beginnings

Hoa jumped. He didn't fall or slip. There was no wind or gust. Standing on the edge of Thien Cam Son (Heaven's Forbidden Mountain), Hoa jumped. His eyes wide open, the origin for all rivers in the Mekong Delta glitter in the half waxing moon to his right. The darkness of the deep valleys quiet his mind as he falls. Eyes close.

 

 

Hoa is 13 now. He slide tackles an older boy in his school at full speed. The older boy lands on his back and Hoa jumps up and breaks away with the soccer ball.

"Ha, He's a firecracker," says Kim, Hoa's father. Kim stands with the other farmers in the Soc Tran watching thier sons play soccer. He has a young face and his hands are coarse from hard work. The grin on his face rest easy as he strokes his chin.

 

Kim's wife, Lua, sits with her sister-in-law Kui rolling fresh spring rolls for the feast tonight.