Saturday, September 10, 2011

Re write final

A rewrite of case study of vietnam veteran





I’m returning home
I felt that something is crawling in my bed. I lifted up the blanket and I saw a big black snake opening his jaw and trying to bit me. I jumped from my bed terrified. My wife waked up.
Rich what happened to you? You are shaking. Calm down it’s only a dream. Relax, everything is fine. Please come back to bed. You need to sleep well tomorrow it’s September 11th, your birthday. I invited the family and close friends. The children are also exciting from the party”.

In the morning I had heavy feelings. I didn’t feel very well and I had a headache. I wanted to ask my wife to cancel the party that she planned for me in that evening. But after all her hard work I didn’t want to let her down.Although those feelings I went to my office. I had an important meeting that I couldn’t miss.
As usual,the traffic moved very slowly. In the background there were the familiar noises of beeping cars and people shouting to each other "move on jerk!.”I laid, for a moment, my painful head on the back of the sit. Suddenly, I heard two big explosions. I didn't understand what happened and in the next moment I felt a sharp pain shoot through my arm and after that a worm blood trickling down my arm. I tried to move but I couldn't I was stuck under the rubble of my car. It was also darkness around me.
I realized that something else fell on my car. It was very quiet outside, like the silence of death. My head was spinning and I felt pressure in my chest.The last thing that I remember was the big blood stain on my arm.
***
No, please father don't do it”.
“Your elder brother disgraced our family”.
“But father, Amir loves that girl and she makes him happy. We can’t force him to marry with a woman that he doesn't love. I'm sure we can help them raise the child after birth”.
I tried to bring some sense of my father’s head.
No! and that’s final!”, He yelled, “I had planned for him to marry a girl from a respectable and attributed family in Vietnam. He disobeyed me. I want him to leave this house. He does not deserve to be part of this family and of my inheritance “.
Amir didn't say a ward and walked with downcast gaze to his room .Picked up some clothes in his little bag. At that point, my mother started to cry. My younger brother tried to comfort her in his quiet way. His tormented eyes said it all. We knew that from now on everything is going to change.
We tried to find our big brother; it seems as if earth had swallowed him. No-one saw or heard about him. He even left his lover, Luzi and didn’t keep in touch with her.
My mother didn’t talk or eat much. She spent her days on the porch waiting for Amir to come back. Her hair became white with sorrow; on her face were more and deep wrinkles. She always mumbled one sentence with a glazed look: “you must come back, where is my beloved son”.
“Mother, please come in”, I tried to persuade her.”Mom I can’t see you like this anymore please come in to eat”.
She didn’t answer and it seems like she is in her own world and no one can come in…

Days and months passed, and Luzi gave birth Amir’s son. Her son was born at Amir’s birthday May 11th 1956. Our joy was mixed with sadness and concern. We hired a private detective to help us find our brother, so we can inform him about his son's birth. But even he could not extract any information about him.
I don’t know what to do now”, Luzi said.
How I’ll rise my son alone?. My family is poor and can’t support me. From watching the news probably going to be a big war. It also seems that your father still stubborn and won’t support me either”.
Don’t worry I’ll talk with him again, and if he won’t agree I’ll find a solution”.

There is no way that I will support this”, my father said in his loud voice. “It’s like saying that I agree with contempt of my name!!”.
But father, Due to the impending war should protect them”.
“I don’t care” !!
My father screamed.
I knew that nothing could change my father opinion and I must help her secretly....
I consulted with my younger brother and we decided to support Luzi financially. We hired for her a small apartment and gave her money every month which will allow her to live with dignity.

Two month later the war broke out. We lived in South Vietnam, and soon all the area was covered with Americans and Vietnamese soldiers. We did not want to take any risks
My young brother and I convinced our father to move to ask a political asylum from America. After two exhausting month of waiting, under bombs and real existential fear
we received a refugee visa and we flight to America. Lusi and her son were on the airplane too. My father knew nothing about this.
At the beginning, the daily life was very difficult mentally and because of language difficulties. It was difficult especially to my mother that lost her home and her son too.She kept waiting for Amir...
Luzi and her son lived nearby. We continued to help and visit them secretly.
I opened my own business importing furniture from China. The business was good and allowed me to live in comfort and to support my parents and Luzi.
A year after I opened my business I met my beautiful wife. We got marry six month later.
We had brought two adorable children.

Years passed and Luzi’s child grew up. He is sixting now. Every time I watched at him I saw Amir’s face. My heart ached. I missed him very much. Where can he be? I thought to myself. Why he is not sending some sign of life? . I tried everything and nothing!!.
The child asked about his father all the time. No doubt he needed a male figure, paternal and I filled this space.
You know, I love you as you were my son”.
“But I’m your son”.

No, your real father is missing and I did everything to bring him back.I’ll keep trying".
Do not bother, I do not seem important to him, otherwise he was already coming back”.
We don’t know what really happened to him. I hope he is fine somewhere”.
“I don’t care”.

You’re angry with him and I can understand that. Growing up without knowing your father can be really hard. I can understand either, the feelings when you see other kids with their father. I am sorry for all you have to pass as a young boy”.
“Yes!, even grandpa doesn’t know about who I am”.
“And that’s I’m going to change!”.


All the years of keeping my help secretly were very difficult. I guess that my mother knew, but didn’t say anything. She saw me often carry groceries or children’s clothes but never asked why. From the way she looked at me I realized that she know.
One day I went to visit Luzi and her son, when I went home suddenly I saw my father waiting for me outside.
Whose house is this? Who lives there? I did not answer I did not know what to say and I debated with myself whether It’s the right time to tell him the truth.
Father, I want to tell you something. There is a bench under a tree a cross the street, let’s sit and talk a quite conversation”.
You can tell me here!”.
Please father once in your life don’t be stubborn”. I wanted to say even stupid, but I didn’t dare.
My father agreed and all the way he grumbled and mumbled to himself unintelligible words.
Please father, have a sit. I want to ask you something, but first please promise to me not to get angry”.
“I’ll try”, my father said.
Don’t you think sometimes about Amir? , what happened to him?, where he is all these years?, why he didn’t try to contact with us?.
What these questions? What do you want from me? Get to the point”.
“Patience father, now please answer me”.

I don’t know, sometimes I think about Amir and all those questions that you mentioned. But what can I do now? Even if I say I was wrong now I cannot do anything”.
What if I’ll tell you that you can have a second chance?”.
“Amir called? Or send you any massage”?
“No, not Amir but someone that related to him, his son
”.
His son? I don’t know where he is now. After Luzi gave birth and I refused to support her and her son, she disappeared and I didn’t hear about her. I’m sure it will be hard to find them now”.
Don’t be so sure, what if I’ll tell you that the house you saw me coming out of him, living there Luzi and her son Yossi”.
My father was silent for several minutes that seemed like an eternity. He looked confuse. Then, he hugged me and started to cry. I was surprised I didn’t expect to this reaction. Actually it was the first time that I saw my father crying. I could see that all those years his pride didn’t let him to make the right choices. Pride…. sometimes I think it has its own identity.
After he calmed down he said: “I was wrong .Because of my pride I lost my son and my grandson. All these years, seeing your mother sadness and agony. Your young brother sad eyes and you, always trying to bridge and worry for everyone. I caused suffering and breakup of the family and if I can now to atonement my actions I’ll do it. Please I want to meet my grandson take me to him”.
Fine father I’m glad that you finally understand. Over the past ten years I helped them. I couldn’t not to do so. After all he is Amir’s son, and we can’t ignore it. I’ll try to speak with Luzi and her son yossi and to arrange a meeting.
For the first time, after many years of tension, one issue coming to a solution. I was very exhausted now I’ll go to sleep. Tomorrow it’s a new day for new beginnings...
First thing in the morning I kissed my mother. I told her about the development with father. While I was talking to her she continued to look ahead with her stare glaze. She did not move a muscle in her face and I did not know whether anything I said is touching her.
After long minutes, she suddenly looked at me and smiled her familiar smile and said: “Thank you my child I knew you won’t disappoint me, from now on things will be different.., now I can rest”.
She hugged me. I missed her so much.
Now, I’m tired can you help me please to go to my bed? I want to rest”.
I put her in her bed and then I went to talk with Luzi and her son Yossi. All the way to their home I was excited and thought about how to tell them the news.
Who is that?”, Luzi asked with her sleepy voice.
It’s me! Please harry ,open!”.I said in excited voice.
What is so urgent in this early time in the morning Rich?
“I spoke with my father yesterday and he admitted that he was wrong. He wants to meet you and Yossi. He regrets everything, ready to help and get to know his grandson".

I don’t know after all these years…”, said Luzi in a confused voice.
“Now is our chance, I already spoke with Yossi and he really wants to know his grandpa, please let him”.
“Fine
”, said Luzi in whisper.

I went home and I saw my father and my young brother crying loudly.
What happened?”.
Its mother she is dead!”.
What?...., why?….., Its impossible!”
I run to her room. I saw her lying in her bed. She held a picture of Amir when he was a little boy .Her face looked very peaceful. It seems like she was sleeping..
“I'm sorry Mama I couldn’t return Amir until now, but I promise you I’ll keep trying”.
I hugged and kissed her for the last time something inside me died with her.

The funeral was conducted quietly. Few friends and neighbors accompanied her on her last journey. My father said a few wards and mostly, that he is sorry.
The days after the funeral were very quite.After a week my father came to me:
When I’ll meet my grandson?”
“Today if you want to”.
“Yes, tell them to come this afternoon
”.

It was very exciting meeting there were not many words. Mostly tears, hugs and mumblings of understanding forgiveness.
Finally, Yossi was accepted to the family. I wish my mother could see this reunion.

We lost our hope to find Amir and finally we also stopped to look for him.
Dad died five years after the reunion. He was old and tired.

***
I opened my eyes .My hands and legs were bandaged and sore. My eyes were blurred.
Where am I”?
You are in the hospital; you were seriously injured and unconscious for a week”. Someone answered me. I didn’t know him. He had gray hair and a big scar on his hand. His eyes looked familiar.
“Who are you?”
Try to rest now I’ll tell you later. You had a serious trauma”.
What happened? I remember that I was on my way to work and something hit me and injured me. My arm was covered with blood”.
The twin towers collapsed by terrorists. Many people died, trapped or injured. You are lucky!”.
I felt sharp pains and dizzy. I wanted to continue to talk with the man but I was too week and sore.
I want to rest now, please come later”.
“Don’t worry I’ll be here also tomorrow
”.

The next day I woke up with severe pain in my whole body.
Doctor, nurse please someone!”.
The nurse came and gave me pain reliever.
You are lucky you know? She said , if your brother would not have saved you were not with us today”.
My young brother was here?, where is he now? I didn’t see him”
“He doesn’t seem so young…. you saw and talked with him”
, the nurse said surprisingly,“I think we should talk again with the doctor you may also have a brain damage that has not being taken.”
I was really confused. I didn’t know what to think and I was afraid from what I started to think. It was Amir?, I thought to myself. Is it possible?. No, No it can’t be him ….?

My wife and my children came afternoon to visit me. They were crying from worry, happiness and relief. “I’m so glad that you are o.k. now . At the beginning I thought you were dead .I knew you were on your way to work. There were no phones, internet or any communication media. The city was in a big chaos. There are many dead, wounded and missing people”.
My wife was still in agitation. I calmed her down.
Relax now, I’m fine. I want to tell you something.I think my big brother Amir was here.
"It’s impossible, after all these years of searching and hiring the best private detectives that couldn’t find him. I don’t know…”.My wife said doubtfully.
He said to me he will come again. We will wait and see”.

The evening came and there was no sigh from him, as usual…. . My wife took the kids and went home. It was already late.
Fifteen minutes before the end of visiting hours he showed up. Tall as I remembered him, white hair, a little bent and uses a cane.
Amir is that you?”
“Yes it’s me”,
he said in trembling voice.
Where were you all these dam years?”
After father threw me out I traveled from city to city. I had no home and no family. I worked in occasional works. When war broke out I decided to join the army. There I thought I'll have a frame, a place to sleep and eat a kind of family.
The war was very difficult for me. I saw many of my friends are dead. I was badly injured and taken to a hospital in America. The war was very traumatic. When I awoke in the hospital I could not remember anything. I did not know who I am, my name, from where I came, who is my family. The doctors named it Amnesia”.
“How do you remember now? , How did you find me?”
I asked.
I am currently a patient in a hospital due to serious illness. Traumatic images of the fall of the twins reminded me the war scenes. Slowly I began to remember, than I saw your rescue in T.V. And I remembered all”.

The reunion with was very emotional, especially with his son yossi. Amir got to see his great-grandchildren the two sons of yossi.
After a long journey my story ends. Story of love, pride and strong blood contact

- The End -









































No comments: