Sunny April Day

Every time the sky is gloomy with persistent drizzle, with layers of gray clouds suddenly spreading out, revealing a deep blue sky, the cheerful winds blowing in light breaths, and the sun suddenly shining brightly like scattered halos... that is when April comes! April, the moment of changing seasons, comes so suddenly. It makes people and the landscape seem a little surprised, a little excited and suggestive, making the whole world suddenly have new, exciting features...

April!… the month that has my father’s birthday, but when he was alive, he never mentioned this day, nor did he let his children and grandchildren organize any celebrations, because he said it was just a date he made up to write on papers, because even my grandmother could not remember the date when my father was born. However, every April, my family always had a special day, April 29.

That day, my family would have guests over, there would be a feast, incense, candles… and everything would be done very seriously and solemnly. And that day, my father half-jokingly explained to everyone that he was holding a memorial service for his left arm that he had lost on the battlefield. Hearing that seemingly humorous reason, everyone was happy, but many people were surprised, even thinking that my father was an eccentric person. But in life, everything has its own reasons. Because few people know that, in each such event, even though my father stood in front of the altar and prayed silently, he never mentioned his lost arm but only slowly read the names of his comrades who were not lucky enough to return.

On that day, most of the guests who came to the house were my father’s old comrades who had returned from the battlefield. Some of them had their sleeves hanging loosely, their faces were covered with scars, and their wooden crutches were clattering on the porch… But their faces were still full of love for life, their demeanor was very leisurely, even indifferent to the world! Then, the sounds of laughter kept ringing out endlessly. The whispers and confidences mixed in the strong smoke of tobacco, in the strong alcohol that softened the lips… The heartfelt stories were gushing out, pouring out their hearts and souls. They told each other about their daily work, about the shrimp and fish harvests that were about to be harvested, about their children and grandchildren... Then there were voices telling stories with such joy that it seemed like they couldn't be happier: "Hey, my son is building a new house for his parents, the most spacious and comfortable in the village, when it's finished, I'll invite you over". Then there were faces that were slightly worried but hid a proud look: "My eldest son is going to university this year, his parents will probably have to sell a few tons of rice to have enough money to send him to school"... My father's friends were so absorbed in endless rambling stories, with no beginning or end, but clearly showing in them so much faith and hope, so much love, so deep, so nostalgic... And then finally, a sigh was heard passing by very lightly: "Oh, in the blink of an eye, it's been several decades, how fast life passes! Are we old already!?"...

Few people know that my father deliberately made up such a vague excuse, with a very sincere purpose of giving his relatives, comrades, friends... a chance to put aside their daily worries and come together on a sunny April day. From there, everyone had the chance to chat, recall memories of the past, and share with each other the difficulties, the simple joys and sorrows in life. Of course, when he was able to do that, my father was the happiest person. Simply because he saw himself as a place for his friends and comrades to gather together, and from there, it would help everyone have more harmony, connection, and care for each other. As for my father's friends, they also took that as a consolation, an inspiration, to see it as a spiritual support to help each other walk through the ups and downs of life.

Now my father has gone to his eternal rest. It has been nearly ten years since April in my family no longer has the 29th. But the echoes left by my father and his comrades always linger every time April returns with the golden sunny days that exist in life.