, in the classroom, there were still people who sympathized with him, but students often followed the majority and sided with the strong. Silence was the most comfortable thing to avoid being bothered by others. Too tired, one day, Hung said to his father:
- Dad, from today on, don't take me to school anymore. I'm a big boy now, I can ride a bike well, I can protect myself. Besides, you're in a wheelchair, you can only follow me to school, what's the point? Your presence makes my friends uncomfortable. They often mock and tease me, making me feel very embarrassed, do you know that?
Mr. Dung - the disabled man - was sad, closing his eyes full of crow's feet as if he wanted to cry. He understood that his son was in his teens, very sensitive to social issues. Because he didn't want his son to do anything foolish, he nodded in agreement. From then on, he no longer went to school with his son. But that didn't stop his boundless love for his son. He still quietly followed his son, tiptoed to class, and watched him read books during recess. Just looking at his son for a few minutes made him feel peaceful and happy. The boy had few friends, so during recess he often brought his books to the stone bench under the royal poinciana tree to review his lessons. Mr. Dung looked at his son attentively, smiled to himself and whispered: "If only his mother were still alive, he wouldn't be like this!" Then he turned his wheelchair and walked away with tears welling up in his eyes. No one could understand the pain of this man who was nearly seventy years old.
***
During the war against the US, he was an active and obedient teenager. With a passionate patriotic heart, he left his family to join the resistance base, hoping to contribute a small part of his strength to the fight against foreign invaders. At that time, he was assigned to be a liaison. Being a quick, active, intelligent and quick-witted boy, he always completed the tasks assigned by his superiors well. Within 3 years, he achieved many outstanding achievements, becoming a private at the age of 17. But sadly, while scouting the way to lead soldiers across the river, the enemy discovered him and dropped a heavy bomb, causing him to collapse.
Severely injured in the leg, he was taken to the military hospital by his comrades. After days of struggling with death, he was saved by the doctors. However, his legs were left behind on the battlefield... The days of recuperation were cruel for the young man named Dung. He was not sad because he lost his legs, but felt ashamed because he had not contributed much to his homeland and the Fatherland. Brought back to the unit for recuperation, he gradually recovered his health and spirit. After the liberation of the South on April 30, 1975, he was demobilized and returned to his hometown.
He lives in the love of his neighbors, local authorities and veterans in his hometown. However, Dung never feels happy. His parents and grandparents died in the resistance war, leaving him alone in a thatched house. Every day he goes out to sell lottery tickets and then returns home, rarely gathering with people. Because he knows that with this disabled body, he should stay away from the complexities of society as much as possible. Only when the neighbors have a party, wedding invitation or veteran gathering, he joins everyone for a few drinks, telling each other about the harshness of wartime.
It seemed that loneliness would follow him until his death, but one day, he met a girl who also worked as a lottery ticket vendor, and they fell in love. She loved him because of his honesty and gentleness, and especially admired the heroic Uncle Ho soldier. Then they held a small wedding. Sadly, the day she gave birth to their child was also the day they parted. She passed away, leaving the bewildered baby boy in his calloused hands. He cried until he had no more tears. From then on, he devoted all his love to raising his child.
***
The red sunset covered the poor working-class neighborhood. The cool afternoon wind followed Mr. Dung's wheelchair to the alley. The house of gratitude given by the State was only occupied by a father and son, but it was very neat and tidy. Having just returned from getting the lottery tickets, Mr. Dung quickly put them on the table, checked them carefully again, and divided them into small stacks of tickets meticulously. Although he had lost his legs, the inconvenience was always present, but it did not make it difficult for him. For many years, he still took care of his personal activities without needing help from his son. For his son, he gave up drinking and smoking. Such an exemplary father still did not shake the fatherly love in Hung's heart. After finishing the lottery tickets, he turned to cook food and waited for his son to return. As soon as he was reminded, the boy appeared. Hung rarely talked to his father, his face was always sad, but he was always polite:
- Dad, I just got home from school!
- Go wash your hands and I'll prepare dinner - he kindly told his son.
The boy replied softly, then obediently went to the back of the house to wash his hands. When he came back in, he hesitantly said in a small voice:
- Dad, tomorrow the teacher will have a parent-teacher meeting. But I told you that you are sick and cannot attend. I'm sorry...
Mr. Dung understood that and nodded. The meal was quite tense as father and son ate without saying a word.
***
As usual, when his son entered the classroom, Mr. Dung hid in front of the gate watching his son's figure. Suddenly, from afar, he heard someone calling his name:
- Dung, was Dung the liaison in the past?
Mr. Dung turned around in surprise, staring at the man calling his name... The glorious memories of the past came back to his mind...
- Trung? Are you comrade Trung from logistics?
- That's right, it's me! Oh my, it's been so long since I've seen you. That year, I heard that you injured your leg. I didn't have time to visit you before I was transferred to another job, so we lost contact since then... Oh, never mind that, let's meet up for coffee and talk about it some other day. Why are you standing here, selling lottery tickets?
- I… I'm waiting for my son, his class is having a parent-teacher meeting.
- Why don't you attend?
Mr. Dung hesitated for a moment and then spoke:
- Look, going to class like this will make my son lose face. I don't want to make him feel awkward. His friends have teased him about this many times.
- Oh my! Is this happening again? If I had known earlier, this terrible thing wouldn't have happened. Come, follow me to class now.
- What are you doing in here?
- I used to be the principal of this school.
- At this age you still haven't retired?
- I'm off. But I'm going to the parent-teacher meeting today. No more talking, let me help you push the cart to class.
The former principal walked into the classroom and asked the teacher for a few minutes to speak:
- First of all, I would like to apologize to the homeroom teachers, parents and students. I am Trung, the former principal of this school, now retired, but still interested in the school'seducation career. Please allow me 15 minutes to present my opinion. Although it is a bit off topic, it is very necessary for the students.
Below clapped, while the head teacher said kindly:
- Yes, go ahead!
- Today, I would like to introduce someone to the students and parents…
Mr. Trung signaled for Mr. Dung to push the wheelchair in… The whole room was in an uproar, with whispers below.
- Everyone be quiet. This is Hung's father. I have heard the story of students bullying, teasing, and insulting Hung and his father. Morally, you are wrong. Legally, you are insulting the honor of a citizen. Do you know that bullying someone is bad? Why don't friends love each other, support each other, and unite to overcome difficulties in studying? Have you forgotten all the 5 things Uncle Ho taught you?
The room was silent. The teacher continued the story:
- Do you know why Hung's father lost his legs? Because he joined the resistance war against foreign invaders so that today you have enough food, warm clothes, and can go to school happily. You should admire and respect Hung's father rather than mocking and joking. That is shameful. I request that the head teacher and the school take appropriate measures to deal with students who bully their friends and disrespect the elderly. As for Hung, don't feel inferior or self-conscious. Be proud of your father, who fought for the Fatherland. The legs left on the battlefield that year are proof of that bravery and resilience.
As soon as Mr. Trung finished speaking, the whole room choked up. The students stood up, clasped their hands, and apologized to Hung's father. The parents promised to re-educate their children. The head teacher asked to self-criticize for not closely monitoring the situation of the class. As for Hung, he ran up to hug his father and cried:
- Dad, I'm sorry!
Short story by Dang Van Trung
Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/nguoi-chien-si-nam-xua-postid416769.bbg
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