Another Full Moon in Spring - Short story by Tran Thu Hang (Dong Nai)

1. The large yard was empty. The Lantern Festival poetry night had ended, the sounds of poetry recitation, Quan Ho singing, Chau Van singing... had subsided, giving way to the moonlight and the fragrant, spacious night air. He still sat quietly on the stone bench outside the park, although his eyes kept looking at the woman sitting alone on the empty stage. She slightly bowed her head to look down at the moonlit ground, her face was calm, her hair was cut short to her ears, and her thin blue shirt was fluttering in the night breeze. He felt like he could clearly see her skinny and weak legs hidden in her wooden clogs.

He arrived in the evening, before the appointed time, but he dared not let her know that he had arrived… First, when he saw her wearing an ivory-white ao dai sitting at the representative table, he immediately remembered his childhood dreams: she sat on a palanquin carried up the mountain, her face radiant as the full moon. Then, when a quan ho song was played, he sat silently listening to the melodies of his homeland, remembering the days when he had to say goodbye to his childhood, and then part with her. After the program, she disappeared for a while, then returned in a blue robe and sat in her old place alone. He felt his spirit disturbed, not knowing what she meant by changing her dress, and for several hours she did not contact him again.

The old woman wearing a white brocade ao ba ba appeared from somewhere, slowly walking past him. It was past 7 pm, the park was crowded, the moon had not yet risen, the high-pressure lamps illuminated the whole area, she leaned on a cane and walked in the yard but her eyes kept looking at him. Then he met her again when he went up to the temple to offer incense to the Hung King… When she was about to pass him, she suddenly stopped, smiling toothlessly at him. From her emanated a warm, fragrant scent of sandalwood soap, her bright eyes made him suddenly think of her about twenty or thirty years later…

- Hey, you're my teacher, right? Don't you know she's been waiting for you? Why are you still sitting here?

He politely bowed to her, the old woman continued to show her beautiful smile and then walked out the gate. At the foot of the National Ancestor Temple, she was still sitting still, her face tilted under the full moon, looking as innocent as a schoolgirl. But every time he looked up, his heart ached!

It was past ten o'clock at night, he decided to stand up. His steps were faltering, as if he could walk forever and never reach her side. He seemed to be swimming in a dream he had dreamed so many times: to be beside her on a cool, moonlit night like this, to see her eyes as clear as those of his youth... To relive the moment that had passed away so many years ago... He had waited for decades, another spring, another moonlit night, and hours of sitting quietly behind the rustling bushes, even though he was very close to her...

- Older brother!

- I'm still waiting for you…?!

- Yes, I promised to wait for you…

- Thank you, we finally meet. But why… did you ask me to meet you here, this late at night?

He put his hands in his pockets to hide his embarrassment. She looked up at him, her gaze tender amid the dark circles and crow's feet around her eyes. The look startled him.

- Because… After tonight, I will no longer be free…

2. Is this fate, I came back to find you but you left?

During his teenage years, he had dreamed of holding her hand, hugging her and kissing her long braided hair... They went to the same school, cut grass together to herd buffaloes, and pushed a modified cart around the dry, cracked fields. Their parents were also close friends, often exchanging farm work, so they often discussed their livelihoods together. Once, when he took her to school on a dilapidated bicycle that was worth a year's salary from his uncle, he told her: "My parents said that wherever I go to make a living, I have to find a place to grow rice and dig a well. I... volunteered to dig a well!" But after digging for half a day with a crowbar, he gave up with his hands covered in blood. It had been more than 30 years, I wonder if she still remembers. But he clearly remembered that rocky land, that desolate foothill; he also remembered the rough tree branches that stood proudly above his head. And she, looking at him with big, round eyes, a little sad, the shoulder pole on her shoulder had the books they both brought from their hometown. He threw away the crowbar, and she turned away. It had been more than 30 years… Now that place had become a city, a commercial center.

During his teenage years, until now, he had never held her hand, never hugged her. But he clearly remembered the trembling when he went with her to visit Hung Temple when he was sixteen. He broke her stick, then pretended to be tired to hold the stick together. But she laughed out loud, let go of the stick and gave it to him. He inhaled the scent of chestnut flowers from her hand clinging to the tip of the stick. After they both entered the temple to burn incense, he turned back to look at her blankly, but she laughed loudly, pushed his shoulder forward and said:

- My grandparents said that if boys and girls go to the temple together, they will definitely not become a couple...

At that time, he stuttered and defended himself: "We're going to a temple, not a pagoda...". But she still smiled, showing off her white, even teeth and playfully replied: "You're an only son, you have to get married soon, but I... won't be able to...".

He tried to convince her that they were both only children, both were farmers' children... However, as fate would have it, she stayed and he had to leave... He didn't know where to go, what to find, but words followed him. And not long ago, when she asked him to meet, she confessed that she really wanted her lover to be a teacher.

- Why? I just came back, I just found you!

He asked her again, startled, even though he already knew the situation and wanted to comfort her. Was this appointment for her to make up for the 30 years of separation, or for her to explain and confide in him about the mistakes she had made… to feel better? Once, when he saw a photo of her walking among the honor guard, appearing on the solemn stage on the inauguration day of the Hung Temple reconstruction, he secretly shed tears. Over the years, he still imagined her bright smile among the people visiting the temple during holidays, especially on the Hung King's death anniversary. Perhaps she was satisfied, she was happy. This project had great merit from her; the people in the area were also very excited because they had a place to come and worship, and also a space to relax and have fun. What he did not expect was that she had not forgotten him.

3. I only worry about one thing, that is my mother. She is old and weak, and has lost her mind. If I don't live at home with her, who will take care of her? For decades, mother and child have always been together...

- Is the lady in the white outfit your mother? I saw her going out there just now…

He raised his hand and pointed to the gate. The vast park was almost deserted. The wind carried the cool scent of the small lotus ponds. He had sat and watched the lotuses bloom, shimmering pink and white all evening. The rows of areca and coconut trees swayed. The moonlight soaked into the blue shirt on her body.

- No, my mother can no longer walk. That aunt lives nearby, her children must have brought her home. Sometimes she asks her family to bring her here because she has an appointment with her lover… But in fact, her ex-lover joined the army and died in 1972, and her husband passed away nearly twenty years ago.

- Really? But this park has only been built for a few years. Who is your aunt meeting with?

He asked again, then suddenly realized his question was tactless so he kept quiet. Sitting silently together for ten, fifteen minutes, he counted the small white petals flying through the air in front of them. After a while he realized they were areca flowers and mai chieu thuy flowers that had fallen and been blown away by the wind.

- Do you miss your hometown?

She asked him softly, he nodded slightly:

- This place is so beautiful!

She looked at him, slightly startled, and he was silent, not knowing what else to say.

- Are you cold? Let me take you to the temple to burn incense!

He stood up and followed her, because he knew this was not a question. She had only asked him once if he had loved anyone, and he had not answered. But now, her voice was like a request, but also like a desire, hurried as the night was fading... He walked behind her small, thin figure, avoiding stepping on the traces of her wooden clogs. More than 30 years ago, she was the plumpest and prettiest in the village, her hands and feet always nimble, she smiled before speaking. But now, she was leisurely, light-hearted, but distant. Although her beauty and figure were withered and emaciated like someone with a chronic illness, her clothes were very simple, but she still looked elegant and powerful. When she walked quickly to avoid the girls and boys learning to ride bicycles, he suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia for the old days, when he had carried her unsteadily but also happily and cheerfully like that.

The two of them walked up the steps, a young man quickly greeted her, then mumbled something, but she quickly passed by. Early in the evening, when the poetry night program began, he had gone up to the temple to burn incense and walked around to admire the statues, bronze drums, patterns... Therefore, while she was sincerely receiving the incense stick and praying, he noticed the person on duty at the temple. He was probably a security guard, who also worked as a guard outside of the main ceremony hours; he looked big, dark, with clumsy limbs, and was probably over sixty years old. The corner of his shirt pocket revealed some photos, which he had seen on the wall earlier, in a rather luxurious corner of the temple. After the two of them burned incense, he followed her out and the security guard followed. She appeared calm and composed, but when they left the main hall, she turned back, looking at the security guard with teary eyes:

- Every year, you are the one waiting for me to come up and burn incense, but from now on, you probably won't have to wait anymore. I have a little gift for you, wishing you and your family good health, happiness and luck!

She took a red envelope from her blue shirt pocket and stuffed it into the guard's pocket, ignoring his waving his hand. The old man exclaimed, "No, miss, I don't have a gift for you, how can I bear to accept it from you!", but she just smiled and looked up at him, as if wanting to share her rare joy. He didn't return her gaze, because he was busy looking at his shirt pocket.

She turned her head and looked back. Then she reached out and pulled the photos out of her pocket to look at them. The guard writhed, his face contorted as if he had done something wrong. He felt his mind tense like a string, his body extremely restless, even though it was stiffly watching her movements.

- Why did you take these pictures down? - She asked softly.

- Yes, ma'am! Honestly… I was going to take it down and put it in the family album. That would make me feel more secure…

- Do you really think so?...

- Yes, ma'am! We can't bear to see you treated badly, we hope you will always be safe!

- Oh, thank you, uncle! Why do you love me so much?! I…

She looked at him and then choked up, hugging the guard and crying, her sobs hidden in his shirt. The photos fell from her hands to the ground, he quickly picked them up. Those were the photos he had seen online, when he searched for her name, photos full of ceremony, nobility, beauty, marking her successes in this land, her second homeland. In that moment, he suddenly remembered that during her teenage years, she always seemed to smile at him, a lot...

Rules

Live beautifully with total prizes up to 448 million VND

With the theme Loving Heart, Warm Hand, the 3rd Beautiful Life contest is an attractive playground for young content creators. By contributing works expressed through various forms such as articles, photos, videos ... with positive content, full of emotions and attractive, vivid presentation suitable for different platforms of Thanh Nien Newspaper.

Submission period: April 21 - October 31, 2023. In addition to the forms of memoirs, reports, notes, and short stories, this year the contest has expanded to include photos and videos on YouTube.

The 3rd Beautiful Living Contest of Thanh Nien Newspaper highlights community projects, volunteer journeys, good deeds of individuals, entrepreneurs, groups, companies, enterprises in society and especially young people in the current Gen Z generation, so there should be a separate contest category sponsored by ActionCOACH Vietnam. The appearance of guests who own works of art, literature, and young artists loved by young people also helps the theme of the contest spread strongly, creating sympathy among young people.

About the contest entries: Authors can participate in the form of memoirs, reports, notes, reflecting real stories, real events and must have accompanying character images. The article must express the content about a character/group that has taken beautiful, practical actions to help individuals/communities, spreading warm, humane stories, optimistic and positive living spirit. As for short stories, the content can be composed from real or fictional stories, characters, events... of beautiful living. The contest entries must be written in Vietnamese (or English for foreigners, the organizers will take care of the translation) no more than 1,600 words (short stories no more than 2,500 words).

About the prize : The contest has a total prize value of nearly 450 million VND.

In which, in the category of articles, reports, and notes, there are: 1 first prize: worth 30,000,000 VND; 2 second prizes: each worth 15,000,000 VND; 3 third prizes: each worth 10,000,000 VND;

5 consolation prizes: each prize is worth 3,000,000 VND.

1 prize for the article most loved by readers (including views and likes on Thanh Nien Online): worth 5,000,000 VND.

For the short story category: Prizes for authors with short stories participating in the contest: 1 first prize: worth 30,000,000 VND; 1 second prize: worth 20,000,000 VND; 2 third prizes: each worth 10,000,000 VND; 4 consolation prizes: each worth 5,000,000 VND.

The Organizing Committee also awarded 1 prize to the author with an article about entrepreneurs living beautifully: worth 10,000,000 VND and 1 prize to the author with an outstanding charity project of a group/collective/enterprise: worth 10,000,000 VND.

In particular, the organizing committee will select 5 honored characters voted by the organizing committee: award 30,000,000 VND/case; along with many other prizes.

Readers can send articles, photos and videos to the address: songdep2023@thanhnien.vn or by post.

(Only applicable to the Article and Short Story contest categories) : Thanh Nien Newspaper Editorial Office: 268 - 270 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City (clearly write on the envelope: Works participating in the 3rd LIVING BEAUTIFULLY contest - 2023). Detailed information and rules are posted on the Living Beautifully page of Thanh Nien Newspaper.

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