Phuong+Anh

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A young girl slipped into the phone booth on the corner of the street. She looked totally worn out, but there was such satisfaction look on her face. She promised that she would be home before the last banyan leaf fell down. =====

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At the same time, hundreds of miles away, there is a small town. It was on the process of getting ready for one of the biggest events of the year. Everyone all wanted their yard to be the spookiest one on the street. While the adults were busily going shopping for candy and decoration, the kids already got their props and costumes at home for “Trick or Treat” night weeks ago. Right there, inside a small wooden house in the street, two kids were putting up their usual fierce argument =====

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The twins liked to contend with each other over stupid things. It happened all the time, everyday, with different topics. If she was home, she would stop all the arguments just in a blink. Peacemaker was what they like to call her. In addition, her smile had a powerful power which could cool all the anger and bring love to everyone. It was described as the most angelic thing in the entire world. Their sister supposed to be home since last week but sadly, something spontaneous had come up at school so she couldn’t be home to help with the Halloween preparation like the last previous years. =====

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The phone rang. Normally, their mother would get that, but only if she decided to. Her family was different from others’. There was no absurd traditional rule in her house. It can be interpreted shortly that many other families believe: The women can only do the small things while men do bigger works. They also think that the roles of the men were more important, only they have power to decide things. Some places in this country are even worse about these gender discrimination things. Those are their cultures. They are not legal but no government could ban what has been passed on from generation to generation for thousands year. However, even when their society is covered with culture, rules and tradition, there was no formula that can force her family to follow what they didn’t like. To this family, everyone was equal and sometimes, her father was afraid and weak in front of her mother. =====

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She is their model. To them, their sister is the smartest, prettiest and most awesome person. The boys immediately dropped the mask that caused them fighting over each other for hours to own and ran as fast as they could to the phone, followed behind was the father, still holding his tool box. =====

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All family members loved her. They were willing to do everything to make her happy (for example: sacrificing their favourite TV shows to bake cakes with her and eat no meat every 4th day of a month). She was working as a teacher of the primary school in the North and just went home once every year because she was saving money to buy a house and get her Dad a new car. She always went home in term 3 break because the plane ticket would always be cheaper than normal and she didn’t want to miss out on the family annual Halloween party. =====

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“Mum. I am busy now so I’ll make it quick. I’ll go home this weekend with a surprise. Say hi to Dad for me. I miss you Mum. Kiss the boys for me too. Bye Mum. I’ll talk to you later. Ah Mum! Tell everyone that I can’t wait to sit with you guys, contemplate the star.” =====

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The family was acquainted with that kind of talking. They understood that she didn’t want to spend too much money, talking through a machine even though she missed everyone. Unintentionally, that was why her family couldn’t have a chance to reject her offer either. They did enjoy spending the precious time with her every time she went home for the holidays, but not when she turned the front yard into a homemade astronomy observatory. She admired and somehow was obsessed with those little sparkling object. Her parents and siblings were way too familiar with her yelling out loud over and over again the same thing about how beautiful the stars are for the previous years. They made up excuses and let her do the observation alone most of the time. However, even being alone would not make her talk any less. That could explain why they think cotton is one of the best invention as how well it is to be used as earplugs.. =====

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They were not being mean. That is called self-protection. On the day she flew home, everyone woke up at half past five. Mum cooked all the dishes she likes; Dad fixed the light in her room while the twins were practicing for their mood when they would receive Pixie’s promised surprise that she had said about earlier. The whole family couldn’t hide the bliss on their faces, especially the twins. =====

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“No sir. I’m Pixie’s friend. You should be ready because I'm afraid I have some bad news. Try not to be too shocked. Whether you listen to this now or later, it is still the truth so please try not to….” =====

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“Her hobby was looking up the sky at night. She could sit on pastures covering with hundreds of autumn yellow leaves, with a cup of lemon tea, and gaze with all her fascination those shiny little twinkling balls of plasmas for night to night without getting bored. She loves them not just simply because they are beautiful. The stars give her a special joy that none others can be able to feel. And she believes that if she keeps wishing upon the lightest brightest star she sees at night  her family would always be healthy and  blessed  ." =====

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The father yelled over for that guy distressingly with his knees down. Others had kept denying what he was saying until they started to burst into tears. How could they possibly accept that ugly truth? =====

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The last leaf has fallen down along with the heart-rending mourns came from the little wooden house. Pixie couldn’t complete her promise. She has gone, abandoning all her unfinished works and everyone loves her. =====

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With that money, I bought Dad a new car because he has been using the present one for more than 25 years. I bought Mum a whole flower farm because who doesn’t know how much Mum loves flowers. And eventually, I bought 2 laptops for my brothers because though they didn’t say anything, I know they yearn to own their own laptop for years. They will be very very very very happy. Too happy that they might cry, perhaps I would too. =====

This Halloween would be the best. Can’t wait. Mum, Dad, Charlie, John. I love you guys.
April 1st, 2010: By Phung Phuong Anh (with help from **bloody Phung Anh Duc** <3)imu