Recently Jenna and I checked some books out from the
library. One of these books was called Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Tai
– a story written in a free verse and dated as would a journal or diary. The experience of Ha (the narrator) reminds
me of Thuan Huynh’s own life as recorded in April
Rain – a book I received for a birthday almost seven years ago.
At the time Thuan was working at the same office as
Roland. He autographed the book for me
and I started reading it and was intrigued with his life’s journey and for the
huge sacrifice that his mother had made for him and his sister and for the love
he had for his family members – particularly his mom and his sister. And for the courage that each of them
endured
Though it is an easy book and can hold the reader’s
interest to move quickly through the pages, I am still quite a slow reader
(though I did read it quicker than most books while it was in my possession). I shared the book with others that I knew
would be able to read it faster, and so it wasn’t until Thuan and Roland were
no longer working together when I came across the photo at the end of the book.
The photo shows Thuan with his wife and son. It appears that all three are dressed in
white. I had no clue that Thuan even had
a son. For the wife in the photo is not
the same wife I had been introduced to at the company barbeque. I was later told that he had divorced the
wife that I met. And really, I don’t
know the circumstances of either partner or why he is no longer with either of
them.
I believe it was rumored that Thuan had had an affair in
another state. His boss had tried to get
in touch with him to close a deal – but Thuan hadn’t answered his phone. His boss ended up doing the majority of the
work and so gave Thuan only a small percentage of the sale. I think Thuan should have been grateful – if
it hadn’t been for his boss, the deal would have never gone through and no
money would have been made for either one of them. But Thuan took him to court to claim a larger
percentage of the sale – and walked away with more than he himself had
earned. It put a huge damper on the
relationship he had had with his boss – both professionally and personally.
Now as for the wives or the rumor of the affair, I don’t
know. I suppose I don’t really KNOW
about the sale and percentage dispute either – only what I have been told by
others who were involved – hearsay – but not from Thuan himself. I don’t really know him. Only what is written in his book. And I still think it’s a marvelous
achievement and should probably be a required reading with every youth in
America. I respect who he was and the
accomplishments he has made. But I have
lost respect about some things – but as I said I don’t know the accuracy of
what I was told. And even if I were to
hear from Thuan Huynh himself, I still wouldn’t know the accuracy. I think his words in April Rain are quite truthful, but I don’t know if they are anymore.
Thuan actually does not go by the name of Thuan nor has
for some time. I started this post with
his American name, but decided to change it as he is in currently in a position
in which scandal could be harmful. And
because I don’t KNOW, it’s not my place to turn others against him. Not that I’m against him. I’m not.
He’s human. He may have made mistakes. He may have been in a financially tight
situation in which he felt he had no alternative but to take his boss to
court. Still, I wonder if he had even
bothered to involve God in his decision.
Regardless of who is now, April Rain really is an awesome autobiography that I highly
recommend. Inside Out and Back Again is also good reading. We can learn history through the survivors. It’s important that we learn. It’s also important to forgive.
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