Chapter 21 — Late Table Lady

The project was renamed "Stay Back Yard" after Mr. Hoang said Backyard Without Tickets sounded too much like the name of a coffee shop. Huy objected because "the cafe has revenue", but in the end he still had to erase the words on the board and repaint it.

The team set a new goal: prove the yard can accommodate at least five different activities in a week. Reading sessions, quiet hours, green corners, group meeting places and resting places for school workers. Each activity has a person in charge, opening time and assessment method.

Khang set up a tracking board, Nhu was in charge of the schedule, Mai took photos, Huy did the interview. An worked with the school board to ask for permission to use the hallway next to the yard on rainy days. She no longer goes to meet adults alone; She always brings at least one friend with her in the group.

“You already have a security team,” Huy said.

“I started to know how to ask first.”

“More scary.”

On the first day of testing, the yard welcomed twenty-three students. A group of 12th graders studied Math, three 10th graders read stories, the security guard sat down to drink tea, and the cleaning lady took a ten-minute break. The data is small but meaningful.

A student asked An why she didn't expand the yard with family money. An showed him the cost sheet, explaining that the project is not just about the area but also about the right to use. The boy nodded, then asked if he could have more lights.

“Can recommend,” An said. “But you have to figure out electricity and maintenance.”

Khang heard it and smiled. “You already know the answer is not always yes or no.”

“I'm learning the phrase 'let's see'.”

In the afternoon, a hotel employee brought a drainage drawing that An's father lent him. The drawing is very detailed, but has the company logo in the corner. An was about to cover it up when Khang asked: "Do I need to cite the source?"

"Have."

Like adding a line to the table: "Reference technical documents — Khai An, no financial sponsorship."

One parent objected because he was afraid the company would use the project for advertising. Mr. Hoang invited the parent representative to review the documents and requested that the logo not appear on the main board. Father An agreed.

“Do you mind?” he asked.

“No. The project is not a billboard.”

“So what do you think it is?”

"It's a suggestion. If you don't need it, we'll fix it."

Her father nodded. “I'm learning how to do business.”

“I'm learning not to pressure others.”

In class, Huy suggested opening a corner to exchange school supplies. Students can put down their pens, rulers, and notebooks that are still in use and get what they need. Mai designed a small shelf, Nhu wrote a rule not to take more than the given amount at one time.

An brought a new box of pens, then stopped in front of the shelf. The pencil case belongs to her expensive collection, but she has not used it yet. Khang asked: "Are you going to give it?"

“I don't know.”

“So don't put it in.”

“But I have a lot.”

“Having a lot does not mean others have the right to take it.”

An kept his pencil case. That night, she brought an ordinary set of pens bought with her wages at the store. She realized that giving is not always about taking what you don't need and putting it in front of others; Sometimes you have to choose something that suits the general purpose.

A 10th grader took a set of pens, leaving behind a new notebook. An doesn't know if she needs a pen more than she does. She only saw that the shelf began to function through exchange, not one-way kindness.

At the end of the week, the group prepares a report "Staying in the Schoolyard — week one". There are data tables, comments, hidden photos and a list of errors that need to be fixed. Huy added the entry "wrong person sitting". hour", including a parent who thought the yard was a waiting room.

Teacher Hoang read the report and said: "You guys did what many big projects often forget: write down the things that were not successful."

An asked: "Does that make the council think the project is weak?"

“A bug-free project is usually an unused project.”

An wrote that sentence in the notebook.

In the afternoon, Khang received a call from the shop owner next door, informing him that the market would have a site survey. Pham Gia Shop may have to move in a few months. Khang stood outside the yard, his face expressionless.

An comes. “What's wrong?”

“There has been no official announcement yet.”

“But there is a survey.”

"YES."

“What do you want the group to do?”

Khang looked at the yard. “Don't know yet. I don't want the project to turn into a campaign to protect my salon.”

“So let's separate the two things. School grounds need school data. The shop needs its data. If there is an intersection, I will make it clear."

Khang looked at An, his eyes softened. “Thanks for asking.”

“I'm practicing.”

“Good practice.”

Huy ran out from the yard, holding a sign. “I've already thought of a name for the campaign if needed: 'Don't Destroy That Car Repair Space'.”

Khang rubbed his forehead. “No.”

“The name is very clear.”

"Are not."

An burst out laughing. She knows there are still many difficult things ahead, but at least they are not in a hurry to turn one person's concern into the group's slogan. The yard stays with the specifics: usage schedule, drainage plan, cash flow, number of users and the right to speak of those involved.

That night, An opened the computer and started a new board: "Unknown things". She added three lines: market clearance schedule, store relocation costs, and traffic plan. At the bottom, she wrote: "Don't jump to conclusions when there are only rumors."

On the first morning of week two, the group encountered an unplanned problem: the stadium usage schedule clashed. Two classes set group lessons together, one club wants to practice singing, and the security guard needs a stroller. Like sitting in the middle of three parties, asking each person if they can change the time.

An does not decide for himself. She suggests using a color scheme and the principle of prioritizing people who have booked in advance, but leaving room for mandatory work. Khang pointed out another corner that could be used for a club if more sockets were added. Huy suggested singing louder, but was rejected because "singing softly is no longer singing practice".

Finally, the classes were rescheduled. One person said that if the group did not ask, the field would become a place where whoever had the loudest voice would win. An wrote that sentence in the report.

In the afternoon, a gust of wind blew the calendar board away. Mai ran after her, Huy ran after Mai, Khang ran after both of them. An held the rope, then realized the board needed a stronger hook. They replaced it with the old keychain and added an update date. A small thing, but no one takes it lightly anymore.

Father An sent an email about the entrance progress. The company needs more licenses, which could be a week late. An informed Mr. Hoang and the group, not waiting until everyone guessed for themselves. Khang said that if the route has not changed, the store can still use the old route during off-peak hours.

An felt that the early announcement did not weaken the plan; it helps others prepare. She began to understand that transparency is not just about speaking after a decision has been made, but about speaking when others can still give their opinions.

At the end of the week, the team measured the rain garden's water volume. They discovered a cracked box. An wanted to buy a new one, but a parent gave him an old box that was still in good condition. Khang checked and said it could be used if placed on a shelf. As the source clearly states, Mai took photos before painting.

Huy calls the barrel “a menstruating substitute experience." The group laughed, then put it into the system. Not everything new is better; the important thing is that it still does the job and has someone responsible.

An looked at the "Schoolyard Stay" board and saw that the project had begun to resemble a living organism: with a schedule, with noise, with errors, and a way to self-adjust. She no longer wants to make everything perfect before opening the door. She just wants it to be safe enough for everyone to fix it.

One day, the yard usage schedule coincided because the two of them recorded the same hour on two notebooks. Instead of blaming the recorder, Nhu tried placing a single sign at the gate and asking for every reservation to be read back out loud. Huy said this method is like registering household registration, but still stands reading each calendar.

An asked the new users if they understood the table. One person said blue and yellow are easy to confuse in the sun. Mai changes color, adds book and chair icons. Khang tested the contrast, while Huy tried reading from a distance. They didn't buy a new board, just repainted the color.

In the afternoon, a 12th grade boy asked to keep the wind chair for two hours because he had to wait for his relatives. The group did not refuse, but reminded that the seats were for all. He agreed to put a piece of paper "to be released at..." on the table. An sees that a soft regulation can still protect latecomers.

Father An sent news about the slow entrance progress. She informed the group, then worked with Khang to draw up a temporary plan to use soft poles and vehicle time plates. Teacher Hoang approved, but requested to remove it as soon as a new road is available. An writes the expiration date on the sign so as not to turn the temporary solution into a permanent one.

At the end of the week, the group did an unannounced inspection. They discovered an electrical outlet covered by a potted plant and an unlabeled book. Khang corrects the location, Like labels, An updates the book. Huy calls it "a test where the person giving the test doesn't know the answer."

An looked at the small errors and saw that they did not make the project worse. They remind the group that things must be used in order to reveal what needs to be fixed.

An closed the calendar and saw that another week had taken shape. The yard is not perfect, but users already know how to give feedback.