The tea I make for my father isn't any kind of premium tea; he doesn't drink just one type. As long as it's tea I brew, he'll happily drink it. My father isn't concerned with formalities or etiquette; as long as the sentiment is genuine, he can feel it even without words. In this respect, I'm like him, rarely expressing my feelings verbally. I always choose teas that are good for his health. As a tradition, every morning I wake up and boil water. We have electric and gas stoves, but I still prefer boiling with firewood, perhaps because I like the smoky smell that gas or electric stoves can't provide. Partly it's a habit, like performing a ritual; I feel happy putting my heart and soul into each sip of tea my father drinks. And so, every morning, my father and I sit and drink tea and talk, no matter what earth-shattering events happened the day before, no matter what our plans for the day may be, the morning tea remains an unchanging tradition.
Every time I finished making tea, I would sit and talk with my father. Even though his hands were weak, my father always poured the tea himself, always savoring the aroma before drinking. If it was cold, he would hold the teacup between his hands to warm it. We were like two close friends, chatting about everything under the sun. Sometimes he would tell stories from the past, about when we were little kids, when my mother was still alive, when we worked in the fields... Then he would talk about the war, about how my grandparents hid him in the cellar, about how he and my youngest uncle went to fight in the resistance, about my uncle's sacrifice... Then he would talk about current events in the country and internationally. A few years ago, it was the Covid-19 pandemic, the US presidential election, and more recently, the government's fight against corruption, the war in Europe. Luckily, I had done some research, so my father and I could enthusiastically discuss it. The atmosphere became a little somber a few days before my mother's death anniversary. Back then, it was my mother sitting here, not me. My mother didn't know how to talk politics ; she only told my father about my achievements at school. I would lie in bed listening to her praise and feel overjoyed. Perhaps I also started waking up early from then on to eavesdrop on my parents' praise, my heart filled with quiet happiness.
Sometimes, I drink tea just for the sake of drinking it. I turn on the news for Dad and do other little things. On rainy days, Dad worries about whether we'll get stuck in traffic on our way to work, or if the grandchildren will get wet on their way to school. He reminds us to bring raincoats and dress warmly... On days when I'm away traveling or doing something else, Dad is always looking out for me. I remember when Dad had a heart attack and was hospitalized; it was nice when I was there, but when I was home, I felt such a void. I still brew tea and drink it alone, but I have a vague fear in my heart, a fear that one day Dad will be gone forever. A house without Dad is like a cup of tea poured out and left untouched, cold and lifeless. Luckily, Dad is still healthy, so I have the opportunity to brew tea for him every morning.
Making three cups of tea for him every morning is the most meaningful thing I do each day, a task that makes me realize how much happier I am than many others because I still have my father in this world. It brings him joy, preventing him from feeling lonely in his old age, especially now that my mother is gone. I only wish I could make tea for him forever. Just as the sun rises for the entire planet, my father is also the sun for us siblings. As long as he wakes up and drinks his tea, he will always be the morning, the warm, rosy sunshine that brightens each dawn.
Hello, dear readers! Season 4, themed "Father," officially launches on December 27, 2024, across four media platforms and digital channels of Dong Nai Newspaper, Radio, and Television, promising to bring to the public the wonderful values of sacred and beautiful fatherly love.
Please send your touching stories about fathers to Dong Nai Newspaper, Radio and Television by writing articles, personal reflections, poems, essays, video clips, songs (with audio recordings), etc., via email to baodientudno@gmail.com, Electronic Newspaper and Digital Content Department, Dong Nai Newspaper, Radio and Television, 81 Dong Khoi Street, Tam Hiep Ward, Dong Nai Province, phone number: 0909.132.761. The deadline for submissions is August 30, 2025.
High-quality articles will be published and shared widely, with payment for their contributions, and prizes will be awarded upon completion of the project, including one grand prize and ten outstanding prizes.
Let's continue writing the story of fathers with "Hello, My Love" Season 4, so that stories about fathers can spread and touch everyone's hearts!
Kim Loan
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/chao-nhe-yeu-thuong/202507/tach-tra-ket-noi-tinh-tham-2720dfe/
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