Smile, raise your hand and say hello

This morning, I opened the gate and went out. My usually quiet neighbor smiled and waved when he saw me. I smiled and waved back. A small joy and a sense of goodwill suddenly flared up in my heart.

* * *

Ten years ago, I rode a shabby motorbike, a Power brand from SYM. It was old, small, and cheap, but it still creaked year after year. Sometimes when it started acting up, I took it to the mechanic on Bacu Street, where the company’s dealership was located.

Rarely do I see a mechanic as pleasant as this one. Gentle, tall. Cheerful, diligent in his work. Patching tires, changing oil, fixing spark plugs for free, adjusting the chain, warning about low battery. I said: "It's low, replace it with a new one". He smiled kindly: "No rush, this is the first time this battery is used, when it runs out, recharge it, it's still very good".

The times I go to get my bike repaired are the times I take the opportunity to relax. Sitting on a smooth plastic chair with greasy stains, taking off my helmet, unbuttoning my shirt, enjoying the cool sea breeze from Bai Truoc, watching people passing by on the street. Watching the mechanic quickly unscrew this, tighten that… The most talented thing is the screws that are removed, big, small, long, short, all kinds, filling the iron tray, then when reinstalling, each screw is in the right place, not too much, not too little. When the job is done, I pay, he shyly holds out both hands to receive, thanking me, as if he was given money and not paid for his work.

I told the story of the mechanic to a few friends. Still don't know his name. Haven't had time to ask his name.

* * *

I don’t know when SYM left its dealership in Vung Tau. Once I took my bike to Bacu for repair, I was confused and asked people around me where the mechanic had moved. Someone said he seemed to have opened his own shop on Pham Hong Thai Street.

Every time I passed Pham Hong Thai, I drove very slowly, looked carefully on both sides of the road but could not see the familiar mechanic.

The Power creaked for more than ten years, then it was time to get a new car.

I went to another place to get my car fixed. Every now and then I brought my car in for “maintenance”, oil changes, and tightening of some bolts. The mechanic was quite young, and seemed to be quite good at his job.

- How long have you been here?-I asked.

- Yes. It's been more than 2 years, uncle.

- Do you live here or do you have to rent?

- No. I rent this place. My house is on Pham Hong Thai street.

Hearing the street name, I asked right away:

- Oh, so do you know any mechanic who is also from Pham Hong Thai, once worked for SYM company in Bacu?

- Is he gentle and tall?

- That's right.

- Oh my! He was my teacher. He passed away, uncle. He left me these things.

I looked at the greasy tray full of screws and was startled. It was the tray that the mechanic in Baku had used to store his tools.

He was absent-minded for a moment, then asked:

- Why did I drive past there so many times, looking for his shop but couldn't find it?

Young worker smiled:

- You're just passing by, how can you see? He doesn't have money to rent a house on the street, so he opened a shop right in my house. In a deep alley.

* * *

Smile and wave.

With your neighbor. With the mechanic who often fixes your car. With the receptionist every time you leave the hotel without making an appointment to return. And maybe, with any random passerby, when your eyes meet…

Easy, right?

Then do it.

TRAN DUC TIEN

Source: https://baobariavungtau.com.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202505/nhoen-cuoi-gio-tay-chao-1043359/