Chapter 29 — Late Table Lady

The last table has been empty since the beginning of the second semester. A 10th grade student often sits there reading books after school, a 12th grader uses it to make tests, and Huy puts a cake box next to it and declares it a "food security area".

An still sits at that table every morning, but no longer sits alone with Mai. People arriving later are always asked first if they want to use the seat. Some days all four people crowded together, other days only one book was left.

Khang gave An a new wooden chair made from leftover pallets. “For the last table.”

“You did it yourself?”

“There is a 10th grader helping.”

“You are no longer alone.”

“I'm studying.”

An touched the surface of the chair. One corner is scratched, but the legs are very sturdy. She asked if she should paint it. Khang said users can decide.

Huy immediately wanted to paint the chair's surface red, Mai wanted green, and Nhu wanted to keep the wood color. The voting lasted two days. The result is light yellow, because a 12th grader said it's easy to see when it rains.

“Democracy takes time,” Huy said.

“But chairs are used more,” Nhu replied.

An tried sitting. Khang stood opposite. The distance between them was no longer the same as the first day when he looked at her shoes like a question mark. Now he looked at her as someone who knew all about her clumsy mistakes and the good things she tried to do.

“Do you believe you will be accepted into the school?” Khang asked.

"Don't know."

“Are you scared?”

"Yes. If I get accepted, I have to go somewhere else. If not, I'm afraid I'm not good enough."

Khang sat down next to her. “No school decides all of that.”

“You sound like someone who has been rejected.”

“I was rejected for a scholarship.”

An turned. Khang did not mention. He said that in 10th grade, his application was missing an income confirmation, so it was not considered. He worked another year, applied again and received a scholarship. There is no scene where someone sees talent and then gives it a chance; It's just that you came back with all the documents.

“Are you sorry?” An asked.

"Yes. But unfortunately we can't give back the time."

“Aren't you ever angry?”

"Yes. I fix my car faster when I'm angry."

An smiled. “I will remember that.”

At the end of the semester, the school received an invitation to participate in a city program on community learning spaces. Stay School Yard was chosen as a test model. The group had to present to the youth council, but this time An did not come out on top. As coordinator, Khang is in charge of technology, Mai takes pictures, Huy narrates the story. An only presents the budget and lessons about advantages.

“Do you want to talk about family?” As asked.

"Necessary."

“If you don't need it, don't say it.”

An nodded. She was used to being known by what she chose to tell.

The presentation took place at the city library. There are many other groups of students, each with an idea. One group does rooftop gardening, one group sets up a mobile library, one group designs chairs from recycled plastic. Huy looked at the model and said: "Our opponents are many."

“This is not a survival contest,” Khang replied.

“I was mentally prepared to win.”

“Be prepared to listen to others.”

An looked at Khang and saw that he had changed from someone who was afraid of being helped to someone who knew how to accept support while still retaining the right to choose. So does she. They do not become a perfect version, just less extreme in the way they protect themselves.

When it was his turn, Nhu opened by saying: "A good space does not start from materials, but from asking who will use it." Khang presented the drainage system, Mai Showing photos of people sitting, Huy told the story of the cookie and the anonymous chair. An talks about transparent budgets, invisible resources, and how the team has changed roles to avoid one person making too many decisions.

One judge asked: “If your family had no involvement with the land, would the project have been successful?”

An replied: "It might be slower, it might be different. But success doesn't lie in who opens the door. It lies in whether or not we let others in and have a say when the door opens."

Khang looked at her and smiled.

The group did not win first prize. They received the "Sustainable Model" award and a grant for equipment for the school. Huy said the award sounded like praise for someone who couldn't fly, but An found it appropriate. The yard needs to stand on the ground.

Returning to school, they announced the grant, made plans to buy lights and open quiet hours. No one holds a big party. Ms. Dung made a pot of tea, parents sent cakes, and the whole class sat around the last table.

Father An arrived late, carrying a letter stating that the company had completed changing the entrance and signed a commitment to assess the community impact for the following projects. He gave An an envelope.

“College application fees,” he said.

An accepted and asked: "Is this money from dad or is it the family's responsibility?"

Father laughed. “It is support that is unified within the family, not a reward.”

“I'll put it in my personal budget.”

“I'm not surprised.”

Khang heard it and said: "Remember to ask the conditions."

An turned. “Father, do you have any conditions?”

“Yes. You must send me photos of your backyard every month.”

“It's an emotional condition.”

“I accept.”

Huy pretended to vomit because the family was too warm, then asked for more tea.

At the end of the day, An and Khang walked through the yard. She said she received a college interview letter. Khang said he also applied for a program in bicycle engineering and mechanical design.

“What if you go to another city?” An asked.

“I'll be back on my day off.”

“Don't promise if you don't know.”

“Then I will try.”

An nodded. “That sentence is more true.”

The last table was more crowded than before. There's room for a new student, an unread book, a box of cookies and two people who don't know where the future will take them. But at least they know how to ask each other before deciding.

The project's summary session took place simply. Each person says one thing they did wrong and one thing they will hand over. Huy admitted that he used to post news too quickly, Nhu admitted that she used to write articles that made others misunderstand, Mai admitted that she often took pictures before asking, Khang admitted that he gave up without reporting early, and An admitted that she used to think that just spending money would make things faster.

No one is required to smile. There was some silence, but not uncomfortable. Teacher Hoang said it was a more honest report than any achievement.

A 10th grade student read the letter in the drawer and asked why the writer didn't write his name. An said it's because the writer wants to leave behind an experience, not to retain ownership. The boy said he would write more next year.

Khang gave An a new car bell. He said the old one broke after she used it to warn Huy to avoid the paint puddle.

“You messed up?” An asked.

“You pressed very hard.”

“I'm protecting the community.”

“The community lost a bell.”

An picked up the new one and tried it out. The sound is clear, echoing through the yard. Huy said that was the signal to end the meeting, then ran to get the cake.

An laughed, Thinking back to the first day, she didn't know what the car lights were for. Now she still can't fix the car, but knows when to call the repairman.

At the end of the session, the whole class arranged a new chair next to the last table. No one said it was for An or Khang. It's just an extra seat, so people who come later don't have to stand.

An put the new bell in his pocket and heard it ring lightly with every step he took. A small sound, but enough to remind her that she was moving.

Khang did not ask An if he wanted to keep the bell as a souvenir. He just gave it to her and let her decide for herself. An put it in his pocket and felt his heart warm.

Mai took a photo of the new chair and asked if everyone wanted to show up. An and Khang shook their heads, then changed their minds and stood far away so he could keep the yard. The photo has no name, just date and time. That said, it's a good way to remember without turning memories into assets.

Before leaving the school, An returned to the last desk to get the operating book. She read every page, from the 10th grader's shaky handwriting to the worksheets Khang wrote in pencil. There is a line Huy wrote very loudly: "If the yard is empty, ask who needs it, don't conclude that people don't care." An took a pen and circled it, then added a sentence: "If someone comes later to correct this sentence, let them correct it."

Khang stood at the gate waiting for her. He said Pham Gia shop had received the vocational training certificate for the new course, and his application had been invited for an interview by the technical school. An also received an interview schedule from a school with a design studio. The two looked at each other and laughed because in the end what they were waiting for came almost at the same time.

“Are you scared?” Khang asked.

"Yes. But this time I don't take fear as a signal to return."

"Me too."

Huy ran to announce that the bus was about to leave, then turned back because he forgot the cake box. Mai and Nhu stood outside the gate, each holding a bag of seedlings to plant next week. An locked the courtyard door, handed the key to the new group of students and told them not to call her just because a chair was squeaking.

“What if it's two?” a friend asked.

“Call Khang,” An replied.

Khang shook his head, but still reached out to receive the spare key. The whole group walked out the gate in laughter, no one had to stop to prove they belonged here. The last table is occupied, the yard is occupied, and the future is wide enough for everyone.