Chapter 12 — Puppets Under the Lights

In the third week of preparation, the club welcomed two new members - rumors about the club's outstanding progress spread throughout the school, causing a few curious students to come and ask to join. Among them is a tenth grade girl named Thao, small and timid, but her eyes are filled with excitement every time she watches the wooden puppets gliding on the water.

Minh Long was assigned the task of personally instructing the two new members in the early days, because Diem My was still busy with logistics for the show. He realized that Thao learned quite slowly compared to others, often losing confidence every time he made a mistake, to the point where he almost burst into tears because he was disappointed with himself.

"It's okay," Minh Long said softly, when he saw Thao's head bowed after a failed attempt to control the carp puppet, the puppet kept sinking into the water as soon as he lifted the pole. "It's the same for everyone who's just starting out. When I was younger, I was much worse than you."

"Really?" Thao looked up, her eyes were still watery but there was a bit of hope.

"Really," Minh Long nodded, sitting down at the girl's eye level. "My grandfather once told me that the first time I learned how to control a puppet, I dropped the whole pole into the lake and had to wade for half an hour to find it again. He laughed at me for a whole month because of that."

Thao chuckled at the story, the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated. Minh Long continued to guide her step by step, patiently explaining again and again, adjusting his hand position and breathing, until finally the carp puppet in Thao's hand began to glide, although still hesitant, but no longer sinking like before.

"I did it!" Thao shouted with joy, her face lit up with genuine happiness, making Minh Long feel warm inside.

Looking at that scene, Minh Long suddenly remembered himself years ago, standing in Thao's position, and his grandfather standing in the position he is standing in now. He remembered the feeling of overwhelming happiness when he successfully controlled a puppet for the first time, and the proud look in his grandfather's eyes when witnessing that moment. Now, standing on the other side, being the one to bring that joy to another child, Minh Long feels a strange completeness, as if a circle is closing as it should.

"Thank you, Mr. Long," Thao said, her voice still cheerful, making Minh Long startled by that unexpected way of addressing her.

"Don't call me teacher," he said quickly, a bit awkwardly. "I'm only two years older than you, you can call me."

"Yes, Mr. Long," Thao corrected, smiled brightly, then ran off to show off to the other friends about her recent achievement.

Diem My, standing from afar observing the entire moment, walked closer to Minh Long as he was packing up the carp puppet to put it in the closet. "You know," she said, her voice filled with emotion, "watching you teach Thao earlier, I thought of something."

"What?" Minh Long asked, curious.

"I think, maybe you were born to do this," Diem My said, her eyes sincere. "Not only are you good at controlling puppets, but the way you're patient, the way you know how to motivate at the right time, that's a rare talent. I think your grandfather definitely passed on to you not only the technique, but also the mind of a true teacher."

That comment made Minh Long ponder for a moment. He had never thought of himself that way—never considered himself to have any special pedagogy or talent for teaching others. But when he heard Diem My say that, and remembered the joy he had just experienced when he saw Thao succeed, he began to wonder if this was a path he wanted to pursue in the future — not just preserving water puppetry as a hobby, but actually becoming someone who teaches it to future generations.

"I've never thought about being a teacher," he said, sharing the thought that just came to mind. "But maybe... maybe I'll consider that, later."

"I think you'll be a great teacher," Diem My said, smiling warmly.

Practice ended late that day, but when everyone left, the atmosphere was still filled with excitement. Minh Long stayed last to help Mr. Phuc check all the puppets preparing for the performance, making sure there were no damaged items that needed urgent repair.

"I've been observing you for the past few weeks," said Mr. Phuc, when they were both resting on the lakeshore after completing the inspection. "I see you've changed a lot, Long. Not only your return to water puppetry, but also the way you look at life, the way you treat people around you."

"I feel the same way," Minh Long admitted, looking out at the lake reflecting the sunset. "There are days when I still miss him so much that it hurts. But now that pain no longer makes me want to run away from everything. I'm starting to learn how to... carry it with me, instead of letting it drown me."

Teacher Phuc nodded, his eyes full of understanding. "That is what loss teaches us, if we are brave enough to learn. Your grandfather will definitely be very proud to see you grow like this."

Hearing that, Minh Long couldn't help but smile slightly, even though the corners of his eyes were a little teary. He looked up at the sky that was gradually turning the dark purple of sunset, the clouds were dyed a brilliant red orange, and felt his heart filled with a peace that he had never dared to hope to find again, since the day he left him forever.

On his way home alone that night, Minh Long passed by the road leading to the dike, where he often stopped to watch the sunset when he needed to think. He stood there for a long time, letting the emotions of a long day settle down, then took out his phone, looked at the photo taken of the moment Thao successfully controlled the carp puppet for the first time, the radiant smile on her face was completely recorded. He saved that photo in a separate folder, where he began to store the memorable moments of this new journey, a journey that he believed that his grandfather, even somewhere far away, was watching with a satisfied smile.

Coming home, Minh Long saw Tuan Anh waiting in the living room, chatting with his mother about studying for the exam. "I stopped by to see how you're doing," Tuan Anh explained when he saw Minh Long walk in, "because you've been busy with the club lately, so you don't have time to invite me to play soccer anymore."

"Sorry," Minh Long smiled, sitting down next to you. "It's really busy this time, there's still two weeks until the show."

"It's okay, I understand," Tuan Anh waved his hand, then lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear when Minh Long's mother returned to the kitchen. "But looking at you now, I'm so happy. You look completely different from a few months ago, like... like you've found yourself again."

Minh Long was silent for a moment, then nodded and admitted. "I feel the same way. There are days when I still miss him terribly, but now that nostalgia no longer makes me want to run away. I've learned to live with it, and sometimes even feel grateful because it reminds me of how lucky I am to have him in my life."

"So what about the club president?" Tuan Anh asked, raising his eyebrows meaningfully, making Minh Long immediately blush.

"What's the matter?" he protested, even though he knew clearly what his friend was trying to say.

"Come on, Long," Tuan Anh laughed loudly, patting his friend's shoulder. "The whole school is buzzing, saying that Minh Long and Diem My are very close these days, going home together all the time. How long are you going to keep it a secret from me?"

Minh Long sighed, unable to deny further. "I don't know what to call it either," he shared honestly, his voice low. "I just know that every time I'm with him, I feel comfortable, at ease, like... like every burden is lighter."

"That's called liking someone, my friend," Tuan Anh smiled happily, but then his voice softened and became more sincere. "I think that's a good thing, Long. After everything you've been through, you deserve to have such happy feelings."

Minh Long did not answer, just smiled, letting the story settle in his heart without having to confirm or deny anything else. But deep inside, he knew his friend was right, and he, despite some hesitation, began to accept that feeling, although new and somewhat unexpected, was something he did not want to avoid.

Late that night, after Tuan Anh returned, Minh Long lay on the bed, his head resting on his hands, looking up at the ceiling, letting his thoughts about the conversation just settle down. He smiled alone in the dark, realizing that just a few months ago, he could not imagine that he would one day openly discuss his feelings with his best friend, instead of closing all his emotions like a locked wooden door.