While waiting for the driver to arrive, the drizzle began to fall. The driver called three times, still unsure whether to wait at the front or the back of the house. After a while, they finally spotted him at the back, holding a raincoat, patiently waiting for the two of them.
When they reached him, he carefully adjusted the oversized green SM raincoat for Mon, then lifted her little girl onto the back seat. The bike rolled forward, but halfway through, the rain came down like a waterfall. The raincoat leaked, water seeped in everywhere. Ten minutes, five minutes, three minutes… time stretched unbearably long. Mom kept staring at the map on driver’s phone, anxious that the destination never seemed to come. Rain slapped straight into their faces, mist blurred the road, while people huddled under the bridge, crowding together to escape the storm.
The driver kept going, and the rain kept rushing down.
Rain – it stirs up so many emotions…
Inside the raincoat, the little girl was wrapped tightly in her mother’s arms, shielded by the driver’s faceless back. Yet she was utterly delighted. Her legs kept stretching out to catch the rain, not caring that her shoes were soaking wet. She even reached her hands out, welcoming the pelting raindrops as if they were a rare delight.
The Saigon River, in the rain, lay still – not a single boat in sight.
By the time they arrived, both of them were drenched from head to toe, hair plastered flat, looking so pitiful that even the guard stared in surprise, as though he’d just seen two little birds battered by the storm.
Not long after they got upstairs, Mom’s phone buzzed with a message:
“I’m sorry, the raincoat leaked and left you and your child soaked. Truly sorry.”
She read it aloud to her daughter:
“Sweetie, the driver says sorry because the raincoat leaked and got us wet.”
a little girl paused, then replied, “He must be having a hard time too, riding in such heavy rain.” Such a young child, yet already so empathetic.
“Well, at least he got us home safe through the storm. That’s something to be grateful for,” Mom said.
Suddenly a girl exclaimed, “Then let’s give him 5 stars, Mom!”
“Deal! Here, you tap the last star, that makes 5.”
“Don’t forget to write he’s kind and thoughtful too!” she reminded.
“And give him 10,000 as encouragement,” Mom added.
“Only 10,000? Let’s give 20,000!” a little girl insisted.
“Alright then, done! Hopefully, it’ll make his day.”
P.S. Mom didn’t reply to his message, but instead left a 5-star rating, a warm comment, and a modest 20,000 tip – just a little token of encouragement. They hope it brightened his heart after that rainy ride.
Reflections: A Green SM ride in the Saigon rain – Mom and Min.
Independence Day, September 2, 2025
