Glorious March

On the evening of the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), my family and I watched the movie "Heaven's Gift." It was a reward for my hard work during the semester. The film depicted a touching family story that brought tears to my eyes, with the main character being a little boy who doesn't know whether he was born an unwanted child or a treasure to his grandfather and parents… Life is so volatile that sometimes parents don't fully understand their roles and responsibilities, so the emotional and mental burden falls on the innocent child…

Illustration: AI

My child sat quietly and calmly watching the movie with the family, which reassured me. This year, she was "old enough" to go to the cinema, preparing to become an adult. But no one knew she was trying to hide an unease stemming from her own plans. She kept biting her nails and gripping the armrest tightly, even though her eyes were still focused on the film. When the movie ended, everyone was delighted with the happy ending for Tô's family and the characters, and she got up to join the rest of the family for dinner.

Dinner took place at a teen-friendly restaurant, chosen by my older sister to treat her younger brother. I happily ate with everyone, not only smiling and chatting but also knowing how to set the table, arrange the condiments, and serve food… Everyone was happy and praised me, saying I was “so grown-up!” My mother was very happy, but said nothing. She noticed a hint of unease and awkwardness in my eyes and gestures. Everyone speculated and teased me, but I just smiled innocently… No one knew that I had spent evenings at a restaurant like this, but as a waiter. I secretly worked part-time without my family knowing, my apron neatly folded in my backpack along with my books, rushing to the restaurant every afternoon after school to work. There was a manager who often scolded me and threatened to deduct my salary for even the smallest mistakes. I was the youngest employee at the restaurant, and I didn't dare argue with anyone, especially the manager. But perhaps he was also my best teacher, who taught me organizational skills and how to adapt to a work environment completely different from home and school.

And on the evening of the third day of Tet, that family reunion evening, I was supposed to be working. But because the whole family had planned to go to the movies and have a fun dinner, I asked for the day off, accepting the scolding and the deduction of 100,000 dong. That must have been something I worried about a lot, but the whole family, not knowing the truth, mistakenly thought I was having problems during puberty (so they all ganged up to give me all sorts of advice!). 100,000 dong is a lot for me, because my hourly wage is only a little over 20,000 dong.

The spring days passed by so quickly. Everyone returned to their daily routines, and my growing son was busy with school, playing, and sports … Until one evening, he snuggled into my arms, proudly showing off his… salary. His first paycheck, after a very hard and quiet trial period and subsequent official employment, all because he feared his family's disapproval. Only then did he tell me what he had been doing for over a month, the frustrations he had endured in that "miniature society" at the restaurant, and all the situations that almost brought him to tears. It turned out he had secretly researched the restaurant online and applied for the job without anyone knowing. While his family thought he was out with friends or studying, he was working and handling all his assigned tasks without complaint… Today, all of that was compensated by the joy and pride of receiving his first paycheck. And the first thing I did was give my mother 666,666 dong as a gift for International Women's Day on March 8th.

At that moment, I realized that my "treasure" was nothing like the treasures people usually think of or imagine. Despite her innocence and naivety, she had overcome countless obstacles in life to gain new experiences. I never expected her to choose such early experiences for herself.

Holding you close, I only wish you could remain as small and innocent as you were before, a truly pure and carefree boy. However, that's just a fleeting thought, for life is constantly changing, and people must grow and mature, not only physically but also mentally. You, like so many other young people, are growing up with so much effort and striving. And perhaps self-belief and belief in the future are the driving forces that help you keep striving. Because you are my child, there are moments when my heart almost stops beating as I witness your growth. Keep trying harder, young people of the new generation, of this bright and vibrant March!

Dong Giang

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202603/thang-ba-ruc-ro-9dd320b/