Chapter 29 — Tailor Shop at the End of Third Alley

On the day the shop did not accept anonymous applications, Chau felt lighter and not empty. Everyone who comes is asked whether they want to write their name or use a code, whether they want to share or just receive items. Ms. Van said this is the correct way to keep a secret: the secret belongs to the person telling it.

An made a delivery route table, adding a "safe route" column. He no longer just remembered measurements; He remembers which way has steps, where there are trucks. Chau teased him for turning the alley into his own map. An said the map can be used to bring people home, not just to calculate land.

Khai called while the whole shop was learning how to change zippers. He heard children's voices, asking if there was a class. Mrs. Van said yes, but people make puppets. Khai laughed, telling the story of the first time he messed up the entire roll of thread because he was in a hurry.

Ha sent a photo of her daughter wearing shirt number 32. The sleeves are long but neatly rolled up. On the side of the bag is the word "open". Chau saves photos according to their rights and does not post them on the board without asking.

Tung responded to people's letters, pledging to check for mold every year. Hanh sets up the schedule, Ngoc puts it on the board. Khoa asked who would remind. Mrs. Van replied to each person once, so that no one would forget to replace everything.

Chau realized that the button An pinned to the bag was loose. He asked if he wanted to remove it. She said no, she wanted to sew it again. The two of them sat under the lamp, slowly fixing it, without anyone looking.

There were no anonymous applications on Tuesday, but twelve people came in person. One person brought a torn shirt and wrote his name. A teacher ordered a zipper repair and signed the date of receipt. Ha came to pick up the dress, paid the correct amount and brought her daughter via video call. Mrs. Van asked her if she wanted to embroider anything in the bag. The girl replied with the word "open".

Chau embroidered the word with purple thread, and An buttoned it. Both worked slowly for fear of making mistakes. The girl looked at the screen and said it was okay if it was a little off. Ms. Van said the wearer has the right to keep the tailor's fingerprints.

Tung came with a new lease contract. The contract clearly states the public access, the right to use the frontage, maintenance responsibilities and how to terminate. Ngoc read each page, asking questions that many adults ignore. Tung replied, corrected two terms, then signed in front of the neighborhood representative.

An's father received the first payment under the new agreement. He used part to pay off debt and part to buy materials for the shop. An told his father to keep it to repair the house. He said that repairing the house is also keeping a part of the shop, because every door needs hinges.

Khai sent another letter, saying he could not return for long but would call on Tuesday. Mrs. Van placed the phone next to number three. When the bell rang, he asked if the machine was still running. She answered and ran, but cried louder than before. Khai smiled over the line.

Chau heard two people talking about needles, threads and flywheels. No one mentioned the lost years. She understands that there are meetings that start with asking if the machine is running, then slowly open to asking if the person wants to come back.

An took Chau out the back door. He said the internship would start after the exam, but he still wanted to do delivery work for the store on Tuesday. Chau asked if it was because the store paid extra. He said it was because she always put the wrong address when she was in a hurry.

Chau held the scissors and pretended to threaten. An retreated, but did not run away. The two laughed until Khoa shouted from inside the store that the camera was filming.

Khoa apologized, turned it off immediately, then asked if it needed to be deleted. Chau said to record it if everyone agrees. An nodded. The department clearly states the date, purpose and person seen. This was the first time he filmed a moment without editing.

Ngoc summarizes the fund. The shop has enough money to pay electricity, buy fabric and maintain a small scholarship. She gave Chau the yearly estimate after. Chau said she never thought the shop would have "next year".

Ms. Van said not to think too far, but to leave the door open for people who want to think together.

At the end of the day, Chau hung the red-handled scissors on a hook and did not put it in her pocket. She learned how to use it, but never stopped being afraid of a careless cut.

An gave her the T-shaped button, saying this was no longer delivery money. Chau asked what that was. He replied: “A reminder that someone is walking next to you.”

There were no anonymous petitions Tuesday

There are no front door pockets. Chau waited until eight o'clock, then nine o'clock. An said maybe the sender had forgotten. She says maybe they don't need to hide it anymore.

Class 11C brought the shop back to normal operations. Ngoc sets up a transparent repair schedule, Khoa posts a price list, and delivers goods according to a checkable route. Mrs. Van turned on number three and the sound rang out like a greeting.

Tung came with the decision for the company to revise the map and reimburse inspection costs. He is no longer the project leader, but is retained in the community department. Hanh took a month off to take care of her mother, then returned to be the liaison between the neighborhood and the company.

An's father signed a new debt repayment agreement. There is no longer a clause forcing him to demolish people's houses. An was not immediately happy, but lighter. He said that for the first time, the contract has larger text than the captions.

Chau and An stood in front of the notice board. He asked her if she planned to continue learning to sew. She said she would study, but would not turn herself into the second Mrs. Van. Mrs. Van heard it and said that doing what you want does not mean giving up what others have given you.

In the evening, Khai sent an email. He wrote that he could only return for one day and wanted to see the shop from the outside. Ms. Van replied that the back door was still open, but did not force him to enter.

Khai arrived when it was raining. The older man in the photo rides an old motorbike and carries a toolbox. He stood in front of the east wall for a long time. Mrs. Van did not come out immediately. Chau and An were in the shop, hearing the sound of rain on the roof.

Finally, Mrs. Van opened the door.

No one said forgiveness. Khai put the toolbox on the table, removed machine number three and cleaned the gears. Mrs. Van gave him a roll of purple thread. The two of them sat together, working quietly.

Chau gave An a piece of fabric and asked him to sew the first line. An said his hands are not good. She said he remembered measurements very well, so that was enough to get started.

Khai looked at the two children and asked who they were. Ms. Van replied: "Those who do not leave the road are left unfinished."

Outside the alley, students hung a new sign: **Mong Van Shop — repairing items, maintaining landmarks, open on Tuesdays.** No company logo, no big slogans.

Chau asked An if he wanted to go eat. He said if she paid for delivery. She paid with a T-shaped button, saying it was the store's coin.

An smiled and put the button in his pocket. “So I have to keep it for life?”

"No. When you don't need it anymore, you can remove it yourself."

He looked at her, understanding that the sentence had more than one meaning. This time Chau did not dodge.

“Hey,” she called.

"YES?"

“After class, do you want to come with me?”

An stood still for a beat, then nodded. “If you don't bring scissors.”

Chau's first order was a uniform for Phuc's sister. I want the collar to have purple stitching but not too prominent, so my friends won't tease me on the first day of school. Chau measured her shoulders and asked if she liked the bag on the left or right side. Phuc answered on the right because he is good-handed, a small detail but Mrs. Van said that is the reason people go to a tailor.

Chau cuts the fabric slowly, marking the chalk with short strokes. An stood next to him Recorded the measurements in the notebook, tried to look serious but still mistook the chest for the neck. She threw the ruler at him, the whole store laughed.

While waiting for the engine to run, Chau and An went to the alley. The electric pole has had its "temporary road" sign removed, replaced with the official name of the neighborhood. A neighbor brought a pot of confetti and placed it next to the shop. Ms. Van said she didn't know who planted it, but just let it be beautiful.

Hanh sent news: the supervisory agency has received Lien's file; Final examination will take place after one week. Ms. Chi was invited to be an independent consultant. Mr. Duc apologized publicly and pledged to hand over the remaining documents.

Chau asked An if he wanted to know where Lien was. An said yes, but not to bring her back. He just wants one day Lien to know that the number 32 shirt helped the alley keep its name.

“And your father?”

"Dad told me everything. Tonight he planned to take me to the station and show me the shirt delivery place."

Chau said she would go. An looked at her and smiled softly. "So you broke the rules. I thought you didn't like going anywhere without a plan."

"I have a plan. You ride the bike, I'll bring the scissors."

The uniform was completed at nine o'clock in the evening. Phuc tried it on, turned around, then bowed his head in thanks. Chau received the salary and recorded it in the debt book. Ms. Van did not change the number.

Before leaving, An placed a newly polished silver button on the table. "I found it in my dad's box. Keep it."

Chau attached the button to the pocket of her coat. No one said more, but they both walked more slowly as they left the store.

At the end of the alley, An stopped to tie his shoe laces. He asked Chau if he wanted to keep the button forever. She said the buttons could be removed, but the seams would remain hidden. An said that's good, because there are traces that remind people that they once chose to stay.

Chau turned back to look at the sign. The old lettering was faded, but the new light made it stand out clearly. She thought about the first day she walked into the shop, just wanting to find a job to avoid being expelled from school. Now she has a place to return to and someone who always remembers to bring the right button.