Postcard salesman

Turtle Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam. This lake has a small park like setting around it. The flowering trees are in bloom. A little boy, about eight years old, came over to me "You buy postcards!". It sounded like an order. I say "No". He keeps walking with me. He says "O.K.". I wait for the punch line but the sales talk stops. He just wants to practice his english. He already speaks it well. We sit on a park bench and talk about my life in the USA and his life in Vietnam. He is very smart. I think of him meeting people from all over the world. Some day he will own a store or even a factory. A boy from a farm. I really like this young man and as I leave him I tell him I'll buy some cards. He becomes a salesman again and we must haggle the price! I wish him well and I hope his future is bright. I love the people here so much.

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