Free Small Bamboo by Tracy Vo Page A

including my grandparents and my uncles who were still in the re-education camps.
    One day Uncle Five sat down with my dad to talk. He explained he was very close to making a deal to get the family on a boat out of Vietnam. Dad was excited that their escape might actually happen, because Uncle Five had organised it himself, and that they were going together as a family. Even though Uncle Five himself didn’t know all the details—with these escape attempts, no one ever did—they talked about it for a while, how difficult it was to get a large enough boat, and how this time Uncle Five felt confident that the plan would work. Then Uncle Five said there was one spare place on the boat for another person.
    ‘Do you want to think about inviting Lien to come with us?’ Uncle Five asked Dad. ‘You don’t have to worry about the money. I will pay all the costs for her to leave. But you do need to make a decision in the next day or two.’
    Dad didn’t need to think about that! Of course he wanted to ask Mum to go with them, and he knew she’d want to go too. He was so thankful to Uncle Five for his generosity and for including her as part of the family. But Uncle Five had one condition: she had to have her parents’ permission to go.
    At the time Dad was twenty-three years old and Mum was twenty-four. They had their whole lives ahead of them—a whole new future they could build in another country. It was time for them to make a commitment and escape Vietnam together. Dad left straight away to speak to Mum, who was at her parents’ home. He told her about Uncle Five’s plans. Mum was very happy for them, though a little sad they were leaving as she’d grown so close to Dad’s family, not to mention Dad himself. Then Dad explained Uncle Five’s offer to include Mum, and she was completely surprised. And ecstatic.
    ‘Of course, I want to come with you!’ she said.
    Mum was astounded by Uncle Five’s generosity but she also felt guilty for taking the last spot. Dad reassured her that Uncle Five would not have asked if he didn’t want her to go, and that she was very much part of their family. They chatted excitedly about the plans, about their futures, both of them grinning from ear to ear—it was hard to believe they were going to escape Vietnam together —but first they had to fulfil Uncle Five’s condition and get Mum’s parents’ permission.
    My mum’s parents had no intention of escaping Vietnam. They weren’t as well off as Dad’s family so they couldn’t afford to pay their way onto a boat. My maternal grandparents were resilient people. They could cope with anything life threw at them. Mum was really the only member of her family who had considered escaping. Working on the black market gave her an insight into how the future would be for her; she didn’t want that. Every moment she spent with her friends and with Dad, the main topic of conversation was always escaping. Mum knew she would not stay in Vietnam for the rest of her life.
    Nervously, Mum and Dad went into the lounge room and sat down with her parents. Dad took a deep breath and began: ‘My brother has organised a very big boat for my family to leave Vietnam. He has taken care of all the organisation himself, and is confident that it will work. He has asked Lien to come with us. He will pay for all the costs and promises that we will take care of her . . .’
    Mum’s parents looked at each other but said nothing. Dad continued: ‘I would like to ask your permission for Lien to come with us.’
    He took another deep breath but before he could speak again, Mum’s mother said, ‘Of course. Please, take her away from here and give her a better life. We are very grateful for your brother’s offer.’
    ‘This is a great opportunity, Lien,’ her father said. ‘And it may be your only chance. If you wish to go, we are happy for you.’
    Mum was so relieved, though deep down she always knew her parents would want her to escape if she could.