La^?m ca^?m hay nghe.n nga`o?
hytran
Vie^.t Ba'o
Ba`i tham du+. "Gia?i thu+o+?ng Vie^.t Ba'o vie^'t ve^` nu+o+'c
My~"
Ngu+o+`i vie^'t: Du+o+ng Vie^'t DDie^`n
Ba`i tham du+. so^' 81\VBST
Ta'c gia? Du+o+ng Vie^'t DDie^`n, cu+ tru' ta.i North Hollywood,
nghe^` nghie^.p ddu+o+.c ghi: tho+. ma'y. Tuy ba`i vie^'t mang
tu+.a dde^` "La^?m ca^?m hay nghe.n nga`o" nhu+ng lo^'i ke^?
chuye^.n cu?a ta'c gia? ra^'t tu+o+i ti?nh, bay bu+o+'m.
oOo
La^?m ca^?m hay nghe.n nga`o?
Nhu+ mo^.t so^' ngu+o+`i mo+'i sang dda^'t My~ la^`n dda^`u,
to^i cu~ng ca?m tha^'y bo+~ ngo+~, ru.t re` tru+o+'c ne^`n va(n
minh ta.i xu+' Hie^.p chu?ng quo^'c na`y.
Ta^'t ca? mo.i sinh hoa.t o+? dda^y dda~ la`m cho to^i ca?m
tha^'y la.-lu`ng. DDie^`u na`y la`m cho to^i nhie^`u khi tro+?
ne^n la^?m ca^?m va` nghe.n nga`o khi va cha.m vo+'i cuo^.c
so^'ng ha(`ng nga`y ta.i dda^y.
Sau dda^y xin ddu+o+.c ke^? mo^.t va`i ca^u chuye^.n ddie^?n
hi`nh to^i dda~ ga(.p tre^n dda^'t na`y.
Tru+o+'c nha^'t la` chuye^.n go.i so^' 911 na(m la^`n chi? trong
3 na(m.
Lu'c mo+'i qua ba.n be` to^i khuye^n ba?o ra(`ng trong cuo^.c
so^'ng ha(`ng nga`y ne^'u ga(.p chuye^.n gi` kha^?n-ca^'p qua'
nhu+ ddau qua' na(.ng, bi. thu+o+ng na(.ng, ga(.p ho?a-hoa.n
vv... thi` ca^`m ddie^.n thoa.i go.i 3 con so^' 911.
Sa'ng ho^m a^'y, kho^ng hie^?u sao to^i ca?m tha^'y ddau bu.ng
mo^.t ca'ch ky` la.. Ma(.t ma`y tu+. nhie^n ta'i me't, mo^`-ho^i
ra nhu+ ta('m. To^i o^m bu.ng ke^u la tha?m thie^'t. DDang na(`m
tre^n giu+o+`ng to^i bo^~ng te' xuo^'ng sa`n nha`. Lu'c ba^'y
gio+` ca? nha` dde^`u ddi va('ng. DDang co+n ddau, vu+`a ba^'m
so^' 911 vu+`a tra? lo+`i nhu+~ng ca^u ho?i cu?a nha^n vie^n
hu+~u tra'ch o+? dda^`u da^y, gio.ng to^i bi. la.c ha(?n no'i
kho^ng ddu+o+.c ro~ ra`ng.
Khoa?ng na(m phu't sau to^i nghe tie^'ng xe cu+'u thu+o+ng hu.
co`i ddo^? ngay tru+o+'c nha`. Vi` ddau qua' ddi kho^ng ddu+o+.c
ne^n to^i pha?i bo` xuo^'ng ca^`u thang (vi` ddang o+?
tre^n "ga'c tro. ve^` khuya co+n gio' lu`a") Cuo^'i cu`ng ca'c
nha^n-vie^n la'i xe cu+'u thu+o+ng di`u to^i le^n xe cho+? to+'i
be^.nh-vie^.n. Lu'c ba^'y gio+` la` na(m 1991. DDo' la` la^`n
thu+' nha^'t to^i go.i 911.
Trong tho+`i gian dda^`u lu'c mo+'i sang xu+' co+` hoa na`y,
ngu+o+`i ba?o tro+. to^i ddang ha`nh-nghe^` ca('t co?. The^' la`
to^i"ta^'p-te^?nh ngu+o+`i la`m to+' cu~ng la`m". Va`o mo^.t
buo^?i sa'ng tro+`i xanh ma^y tra('ng na('ng ho^`ng, ngu+o+`i ba?
o tro+. ba?o to^i ddi ra?i gia^'y qua?ng-ca'o ca('t co?.
To^i o^m mo^.t mo+' "truye^`n ddo+n" qua?ng-ca'o ca('t co? leo
le^n chie^'c xe Mustang ma`u dden ddo+`i 75 mo+'i mua la.i 100
dollars dde^? ddi ra?i gia^'y. Sau khi dda^.u xe ta.i mo^.t nga~
tu+, to^i ba('t dda^`u ddi bo^. dde^? ra?i. Sau khi ra?i xong
(khoa?ng 2 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^`) to^i tro+? la.i nga~ tu+ dda^.u
xe ho^`i na~y dde^? la'i xe ve^`. Nhu+ng khi vu+`a dde^'n no+i
thi` ho+~i o^i! Xe kho^ng ca'nh ma` bay!
To^i cha.y qua cha.y la.i, cha.y to+'i cha.y lui, nhi`n quanh
nhi`n qua^'t, va^~n kho^ng tha^'y chie^'c xe Mustang dda^u ca?.
Tro+`i o+i! mo+'i qua My~ ddu+o+.c mo^.t chie^'c xe ma` ke? gian
dda~ a(n ca('p thi` la^'y gi` ma` ddi la`m dda^y. Vi` nghi~ ra
(`ng cha('c ke? gian vu+`a mo+'i la'i xe di tho^i ne^n pha?i
ba'o-ca'o cho ca?nh sa't ga^'p may ra ca?nh sa't ki.p tho+`i
cha^.n ba('t chu'ng o+? do.c ddu+o+`ng; The^' la` to^i bay ra
ngoa`i ddu+o+`ng, to+'i cho^~ co' ma'y ddie^.n thoa.i co^ng
co^.ng, bo? 25 cent va`o, ba^'m ngay so^' 911 va` ba'o-ca'o cho
gio+'i hu+~u-tra'ch dda^`u gia^y bie^'t ro~ tu+.-su+. sau khi
to^i dda~ khai ro~ te^n tuo^?i, so^' xe vv...
Ga'c ddie^.n-thoa.i le^n, to^i lie^`n ngo^`i phi.ch xuo^'ng
ddu+o+`ng dde^? nghi? vi` na~y gio+` ddi bo^. ra?i gia^'y qua'
la^u ne^n mo?i cha^n qua'. Khoa?ng 5 phu't sau, to^i ddu+'ng
da^.y dde^'n cho^~ nga~ tu+ kia ti`m la.i xe vi` tie^'c cu?a.
Ro^`i vu+`a gia^.n vu+`a tie^'c, to^i ddi vo`ng vo`ng quanh
ma^'y nga~ tu+ ga^`n dda^'y xem ke? gian co' la'i xe dda^.u
quanh dda^u dda^'y kho^ng! Bo^~ng ca'ch ddo' mo^.t nga~ tu+,
to^i tha^'y xe ai gio^'ng xe to^i qua'. Nhanh nhu+ cho+'p to^i
lao mi`nh to+'i cho^~ chie^'c xe ddang dda^.u. Khi dde^'n no+i,
to^i tha^'y ddi'ch thi. la` "Ngu+o+`i ti`nh co' cha^n-dung"
Mustang ma`u dden cu?a to^i ro^`i! Oh my God! (lu'c ddo' to^i
chu+a quen mie^.ng no'i ma^'y chu+~ na`y nhu+ng vie^'t lo+~ va`o
dda^y ro^`i vie^'t luo^n).
Cho+.t mo^.t y'-nghi~ lo'e le^n trong dda^u to^i: mi`nh dda^.u
xe o+? nga~ tu+ na`y, la.i ddi ti`m o+? nga~ tu+ kha'c tha^.t
la` la^?m-ca^?m. Va^.y ma` cu+' nghi~ la` tha(`ng cha hay con
me. na`o dda~ a(n ca('p la'i ddi ro^`i! Sau ddo' to^i nghi~ ra
(`ng mi`nh pha?i ba'o la.i cho ca?nh sa't bie^'t chu+' ne^'u
ngu+o+`i ta ddang ddi ti`m "ho.c xi`-da^`u" trong khi mi`nh leo
le^n xe la'i ve^` nha`, do.c ddu+o+`ng ga(.p ho. cha^.n la.i ho?
i thi` bo? tie^'p 25 cent va`o ma'y ro^`i ba^'m 911. Tie^'p theo
ddo', to^i tri`nh ba`y cho gio+'i hu+~u-tra'ch dda^`u gia^y
ddie^.n-thoa.i bie^'t ra(`ng to^i dda~ ti`m ra chie^'c xe cu?a
to^i dda^.u ca'ch cho^~ cu~ va`i "Block" vv...
The^' la` to^i dda~ go.i 911 ba la^`n.
Tie^'p theo la` vu. a(n thi.t ga` nguo^.i cu?a anh vo+. to^i.
Kho^ng hie^?u sao chie^`u ho^m a^'y sau khi a(n co+m vo+'i thi.t
ga` (chu+a ha^m la.i) xong, anh vo+. to^i ddau bu.ng du+~ do^.i
ro^`i ddi ca^`u nhie^`u la^`n. Anh ta ddie^.n-thoa.i cho to^i
le^n cho+? anh ta ddi ba'c si~ ga^'p (vi` ngu+o+`i con trai
mo+'i qua chu+a bie^'t la'i xe).
Khi vu+`a va`o nha` anh to^i, to^i tha^'y ma(.t anh ta xanh nhu+
ta`u la' chuo^'i! To^i lie^`n cho+? anh ta dde^'n pho`ng ma.ch
ba'c-si~ o+? Resida. Nhu+ng khi vu+`a dde^'n nga~ tu+ ddu+o+`ng
Vanowen& Sherman Wat, ma(.t anh ta bo^~ng ta'i ddi kho^ng co`n
mo^.t gio.t ma'u la`m to^i so+. qua'. The^`u tha`o qua ho+i
tho+?, anh ta run ra^?y ma^'y lo+`i nhu+ mo+'i ga(.p ngu+o+`i
ye^u la^`n dda^`u kho^ng no'i ddu+o+.c:...go....go....go.i chi'n
mo^.t mo^.t ...ddi. Anh...tha^'y tro...trong ngu+o+`i sao me^.t
qua'...!"
Tha^'t kinh, to^i lie^`n cho xe va`o dda^.u o+? tra.m xa(ng
ga^`n dda^'y, bay dde^'n o^? ddie^.n-thoa.i o+? tra.m xa(ng
ba^'m ngay 911 ro^`i tri`nh cho gio+'i hu+~u-tra'ch bie^'t ro~
tu+.-su+.. Na(m phu't sau, mo^.t chie^'c xe ambulance va` hai
chie^'c xe chu+~a lu+?a hu. co`i inh o?i cha.y dde^'n nga~ tu+
to^i ddang dda^.u xe ro^`i du+`ng la.i.
Sau khi ba('t ma.ch va` ddo nhie^.t ddo^. cho anh to^i xong va`
cu~ng sau khi xem ba?o-hie^?m Medical cu?a anh ta (loa.i ba?o-
hie^?m welfare cu?a anh em HO ddo' ma`), o^ng "ba'c si~" ba?o
to^i cho+? anh to^i dde^'n be^.nh vie^.n ga^`n dda^'y vi` be^.nh
ti`nh kho^ng tra^`m tro.ng la('m! To^i ra^'t nga.c-nhie^n vi`
anh to^i ddang na(`m ngoe?o co^? sang mo^.t be^n va` ma(.t ma`y
kho^ng co`n mo^.t gio.t ma'u. OH my god! (lu'c na`y to^i hay
quen mie^.ng no'i Oh my God!).
Cuo^'i cu`ng to^i dda`nh pha?i to^'c tha('ng cho+? anh to^i
dde^'n ba'c si~ gia ddi`nh Resida ngay vi` ga^`n ho+n be^.nh
vie^.n. The^' la` to^i dda~ go.i 911 la^`n thu+' tu+!
La^`n thu+' na(m va` cu~ng la` la^`n cuo^'i cu`ng (kho^ng bie^'t
co`n la^`n na`o nu+~a kho^ng) to^i go.i 911 (kho^ng bie^'t bi.
go.i hay ddu+o+.c go.i) la` tho+`i gian to^i ddang o+? apartment
ta.i ddu+o+`ng Gilmore St ti?nh Van Nuys. Chie^`u ho^m a^'y,
bo^~ng du+ng he^. tho^'ng ba'o ddo^.ng kho'i trong pho`ng to^i
ru' le^n ma(.c da^`u lu'c ba^'y gio+` cha(?ng co' ai na^'u
nu+o+'ng gi` ca?.
Nhi`n ra cu+?a so^? to^i tha^'y cu~ng cha(?ng co' kho'i o+?
dda^u tu+` ngoa`i bay va`o. The^' ma` he^. tho^'ng ba'o ddo^.ng
kho'i va^~n ke^u la inh-o?i. To^i lie^`n qua ba'o cho Manager cu?
a apartment bie^'t. Manager la` mo^.t thie^'u phu. Me^~ co'
cho^`ng hai con o+? ca'ch to^i 2 pho`ng. Sau khi qua pho`ng to^i
quan-sa't va` nghe ngo'ng "ddi.ch-ti`nh", ngu+o+`i
dde.p "Mexicana" lie^`u u?y tha'c cho to^i go.i 911.
So+? di~ co^ ta kho^ng go.i 911 vi` co^ ta no'i tie^'ng My~
gio^'ng nhu+ ngu+o+`i Rhade^ o+? cao nguye^n trung pha^`n
nu+o+'c ta no'i tie^'ng Vie^.t va^.y, so+. gio+'i hu+~u tra'ch
kho^ng hie^?u. The^' la` to^i tu+` tu+` ba^'m 911 la^`n thu+' na
(m trong vo`ng 3 na(m tre^n ma'y ddie^.n thoa.i ca^`m tay
ngu+o+`i dde.p mo+'i trao cho to^i.
Va`i phu't sau, mo^.t chie^'c xe ambulance va` hai xe cu+'u ho?a
hu. co`i inh o?i dda^.u ngay tru+o+'c apartment to^i o+?. Nha^n
vie^n cu+'u ho?a la^.t dda^.t cha.y va`o pho`ng to^i. Ho. nhi`n
quanh nhi`n qua^'t trong pho`ng cha(?ng tha^'y kho'i dda^u ca?,
ho. mo+? cu+?a chu+'a bi`nh ddu+.ng gas cu~ng cha(?ng tha^'y
gi`. Sau ddo' mo^.t nha^n vie^n cu+'u ho?a vo+'i tay mo+? ca'i na
('p tro`n cu?a he^. tho^'ng ba'o ddo^.ng kho'i ga('n tre^n
tra^`n nha` xuo^'ng. The^' la` tie^'ng ke^u inh o?i ngu+ng ba
(.t. Oh my God! Bie^'t the^' to^i ddu+a tay mo+? ca'i na('p a^'y
ra tu+` la^u, la`m gi` pha?i go.i Ca^?u dza'ch dza'ch a` que^n
911, la`m ru`m beng nhu+ the^' na`y.
The^' la` trong ba na(m, to^i go.i 911 na(m la^`n, trong lu'c
co' nhie^`u ngu+o+`i o+? My~ 25 na(m chu+a go.i 911 la^`n na`o
ca?.
Oh my God!
Ba^y gio+` to^i hay no'i OH my God! vi` tho'i quen "hay no'i" .
Tuy nhie^n to^i nghi~ mi`nh kho^ng pha?i ti'n ddo^` cu?a thie^n
chu'a gia'o ma` hay no'i Oh my God! thi` ky` qua'. DDa'ng le~
mi`nh theo dda.o na`o thi` no'i theo dda.o ddo' mo+'i ddu'ng.
To^i theo dda.o Kho^?ng-Tu+?, va^.y to^i pha?i su+?a la.i thay
vi` Oh my God! to^i pha?i no'i la` Oh my Kho^?ng!
Tie^'p theo, to^i xin ddu+o+.c phe'p ke^? ca^u chuye^.n thu+' 2.
DDo' la` vu. bi. xe to^ng.
Chie^`u ho^m a^'y dda(.c-bie^.t la` mo^.t buo^?i chie^`u cu~ng
co' tro+`i xanh ma^y tra('ng na('ng ho^`ng gio^'ng nhu+ nga`y
to^i ddi ra?i gia^'y qua?ng ca'o ca('t co? va^.y, to^i cu`ng
vo+'i "ngu+o+`i ti`nh co' cha^n dung" Mustang 75 "bi. ma^'t ca
('p" tru+o+'c ddo', ddang cha.y phom phom tre^n dda.i lo^.
Sherman way tie^'n ve^` thi. tra^'n Reseda dde^? va`o tie^.m
ki'nh Vie^~n DDo^ng la^'y ca(.p ki'nh ve^` cho "con dda^`m gia`"
(Danh tu+` anh em o+? trong tra.i ca?i-ta.o go.i dde^? chi? ca'c
ba` vo+. cu?a mi`nh vi` mo^.t na('ng hai su+o+ng ba'n buo^n
cu+.c kho^? nuo^i con nuo^i cho^`ng, ddo+.i cho+` mo`n mo?i ne^n
ca'c ba` bi. tha'ng na(m la`m cho gia` he^'t ro^`i).
Khi vu+`a dde^'n nga~ tu+ Sherman Way va` Louis, bo^~ng dda^u
ngu+o+`i ti`nh Mustang 75 cu?a to^i tro+? chu+'ng, ro^`i la`m
nu~ng. Kho^ng bie^'t vi` tru.c-tra(.c-ky~-thua^.t gi` trong lu.c
phu? ngu~ ta.ng ma` na`ng cha.y tie^'p. Bo^~ng nhi`n ki'nh
chie^'u ha^.u to^i tha^'y co' mo^.t chie^'c xe ddang cha.y
tha^.t nhanh ve^` phi'a to^i. Chie^'c xe bay to+'i a`o a`o nhu+
vu~ ba~o. To^'c-ddo^. cu?a no' 45, 50 miles la` i't. Nhi`n ki'nh
chie^'u ha^.u, tha^'y xe va^~n lao to+'i vu`n-vu.t, to^i tha^`m
ke^u tro+`i o+i! Sao ga^`n to+'i xe mi`nh ro^`i ma` no' kho^ng
cha^.m la.i. The^' ro^`i to^i nghe mo^.t tie^'ng ra^`m! Xe to^i
ddang cha.y cha^`m-cha^.m bo^~ng nhie^n bay to+'i phi'a tru+o+'c
khoa?ng 6 me't ro^`i ro+i xuo^'ng nghe mo^.t tie^'ng ra^`m! To^i
gu.c dda^`u va`o vo^-la(ng ba^'t ti?nh.
Khoa?ng 15 gia^y sau to^i ti?nh da^.y lie^`n mo+? da^y seat belt
ra, va(.n tra'i cu+?a ro^`i bu+o+'c ra kho?i xe. Mo^.t ca?nh
tu+o+.ng "hoang-ta`n ddo^? na't" hie^.n ra tru+o+'c ma('t
to^i: "ngu+o+`i ti`nh" Mustang cu?a to^i dda^`u quay ve^` phi'a
le^` ddu+o+`ng, dde`n emergency va^~n co`n nha^'p-nha'y nhu+ng ca
(.p ki'nh dde`n dda~ vo+~ na't, cu+?a be^n pha?i na`ng bi. be^?
ki'nh he^'t va` bi. lo?m va`o trong kho^ng mo+? ra ddu+o+.c,
phi'a sau na`ng de.p le'p nhu+ ca'i ba'nh tra'ng vi` bi. to^ng
qua' ma.nh, cu+?a ki'nh sau bi. vo+~ na't vu.n, bi`nh xa(ng bi.
be^? ne^n xa(ng cha?y ra tra`n ca? ma(.t ddu+o+`ng.
Tie^'n to+'i chie^'c xe to^ng va`o to^i, to^i tha^'y mo^.t
thie^'u nu+~ da tra('ng (nhu+ng co' le~ ngu+o+`i Me^~ thi`
ddu'ng ho+n la` My~, to^i ddoa'n va^.y) ngo^`i kho'c hu-hu trong
xe mo^.t mi`nh, a'o qua^`n con ni't dda^u trong xe tung le^n
bu+`a ba~i. DDa^`u xe cu?a co^ ta cu~ng be.p di' nhu+ ca'i ba'nh
tra'ng.
Nhi`n co^ ta to^i no'i:
"Co^ ddi dda^u ma` la'i xe nhanh nhu+ va^.y ha', ha'?"
Co^ ta vu+`a kho'c vu+`a tra? lo+`i:
"O^ng ddi dda^u ma` la'i xe cha^.m the^'?"
To^i no'i la.i:
"To^i dda~ ba^.t dde`n emergency ro^`i co^ kho^ng tha^'y sao
ha', ha'?"
Nghe to^i no'i va^.y kho^ng bie^'t sao co^ ta kho^ng no'i gi`
nu+~a, chi? bu+o+'c xuo^'ng xe to+'i le^` ddu+o+`ng ngo^`i
phi.ch xuo^'ng kho'c tie^'p. Co' le~ vu+`a hu+ xe vu+`a cha.y a^?
u to^ng xe to^i ne^n co^ ta so+. cha(ng?
Co' le~ cu+ da^n quanh dda^'y tha^'y tai na.n xa?y ra co' ve?
ghe^ go+'m qua' dda~ go.i ddie^.n thoa.i cho ca?nh sa't bie^'t
ne^n khoa?ng 7 phu't sau to^i tha^'y xe ca?nh sa't dde^'n . Sau
khi la`m thu? tu.c bie^n ba?n xong, ca?nh sa't ba?o chu'ng to^i
ky' va`o to+` bie^n ba?n cu?a ho.. Sau ddo', ho. ba?o chu'ng
to^i pha?i la`m the^' na`o dde^? "Tow" hai chie^'c xe va^'t
va`o "ba~i tha ma" ga^'p, ne^'u kho^ng se~ co`n ca?n tro+? su+.
lu+u tho^ng xe co^..
To^i ddang loay hoay chu+a bie^'t ti'nh sao thi` ca?nh sa't go.i
ddie^.n thoa.i cho xe ca^`n tru.c o+? co^ng ty na`o ddo' dde^'n
ke'o xe to^i ro^`i trao cho to^i mo^.t ca'i card va` ba?o ra(`ng
xe ca^`n tru.c cu?a co^ng ty trong card na`y se~ dde^'n
dda^y "tow" xe cu?a to^i ddi. To^i no'i vo+'i ca?nh-sa't:
"The^' thi` ai bo^`i thu+o+`ng chie^'c xe hu+ cu?a to^i dda^y?
Chi'nh ngu+o+`i la'i chie^'c xe to^ng va`o xe to^i co' lo^~i vi`
co^ ta la'i xe qua' nhanh lu'c ddang cha.y trong tha`nh pho^'."
Vie^n Ca?nh-sa't tra? lo+`i:
"Anh thue^ lua^.t-su+ kie^.n co^ ta ra to`a."
Tra? lo+`i xong ca?nh sa't leo le^n xe la'i ddi ma^'t da.ng.
To^i ho?i la` ho?i va^.y tho^i chu+' lu'c ddo' to^i va` co^ kia
ca? hai dde^`u kho^ng ai co' ba?o hie^?m ca? va` dda~ khai vo+'i
ca?nh sa't lu'c ho. la`m bie^n ba?n ro^`i. Khoa?ng 10 phu't sau,
mo^.t chie^'c xe ca^`n tru.c dde^'n ca^u "ngu+o+`i ti`nh"
Mustang 75 cu?a to^i ddi va^'t va`o nghi~a ddi.a xe ho+i.
Sau khi ddu+'ng nghie^m chi?nh dde^? tie^~n ddu+a na`ng ve^`
du+o+'i suo^'i va`ng an nghi? nghi`n na(m, lo`ng to^i buo^`n
vo+`i vo+.i vi` ke^? tu+` nay, "nghi`n tru`ng xa ca'ch ngu+o+`i
dda~ ddi ro^`i, co`n gi` dda^u nu+~a ma` kho'c vo+'i cu+o+`i"!
Va`i nga`y sau, to^i nha^.n ddu+o+.c mo^.t ca'i "citation" pha?i
ra to`a tri`nh die^.n dde^? no^.p tie^`n pha.t $170 dollars vi`
kho^ng co' ba?o hie^?m. Tie^'p theo ddo', to^i pha?i ra DMV
dde^? la`m vie^.c thie^.n ba^'t dda('c di~ ta(.ng cho DMV $250
dollars dde^? xin la.i ba(`ng la'i xe ne^'u kho^ng se~ bi. cu'p
ba(`ng mo^.t nghi`n na(m!
Trong tho+`i gian na`y, to^i nha^.n ddu+o+.c mo^.t pha^`n thu+o+?
ng cu?a DMV trao ta(.ng: treo ba(`ng 3 na(m, rie^ng na(m dda^`u
chi? ddu+o+.c phe'p la'i xe ddo^.c dda.o tu+` nha` dde^'n ha~ng
va` tu+` ha~ng dde^'n nha`, ne^'u ddi lo^.n ddu+o+`ng ca?nh-sa't
ba('t ddu+o+.c thi` ddu+`ng co' ke^u tro+`i o+i! dda^'t ho+~i!
Tie^'p nu+~a, to^i nha^.n ddu+o+.c mo^.t ca'i Bill pha?i tra?
cho co^ng ty "Tow" dda~ a^n-a'i mua mo^.t bo' hoa vi~-dda.i $70
(tie^`n "Tow" xe) dde^? tie^~n ddu+a ngu+o+`i ti`nh Mustang 75
cu?a to^i ra nghi~a-ddi.a an gia^'c nga`n thu! To^?ng-co^.ng
ta^'t ca? phi' to^?n tu+` tie^`n thuo^'c men cha.y chu+~a,
tie^`n cu'ng ddie^'u hoa la' ca`nh, tie^`n mua dda^'t o+? nghi~a
ddi.a, tie^`n cho^n ca^'t v.v... Cho ngu+o+`i ti`nh co' cha^n
dung MUSTANG ddo+`i 75 vi. chi la` $490 dollars.
Kho^ng bie^'t ti`nh tra.ng co^ da tra('ng kia nhu+ the^' na`o,
cha('c cu~ng gio^'ng to^i tho^i vi` kho^ng co' ba?o-hie^?m, Lu'c
ba^'y gio+` la` 1994, ha`ng trie^.u ngu+o+`i la'i xe kho^ng co'
ba?o hie^?m. Chu+' ba^y gio+` theo lua^.t mo+'i, la'i xe kho^ng
co' ba?o hie^?m bi. pha.t na(.ng ho+n nhie^`u. Ru't kinh
nghie^.m, khi ca? hai be^n kho^ng co' ba?o hie^?m, ne^n tho^ng
ca?m ma` tha cho nhau, ro^`i ma.nh ai na^'y chuo^`n.
Ca? hai be^n vu+`a cha.y tro^'n vu+`a nga^m hai ca^u tho+ sau
dda^y thi` tuye^.t die^.u:
"Lie^.u ma` cao cha.y xa bay
A'i a^n ta co' nga^`n na`y ma` tho^i!"
Chu+' dde^? ca?nh sa't to+'i no+i la`m bie^n ba?n thi` ca? hai
be^n se~ tan tha`nh ma^y kho'i. May sao trong tai na.n na`y,
to^i hoa`n toa`n vo^ su+. co' le~ nho+` mang ni.t an toa`n
ne^n "Con dda^`m gia`" cu~ng ye^n ta^m.
Tu+'c qua', co+n gia^.n Tru+o+ng Phi no^?i le^n ddu`ng ddu`ng,
to^i la^'y to+` report cu?a ca?nh sa't ra ti`m so^' ddie^.n
thoa.i cu?a co^ la'i chie^'c xe to^ng to^i ro^`i go.i co^ ta
ngay. Sau khi co' tie^'ng tra? lo+`i dda^`u da^y ddie^.n thoa.i,
to^i no'i ngay:
"To^i la` ngu+o+`i la'i chie^'c xe Mustang ma` co^ to^ng to^i
tua^`n tru+o+'c co^ co`n nho+' kho^ng?"
"Nho+' chu+'!"
"Co^ pha?i bo^`i thu+o+`ng chie^'c xe cho to^i chu+'! Ne^'u
kho^ng to^i se~ go.i co^ lie^n tu.c ba^'t cu+' lu'c na`o, 2
gio+` sa'ng, 3 gio+` chie^`u, 12 gio+` khuya, 1 gio+` tru+a
v.v..."
To^i nghe dda^`u gia^y tra? lo+`i:
"O^ng cu+' go.i, cho o^ng go.i. To^i sa(~n sa`ng nghe o^ng go.i!"
Oh My God! Oh My Kho^?ng! No' bie^'t to^i kho^ng co' ba?o hie^?m
ne^n no' cu~ng lie^`u luo^n. Ho^`i mo+'i sang My~, to^i nghe
ba.n be` no'i ra(`ng tha`nh pha^`n na`y o+? be^n My~ nhie^`u la
('m. Va? la.i "Ngu+o+`i ti`nh co' cha^n dung" Mustang cu?a to^i
cu~ng qua' cu~, mi`nh la.i kho^ng mua ba?o hie^?m nu+~a, ba^y
gio+` kie^.n co^ ta ra to`a to^'n tie^`n thue^ lua^.t su+
phie^`n toa'i ma` da^n HO mo+'i qua tie^`n dda^u thue^ lua^.t
su+. DDa~ the^' co^ ta la.i to? ra lie^`u ma.ng nhu+ va^.y thi`
kie^.n la`m gi` cho ma^'t co^ng bo? vie^.c. Tuy nhie^n trong
lo`ng va^~n co`n tu+'c gia^.n ne^n to^i thu+? to^' la^`n nu+~a
xem sao:
"Tao se~ thu+a lua^.t su+ ddu+a ma`y ra to`a, OK?"
Co^ ta tra? lo+`i:
"To^i sa(~n sa`ng ra to`a, o^ng cu+' thue^ lua^.t su+ ddi!"
Bie^'t no' lie^`u ma.ng ro^`i to^i no'i vo+'i no' la^`n cuo^'i ba
(`ng ba thu+' tie^'ng cha('c no' nghi~ ra(`ng to^i chu+?i the^`:
"OK! Tao thua mi! Bonjour Triste`s! (Buo^`n o+i! Cha`o mi!).
North Hollywood, tha'ng 6- 2000
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