Clear Summer Mornings (Essay)

Hoai woke up to the sound of the magpie on the canopy of the mahogany trees in front of the alley. Lying by the window, she silently watched the banana leaves shine with the morning sunlight, and smelled the sweet scent of the dragon claw flowers wafting from the back garden. Every time she returned to her mother, Hoai felt peaceful and relaxed.

Hoai slowly walked out onto the porch and sat down on the cool red brick steps. The little dog saw her and wagged its tail, running to lie down next to her. The summer morning in the countryside was so clear. The gentle morning sunlight spread evenly over the leaves still wet with night dew. Each areca leaf sparkled as if gilded with gold. The three-color flower basket hanging on the eggplant tree in the corner of the yard had just bloomed a few light pink flowers. By the alley, purple marigolds and bright red hibiscus flowers intertwined with the golden color of the pink silk thread entwined on the chrysanthemum hedge. From the dense bushes, birds chirped loudly to welcome the new day. Each gentle breeze blew through, carrying the pure fragrance of rice, of lotus leaves from the fields by the river and the scent of wild flowers along the road. And in the midst of all that familiar countryside scent, she also recognized the fragrance of ripe golden duoi fruits, the rustic fruit that had been with her throughout her childhood.

Mom saw Hoai wake up, hurriedly stepping out of the small kitchen, holding a basket of steaming boiled sweet potatoes. Mom smiled warmly and told her, our sweet potatoes are grown on the riverbank, very soft and sweet, my child! Hoai took the basket of sweet potatoes for her mother, put it on the bamboo table on the porch and went to the well to wash her face. In her hometown, tap water had now reached every family, but the well with clear, cool water was still kept by her parents, used to wash their hands and feet every time they came back from the fields to plant and harvest. Next to the well was a trellis of morning glory flowers swaying with fragrant clusters of young rice-colored flowers. After breakfast, drinking a cup of fresh tea with thick, fragrant leaves grown behind the house, Hoai took the basket to the garden to pick vegetables with her mother. There was a commotion on the bank of the pond, she followed the small path covered with silky green hair, met her father and some neighbors fishing. Her father laughed heartily and said to her mother, here, there are enough perch and crucian carp for grandma to prepare and treat her daughter! This afternoon, the whole family will gather together to enjoy braised perch with ginger leaves, rice husks and soft bones, and wormwood soup with crucian carp. Hoai suddenly felt a stinging sensation in her nose. If her parents keep taking care of her like this, when will she ever grow up?

Returning to the city, Hoai brought a bag full of gifts from her hometown, along with the sunshine and wind, the sweet scent of flowers and fruits from her mother's garden. And throughout the journey, she told herself that she would arrange her work and visit her parents more often. Although Hoai knew that every time she left, her mother would be reluctant, with tears in her eyes, standing outside the gate for a long time watching. That warmth and love helped her to be more steadfast in a life that was still full of ups and downs and fatigue.

Lam Hong