Tha^m Ti`nh

Bu`i Thanh Lie^m

Tha^'y ca'c con cu+' na(n ni? ma~i, cuo^'i cu`ng hai vo+. cho^`ng chu'ng to^i dda`nh chie^`u chu'ng. Mo^~i sa'ng, chu'ng to^i thu+'c da^.y tha^.t so+'m, ddi da.o bo^. chu+`ng mo^.t tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^` vo`ng quanh khu pho^'. Khu vu+.c chu'ng to^i so^'ng co' te^n go.i la` City Drive, thuo^.c tha`nh pho^' Garden Grove\. Na(m ngoa'i khi ddu+o+.c tin bo^' me. va` ca'c em sa('p qua ddoa`n tu. theo chu+o+ng tri`nh ra ddi co' tra^.t tu+., vo+. cho^`ng tha(`ng La(ng, tha(`ng con tru+o+?ng cu?a chu'ng to^i, quye^'t ddi.nh do.n ve^` dda^y\. Sau na`y chu'ng to^i mo+'i bie^'t City Drive co' mo^.t co^.ng ddoa`n Co^ng Gia'o kha' lo+'n, khoa?ng chi'n mu+o+i ma^'y pha^`n tra(m ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam so^'ng o+? dda^y la` ti'n ddo^` Thie^n Chu'a Gia'o\. Vo+. cho^`ng no' co' la^`n no'i cho to^i nghe:

- Tu.i con quye^'t ddi.nh ddu+a bo^' me. va` ca'c em ve^` dda^y chung so^'ng mo^.t pha^`n la` vi` nha` tho+` Tam Bie^n va` gia'o da^n hie^`n ho`a o+? dda^y\.

Nha` tho+` Tam Bie^n la` ca'i te^n ddu+o+.c da^n Vie^.t Nam o+? ha.t Cam na`y dda(.t cho\. Go.i la` Tam Bie^n la` vi` nha` tho+` na`y na(`m ngay bie^n gio+'i cu?a ba tha`nh pho^' Orange, Garden Grove va` Santa Ana\.

Lu'c dda^`u chu'ng to^i chi? muo^'n the^? du.c cho gia~n ga^n gia~n co^'t, nhu+ng rie^'t ro^`i tha`nh tho'i quen, ho^m na`o ma` kho^ng ta?n bo^. va`o sa'ng so+'m la` chu'ng to^i ca?m tha^'y nhu+ thie^'u mo^.t ca'i gi`. Chu'ng to^i co' ra^'t nhie^`u cu. o^ng, cu. ba` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t la`m ba.n ddo^`ng ha`nh; he^~ ho^m na`o ma` vo+. cho^`ng chu'ng to^i kho^ng co' ma(.t trong buo^?i the^? du.c buo^?i sa'ng, the^? na`o ca'c cu. cu~ng go.i ddie^.n thoa.i dde^'n nha` ho?i han. Lo^. tri`nh mo^~i sa'ng cu?a chu'ng to^i khoa?ng chu+`ng ba dde^'n bo^'n ca^y so^'. Gia ddi`nh chu'ng to^i va` gia ddi`nh cu. Ca^?m o+? cuo^'i khu pho^' ne^n co' the^? go.i chu'ng to^i la` kho+?i ddie^?m. Hai gia ddi`nh ho.p la.i, ddi khoa?ng chu+`ng mu+o+i phu't la` dde^'n nha` cu. Tra^'n, ro^`i cu+' the^' chu+a dde^'n nu+?a tie^'ng sau chu'ng to^i dda~ ta^.p la.i tha`nh mo^.t nho'm ga^`n mu+o+i ngu+o+`i\. Lo^. tri`nh ha`ng nga`y cu?a chu'ng to^i la` ba('t dda^`u tu+` nha` tho+` Tam Bie^n, ddi do.c theo dda.i lo^. Garden Grove - xa lo^. 22, ba(ng ngang nhu+~ng con ddu+o+`ng Memory Lane, Haster, Harbor Blvd, ga^`n ddo' co' mo^.t sa^n dda'nh go^n kha' ro^.ng, co' ddu+o+`ng da`nh rie^ng cho xe dda.p va` kha'ch bo^. ha`nh, ra?o he^'t mo^.t vo`ng cu?a trung ta^m sie^u thi. City Drive, sau cu`ng la` tro+? la.i nha` tho+` kie^'ng. Chu'ng to^i go.i la` nha` tho+` kie^'ng vi` ddo' la` mo^.t nha` tho+` Tin La`nh lo+'n, be^n ngoa`i ta^'t ca? ddu+o+.c bao bo.c ba(`ng nhu+~ng ta^'m kie^'ng thu?y tinh vi~ dda.i\.

Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i gia` nhu+ chu'ng to^i sang be^n na`y mo^~i ngu+o+`i mo^.t hoa`n ca?nh kha'c nhau nhu+ng ta^'t ca? cu`ng chung mo^.t ta^m tra.ng bo+ vo+, la.c lo~ng, kho^ng the^? ho`a nha^.p va`o mo^.t xa~ ho^.i My~ na`y de^~ da`ng nhu+ tu.i nho?. DDi bo^. buo^?i sa'ng cu~ng la` mo^.t di.p dde^? chu'ng to^i ta^m su+. vo+'i nhau\. Chu'ng to^i ga(.p nhau dde^? chia xe? vo+'i nhau no^?i nho+' nha` day du+'t, chia xe? vo+'i nhau nhu+~ng ca^u chuye^.n cu+o+`i ra nu+o+'c ma('t.

Nho+` nhu+~ng di.p ha`n huye^n ddo' chu'ng to^i bie^'t the^m ra(`ng con ca'i o+? xu+' na`y no' kha'c vo+'i o+? be^n nha`. Trong chu'ng to^i kho^ng nhie^`u thi` i't ai cu~ng tra~i qua mo^.t chu't kinh nghie^.m bi. con cha'u ngu+o+.c dda~i\. Ro^`i chu'ng to^i ddi dde^'n ke^'t lua^.n ra(`ng co' the^? xa~ ho^.i va^.t cha^'t na`y dda~ la`m thay ddo^?i ddo+`i so^'ng ti`nh ca?m cu?a chu'ng, tra'ch chu'ng no' cu~ng cha(?ng la`m ddu+o+.c gi`, chi? ne^n an pha^.n tuo^?i gia`. Tuy nhie^n ca'c cu. cu+' tu+. do than tho+?, vi` ddo' cu~ng la` mo^.t ca'ch dde^? gia?i to?a bo+'t nhu+~ng bu+.c bo^.i\. Vo+. cho^`ng chu'ng to^i ddu+o+.c nghe ra^'t nhie^`u; to^i cu+' ngo+~ ra(`ng mi`nh dda~ bie^'t he^'t nhu+~ng tha?m tra.ng bo^' me. gia` be^n na`y bi. con ca'i ngu+o+.c dda~i\. Nhu+ng to^i bie^'t mi`nh la^`m khi chu'ng to^i ga(.p ddu+o+.c vo+. cho^`ng cu. Qua?ng.

Ho^m ddo' to^i ti`nh co+` ga(.p ba` o+? mo^.t tra.m cho+` xe buy't. Nom qua ha`m ra(ng dden ma~-ta^'u, chie^'c mu~ mo? qua. va` bo^. y phu.c tu+' tha^n thi` bie^'t ngay dda^y la` mo^.t ba` gia` Ba('c ky` chi'nh hie^.u\. To^i co`n nho+' ca'ch dda^y va`i ho^m vo+. to^i co' cho bie^'t hi`nh nhu+ co' mo^.t ca(.p vo+. cho^`ng gia` mo+'i do.n ve^` dda^y\. Ba` cu. nhi`n to^i la^'m le't, co' le~ ddang tha('c ma('c kho^ng bie^'t o^ng gia` na`y co' pha?i ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam kho^ng. To^i le^n tie^'ng cha`o tru+o+'c:

- Cha`o ba'c.

- Kho^ng da'm, cha`o o^ng.

- Hi`nh nhu+ ba'c mo+'i do.n ve^` dda^y\?

- Va^ng, vo+. cho^`ng chu'ng to^i mo+'i to+'i dda^y tua^`n ro^`i\. Chu'ng to^i mu+o+'n pho`ng nha` co^ Thoa\.

Chu'ng to^i co' bie^'t co^ Thoa la^'y My~, nha` o+? ga^`n nha` tho+` Tam Bie^n. Co^ ta dda(.c bie^.t kho^ng co' quan he^. vo+'i co^.ng ddo^`ng Vie^.t Nam o+? quanh dda^y\. To^i tha('c ma('c ba` cu. co' quan he^. gi` vo+'i co^ Thoa nhu+ng kho^ng da'm ho?i\. Ba` cu. cho hay ho^m nay ddo'n xe so^' 45 va` 64 xuo^'ng khu Phu'c Lo^.c Tho.. The^' la` cu`ng chuye^'n xe vo+'i to^i, to^i cu~ng ddang ddo'n xe ddi kha'm ba'c si~ o+? Little Saigon. To^i tha^`m ddoa'n qua ne't ma(.t buo^`n tha?m cu?a tuo^?i gia` kha('c kho^? kia hi`nh nhu+ co' nhie^`u ddie^`u ba^'t o^?n. To^i kho^ng co' ta`i ba('t chuye^.n ho?i han, pha?i chi co' vo+. to^i o+? dda^y cha('c hai ba` gia` ta^m su+. de^~ da`ng ho+n. Khi le^n xe, ba^'t cho+.t ba` quay qua to^i:

- To^i kho^? la('m o^ng o+i!

To^i gia^.t mi`nh quay la.i\. Ne't ma(.t ba` ta tro^ng tha^.t tha?m na~o\. To^i ho?i:

- Co' gi` ma` kho^?, ba` ke^? to^i nghe xem?

Ba` cu. ddi tha(?ng va`o dde^`:

- To^i bi. con ca'i no' bo? ro+i\.

To^i tha^`m ddoa'n cha('c cu~ng gio^'ng nhu+~ng ca^u chuye^.n con ca'i la.nh lu`ng va` ta`n nha^~n ddo^'i vo+'i bo^' me. ma` chu'ng to^i va^~n nghe trong nhu+~ng buo^?i sa'ng ddi bo^.. To^i an u?i ba`:

- DDo' la` so^' pha^.n cu?a the^' he^. gia` cu?a chu'ng ta o+? xu+' na`y\. DDu+`ng ne^n tra'ch chu'ng la`m gi`.

Ba` cu. la^?m ba^?m mo^.t mi`nh:

- Kho^? tha^n. Mi`nh mang na(.ng dde? ddau chu'ng no', dde^? no' ba'o hie^'u mi`nh nhu+ va^.y\.

DDa~ dde^'n pho`ng ma.ch ba'c si~, to^i pha?i xuo^'ng xe, kho^ng ki.p ta^m su+. vo+'i ba` ddu+o+.c nhie^`u\. Tru+o+'c khi tu+` gia~ to^i co' mo+`i hai o^ng ba` ne^'u co' ra?nh mo^~i sa'ng ddi da.o bo^. vo+'i chu'ng to^i va`o lu'c 6 gio+`.

Va` tu+` ba('t dda^`u buo^?i sa'ng ho^m sau chu'ng to^i co' the^m mo^.t ca(.p vo+. cho^`ng gia` la`m ba.n ddo^`ng ha`nh. Ba` Qua?ng ba('t dda^`u tha^n thie^'t vo+. to^i\. Ba` va^~n go.i ddie^.n thoa.i va` thi?nh thoa?ng chu'ng to^i mo+`i o^ng ba` sang nha` du`ng co+m. Nhu+~ng ca^u chuye^.n thu+o+ng ta^m da^`n da^`n ddu+o+.c tho^? lo^..

O^ng ba` co' ta^'t ca? bo^'n ngu+o+`i con trai\. Ta^'t ca? ddu+o+.c gu+?i ddi du ho.c tru+o+'c 75, ddu+'a lo+'n Pha'p, ddu+'a ke^' o+? My~ va` hai ddu+'a co`n la.i o+? U'c. Tu.i no' ho.c ha`nh tha`nh ta`i, ddu+'a tie^'n si~, ddu+'a ba'c si~. Sau nga`y ma^'t nu+o+'c kho^ng la^u, ca? bo^'n ddu+'a da`nh nhau ddu+a bo^' me. sang o+? chung vo+'i chu'ng. Hai o^ng ba` nghe ke^? nhie^`u ve^` ddo+`i so^'ng cu?a ngu+o+`i gia` Vie^.t Nam be^n ha?i ngoa.i ne^n cu+' cha^`n chu+` ma~i dde^'n na(m 91 mo+'i sang ddoa`n tu. theo chu+o+ng tri`nh ra ddi co' tra^.t tu+.. Ne^'u ddu'ng theo truye^`n tho^'ng Vie^.t Nam thi` bo^' me. gia` ne^n ve^` so^'ng chung vo+'i con tru+o+?ng, nhu+ng tha(`ng lo+'n vie^'t thu+ ve^` cho bie^'t ddo+`i so^'ng be^n Pha'p kho^ng ddu+o+.c thoa?i ma'i nhu+ be^n My~, va? la.i tie^?u bang Cali no+i vo+. cho^`ng Doa~n, tha(`ng em ke^' cu?a no', ddang so^'ng co' ddo^ng ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam, khi' ha^.u thi'ch ho+.p vo+'i ngu+o+`i gia`. The^' ro^`i tu.i no' sa('p xe^'p gia^'y to+` cho hai o^ng ba` sang Cali, o+? ga^`n ca^.u con co' ba(`ng tie^'n si~ toa'n ho.c.

Nhu+~ng gia^y phu't ddoa`n tu. mu+`ng mu+`ng tu?i tu?i, sau ga^`n hai mu+o+i na(m xa ca'ch. Ra ddo'n o^ng ba` o+? phi tru+o+`ng ho^m a^'y co' vo+. cho^`ng tha(`ng tie^'n si~ Doa~n va` 2 cha'u no^.i cu?a o^ng ba`. DDe^? la`m ta(ng the^m pha^`n long tro.ng ho^m a^'y Doa~n co`n mu+o+'n ngu+o+`i quay phim, chu.p hi`nh. DDa^y la` la^`n dda^`u tie^n ba` ddu+o+.c nhi`n Kim, co^ con da^u cu?a o^ng ba`, ba(`ng xu+o+ng ba(`ng thi.t. Ho^`i co`n o+? que^ nha` ba` cu~ng xem qua hi`nh, o^ng ba` mu+`ng tha^`m tha(`ng con mi`nh cho.n ddu+o+.c vo+. dde.p, ho.c cao\. Duy co' mo^.t ddie^`u Kim chu+a bao gio+` vie^'t thu+ ve^` Vie^.t Nam ho?i tha(m bo^' me. cho^`ng, mo^~i la^`n o^ng ba` nha('c nho+? thi` tha(`ng Doa~n gia?i thi'ch vo+. no' kho^ng bie^'t vie^'t tie^'ng Vie^.t. Ho^m nay Kim trang phu.c so+ sa`i bo^. ddo^` dda^`m ha`ng nga`y ddi la`m o+? va(n pho`ng lua^.t su+, nhu+ng ba` ca?m tha^'y no' ra^'t kie^u sa, dda`i ca'c. Hai ddu+'a cha'u no^.i nhi`n o^ng ba` ba(`ng ca(.p ma('t xa la..

- Tha(`ng na`y gio^'ng bo^' y ddo^.t.

Ba` dde^'n ga^`n ddi.nh o^m tha(`ng cha'u no^.i va`o lo`ng thi` no' re' le^n, lu`i ra sau o^m cha(.t cha^n me. no'. Doa~n thu+o+ng con ne^n kho^ng da'm ma('ng, chi? nho? nhe. ba`o chu'ng:

- Michael, Tina! Grandma, granpa cu?a ca'c con ddo'. Ca'c con cha`o o^ng ba` no^.i ddi\.

Tha(`ng My~ va`ng ho^~n la'o, no' no'i nhu+ he't:

- No way!

Cu~ng may la` no' no'i tie^'ng My~ ne^n o^ng ba` no^.i kho^ng hie^?u\. Chie^'c xe Mercedes bo'ng loa'ng ddu+a o^ng ba` dde^'n mo^.t ca(n nha` na(`m tre^n nu'i\. Ba` cu. tha('c ma('c kho^ng hie^?u ta.i sao vo+. cho^`ng hai con gia`u sang nhu+ va^.y ma` la.i kho^ng da'm mua nha` ga^`n khu thi. tra^'n, ta.i sao la.i pha?i le^n ta^.n tre^n nu'i\. Tre^n ddu+o+`ng la'i xe ve^` nha` Doa~n quay qua da(.n bo^' me. tu+` nay ddu+`ng go.i con ba(`ng ca'i te^n Doa~n que^ mu`a a^'y nu+~a, con va`o quo^'c ti.ch My~ dda~ ddo^?i te^n tha`nh Nathan. Ro^`i no' da.y bo^' me. ca'ch pha't a^m chu+~ Nathan, dde^? ca'i lu+o+~i giu+~a hai ha`m ra(ng. O^ng cu. gia^.n ddie^'ng ngu+o+`i\. O^ng nghi~ tha^`m tao co' cho phe'p ma`y bao gio+` ma` da'm ba`y dda(.t ddo^?i te^n ddo^?i ho.. O^ng ba` linh ca?m ddu+o+.c ca'i su+. xa la. cu?a tha(`ng con trai mi`nh.

Nie^`m vui ddoa`n tu. nho nho? tan bie^'n nhanh, va` thay the^' va`o ddo' la` nhu+~ng xung ddo^.t giu+~a hai the^' he^., giu+~a hai ta^`ng lo+'p. Mo^.t dda`ng qua' va(n minh, tri' thu+'c, mo^.t dda`ng qua' que^ mu`a, la.c ha^.u\. "O+? xa mo?i cha^n, o+? ga^`n mo?i mie^.ng". Ca^u na`y o^ng ba` mi`nh no'i ddu'ng. Nhie^`u lu'c o^ng ba` nghi~ tha` ra(`ng cu+' o+? Vie^.t Nam dde^? nuo^i hi`nh a?nh nhu+~ng ddu+'a con hie^'u tha?o\. Tuy ra(`ng chu'ng i't thu+ tu+` ve^` tha(m bo^' me., nhu+ng i't nha^'t o^ng ba` kho^ng pha?i chu+'ng kie^'n su+. tha^.t qua' phu~ pha`ng. Su+. tha^.t o^ng ba` co' mo^.t ddu+'a con da^u qua' ddanh dda' ma^'t da.y va` mo^.t tha(`ng con qua' so+. vo+. dda^m ra ba^'t hie^'u vo+'i cha me..

Thu+' nha^'t la` va^'n dde^` a(n uo^'ng. Da.o dda^`u tie^n o^ng ba` kho^ng hie^?u ta.i sao vo+. cho^`ng no' tu+` cho^'i kho^ng ngo^`i a(n chung vo+'i o^ng ba`. Ro^`i o^ng cu. loa'ng thoa'ng nghe ddu+o+.c ma^~u dda`m thoa.i cu?a vo+. cho^`ng no'. O^ng cu. tie^'ng My~ kho^ng ra`nh, nhu+ng nho+` ho^`i xu+a ddi ho.c tru+o+`ng Ta^y ne^n o^ng va^~n co`n nghe ddu+o+.c mo^.t va`i danh tu+` gio^'ng nhau giu+~a tie^'ng Anh va` tie^'ng Pha'p. Va`o bu+~a a(n to^'i ho^m ddo', Kim ngo^`i tre^n pho`ng kha'ch, ma('t da'n tre^n ma`n a?nh truye^`n hi`nh. Ba` cu. nha('c tha(`ng con ke^u vo+. xuo^'ng a(n. Ro^`i o^ng nghe co^ con da^u xo^? mo^.t tra`ng da`i tie^'ng My~. O^ng nghe ro~ mo^`n mo^.t ca'i chu+~ virus. Virus hay vi-ru't co' nghi~a la` vi-tru`ng. Ho'a ra la` no' so+. ngo^`i chung ba`n a(n bi. la^y vi- tru`ng tu+` o^ng ba`.

So+. la^y vi-tru`ng, a(n uo^'ng kha'c bu+~a hi`nh nhu+ chu+a ddu? an toa`n cho co^ con da^u kie^m lua^.t su+, sau cu`ng co^ quye^'t ddi.nh kho^ng the`m du`ng chung ba't ddu~a vo+'i bo^' me. cho^`ng. Nghe tha(`ng Doa~n ca(n da(.n bo^' me. ddu+`ng ddu.ng va`o bo^. che'n ba't cu?a vo+. no' dde^? rie^ng trong ma'y ru+?a ba't la`m o^ng ba` gia^.n ddie^'ng ngu+o+`i\.

Suo^'t nga`y la^?n qua^?n quanh ca(n pho`ng cu~ng buo^`n ne^n mo^.t ho^m o^ng ba` mo` sang pho`ng tha(`ng cha'u no^.i cho+i\. No' ddang xem ti-vi tha^'y hai o^ng ba` gia` lu` lu` bu+o+'c va`o ne^n so+. qua', ke^u le^n tha^'t thanh:

- Get out! Get out!

Lu'c ddo' bo^' me. no' ddi va('ng. Con chi. o+? pho`ng be^n ca.nh nghe em mi`nh ke^u cu+'u ne^n cha.y nhanh qua\. Con na`y du` sao tie^'ng Vie^.t cu~ng ra`nh ho+n tha(`ng em ma^'t go^'c. No' no'i vo+'i tha(`ng em:

- Don't worry, Michael. I'll get rid of them.

Ro^`i no' quay qua o^ng ba` no^.i:

- O^ng ba` kho^ng ddu+o+.c va`o pho`ng tu.i cha'u\. Bo^' me. da(.n ca^'m kho^ng cho o^ng ba` va`o\.

O^ng cu. o^n to^`n gia?i thi'ch:

- O^ng ba` co' la`m gi` dda^u, chi? muo^'n va`o xem ti-vi tho^i ma`.

Lu'c tru+o+'c ca'i ti-vi lo+'n cu?a gia ddi`nh dde^? ngoa`i pho`ng kha'ch. Mo^~i la^`n Kim ngo^`i xem tha^'y o^ng ba` hay dde^'n ngo^`i coi "ke'" ne^n co^ xu'i o^ng cho^`ng mang va`o pho`ng ngu? cu?a hai vo+. cho^`ng.

Con Tina la('c dda^`u:

- Cha'u kho^ng bie^'t. Bo^' me. da(.n kho^ng cho o^ng ba` no^.i va`o pho`ng.

Sau nha` co' mo^.t khoa?ng dda^'t ro^.ng. Nhu+~ng nga`y mu`a he` o^ng cu. no^?i hu+'ng ddie^`n vie^n. O^ng lie^n la.c ddu+o+.c mo^.t ngu+o+`i ba.n cu~ hie^.n ddang cu+ ngu. ta.i mo^.t tha`nh pho^' mie^`n Ba('c cu`ng tie^?u bang Cali, va` xin mo^.t so^' ha.t gio^'ng dde^? tro^`ng rau tho+m, ba^`u, bi', o+'t va` ca'c loa.i ca^y a(n tra'i\. Lu'c ma?nh vu+o+`n sau nha` ba('t dda^`u xanh tu+o+i, lu'c o^ng cu. chua^?n bi. la`m gia`n cho da^y leo cu~ng la` lu'c co^ con da^u hie^`n ba('t dda^`u ddo`i quye^`n la`m chu?. Kim than vo+'i cho^`ng la` o^ng cu. la`m ma^'t ddi ve? tha^?m my~ cu?a ngo^i nha` tre^n nu'i, dda'ng gia' ba.c trie^.u na`y\. Kho^ng bie^'t hai vo+. cho^`ng chu'ng no' ba`n ca~i sao ddo', mo^.t tua^`n sau co' tho+. ho^` dde^'n san ba(`ng ma?nh vu+o+`n va` thay va`o ddo' la` mo^.t lo+'p xi-ma(ng. O^ng cu. ca?m tha^'y bi. xu'c pha.m, tra ho?i tha(`ng con thi` no' chi? no'i "vo+. con muo^'n va^.y". O^ng cu. muo^'n tra'nh tie^'p xu'c co^ con da^u ddanh dda', ne^n bo? lu+?ng ca^u chuye^.n o+? ddo'. Na`ng da^u tu+. cho mi`nh ca'i quye^`n la`m chu? ne^n nghi~ ra(`ng kho^ng ca^`n gia?i thi'ch cho o^ng gia` la`m gi`.

Kho^ng co' truye^`n hi`nh xem, kho^ng ddu+o+.c va`o pho`ng hai cha'u no^.i, kho^ng co' ma?nh vu+o+`n tro^`ng ti?a, o^ng ba` gia` dda^m ra tu` tu'ng ne^n ru? nhau ddi bo^. xuo^'ng nu'i\. Ro^`i o^ng ba` ti`nh co+` quen ddu+o+.c va`i ngu+o+`i ba.n gia` Vie^.t Nam trong nhu+~ng chuye^'n xe buy't.

Mo^.t ho^m nha^n lu'c ca'c con ddi la`m, ca'c cha'u ddi ho.c, ba` cu. no^?i hu+'ng la`m mo'n bo` nhu'ng da^'m va` mo+`i ca'c ba.n gia` mo+'i quen dde^'n cho+i\. The^m va`i mie^.ng a(n ne^n thie^'u ddo^` dda.c, ba` la^'y ta.m ba't ddi~a cu?a co^ con da^u da^'u trong ma'y ru+?a ba't. Chie^`u ho^m a^'y co^ chu? ddi la`m ve^`, kie^?m tra qua mo+' ba't che'n ca' nha^n co^ tha^'y no' na(`m sai vi. tri'. Trong nha` co`n no^`ng na(.c mu`i ma('m ne^m, co^ bie^'t ngay co' ngu+o+`i dda~ ddu.ng dde^'n ddo^` da`nh rie^ng cu?a mi`nh. Co^ la(?ng la(.ng kho^ng no'i gi`. Bu+~a a(n to^'i ho^m ddo' co^ tuye^.t thu+.c. DDe^'n khuya ho^m ddo' co' tie^'ng o^`n a`o xua^'t pha't tu+` pho`ng ngu? cu?a vo+. cho^`ng tha(`ng con trai\. Pho`ng o^ng ba` sa't be^n ca.nh ne^n nghe ro~ nhu+~ng ca^u ddo^'i thoa.i\.

- Anh pha?i co' ha`nh ddo^.ng, to^i chi.u he^'t no^~i ro^`i\.

- Chuye^.n dda^u co`n co' ddo'. Khuya ro^`i, em no'i nho? tie^'ng mo^.t ti'.

- Kho^ng. DDa^y la` nha` cu?a to^i\. To^i ddi la`m, to^i tra? tie^`n nha`. To^i muo^'n no'i, to^i muo^'n he't, ai la`m gi` ddu+o+.c to^i\. Anh tha^'y kho^ng, ro~ ra`ng la` ba ma' anh muo^'n truye^`n nhie^~m vi-tru`ng cho ca? nha`. DDa~ da(.n tru+o+'c la` kho^ng ddu+o+.c ddu.ng dde^'n ma` o^ng ba` dda^u co' nghe\.

- DDu+o+.c ro^`i, em ngu? ddi\. Nga`y mai anh se~ co' gia?i pha'p.

- Anh la`m gi` thi` quye^'t ddi.nh nhanh le^n, to^i chi.u he^'t no^~i ro^`i\. Co`n tha(`ng Michael va` con Tina nu+~a, tu.i no' than o^ng ba` cu+' va`o pho`ng tu.i no', ma^'t he^'t ca? privacy\.

- DDu+o+.c ro^`i, dda~ ba?o anh se~ co' gia?i pha'p.

Tu+` sau ho^m ddo' co^ chu? kho^ng the`m a(n co+m o+? nha` nu+~a\. Thay va`o ddo' la` nhu+~ng mo'n "Food To Go" . Kho^ng a(n o+? nha`, co^ chu? vo^ ti`nh hay co^' y' que^n luo^n vie^.c ddi cho+. dde^? mua thu+.c pha^?m, va` bo? ddo'i luo^n bo^' me. vo+.. DDo^` a(n mang ve^` hai vo+. cho^`ng chu? nha` va` hai ddu+'a con du`ng tru+o+'c, pha^`n co`n thu+`a da`nh cho o^ng ba`.

Mo^~i la^`n co' ba.n be` dde^'n nha` cho+i tha(`ng con tie^'n si~ dduo^?i o^ng ba` gia` xuo^'ng be^'p, no' so+. ma^'t ma(.t vo+'i ba.n be` vi` bo^' me. cu?a chu'ng qua' nha` que^\. O^ng cu. tha^`m nghi~ tha(`ng Nathan na`y cha('c que^n ma^'t ho^`i xu+a gia' ma` o^ng ba` kho^ng nai lu+ng ra lao ddo^.ng dde^? gu+?i anh em no' ra ngoa.i quo^'c du ho.c, thi` ba^y gio+` cha('c o+? Vie^.t Nam no' cu~ng kho^ng ho+n gi` mo^.t tha(`ng nha` que^ do^'t na't.

Chu'ng to^i may ma('n ho+n nhie^`u ngu+o+`i kha'c la` vi` co' ma^'y ddu+'a con hie^'u tha?o, bie^'t ddu`m bo.c la^~n nhau va` ki'nh tro.ng bo^' me., ne^n khi nghe o^ng ba` Qua?ng ke^? chuye^.n ve^` ca^.u con quy' tu+? cu?a ho., tu.i no' ra^'t la^'y la`m bu+.c bo^.i\. Tha(`ng La(ng con to^i vo^'n ta'nh ti`nh tha(?ng tha('n, ruo^.t ngu+.a\. Co' ho^m ddang ngo^`i tre^n ba`n a(n co' o^ng ba` Qua?ng o+? ddo', no' no'ng ti'nh:

- Ba'c co' so^' ddie^.n thoa.i cu?a a?nh kho^ng, cho con xin.

To^i ho?i no':

- Con ddi.nh xin so^' ddie^.n thoa.i dde^? la`m gi`?

No' tra? lo+`i:

- Bo^' ddu+`ng lo, con bie^'t ca'ch xu+? su+..

Co^ con da^u co`n ddo^'c thu'c the^m:

- Va^ng, bo^' dde^? cho anh La(ng go.i ddie^.n thoa.i, nhie^`u khi chi? la` mo^.t su+. hie^?u la^`m, bie^'t dda^u tu.i tre? chu'ng con no'i chuye^.n vo+'i nhau de^~ tho^ng ca?m ho+n.

Ro^`i tha(`ng cho^`ng ddi dde^'n ddie^.n thoa.i o+? pho`ng kha'ch, ba^'m so^'. Chu'ng to^i chi? nghe ddu+o+.c tie^'ng no'i cu?a tha(`ng con trai tu+` dda^`u gia^y be^n na`y:

- Xin lo^~i, dda^y co' pha?i la` nha` cu?a o^ng Nathan kho^ng a..

- ...

- A`, to^i te^n la` La(ng, anh kho^ng bie^'t to^i dda^u\. To^i co' ga(.p qua hai ba'c nha`.

Ro^`i hi`nh nhu+ ddie^.n thoa.i bi. ca('t. Chu'ng to^i tha^'y tha(`ng La(ng ga'c ma'y va` ba^'m la.i so^'.

- To^i la` La(ng, ngu+o+`i vu+`a mo+'i no'i chuye^.n vo+'i anh ban na~y\. Anh khoan ddu+`ng cu'p ma'y\. To^i co' chuye^.n muo^'n no'i\.

- ...

- Chuye^.n to^i muo^'n no'i dda^y la` hai ba'c. To^i xin lo^~i pha?i xi'a vo^ chuye^.n gia ddi`nh cu?a anh...

- ...

Tha(`ng La(ng la('ng nghe mo^.t ho^`i va` ro^`i hi`nh nhu+ ddie^.n thoa.i bi. ca('t la^`n thu+' hai\. La(ng tro+? la.i ba`n a(n xi.u lo+\. O^ng cu. Qua?ng ho?i:

- No' vu+`a no'i vo+'i cha'u ca'i gi`?

La(ng a^'p u'ng kho^ng ra lo+`i:

- Da.... da. thi`...

- Co' pha?i no' no'i cha'u go.i la^`m so^', ddu+`ng bao gio+` go.i la.i nu+~a, ne^'u kho^ng no' go.i ba'o ca?nh sa't, pha?i kho^ng?

- Da., sao ba'c bie^'t?

- Ba'c ca'm o+n su+. quan ta^m cu?a ca'c cha'u\. DDa~ co' nhie^`u ngu+o+`i go.i la.i cu~ng bi. no' no'i nhu+ va^.y\.

Ba` cu. su.t su`i:

- Chu'ng no' dda^u the`m nhi`n nha^.n bo^' me. cu?a chu'ng nu+~a\.

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Ba(~ng ddi mo^.t tho+`i gian chu'ng to^i kho^ng co`n ga(.p o^ng ba` Qua?ng nu+~a, cho dde^'n mo^.t ho^m ddi le^~ nha` tho+` Tam Bie^n, vo+. to^i dde^'n ho?i tha(m co^ Thoa thi` co^ ta cho bie^'t o^ng ba` dda~ do.n kho?i tie^?u bang Cali ca? ho+n 2 tha'ng nay\. Co^ kho^ng bie^'t hai cu. ddang o+? dda^u, cu~ng co' the^? hai cu. dda~ sang be^n Pha'p hoa(.c U'c vi` ca'c cu. co' nha('c ve^` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i con ddang so^'ng o+? ddo'.

Cho dde^'n mo^.t ho^m chu'ng to^i nha^.n ddu+o+.c tin tu+'c tu+` mo^.t ba.n gia` ddo^`ng ha`nh ta?n bo^. buo^?i sa'ng. O^ng na`y mo+'i ve^` Vie^.t Nam sang. O^ng ba.n ke^? la.i ra(`ng ti`nh co+` ve^` Sa`i Go`n co' ga(.p la.i o^ng ba` Qua?ng. O^ng ba` da.o na`y tra('ng tre?o va` be'o ha(?n ra\. Hai o^ng ba` mo^~i sa'ng va^~n ddi da.o bo^. o+? be^'n Ba.ch DDa(`ng. O^ng ba` Qua?ng co' go+?i lo+`i ho?i tha(m dde^'n chu'ng to^i, o^ng cho bie^'t ddo+`i so^'ng tinh tha^`n o^ng ba` ba^y gio+` thoa?i ma'i la('m, ma(.c du` kho^ng co' nha^.n tro+. ca^'p "tie^`n gia`" nhu+ da.o co`n so^'ng be^n My~.

oOo