Chapter 2 — Voices Behind the Dark Room

“What do you mean?” Ms. Manh looked at Duong Duong. “There are some children who don't know how to talk, but don't dare to speak.” Instinctively, I stroked Duong Duong's head. “The doctor said she was mentally retarded.” Ms. Manh nodded. “The diagnosis is for reference only.” “But just now I called her name, she reacted with her eyes.” “I told her to look for the color red, she looked for the color red.” “She understood.” I was stunned. In such a long time, this was the first time someone told me that Duong Duong understood. My voice trembled. "So why didn't she say?" Ms. Manh did not answer immediately. She took out a picture. There are three people in the painting. Dad, mom and child. She pointed at her mother. "Duong Duong, where are you?" Duong Duong looked at the picture, then looked at me. Then she slowly raised her hand and pointed to her mother in the painting. Tears almost fell from my eyes. Ms. Manh pointed at her father again. "What about you?" Duong Duong's hand stopped. The child bowed her head. Ms. Manh changed to another photo. This time it was grandparents. "Where is grandpa?" Duong Duong's body was clearly stiff. The girl hugged the rabbit tightly, her lips pursed into a line. Ms. Manh put the painting away. She looked at me, her voice even softer. "She avoids some forms of address." "Is there anyone in the house who scares her?" Luong Duc Hai's face immediately appeared in my mind. Red wooden chair. Teacup. The smell of tobacco leaves. Same with the saying "useless thing". I didn't answer right away. It's not because I don't believe it. But because I suddenly realized, in the past there were many things that I easily overlooked. Duong Duong refused to live alone in a room with Luong Duc Hai. As soon as Luong Duc Hai coughed, she ran away. As soon as Luong Duc Hai got close, she covered her mouth. Before, I thought she was just shy. Leaving the rehabilitation center, I hugged Duong Duong and sat on the side of the road for a long time. The baby lay on my shoulder, very quiet. I asked my child: "Duong Duong, are you afraid of grandpa?" The baby didn't move. I asked again: "Did grandpa scold you?" Her fingers tightened around my collar. My heart sank. "Did grandpa beat me?" She still didn't say anything. Just bury your face deeper. I don't ask anymore. Coming home in the afternoon, Luu Ngoc Mai was picking vegetables in the living room. Luong Duc Hai sat on the balcony smoking tobacco. The ashtray is half full of stainless steel filters. As soon as Duong Duong entered the door, he hid behind me. Luong Duc Hai glanced at her. "Going to spend money again?" I changed my shoes. "Going to rehab." Luong Duc Hai snorted. "Waste of money." I raised my head to look at him. "I earned the money." Luu Ngoc Mai's hand stopped. Luong Duc Hai also looked over. I've never talked like that before. I paid half of my home loan. Duong Duong's medical examination fees are largely paid by me. Buying things for both parents during Tet holiday is mostly my money. But in this house, everyone is used to taking my sacrifice for granted. Luong Duc Hai snorted his words, "Isn't it terrible to earn money?" I calmly said: "At least my daughter's medical treatment money doesn't need to be reported to dad." Luu Ngoc Mai immediately reconciled. "An Ninh, your father just said it casually." I didn't pay attention to her. I led Duong Duong into the bedroom. Before the door closed, I heard Luong Duc Hai laughing coldly outside. "There's no use in having a stiff mouth, the child is still the same." Duong Duong stood next to the bed, his face pale. I squatted down, held my child's hand. "Don't listen." "Mom will be with you." From that day, every morning, I got up at six o'clock and practiced mouth movements with Duong Duong. "Mom." "Dad." "Water." "Want." I wrote each word on the card. Each panel is glued to the wall. In the evening after work, I continue to practice with my children. Once. Ten times. One hundred times. My throat was so hoarse that I couldn't speak, so I used electricity

voice plays the recording. Duong Duong sat in front of the small table, his eyes moving along with my mouth. It's not like she doesn't understand. She just keeps that door closed. Half a month later, Ms. Manh told me that Duong Duong's reaction was much better than at the beginning. "Let's continue." "She's not far from opening her mouth anymore." I hugged Duong Duong and walked out of the classroom. At the end of the hallway, an old lady walked past with her grandson. The other child pointed at Duong Duong and said: "Why doesn't he say, is he an idiot?" The old lady immediately covered the child's mouth. I haven't had time to speak yet. Duong Duong suddenly raised his head and looked at the child. The baby's lips moved. No sound. But his eyes have changed. Back home, the Luong family was discussing the Mid-Autumn Festival gathering. Luu Ngoc Mai said all relatives would come. Luong Duc Hai sat in the chair position, his tone heavy. "At that time, don't let Duong Duong run around, don't lose face." I was about to say. Duong Duong suddenly reached out from behind me. She pointed at Luong Duc Hai. Fingers straightened. Everyone in the living room stopped. Luong Duc Hai narrowed his eyes. "What are you telling me to do?" Duong Duong's lips began to tremble.04 Duong Duong's fingers stiffened in mid-air. The girl looked at Luong Duc Hai, her lips trembling more and more violently.