The Eaves of Heaven Read Online Free PDF Page B

gave my brothers and cousins toys, but he gave me three books that turned me into an avid reader:
Gulliver’s Travels, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,
and
Voyage to the Moon.
    Once he brought Mother a beautiful phonograph. It was a compact, well-crafted machine, housed in a polished wooden box. The lid was embossed with golden letters and had a picture of a dog sitting in front of a phonograph, head canted to the flaring flower-shaped speaker. Inside, the hand-cranked turntable was covered with dark blue felt. It had a chrome-plated arm with a diamond-tipped needle.
    The first day he brought it home, Mother invited all the Aunties, nieces, nephews, and staff to the house for after-dinner tea. Father and Uncle Thuan were considered too serious for such fun. Mother didn’t invite them, so everyone else could relax and enjoy the party. We sat on mats on the porch and in the garden. Gardener Cam lit some paper lanterns and hung them on the trees. We stuffed ourselves with cookies, candies, and cakes, and listened to the phonograph. Mother played Vietnamese ballads and French songs one after another. It was one of the finest nights because I remembered Mother smiling and laughing a lot.
    Mother was happy whenever Father came home, and she tried her best to make his stay pleasant, hoping that it might keep him there longer. During one of his visits, I overheard them talking in the sitting room. It was right after supper, when Father liked to have his tea.
    Mother said, “Things are chaotic all over the country. You should be home helping your big brother.”
    “He has been governing the domain fine without my help.”
    “It’s not the same anymore. There are robberies everywhere. The roads have become very dangerous since the Japanese invasion. When the soldiers come, it’s to requisition our rice and conscript men for the Japanese. Law and order are the least of their concerns. They only care about conquering Asia.”
    “I know, but Big Brother Thuan hasn’t asked for my help.”
    “He expects you to volunteer. Don’t you know the villagers sound the temple bell in the middle of the night, once or twice a week? Big Brother Thuan has to take his gun and guards into the villages to chase off the robbers. Some days, he gets so exhausted he has to cancel half the arbitration cases.”
    “He should teach the villagers how to fight for themselves.”
    “They’re farmers. They’re peaceful people. It’s not in them to fight, and Big Brother Thuan can’t hold off all the bad elements alone. It would be good to have you here to assist him.”
    “Why should I? He always treats me as though I’m incompetent.”
    “He’s ten years older than you. You shouldn’t feel offended about it.”
    “I don’t like working under him.”
    “You could stay home and help me manage our own estate.”
    “What will I do here? You’re managing very well, and everybody likes you. You don’t need my help.”
    “Just having a husband at home makes all the difference,” she said softly. “It’s very hard seeing you only once every other month. The highway is getting more dangerous too. I get very worried thinking about you traveling back and forth like this.”
    “As you said, this is a time of turmoil. I think it’s better if I stayed in the city where I can blend in with the crowd. Here I stand out like a big fish in a small pond. If things turn bad, the big fish will be the first target. Besides, it’s not good to leave our villa in Hanoi empty in this unsettled time.”
    “Cousin Chinh is there; he can look after our villa for us.”
    “I can’t trust that playboy to manage anything.”
    “Then the children and I will come live with you in the city. We had some good times there, didn’t we? Remember our dinner parties?”
    “Yes, yes, but it’s not a good idea now. You’re the manager of our estate. Your sisters-in-law need you.”
    “Not as much as I need you.”
    “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I want to look