Today was a rough day. My unit had to cut down a whole forest of bamboo and we weren’t allowed to leave until the job was done. When I got back to the room, I fell right to sleep. A hard kick on my thigh woke me up. A short, buff man was glaring at me and he yelled, “Get out! This is my space now.” I ignored his unreasonable demand and turned my back towards him. I waited for his response, but the room was quiet again. I thought it was over, but I was wrong. Using one hand, he grabbed my collars, lifted my body off the ground, and then gave my face a sharp jab with the other hand. He took another swing into my ribs and I saw a savage look in his eyes. For such a short guy, his hits were as accurate as throwing a dart into the bull eyes. I thought
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I had to take a deep breath between every few words and answered, “Yea…just a few bruises…. thank you so much…” Uncle Quang replied, “Don’t worry that sucker won’t dare to mess with you again. So tell me, who are you?” I told him, “My name is Tran. I used to live in Saigon with my wife and six kids. I was a police officer for a movie theater before the war. Those were the good time. When the war escalated, my branch transferred me to the province of Vinh Long as a special force police officer. I thought that once the war was over, the atrocities would stop. Unfortunately, the Viet Cong arrested me and sent me here. I want to go home. My wife and kids need me.” Uncle Quang remarked, “Ahhh… I see. Your story is very similar to these other men.” “How about you”; I asked. “Well, my name is Quang if you didn’t hear Minh address me. My wife and our two kids were boarding a boat to leave Vietnam. As if I was destined to come here, our boat was struck by a small tsunami, and my wife and kids drown. I barely managed to drag myself back to the shore and the Viet Cong there waiting to arrest any survivors. I have been here for about about five years.” “Do you have an idea when they will let us go home?”, I asked again. He answered, “I’m not sure. All I know is that they can’t detain us here forever so if you want to go home then stay alive. Now go back to sleep kiddo. Another day of work is awaiting us
I had to take a deep breath between every few words and answered, “Yea…just a few bruises…. thank you so much…” Uncle Quang replied, “Don’t worry that sucker won’t dare to mess with you again. So tell me, who are you?” I told him, “My name is Tran. I used to live in Saigon with my wife and six kids. I was a police officer for a movie theater before the war. Those were the good time. When the war escalated, my branch transferred me to the province of Vinh Long as a special force police officer. I thought that once the war was over, the atrocities would stop. Unfortunately, the Viet Cong arrested me and sent me here. I want to go home. My wife and kids need me.” Uncle Quang remarked, “Ahhh… I see. Your story is very similar to these other men.” “How about you”; I asked. “Well, my name is Quang if you didn’t hear Minh address me. My wife and our two kids were boarding a boat to leave Vietnam. As if I was destined to come here, our boat was struck by a small tsunami, and my wife and kids drown. I barely managed to drag myself back to the shore and the Viet Cong there waiting to arrest any survivors. I have been here for about about five years.” “Do you have an idea when they will let us go home?”, I asked again. He answered, “I’m not sure. All I know is that they can’t detain us here forever so if you want to go home then stay alive. Now go back to sleep kiddo. Another day of work is awaiting us