Luom remembers well.
That is why during dinner that night, he sat chewing on his toothpick the whole time, disregarding whatever Quy Rom said.
- How is your fight with the ghost coming along dear? – Autie Nam scooped rice into the bowl and asked out of curiousity.
- Still the same auntie. – Quy Rom answered sheepishly.
- What do you mean still the same? – Tac Ke Bong interrupted.
Quy Rom muttered:
- Still the same means nothing is going on like a sweet potato.
Uncle Nam Chieu briefly overheard them, he leaned toward Quy Rom:
- What’s wrong dear? You want some sweet potatoes? Lemme tell your auntie to boil you a pot full of…
- Well…well…not really uncle…- Quy Rom shook his head – I mean the fight with the ghost is not making any progress.
- Anything else but a hanging ghost must be pretty tough you know! – Auntie Nam Sang admiringly said.
- Autie you are so right. – Quy Rom quickly responded. – This ghost is really something. I pasted 30 odd pieces of spell on the door, it blew them all down the ditch.
While Tieu Long and Luom tried hard to suppress their giggle, Tac Ke Bong continued to be painfully honest:
- Does the ghost continue to chase and attack you on your way home?
- Of course! We battle each other everyday. My arms are sore from fighting. – Quy Rom extended and curled his arms while breathing loudly.
Auntie Nam Sang put the half-fill rice bowl on the table and worriedly looked at Quy Rom:
- You have to be careful dear. Helping someone else is good, but you have to look after your own life.
- Auntie, don’t worry. – Quy Rom pulled back and smiled – At the moment I can’t inflict any damage to it, but it also couldn’t do anything either. In general, we are, I forgot, the ghost and I are locked in a stalemate.
The evening’s conversation revolved around the intense battle between Quy Rom and the hanging ghost. To be correct, there were only two main characters sitting at the table: Tac Ke Bong with his rounds of questions while Quy Rom fed him his tall-tale.
At one of the climaxes of the story, meaning the part when Quy Rom was being careless and the ghost held him above ground by his ankle (but at the last moment the skinny protagonist would always manage to wiggle free), Auntie Nam Sang would interrupt with a few words of caution. Uncle Nam Chieu silently ate and didn’t add anything. Only when he senses his wife became too worried he loudly said, “He is that skillful, don’t worry too much!”
Only Tieu Long and Luom remained focus on their rice bowls. From beginning to end they didn’t say a word. Nothing on their faces would reveal anything overtly suspicious, and Quy Rom was too busied spinning tall-tale to notice. Moreover, Quy Rom was sure that Tieu Long is mad at him. That’s why the fat kid’s silent was something easy to understand.
Quy Rom didn’t know Tieu Long already knew his secret.
That was why the next morning, while he was busied “battling the ghost” by sweeping the house and garden at the stranger’s house, he didn’t notice there were two heads hiding behind the hedge silently observing him. Among the two, the one with the bigger head was on the verge of collapsing and faint while the smaller head would tap slightly on the bigger head while muttering: “Stay calm, be calm bros!”
Needless to say, the smaller head belong to Luom and the bigger one was Tieu Long. Tieu Long, despite being forewarned by Luom and his story of Quy Rom helping someone with household chores, meaning mentally he has been prepared to face the harsh reality; however, when he himself saw his best friend stooping over to sweep and clean, he couldn’t remain calm.
“Luom did not make up the story!” Tieu Long bitterly muttered to himself when the big bully appeared in the front yard, his mouth wide open to scare his friend:
- You skinny kid! Don’t drag your feet! Go out back to peel the banana! Hurry!
Tieu Long angrily reacted but Luom already held on to his hand:
- Please don’t bros!
- Please don’t what! – Tieu Long gritted his teeth – I’m so mad I’m seeing stars in front of me.
- But…
- No “but” whatsoever! – Tieu Long pulled back his fist – I admit that guy is pretty big, but I only need to hit him once and he will be rolling on the ground.
- I know, I know. You probably don’t even need to move your arms and feet. You only need to blow him with your breath and he will be on the ground.- Luom attempting to appease his ‘bro’. In his frantic state, he was not aware he spoke with Quy Rom’s smooth and buttery mouth.
- I am mad to the point of boiling over! – Tieu Long punched his chest and spoke under his breath – I can’t understand why Quy Rom is so scared of that guy. He just needs to say something to me and I will…
- Let’s crawl out back bros! – Seeing the “killer air” raising out of his older friend, Luom interrupted.
- To do what?
- Observe what brother Quy is up to?
- He is peeling the banana plants. – Tieu Long in a foul mood – Didn’t you hear that guy said so!
The two crawled low to the ground and along the mulberry hedge out back.
As expected, Quy Rom was sitting next to the pig pen. He was peeling the banana plants. The long banana plants were tall like beams supporting the house. The top covered Quy Rom face, who was sitting on a stool low to the ground.
Luom has never seen a man sitting and peeling banana plants. From when he was little until now, he has only seen his mom, De Lua’s sister, and Mrs. Sau Thom peeling banana plants. A man peeling banana plants is something odd. A man named Quy Rom peeling banana plants is something strange entirely.
The surprise caught both Luom and Tieu Long as if someone put a bag over their heads.
Luom felt his breath became labored as if the oxygen has been drained from the air around them. Next to him, Tieu Long has the sensation of sitting on a piece of hot metal. He wiggled around and looked at Luom:
- Let’s go home kiddo!
- Okay.
- My eyes are starting to itch.
- Mine too.
- Everybody needs money right.
- Right.
- But earning money in the style of your brother Quy is something I’m not interested in.
- I’m also not interested.
- If I sit here any longer, I’ll probably jump in and kick the punk owner’s ass.
Luom was in the midst of adding something else to the last statement but he suddenly caught himself:
- If I jump in, he probably beat me like a dirt blanket!
Tieu Long and Luom didn’t return home right away.
The two stopped by the post office near Nga Ba market.
Previously, if he wants to call Lil’ Hanh living in the city, Tieu Long had to catch the bus to the district center quite far from here. From the day it separated from the district, Dau Cau neighborhood, lined along the national highway, was selected to be the main city of a new district, and a new post office sprung up along Nga Ba market.
Tieu Long used one hand to cradle the headset, and the other hand pushed Luom away, who is trying hard to press closer to the earpiece to listen in.
- To summarize, what do you think Hanh? – After depressingly recounted what he saw earlier, Tieu Long nervously asked his little smart friend.
- What do you think Long? – Lil’ Hanh asked from the other end of the line.
Tieu Long was bitter:
- I can’t understand the skinny kid! Really strange!
- That was not an answer.
- What?
- The last statement was simple an announcement of your emotion. – Lil’ Hanh giggled mischievously into the headphone – I wanted to ask, why do you think Quy is doing it?
- It’s clear the skinny kid needs the money.
- What would he do with money?
Tieu Long snorted:
- I don’t know what he does with it!
This time, Tieu Long waited a long time and didn’t hear a response from Lil’ Hanh. He dazedly removed the headphone from his ear, looked at the phone a bit and listened to it while yelling into the mouthpiece:
- Hello! Hanh, are you still there?
- I’m here. Why are you trying to scream through my eardrum!
- That’s because you were so quiet!
- I was thinking.
- Did you think up something?
- Done.
Tieu Long held his breath:
- And?
Lil’ Hanh was brief:
- Quy doesn’t need money.
- What? – Tieu Long exclaimed, disbelieving in his own ears.
- That’s right. – Lil’ Hanh nonplussed – I think Quy is doing it not for the money.
- What’s the main reason then?
- According to Hanh’s opinion…. – Lil’ Hanh suddenly stuttered.
Lil’ Hanh’s slow response annoyed Tieu Long:
- Good ol’ Hanh! Do you know how much each “umm” of yours is costing me in phone fee?
Pretending not to hear the chubby kid’s sarcasm, Lil’ Hanh asked:
- Besides the kid you are telling me, was there anyone else in that house? Could it be that he lives by himself?
The question caught Tieu Long by surprised and he was unable to answer.
He realized he didn’t take into account this important possibility:
- Umm, umm…I’m not quite sure.
Luom and I just peered in from behind the mulberry hedge.
Lil’ Hanh cleared her throat:
- Then Long has to continue observing…
- To see if someone else is in the house?
- Right.
- Hanh’s voice sounded like she was smiling – Hanh guesses there is a pretty girl inside that house.
- What? – Tieu Long jumped as if he was bit by a snake, he almost dropped the phone receiver to the ground – You mean the skinny kid has a thing for…a girl?
- Long, you are using an unpleasant word! – Lil’ Hanh snorted.
If the phone was a camera phone, undoubtedly Tieu Long would see his little friend grimaced – This is called…
- Ah ha, it’s called “life’s first quake”! – Tieu Long all of a sudden yelled, his face bright and happy like Archimede the scientist when he discovered the buoyancy of water.
- What’s “life’s first quake”!” Luom listening in all this time, suddenly opened his mouth to ask.
Tieu Long covered the mouthpiece so that Lil’ Hanh couldn’t hear.
He leaned down and whispered in the little kid’s ear:
- Life’s first quake means being infatuated with a girl.
When he pressed his ear to the phone again, Tieu Long jumped to hear Lil’ Hanh asked:
- Who’s that standing next to you?
- Well, Luom.
- What did you just say to him?
Tieu Long uncontrollably scratched the back of his head:
- I didn’t say anything.
Hanh’s voice became cold:
- Didn’t you just explain to him “life’s first quake” and being infatuated with a girl is one?
- How did you know?- Tieu Long opened his mouth as if he just saw a frog leaping out of the phone receiver.
- I heard him asked.
– Lil’ Hanh easily answered – And I knew that was your explanation because it’s the simplest explanation that doesn’t required any thinking.
Tieu Long tried hard to pretend he was angry:
- Hanh, don’t be suspicious of everything.
- Long, don’t pretend to be angry.
- Lil’ Hanh protruded her lips on the other end – If you didn’t explain it like that then you didn’t need to cover the receiver.
His little friend’s last sentence hit home like the legendary punch of the boxer Muhammad Ali.
Tieu Long was knocked out.
He knew with a super smart girl like Lil’ Hanh, it’s best to not lie.
It’s not everyday that Tieu Long became embarrassed.
At this time he shyly smiled:
-Hanh, you are really talented.
It’s almost as if you have a third eye.
Lil’Hanh suddenly asked a non-related question:
- Long, do you still remember the two sisters Ti Ti and Muoi Muoi?
- Of course I do.
– Tieu Long’s eyes lit up – The skinny kid was totally infatuated with Muoi Muoi.
- Infatuated was an overstatement! – Lil’ Hanh interrupted – But clearly when he saw this girl, Quy must have felt something….
- What do you mean something? Something what?
- Something that causes Quy to…daydream…
- Meaning he went head over…- Tieu Long hit himself and rolled his tongue – Meaning he experienced his first quake in life.
Lil’ Hanh continued without paying heed to the chubby kid’s stuttering:
- According to my opinion, Quy is probably experiencing that feeling…
- I understand, Hanh.
– Tieu Long rubbed his nose – Gonna hang up, okay?
- Okay.
Long, remember to investigate carefully okay.
Before he could hang up, Tieu Long already heard the familiar “tu…tu…” sound from the earpiece.
Lil’ Hanh already hung up on him.
%%%%%
Tieu Long turned to Luom:
- Let’s go!
- We are going home?
- No.
This time you and I are returning to that house.
- For what?
Tieu Long swung his hand:
- Why don’t you just come with me.
As for the reason why we are turning back, I’ll tell you later.
Tieu Long was walking and talking at the same time.
Luom trailed behind, his mouth nonstop:
- We are going to find “that little something” right bros?
It was like Luom just strung a line in front of Tieu Long’s feet.
He stopped, opened his eyes wide and looked at the little kid:
- “That little something” is what?
Luom retreated one step, his neck shortened:
- I don’t know.
I just overheard something earlier.
- Hmm! And you opened your mouth!
Tieu Long continued moving forward.
This time Tieu Long walked at a brisk pace and Luom has a hard time catching up.
When he reached Tieu Long, he spoke rapidly:
- Is it true we are going to look for “that little something”?
- Yes.
- Please tell me! “That little something” is really what?
- I’ll tell you once we arrived there.
Luom cleared his throat:
- I can guess even though you are not telling me.
- What do you know?
- “That little something” is a girl, right?
- You already knew and you still asking me? – Tieu Long growled in his throat – Why don’t I just beat you up!
Luom stuckk out his tongue.
It’s clearly he doesn’t take his bros’ threat seriously.
He stayed quiet for a moment, and then asked again, out of curiosity:
- Brother Quy likes that girl right?
- You little! How should I know!
Tieu Long frowned.
He raised his fist at he spoke but Luom already wisely moved away a distance.
The sun already came up past the bamboo tree and those who went out to the market earlier that day were starting to return.
The road leading to the tile ceiling houses suddenly became busy, which caused Tieu Long to have second thought:
-Be careful Luom.
Make sure your brother Quy doesn’t see you.
-Don’t you worry.
Brother Quy is still cooking for the pigs or chopping woods at this hour.
- Who knows.
If he decided to head home he will surely run into us.
Tieu Long was overly concerned.
Quy Rom didn’t return.
When the two kids crouched outside the mulberry hedge looking in, they already saw the kid owner in front of the doorway, his back facing the outside, hands on his hips, and his voice deafening.
- Don’t tell me lie now, Quy?
- I never speak falsely.
You don’t know me, speaking falsehood is the one thing I hate the most in this life.
Quy Rom’s voice responded from somewhere inside the house.
Tieu Long and Luom cast their eyes all over the house but could not see him.
However, hearing Quy Rom’s reassurance from the inside, Tieu Long almost dropped down and laughed out loud.
Quy Rom is the master of lies, and in his repertoire of lies from back then until now, the one sentence the skinny kid just uttered has to be the lie of all lies, the most outrageous and unbelievable lie.
Yet the kid owner believed him.
- Right, I see that you seem honest and hard-working.
- As for me, I always have faith in brother Quy.
Another voice rang up, also from somewhere inside the house.
However, unlike Quy Rom’s voice, when this sweet voice hit their ears, both Tieu Long and Luom suddenly looked at each other, their faces in shock.
Luom stuttered:
- “Something….that….that is something…”
Tieu Long also matched Luom in stuttering:
- That’s “it”…The “it”….Lil’ Hanh….Lil’ Hanh was right…
Tieu Long quickly lowered his head, his hand pinched his nose.
He was afraid he would sneeze out of shock.
Luom kicked his bros’ foot:
- Yo, he is heading outside!
Right on the mark, the older brother was on his way toward where Tieu Long and Luom were hiding.
- Oh no! He saw us.
– Luom tried to turn his body smaller, his face green.
- No! – Tieu Long reassured his little friend – He probably just want to go pee.
From his body language I can tell this guy is the master of peeing outside.
Luom didn’t have time to recover, already his face was turning ashen.
He moaned and covered his head at the same time:
- What shall we do? He could pee on our heads!
However, the kid house owner only walked around the front yard, his face deep in thought.
He then turned inside the house, blocked the doorway, and again, with his hands on his hips.
He lifted his chin toward the direction Tieu Long and Luom could only guess where Quy Rom was standing.
- So you are an excellent student then?
- I’m okay.
– Quy Rom responded sheepishly.
The kid kicked the air, his voice frustrated:
- If you are okay then don’t show off!
- Brother! – The little sister sounded.
- Why don’t you just quietly sit there, Gai! – The older brother growled – Let me reveal this punk’s true intention!
- I’m not being a punk, okay Thoi! – Quy Rom responded – Don’t you say so.
The older brother, this time his name revealed to be Thoi, thought a little bit and shrugged his shoulder:
- Okay fine.
We will worry later about you tutoring my sister in math.
This time why don’t you go carry water buckets and fill the water-tank.
Outside the hedge, Tieu Long nudged Luom:
- Home!
- We are not waiting to see “that little something?”
- “That little something”! – Tieu Long grimaced and added – Without looking I already knew this Gai girl is really pretty.
If she is ugly then Quy Rom would not come here and be this kid’s little servant.
Reaching the national highway, Tieu Long tugged Luom and ran quickly.
Past Sat Bridge, he still didn’t slow down.
Only when he reached the road leading home, he then released the little kid’s hand to see who ran out of breath first.
Luom wasn’t the one who ran out of breath first, his voice slightly hurt:
- Why did you run so fast as if a ghost was after us! I almost ran out of air here.
Tieu Long was also tired to the point of doubling over.
His voice raspy:
- You are such an idiot! If Quy Rom suddenly came home and saw us standing here, he wouldn’t be suspicious.
- You are being an idiot! Brother Quy still has to fill the water-tank, he couldn’t go home even if he wanted to.
With his skinny physique, he wouldn’t be able to fill the whole tank the whole afternoon.
Luom responded. And Tieu Long unable to respond.
On one hand, he was truly tired. On the other hand, he recognized that this kid was right on the mark.
He realized he is a “dim-witted kid”. |
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