The stately sunlight of winter only came at noon. It beamed on the rustling Nepalese alder trees. It shone on the hedges and skirts of girls and gently stroked the rice falling here and there on the desiccated terraces which only yielded crops once a year. 

My house was situated on the hillside, overlooking the Ma River. 

Every night, rain or shine, Sua went out to a gigantic block of stone under the coffee plum tree next to the Su Sung stream to fish and sleep. Yet for two days straight, he hadn’t shown up. Did Sua leave for another stream with more fish? Or was he bored with fishing? Sua’s fishing buddies had been asking each other such questions on their night shifts. 

The night before Hoai was thinking about getting a divorce, she was dreaming a queer dream. An image of a baby formed in her womb. But all her doubts had also grown bigger in that befuddled dream. 

A photograph. A bottle of medicine capsules. A tourist bag, Samsonite brand. A shirt and a trousers hanging in the sideboard. 

9:30 pm. The street, strewn with rustling dry yellow leaves coming down from the trees, was ready for a strong wind after this breeze in the small township of Phu Sa. 

While the masseuse’s deft hands caressed Duyen’s hair and face she, with her half-closed eyes, felt very comfortable thanks to the fragrant cosmetic products on them. 

“Mum…Mum, get up…get up! The flood is over,” urged Mrs Nghiep’s son. “Now I’m back here with you.” 

His name was Ananda, and Ananda means satisfaction and bliss. 

“Last night, a snake crept onto Lam’s bed,” someone started. “Oh my god. She felt something slippery, threw off her blanket, then jumped up and down. She was very lucky. If that snake had bitten her, we would have been at her funeral today.” 

The stormy season came late this year. Not until the 7th lunar month did the news incessantly broadcast forecasts about the first storm of the year heading in from the East Sea. 

Although the fast-food restaurant owned by Thanh was located in the outskirts of a German town, customers crowded in for lunch in great numbers as there were many offices, factories and small workshops nearby. To serve them more comfortably, one day the owner had to hire an assistant to cook and deliver food.