[truye^.n nga('n] Ba.n lu+'a

[AnHai Doan <anhai@cs.washington.edu>]

Ba.n lu+'a

Truye^.n nga('n cu?a Nguye^~n Va(n Ha.
Ba'o Va(n Nghe^. so^' 12 (22/3/1997)

Ta`u ve^` lu'c ga^`n 5 gio+` sa'ng, Duye^n va` Tra^m "o^?i u+o+ng" dda~ cho+`
ddo'n to^i ba(`ng hai chie^'c xe dda.p. Gio' re't tha'ng hai la`m mu~i hai
ddu+'a cu`ng ddo? le^n. Tra^m cho+? to^i co`n Duye^n tro+? vali. To^i quy'nh
qua'ng vi` ho^`i ho^.i. Ca'i ho^`i ho^.p mo^~i khi sa('p ve^` dde^'n la`ng,
sa('p ddu+o+.c ga(.p la.i ky? nie^.m va` ddie^`u na`y nu+~a :  to^i ddu+o+.c
bie^'t Tra^m dda~ la^'y cho^`ng ma^'y na(m nay. "Va^.y la` xua^'t ddi
ddu+o+.c mo^.t "la~o" ro^`i ma` cha('c cha('n chi? co' mo^.t dda^'y tho^i",
Duye^n dda~ vie^'t cho to^i nhu+ va^.y. Tra^m kho^ng chi?  la^'y dda.i mo^.t
o^ng cho co' cho^`ng ma` la^'y ddu+o+.c mo^.t ta^'m cho^`ng ha(?n hoi -
ngu+o+`i a^'y la` Ca^`u - mo^.t tin dda'ng ke^?. To^i nghe no'i Ca^`u ba^y
gio+` kha' la('m. 

Hai ba` ba.n gia` cho+? to^i ve^` nha` Tra^m. 18 na(m tru+o+'c ca? bo.n
thu+o+`ng xuye^n tu. ta^.p o+? nha` to^i. To^i o+? mo^.t mi`nh, anh chi. ddi
xa ca? ne^n to^'i na`o chu'ng to^i cu~ng "ho.p". Nghe dda`i, ghi ba`i ha't,
dda'nh ba`i, ddo.c sa'ch, nu+o+'ng khoai, luo^.c o^'c va`... cu+o+`i. Nhu+~ng
tra^.n cu+o+`i ca^'p 12 la`m mu.  la sa't o+?  dda(`ng tru+o+'c nha` pha?i
no'i do'ng sang :"Co' phu'c nhu+ ngu+o+`i ta thi` dda~ co' con bo^`ng con
be^' ca? ro^`i dda^'y, co`n cu+' tu. ta^.p ma` cu+o+`i cho no^? nha` ra, co'
ma` ro^`i e^' cho?ng". Chu'ng to^i ghe't mu. la sa't ne^n va^~n cu+o+`i tha?
phanh. Mu. chi? muo^'n to^i ddi la^'y cho^`ng xa dde^? la^'n dda^'t vu+o+`n,
ma(.c du` lu'c co`n tha^`y to^i, o^ng dda~ cho mu. la`m mo^.t gian be^'p
tre^n vu+o+`n nha` to^i ro^`i. 

Chu'ng to^i co' 7 ddu+'a :  Bi`nh, Thanh, To+'i, Khang, Duye^n, Tra^m va`
to^i. Bo^'n cha`ng va` 3 na`ng, ho+n ke'm nhau mo^.t hai tuo^?i, kho^ng
bie^'t ro^`i cha`ng na`o se~ bi. loa.i dda^y. Nhu+ng ro^'t cuo^.c cha(?ng
tha`nh ddu+o+.c ddo^i na`o vi` co' ho. xa, vi` gia ddi`nh kho^ng thua^.n, vi`
chu'ng to^i muo^'n mo^.t cuo^.c so^'ng kha'c, kho^ng nhu+ nhu+~ng ca(.p vo+.
cho^`ng tre? o+? la`ng ma` chu'ng to^i cho la` te? nha.t va` vi` na(m a^'y
co' nhie^`u bie^'n ddo^.ng. Khi ca^y mi't ngoa`i vu+o+`n ba('t dda^`u ru.ng
xuo^'ng nhu+~ng chie^'c la' va`ng ru+.c ro+~ thi` nho'm tan ra~. Ba('t dda^`u
ba` Bi`nh ddi ho.c o+? Lie^n Xo^ cu~ Khang va` To+'i nha^.p ngu~ ro^`i va`o
chie^'n tru+o+`ng K o+? phi'a Nam, Thanh ddi co^ng an, to^i chu+a ddu? tuo^?i
nhu+ng quye^'t ddi dde^?  thoa't ca'i ddi.nh kie^'n ve^` tha`nh pha^`n gia
ddi`nh (ca'i tha`nh pha^`n ma` to^i cha(?ng ddu+o+.c thu+`a hu+o+?ng gi`),
Duye^n va` Tra^m ddi tro^`ng ru+`ng o+? Hoa`ng Lie^n So+n, nhu+ng khi xa?y ra
chie^'n tranh bie^n gio+'i phi'a Ba('c thi` la^m tru+o+`ng tan ta'c, hai
ddu+'a la.i tro+? ve^` la`ng. 

Ba na(m sau co' tin Thanh che^'t trong mo^.t ddo+.t truy que't Phunro^, bo^'n
na(m sau To+'i va` Khang he^'t nghi~a vu., cu`ng chuye^?n nga`nh va` la^'y
vo+. o+? co+ quan. Na(m na(m sau Bi`nh tro+? ve^` vo+'i mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n
ga'i quen tu+` be^n Nga, chi? co' Duye^n va` Tra^m va^~n va^.y, co`n bi. mang
tie^'ng la` la`m cao nu+~a. To^i bie^'t hai ba` ba.n cu?a to^i kho^ng kie^u
ke'n gi` la('m dda^u, chi? "i't ra cu~ng pha?i tha^'y ye^u ye^u, pha?i no'i
chuye^.n ddu+o+.c". No'i chuye^.n ddu+o+.c nghi~a la` pha?i nhu+ kie^?u Bi`nh
- Khang - Thanh - To+'i. Kho^? the^'. 

Khi chu'ng to^i dde^'n tuo^?i ba(m, khi ma` ta^'t ca? dde^`u so+. ra(`ng
Tra^m va` Duye^n se~ tro+? tha`nh "la~o la`ng" thi` Tra^m la^'y cho^`ng. I't
ra cu`ng co`n co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i trai la`ng nhu+ Ca^`u chu+', to^i la.c quan
ha(?n le^n. Ca^`u ddi thoa't ly dda~ nhie^`u na(m ma` va^~n ve^` la`ng ti`m
cho.n Tra^m la`m ba.n ddo+`i thi` ddo' la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i kho^ng the^? coi
thu+o+`ng. Kho^ng pha?i nhu+ ai chi? xe.t qua la`ng da(m bu+~a nu+?a tha'ng,
nha('m con be' na`o mo+'i lo+'n le^n tro^ng xinh xa('n hay hay, ho?i xem con
ca'i nha` ai, the^' la` xong. To^i dda~ co^' hi`nh dung Ca^`u - cha`ng co^ng
nha^n ddu+o+`ng sa('t nhu+ng kho^ng tha`nh co^ng, chi? co' hi`nh a?nh mo^.t
tha(`ng con trai o+?  xo'm cuo^'i la`ng dden thu?i dden thui, chuye^n tro^'n
ho.c, da'm ba('t ca? sa^u ro'm dde^? va(.t lo^ng. Duye^n dda~ ta? dda'm
cu+o+'i Tra^m co' dda^`y ddu? hai ho., ddu? ca'c nghi le^~ va` ra^'t ddo^ng
ba.n cu~. 

Tra^m la^'y chi`a khoa' mo+? cu+?a. No' o+? mo^.t mi`nh, no' co' cha me.
dde?, cha me. cho^`ng, co' ca? cho^`ng nu+~a nhu+ng va^~n o+? mo^.t mi`nh.
No' ba?o to^i : 

- Va`o nghi? ddi, ddo+.i nu+o+'c no'ng ro^`i ta('m ru+?a. Bo.n tao ddi cho+.
dda^y. 

- Nho+' mua su ha`o la`m no^.m. - To^i nha('c. 

- Ddu+o+.c ro^`i, mua mo^.t ro^? cho ma`y a(n dde^'n he^'t xua^n luo^n, hai
nga`n tho^i. 

- Ca'i gi`, mo^.t ro^? hai nga`n ? 

- Chu+' ma^'y mu+o+i. Mo^.t ga'nh bo^'n nga`n thi` nu+?a ga'nh cha('c hai
chu.c nga`n ?  Ca'i gio.ng "o^ng Nghi.". 

Hai nga`n. So^' tie^`n cu?a hai la^`n to^i gu+?i xe ddi cho+.. To^i nho+'
ro^`i, su ha`o la` rau tro^`ng chen vu. ddo^ng, dde^'n nga`y la` pha?i nho^?
dde^? ca^'y lu'a tro^`ng ma`u, ai cu~ng ba'n thi` ai mua ?  Pho^' cho+.
ddu+o+.c ma^'y ngu+o+`i a(n nhie^`u rau dde^? cho^'ng be'o phi` ? Co' na(m
e^' qua' ngu+o+`i ta bo? va`o va.i muo^'i nguye^n ca? cu?. 

Ma?nh sa^n nha` Tra^m ho^m a^'y tha^.t ro^.n ra`ng. Chi? ba(m su ha`o tha`nh
so+.i nho? cu~ng ddu? khua dao tho+'t. Mu`i rau tho+m ke^u go.i, to^i nha^'p
nho^?m da^.y tham gia. Duye^n no'i : 

- Ma`y ma` ma`y ve^` lu'c na`y, chu+' tua^`n sau la` va`o vu. ro^`i thi` cha? 
co`n dda^u ma` ddu+o+.c ngo^`i the^' na`y nu+~a. 

To^i vu+`a ru+?a ha`nh vu+`a so^'t ruo^.t : 

- Bo.n chu'ng gio+` sao ro^`i, co' te^n na`o ve^` kho^ng ? 

- To+'i cu?a ma`y ba^y gio+` ba.c dda^`u nhu+ o^ng la~o a^'y, nha^'t vo+.
nhi` gio+`i, ca? Khang cu~ng va^.y. 

- Kho^ng ngo+` dda^'y la.i la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i cho^`ng to^'t the^', tie^'c
la` la.i va`o tay dda`n ba` thie^n ha. ma^'t. Co`n Bi`nh ? 

- Bi`nh thi` ye^n ta^m, co' mo^.t dinh co+ ddo^` so^. va` mo^.t ba` vo+. ba'n
dda^`m ddo^` so^. o+? Ha` No^.i. No' mo+'i ve^` ho^m Te^'t. 

- Ba'n gi` co+ ? 

- Ba'n dda^`m a.! - Duye^n da`i gio.ng - Ma`y ma` co`n kho^ng bie^'t nu+~a? 

- a` nghi~a la` nu+?a ta nu+?a ta^y. "o^?i u+o+ng" da.o na`y cu~ng vui ti'nh
tha^.t. 

- The^' co`n... Thanh, co' hy vo.ng gi` kho^ng ? 

- Hi vo.ng gi` nu+~a, ba'o tu+? ro^`i. Na(m ngoa'i o^ng gia` Nha^n ddi cao
nguye^n ddi.nh ddu+a no' ve^`, nhu+ng dde^'n no+i mo+'i bie^'t la` ngu+o+`i
ta kho^ng ti`m ddu+o+.c xa'c. 

To^i hi`nh dung la.i ca'i tha^n xa'c "hoa`ng tu+?" cu?a Thanh. Chu'ng to^i
cu`ng im la(.ng. 

Con cho' ddang na(`m lim dim ca.nh cu+?a be^'p bo^~ng cho^`m le^n su?a, to^i
tha^'y mo^.t phu. nu+~ be^' con ddi va`o. Ngu+o+`i a^'y no'i : 

- Thi'm o+i cho cha'u xin qua? mu+o+'p. 

Ro^`i co^ ta dde^? con ddu+'ng xuo^'ng sa^n, ru+o+'n ngu+o+`i le^n ha`ng ra`o
be? mu+o+'p. Xong, mo^.t tay da('t con, mo^.t tay ca^`m mu+o+'p, co^ ta ho?i
: 

- Ho^m nay thi'm co' kha'ch a` ? 

Tra^m kho^ng tra? lo+`i ma` ho?i la.i : 

- Ca'i Mi ma`y co' bie^'t co^ na`y kho^ng ? Co^ Hoa nha` o^ng Gia'o dda^'y. 

- Bie^'t the^' na`o ddu+o+.c. - Duye^n no'i vo+'i to^i. - Con ga'i u't cu?a
ba` la sa't dda^'y. Ho^`i ma`y ddi no' chu+a dde? ma` gio+` co' con ba(`ng
a^'y ro^`i. 

To^i ddi ga^`n 18 na(m, va^.y la` ngu+o+`i dda`n ba` na`y mo+'i 17 tuo^?i ? 
Ho^`i a^'y chu'ng to^i cu+o+`i no^? nha`, ngo^`i va('t ve?o tre^n bo+`
tu+o+`ng xem thie^'u nhi mu'a ha't Trung thu du+o+'i sa^n ddi`nh, ddi da.o
tre^n con ddu+o+`ng la`ng ha(ng ha('c mu`i la' ba.ch dda`n, ho` ddo^'i dda'p
vo+'i bo^. ddo^i, ngu+o+`ng ngu+o+.ng va` thinh thi'ch nhau... To^i nhi`n
ngu+o+`i dda`n ba` tru+o+'c ma(.t, co^' nghi~ ddo' la` tuo^?i 17. "Con be'
dda`n ba`" nhi`n to^i cha(m chu' : 

- Ddu'ng la` co^ o+? tha`nh pho^' co' kha'c, nhi`n tre? ho+n thi'm bao
nhie^u. Nha` cha'u o+? cho^~ vu+o+`n cu~ dda^y, lu'c na`o co^ sang cho+i. 

Me. con be' ve^` ro^`i, to^i ho?i Tra^m : 

- Co' co`n nho+' la' thu+ li.ch su+? cu?a ma`y kho^ng ? 

- Thu+ na`o ? 

- To^'i ho^m rang co^'m y'. 

- a`... 

La~o ta chi? "a`" va` mu?m mi?m cu+o+`i. 

Ca'i buo^?i to^'i mu`a ddo^ng a^'y, chu'ng to^i ddo^'t lu+?a su+o+?i giu+~a
nha`.  To+'i xung phong ddi rang gia~ co^'m ro^`i ngo^`i do^~ to^i, nhu+ng
to^i ddang gia^.n ne^n kho^ng a(n. Ho^m sau Tra^m gu+?i cho to^i mo^.t ma?nh
gia^'y, dda.i dde^? no' vie^'t the^' na`y :"o^?i chi'n kia, ta.i sao tao la.i
ddi cho+i vo+'i ma`y co+ chu+', u+o+'c gi` tao kho^ng bao gio+` co' ma`y la`
ba.n. He^'t Thanh ro^`i To+'i, he^~ ma`y gia^.n thi` ai cu~ng do^~ da`nh,
co`n tao thi` sao, tao gia^.n hay tao kho'c cu~ng va^.y...". Ddu'ng la` o^?i
u+o+ng, no' ma` la.i kho^ng bie^'t la` Khang thi'ch no' ? Ba^y gio+` nha('c
la.i, to^i ba?o : 

- Tha^'y chu+a. Ba^y gio+` thi` tao kho^ng ba(`ng ma`y ro^`i. "La^'y cho^`ng
kho' giu+~a la`ng ho+n la^'y cho^`ng sang thie^n ha.", ma`y vu+`a la^'y
cho^`ng giu+~a la`ng vu+`a sang. Ddu+o+`ng sa('t ba^y gio+` la` gia`u la('m. 

- Nhu+ ma`y ma` la.i hay ho+n. - Tra^m nho? nhe. no'i. 

- Xa xu+' co' gi` ma` hay, ta.i ca'i so^' ly hu+o+ng no' pha?i va^.y. Ca^`u
co' hay ve^` kho^ng? 
 La^u qua' ro^`i kho^ng co`n nho+' ca'i ma(.t ha('n ta nu+~a. 

Lu'c na`y Duye^n mo+'i le^n tie^'ng : 

- Ro^`i ma`y se~ bie^'t ca'i ma(.t no'. Ba^y gio+` la^'y to?i la`m ma('m ddi,
chua^?n bi. le^n ma^m. 

Ma^m ddu+o+.c dda(.t le^n chie^'c chie^'u co'i tra?i giu+~a nha`. No^.m su
ha`o, ga` luo^.c, gio` lu.a, canh ca' thi`a la` va` xa` la'ch rau tho+m, co'
ca?  mo^.t con ca' nu+o+'ng cho to^i nu+~a. To^i bie^'t ca' qua? o+?  cho+.
que^ ba^y gio+` hie^'m la('m, ddo^`ng ruo^.ng mu+o+ng ngo`i nga`y ca`ng khan
hie^'m ca' cua. Gio` lu.a chi? ba`y le^n mo^.t khoanh cho dde.p, kho^ng pha?i
thu+' gio` la`m ba(`ng thi.t na.c ddo? tu+o+i cha('c lu.i, gia~ ba(`ng co^'i
dda' ta^?m nu+o+'c ma('t ngon nhu+ nga`y tru+o+'c. Ba^y gio+` la` thi.t lo+.n
lai, xay ba(`ng co^'i xay thi.t, cho the^m bo^.t ngo.t, ha`n the va` la.i
co`n pha ta.p nu+~a. 

Tra^m lo^i ra mo^.t chai ru+o+.u tra('ng nu't la' chuo^'i kho^. To^i nga.c
nhie^n : 

- Cu~ng sa(~n ru+o+.u the^' a` ? 

No' nhi`n Duye^n : 

- Ho^m nay uo^'ng vo+'i no' mo^.t ti' cho vui, ca'i chai tu+` ho^m no. a^'y
ma`. 

Duye^n kho^ng no'i gi`. Chu'ng to^i vu+`a a(n vu+`a nha('c la.i nhu+~ng pha
cu?a ca'i ho^.i nga`y a^'y, vu+`a cu+o+`i cha?y nu+o+'c ma('t. Tra^m ba?o : 

- Tha(`ng quy? Bi`nh ho^m te^'t ve^` no' va^~n go.i tao la` "o^?i u+o+ng
o+i", la'o tha^.t. 

Duye^n tie^'p : 

- No' co`n ba?o cuo^'i cu`ng thi` cha? ai ddu+o+.c ma`y, cuo^'i cu`ng thi`
ma`y va`o tay thie^n ha.. Tu.i no' chi? ra ve?, co`n tao vo+'i con Tra^m
dda^y sao kho^ng tie^'c. 

Duye^n no'i vo+'i gio.ng tra'ch ye^u. No' bie^'t ta^'t ca? bo.n ddi xa chu'ng
to^i dde^`u nho+' ve^` hai ba.n gia` nhu+ nho+' ve^` ha^.u phu+o+ng a^'m a'p. 

Sau bu+~a a^'y, to^i pha?i ddi kha('p lu+o+.t ba` con ca^.u di` chu' ba'c. 
Dde^'n nha` ai cu~ng che`o ke'o a(n co+m. Mo^.t buo^?i chie^`u to^i thoa't
ddu+o+.c mo^.t mi`nh dde^'n be^n go^'c sung gia` ca.nh ca^`u ao nha` Thanh.
Va^~n ca'i ca^`u ghe'p ba(`ng tha^n tre ddu+.c co' la't nhu+~ng ba^.c dda'
xanh. Thanh ddang tu+` ca^`u ao bu+o+'c le^n, to^i ha' mie^.ng kho^ng tha`nh
tie^'ng,
 ddu'ng la` Thanh ro^`i, mo'n to'c tru+o+'c tra'n, khuo^n ma(.t, da'ng ddi...
No' nhi`n to^i cu+o+`i, o^i ca'i mie^.ng cu+o+`i to^i la`m sao que^n
ddu+o+.c.  To^i loa.ng choa.ng ba'm va`o ca`nh duo^'i. 

- Chi. mo+'i ve^` a`. Em co' nghe no'i nhu+ng kho^ng bie^'t chi. ddang o+?
nha` ai. 

To^'i tra^'n ti~nh la.i : 

- Tu' dda^'y ha? em. Ba^y gio+` la`m o+? dda^u ? 

- Em la`m tre^n pho`ng no^ng nghie^.p thi. xa~, dde^? tie^.n vie^.c ddi ve^`
cha(m so'c o^ng ba` gia`. 

- Ma^'y nho'c ro^`i ? 

- Chu+a, chi.. Em chu+a la^'y vo+..  Kho^ng hie^?u vi` sao nghe va^.y to^i
la.i tha^'y mu+`ng mu+`ng, nhu+ ti`m ddu+o+.c ca'i ma` mi`nh tu+o+?ng la`
kho^ng co' nu+~a. Tuy va^.y to^i va^~n ho?i : 

- Sao va^.y. Con ga'i la`ng mi`nh nhie^`u ddu+'a xinh the^' co+ ma`. 

- o^`i, mo+'i nhu' le^n ngu+o+`i ta dda~ da.m ga? cho nhau ro^`i. Bo.n nho'c
a^'y chu'ng no' co' bie^'t gi` dda^u, co`n ba.n be` tho+`i sinh vie^n thi`
cha?  ai muo^'n ve^` ddo^`ng dda^'t que^ mu`a nu+~a. Chi. va`o nha` cho+i. 

To^i theo Tu' va`o nha`. Va^~n ngo^i nha` cu~ dda^`y a('p ky? nie^.m cu?a
Thanh, nhu+ng co' ca?m gia'c no' be' la.i bo+?i khu vu+o+`n mi'a ro^.ng
tru+o+'c ma(.t dda~ su+`ng su+~ng mo.c le^n hai ngo^i nha` mo+'i ddo^` so^..
Tru+o+'c kia ngo^i nha` ngo'i go^~ lim cu?a to^i be^. ve^. giu+~a xo'm, thi`
nay ha`ng loa.t nha` mo+'i thie^'t ke^' theo ddu? ca'c loa.i kie^?u da'ng
ho.c ddu+o+.c tu+` mo.i no+i, pha^`n lo+'n la` ddo^? ma'i ba(`ng vu+`a tie^.n
la`m sa^n pho+i, vu+`a dde^? cho+` lu'c le^n ta^`ng. Vu+o+`n tu+o+.c trong
la`ng ha^`u nhu+ kho^ng co`n, nhu+~ng ca'i ngo~ tro+? ne^n sa^u hu't, to^'i
ta(m du` la` co' ddie^.n. Thay va`o nhu+~ng ha`ng ra`o ca^y cu'c ta^`n va`ng
o'ng da^y to+ ho^`ng la` nhu+~ng bu+'c tu+o+`ng kho^ la.nh, loang lo^? ve^.t
tru+o+'c mu+a... Tu' cu~ng co' ta^m tra.ng gio^'ng to^i. Ta.m bie^.t Tu',
to^i tha^`m mong sao cho em co' ddu+o+.c cuo^.c so^'ng nhu+ mong muo^'n. 

Buo^?i to^'i cuo^'i cu`ng to^i tro+?  ve^` vo+'i hai ba` ba.n dde^?  chua^?n
bi. mo^.t dde^m tra('ng. Nga`y mai to^i pha?i ddi ro^`i.  Tha^`y me. Duye^n
dda~ ngoa`i ba?y mu+o+i, mo^.t mi`nh no' phu.ng du+o+~ng hai cu. va` thi?nh
thoa?ng vo+.  cho^`ng tha(`ng em ddo^ng con la.i ve^` dde^? "dde~o". Chu'ng
to^i xin phe'p ca'c cu. dde^'n o+?  nha` Tra^m mo^.t dde^m. Tre^n ddu+o+`ng
ddi, to^i ba?o : 

- Kie^'m dda.i mo^.t o^ng na`o goa' vo+. ddi Duye^n. 

- Cu~ng kho' la('m. Ba^y gio+` bo? cha me. mi`nh dda^'y ddi nuo^i con
ngu+o+`i ta sao ddu+o+.c. Tru+o+'c cu~ng co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i ddo^`ng y' o+?
re^?, nhu+ng sau mi`nh do` ra la` la~o muo^'n la^'y mi`nh chi? vi` nha('m
ca'i nha`.  Vo+'i la.i nhi`n la~o cha? co' ti' ca?m ti`nh na`o. Cho^`ng va^.y
tha` kho^ng co' co`n ho+n. 

- Tra^m sao la^u co' con va^.y, tao tha^'y no' xuo^'ng ma~ ghe^ qua'. 

- Chuye^.n buo^`n la('m. Tha(`ng Ca^`u co' vo+. con o+? Thanh Hoa' ro^`i,
the^' ma` ma~i sau na`y hai ho. mo+'i nga~ ngu+?a. 

Dde^'n lu+o+.t to^i nga~ ngu+?a : 

- Sao ba?o no' co' dda(ng ky' ke^'t ho^n o+? xa~ ? 

- Thi` co' dda(ng ky' chu+' sao. The^' na`y na`y, no' a(n o+? vo+'i con kia
tu+` la^u, co' mo^.t con ro^`i nhu+ng kho^ng la`m ho^n thu'. Hie^.n gio+` ba`
Tra^m nha` mi`nh va^~n la` vo+. ho+.p pha'p, la` da^u nha` no'. Na(m ngoa'i
o^ng gia` che^'t mo+'i xin ra o+?  rie^ng nhu+ng va^~n pha?i lo cho me. no'.
Co`n no' thi` ddi o+? vo+'i con kia, la^u la^u ghe' ve^` va`i nga`y nhu+ng
Tra^m ta kho^ng ma(.n ma` gi` nu+~a. 

- Va^.y thi` li di. qua'ch ddi ! 

- Ly di. hay kho^ng thi` cu~ng va^.y.  Dda(`ng nha` ba'c La~m (cha me. 
Tra^m) kho^ng muo^'n no' quay ve^` vi` nha` dda~ hai chi. da^u, la.i cha'u
cha('t cha^.t cho^.i, no' la` ba` co^ dda~ ddi la^'y cho^`ng ro^`i la.i quay
ve^` kho' o+? la('m. 

- Kho^ng, la` ly di. ro^`i la^'y cho^`ng kha'c chu+'. 

- La^'y ai ? Con ga'i ngoa`i hai mu+o+i co`n e^' dda^`y ra kia. 

- The^' kho^ng la`m gi` ca? a` ? 

- La`m gi` ba^y gio+`. Ho^`i chuye^.n mo+'i vo+~, mo.i ngu+o+`i cu+' so^i
le^n thu'c giu.c Tra^m ti`m dde^'n ta^.n no+i. No' cu~ng le^n ta`u ddi.
Dde^'n no+i, tha(`ng Ca^`u dde^? Tra^m ta o+? mo^.t pho`ng, co`n pho`ng be^n
la` vo+. cho^`ng con ca'i no'. Tra^m ta o+? ddo' mo^.t nga`y ro^`i ve^`, o^ng
ba` Ta`i (cha me. Ca^`u) cu+' ba?o sao kho^ng la`m gi` cho chu'ng no' bie^'t
ma(.t. Ne^'u la` ma`y thi` ma`y la`m gi` ho+? Hoa ? 

To^i u+ ? Chu'ng to^i im la(.ng vi` dda~ ga^`n dde^'n co^?ng nha` Tra^m.
Du+o+'i cha^n go` tre tru+o+'c co^?ng dda~ xe^'p mo^.t ddo^'ng ga.ch cu?a
nha` ai chua^?n bi.  xa^y. Tre^n ddo^'ng ga.ch lu+a thu+a a'nh tra(ng co'
mo^.t bo'ng tra('ng ddang nga? nghie^ng, ro^`i ddo^.t ngo^.t chuo^~i cu+o+`i
nu+'c no+? vang le^n. Duye^n bo'p cha(.t tay to^i "no' la.i le^n co+n ro^`i
!". Duye^n bu+o+'c to+'i gia^.t chai ru+o+.u ra kho?i tay Tra^m va` ta't cho
no' mo^.t ca'i quye^'t lie^.t. To^i tha^'y Duye^n ma.nh tay qua'. Ma('t Tra^n
long le^n, ma'i to'c da`y xo^? xuo^'ng ga.ch, lo't ddo+~ cho ca'i dda^.p
dda^`u ddie^n da.i. Hai ddu+'a to^i lo^i no' va`o nha`, ba` me. Ca^`u cha.y
sang ddo^'t mo^.t na('m hu+o+ng la^`m ra^`m kha^'n va'i. Duye^n ghe' va`o
ta^.n ma(.t Tra^m : 

- Na`y, mai con Hoa no' ddi ro^`i, nghe chu+a ? 

Tra^m la.i vu`ng va^~y, Duye^n vo^.i nhe't va`o mo^`m no' mo^.t vie^n thuo^'c
ngu?. 

The^' la` dde^m a^'y chi? co`n co' to^i va` Duye^n. Nie^`m ha'o hu+'c
ddu+o+.c tro+?  la.i bu+~a co+m ho^m dda^`u tie^u tan. Duye^n no'i : 

- Kho^ng sao dda^u, lu'c ngu? da^.y no' la.i bi`nh thu+o+`ng a^'y ma`. Chi?
so+. ve^` la^u da`i... 

To^i ba?o : 

- Mi`nh pha?i thu+o+ng la^'y ca'i tha^n mi`nh chu+'. Thu+' ngu+o+`i a^'y
kho^ng dda'ng dde^? mi`nh ddau kho^? dda^u. 

- Bie^'t sao ddu+o+.c, no'i ma~i ro^`i. Chi? co' no' mo+'i thu+o+ng ddu+o+.c
no' tho^i, nghi~ la('m cu~ng dde^'n va^.y. 

Sa'ng ra, Tra^m va^~n ngu?. Duye^n, Tu' va` ma^'y ddu+'a em con ca^.u, di`
ddu+a to^i le^n ga. Nhu+~ng bo'ng da'ng nho? da^`n, mo+` da^`n ro^`i ma^'t
hu't. Ta^'t ca? cuo^`n cuo^.n lu`i ve^` phi'a sau. Ca`ng lu'c ca`ng xa... 

Sau ddo' Duye^n vie^'t thu+ cho to^i no'i ra(`ng buo^?i sa'ng a^'y to^i vu+`a
le^n ta`u thi` Khang va` To+'i nghe tin ti`m ve^`. Sao ho. kho^ng ve^` so+'m
ho+n mo^.t dde^m, sao to^i kho^ng o+? la.i the^m ddu+o+.c mo^.t nga`y, sao
chu'ng to^i la.i kho^ng la` cu?a nhau ?  Ta`u ddi chi? ma^'t hai nga`y nhu+ng
to^i pha?i da`nh du.m na(m, bay na(m mo+'i ve^` ddu+o+.c la^`n nu+~a. To^i
dda~ ddi.nh no'i vo+'i Duye^n ra(`ng to^i cu~ng dda~ tu+`ng thi'ch ru+o+.u,
tu+`ng muo^'n hoa' ddie^n khu`ng dde^? mong que^n. Nhu+ng ro^`i to^i la.i
tho^i, ha~y cu+' dde^? cho nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ba.n gia` cu?a to^i nghi~ ra(`ng
to^i luo^n nha`n ha. va` may ma('n.  Hy vo.ng ro^`i Tra^m se~ bie^'t ca'ch
tu+. cu+'u mi`nh. 

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