Buzz
Prompt: Portray Mr. Six recounting the Ivory Comb tale
Playing the role of Mr. Six, narrating the tale of the Ivory Comb
I. Outline Playing the role of Mr. Six, narrating the tale of the Ivory Comb
1. Introduction
- Introducing the circumstances of 'my' life:
+ Far from home for resistance
+ Several years without seeing my daughter
+ Only able to admire my child through photos
2. Body
- Recalling vacation days:
+ Joyful reunion with my child, yet met with fear, rejection, and even a thrown egg when trying to show affection
+ Little Thu refuses all care, even tossing the egg out of the bowl when I try to feed her
+ Anger leads to regret after accidentally striking my child → Profound remorse
+ Departure day, Little Thu cries out for me
- Recalling days back to the battlefield:
+ Engaging in combat
+ Finding an ivory piece and crafting a comb as a gift for my child
+ Before sacrificing, sending the comb back to my comrades to deliver to Little Thu
3. Conclusion
Imagining the reunion scene with Little Thu
II. Sample Composition Playing the role of Mr. Six narrating the story of the Ivory Comb
I and a friend named Ba lived near each other and volunteered for resistance. After several years away from home and family for the resistance, I always longed to meet my beloved little daughter. On days when my wife came to visit, the dangerous border roads made it impossible for our daughter to accompany her, so I could only admire her through a photograph. When the unit granted leave, I was overjoyed and eagerly anticipated seeing my dear daughter. My heart raced on the journey home. A girl with shoulder-length hair, wearing black trousers and a white T-shirt, was playing under the mango tree in front of the house. I could tell she was my daughter. Without waiting for the boat to dock, I leaped off, pushing the boat ashore, and hurried to meet her. My heart choked with emotion as I called out:
- Thu, my child
But perhaps that anticipation was not reciprocated at this moment. As I reached out to embrace her, Thu opened her eyes wide, full of surprise. I felt both sad and trembling as I spoke:
- Thu. Your father is here
As soon as the words left my mouth, the little girl looked at me strangely, blinking repeatedly as if to ask who I was. Then she blushed and ran quickly into the house, shouting loudly:
- Grandma! Mom!
I was taken aback, my eyes following my child along with the incessant pain, the anticipation of meeting her met with the indifference and coldness of the little one. I was endlessly sad at this moment, something piercing my heart making me unable to stand firm, collapsing amidst choked sobs.
During the days at home with my child, Little Thu didn't acknowledge me as her father; every day, I dared not go far, just wanting to be close to her, to shower her with love and affection to compensate for the days I was away. No matter how hard I tried, she remained deliberately cold, keeping her distance from me. The more I tried to comfort her, the further she pushed me away. My longing was to hear Little Thu call me 'dad,' but she never uttered those words. When my wife was preparing dinner inside the house, she called Little Thu to call me to come eat, but she refused, saying that her mother should call me instead. Hearing this, my wife got angry, brandishing the cooking chopsticks, threatening to hit her if she didn't listen, but the little one still stubbornly spoke out:
- Not eating
Though I heard my daughter's call, I sat silently pretending not to hear, hoping she would call out 'Dad, come eat.' Yet, I was disappointed when she shouted from the kitchen:
- Rice is cooked
Even then, I didn't return, it seemed like she was annoyed, so she turned back to look at her mother, then said:
- You've called, but they just won't listen
I didn't know what to say, you turned back to look at me and smiled. Oh dear, why is my daughter so stubborn? But deep in my heart, I love her endlessly. That day, my wife went out to prepare for my upcoming trip, before leaving, she instructed our child that if she needed any help at home, just call for her dad.
Yet, our child remained silent, just sitting crouched under the kitchen. When she heard the rice boiling, perhaps realizing her inability to drain the water, only then did she glance outside. I silently thought that when our child was pushed into a corner, she must surely call me 'Dad,' but she spoke in vain:
- Drain the water, rice is boiling.
I deliberately said:
- Call me 'Dad' to drain the water for you, listen to me
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, our child refused to listen to my words, she stubbornly shouted:
- The rice is boiling. Hurry up and don't dawdle now
I said:
- Are you afraid of getting hit? If the rice gets mushy, Mom will scold, Mom will hit you. Now you just need to call 'Dad' once, why are you making it so difficult.
Hearing the bubbling sound of the water, she hesitated, looked up and down nervously. Then after a while, she struggled to do it herself, scooping up water with a cup, mumbling something as if blaming me.
During dinner, I served my child the biggest fish egg from the plate, but as soon as it was served, she pushed the chopsticks away from the bowl, and rice spilled all over the table. Out of anger, without thinking, I slapped her on the buttocks. Oh God, at that moment, I didn't recognize myself anymore, I've regretted that slap ever since.
As I slapped, I yelled:
- Why are you so stubborn, child
Thinking she would cry, refuse to eat, or run away, but she just sat still, head down. Then, without knowing what to think, she picked up the fish egg, put it in her bowl, and got up to leave. She went to the dock, jumped into the boat, and rowed to her grandparent's house. Despite my wife's coaxing that evening, she refused to come back. Tomorrow, I have to leave, thinking about her breaks my heart.
The next morning, relatives and grandparents gathered to see me off. Busy with entertaining guests, there wasn't much time to pay attention to my child. My wife was packing, folding each shirt into the backpack, leaving the child seemingly abandoned, leaning against the doorway, looking at everyone. Glancing at her, I noticed a different expression today, not the usual stubbornness or frowning, but sadness, innocence tainted with sorrow, something indescribable in her contemplative gaze.
In the moment of farewell, backpack on my shoulder, having shaken hands with everyone, I glanced back at my child. She stood quietly in the corner of the house, my heart yearned to hug and kiss her, but fear of her running away held me back, so I could only stand and watch her from afar, my heart heavy with sadness. Then I softly said:
- Okay, Dad's going now, listen to me
Surprisingly, as I finished speaking, my child hesitantly uttered:
- D...a...d...dy
At that moment, overwhelming happiness filled my heart, then she rushed to me, throwing her arms around my neck, crying as she spoke:
- Daddy, stay home with me, don't leave anymore, stay home with me, Daddy!
I lifted her up, kissed her forehead, in her tearful voice, I felt a profound love she held for me. After hearing from my relatives, I realized that Little Thu didn't recognize me because of the scar on my forehead from a battle wound. - Dad's leaving, but Dad will come back to you soon, okay, my dear.
Stepping onto the battlefield, in moments of respite, I think of my child. On a battle day, I found an ivory piece, filled with joy. From this ivory, I could craft an ivory comb for my beloved daughter. When not busy, I meticulously carved each letter onto the comb: 'Miss you, Thu, your father's'. So much love I poured into making this comb, to me, it's a wonderful keepsake, gazing at the ivory comb, it's like seeing the image of my beloved child.
I once thought that when I reunite with my child, I would give her this wonderful gift, but fate can be ironic, no one knows what tomorrow holds. During a mission to eliminate the enemy, I was severely injured. Knowing I couldn't survive the critical condition, I took out the ivory comb from my pocket, handed it to my comrade, and instructed:
- You...please...deliver...to...Thu...help me.
My heart was in immense pain, falling on the battlefield was both pain and pride. In the final moments, I saw Thu smiling, holding my hand, I smiled happily, drifting into a deep sleep.
