... was Mother, maternal Grandparents and cousin Xoai.
Mother would leave me at Grandpa's care for 6 days a week, under the tiny root of a tiny hamlet in 12 Thuy Khue st., until she picked me up in Saturday to enjoy my weekends with papa, mama and my little sister.
Grandpa and Grandma would have me eat at least 2 bows of rice each meal, and prepare a cup of hot milk for me when I returned from school, and walk to school with me each day, and scold me when I was stubborn and senseless, and hold me and pacify me when I cried, and encourage me warmly to study harder, and let me sleep between them, so warm and comforting. Grandma would make delicious sweetened porridge while Grandpa, Xoai and me discussed about matters of sciences and the mysterious world. Grandpa was never tired out of our childish and curious wonders: he was like a know-it-all, a real philosopher, a philanthropist, a Saint of Knowledge and Goodness in our heart. And he still is.
Xoai would yell at me following after him in his secret scientific experiments. He mumbled to himself a lot, and though grumbling, he still answered all of my foolish questions, though sometimes it was just "You'll know when you grow up" (this did not satisfy me in the least, but I understood that I was bugging him, so I just observe him quietly, curiously and eagerly with no more question)
Time went by, went by, as quietly and mysteriously as the curious little girl and the discerning little boy a.k.a the future Harvarder grew up in the arms of their haven't-yet-grown-old Grandparents...
... was the nights when I wept at the sound of Mama and Papa quarrels.
When he opened the door with such an angry and scary sound, the little me was awoken.
He raised his voice and asked mama for a discussion with a curt request.
And mama would say: "Let the children sleep"
And they leave, I would certainly quietly cry my heart out with emptiness filled my soul, until a day I learned to wipe away my tears and tried to drown myself in the realm of dreams, where papa was kind, strong and humorous, where mama was caring, gentle and mischievous.
... was the days...
When I was a strange little girl, understanding some truths of the world yet could not perceive things children should, like how to gain love from teachers, how to get high marks, how to appear cute and beautiful.
When I quietly watched the sky and teach myself about dreams and freedom.
When my soul didn't differ even the slightest to mine now.
... was gone...
