A Father's Gift (A Chocolate Cake Story)

Michael's Gift

It was his last visit. Mrs. Emily Jensen listened carefully as he explained why – helping her to understand – and Henry, too, reuniting his family, and of course, the cake. His birthday cake gave him something to hold onto, a memory that gave him the strength he needed. That, and her strong maternal bond. And today, on his very last birthday, he was giving her a gift.

"Goodbye," said his mother. And the doorbell rang.

>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<

Henry opened the door to three strangers. One was a soldier in uniform, one was a woman, and the third was a child. He tried to speak, but the words stuck in his mouth.

"Mr. Jensen, my name is Private Amanda Perez; I'm a friend of General Hightower. He sent a team to investigate the area you drew in your map, in hopes of finding information regarding your son."

"Please, come in and sit down." When they had settled, the soldier continued. "It seems that some refugees from a neighboring village, that was also destroyed in the same air strike, found Michael alive, but barely. They took him with them and saw to his wounds. I am sad to say that, several months later, Michael died."

At that moment, Emily came into the room, and saw their guests. She smiled broadly, and said, "Quan-Li, Chào mừng đến nhà của chúng tôi, con gái! (Quan-Li, Welcome to our home, daughter!) Và bạn, ít bướm, phải được Ni-Tsao! (And you, little butterfly, must be Ni-Tsao!)"

Private Perez' jaw dropped. Henry himself was dumbfounded! He watched in disbelief as his wife and the strangers embraced, laughing and crying simultaneously.

"Mr. Jensen, did our office tell your wife any of this? And why didn't you say your wife spoke Vietnamese?"

"No, and she doesn't speak it! Would someone please tell me exactly what is going on here? Who are they?"

"The woman is Quan-Li, your son's wife. And the little girl is..."

"Our granddaughter, dear," continued Emily. "Michael's daughter, Ni-Tsao. Ni-Tsao, Đi và cung cấp cho ông nội của bạn một cái ôm lớn! (Go and give your grandfather a big hug!)"

When she had stopped hugging the breath out of him, Henry held her at arm's length. And saw Michael's blue eyes in his granddaughter's face. Around her neck were Michael's dog tags.