Story lines for my books
I had always only planned on writing one book of short stories. Then move to something deeper (which I am working on now), and then complete the book on Human Trafficking book.
Of late I am getting lots of requests from readers of My Vietnam Stories to write a second book of short stories.
Thank you for suggestions, and they might have come at exactly the right time.
Since moving out to history rich Long Phuoc, I am being inundated with original stories. People are just walking up to me and recounting the most interesting stuff!
I am going to put the outlines of those stories on this page. It is so I don't forget about them. Later when I have researched the story and found my background information I can put pen to paper.
It will also keep you in the loop.
The stories are outlines only, so don't expect all of it to make sense.
Of late I am getting lots of requests from readers of My Vietnam Stories to write a second book of short stories.
Thank you for suggestions, and they might have come at exactly the right time.
Since moving out to history rich Long Phuoc, I am being inundated with original stories. People are just walking up to me and recounting the most interesting stuff!
I am going to put the outlines of those stories on this page. It is so I don't forget about them. Later when I have researched the story and found my background information I can put pen to paper.
It will also keep you in the loop.
The stories are outlines only, so don't expect all of it to make sense.
The Nurse and the good-peoples book
Sen and I out riding around Dat Do. A small sign to a shrine and tunnel. Shrine is outside but locked.
We ask a neighbour about the shrine.
A young girl, a resistance fighter, a nurse hears the Australians have discovered their family tunnel and are on their way to search it. The nurse knows that in her family's tunnel is kept 'The Good People's Book'. This book holds the names of all resistance fighters in the area. If it was to fall into the Australian's hands they would have a list of all the resistance fighters in the area. (Such a recorded was needed to realize the Land Reform promises after the war.)
The young girl rushed into the tunnel and blew up herself and the book.
Family still living, therefore possible to interview.
We ask a neighbour about the shrine.
A young girl, a resistance fighter, a nurse hears the Australians have discovered their family tunnel and are on their way to search it. The nurse knows that in her family's tunnel is kept 'The Good People's Book'. This book holds the names of all resistance fighters in the area. If it was to fall into the Australian's hands they would have a list of all the resistance fighters in the area. (Such a recorded was needed to realize the Land Reform promises after the war.)
The young girl rushed into the tunnel and blew up herself and the book.
Family still living, therefore possible to interview.
Viet Minh Smugglers
Story told recently to Sen in a coffee shop by a man who, as a child, remembers his parents smuggling medical supplies from Saigon to Long Phuoc for the Viet Minh.
His parents would also hide Viet Minh soldiers in their tunnel.
His parents were wealthy business people. Pepper. First car in the area. Car used to transport pepper to Saigon on behalf of other pepper farmers. On the return run, one bag of inferior pepper was used to stash medical supplies. At various checkpoints along the road the police dogs could not smell the contraband due to the pepper odor.
The original car is still in the family home. What about the tunnel? He has invited us out to his home when it suits us.
His parents would also hide Viet Minh soldiers in their tunnel.
His parents were wealthy business people. Pepper. First car in the area. Car used to transport pepper to Saigon on behalf of other pepper farmers. On the return run, one bag of inferior pepper was used to stash medical supplies. At various checkpoints along the road the police dogs could not smell the contraband due to the pepper odor.
The original car is still in the family home. What about the tunnel? He has invited us out to his home when it suits us.
One morning in a coffee shop
Sen and I dropped into a corner coffee shop after breakfast.
Two elderly ladies were in the corner next to us. They asked where I was from (checking that I wasn't American), and then launched into this short but powerful story.
"Do you know that the Americans burned down our farm? So my father rebuilt our farm.
Do you know that the Americans came and burned down our farm again? So our family moved to Long Dien (next town).
When our fruit trees were ripe my father sent us children to pick the fruit.
Do you know that the Americans shot at us while we were picking our fruit? We were very scared and ran away. We thought that our father might be angry at us if we didn't come home with the fruit, so we sneaked back to our farm.
Do you know that the Americans had burned down all of our fruit trees?"
If her story wasn't powerful enough, she then added a 50 year post script.
"Do you know why my family is still very poor today? My father had to pay for and build three farms."
Wow! This almost needs nothing else except a description of the shop and the two ladies.
Two elderly ladies were in the corner next to us. They asked where I was from (checking that I wasn't American), and then launched into this short but powerful story.
"Do you know that the Americans burned down our farm? So my father rebuilt our farm.
Do you know that the Americans came and burned down our farm again? So our family moved to Long Dien (next town).
When our fruit trees were ripe my father sent us children to pick the fruit.
Do you know that the Americans shot at us while we were picking our fruit? We were very scared and ran away. We thought that our father might be angry at us if we didn't come home with the fruit, so we sneaked back to our farm.
Do you know that the Americans had burned down all of our fruit trees?"
If her story wasn't powerful enough, she then added a 50 year post script.
"Do you know why my family is still very poor today? My father had to pay for and build three farms."
Wow! This almost needs nothing else except a description of the shop and the two ladies.