Childhood memories

The passage describes the swift passage of time and the narrator's immersion in a modern and bustling environment. On that particular day, the narrator made a concerted effort to quickly complete their work to catch the last bus back to their hometown.

After a period of waiting, the awaited bus finally arrived, and the journey back home commenced. On the bus, everyone carried bags and belongings, along with gifts for their respective families. The atmosphere inside the bus harmonized, and occasionally, the narrator heard the laughter of children who seemed to have coincidentally met and were making new friends.

As the narrator set foot on the familiar land of their homeland, a sense of profound tranquility enveloped them. Memories of childhood flashed back, recalling instances like being called in for dinner by their grandmother while playing with other children in the village. The grandmother's calls, urging them to come home for a meal, remain vivid in their memory.

The grandmother, now nearly 80 years old, played a significant role in maintaining joy and warmth within the family. During weekends, the narrator often joined their grandmother in harvesting fresh vegetables to sell at the market. The grandmother's generosity towards her grandchildren was evident, as she consistently bought toys for them whenever they accompanied her. In the evenings, family members gathered near the riverbank, enjoying the breeze and sharing stories, creating a peaceful and idyllic scene.

The harvest season brought about a busy time for everyone in the village, each person engaged in their specific tasks, such as catching fish, carrying bundles of rice straw, or planting rice. Despite contributing only a little to their grandmother's work, the narrator cherished the words of encouragement from their grandmother, emphasizing that although they did less as a child, success in the future would bring happiness to her.

The passage concludes with the narrator being abruptly awakened from their childhood memories as their mother calls them in for dinner. Rushing inside, they return to the present, savoring the nostalgic taste of their hometown. However, the surroundings have changed significantly from the time when they left for the city, and the narrator reflects on the transformations that have taken place in their absence.