Caged Beasts

[Vung Tau, 5/30/25]

Three years ago in Vung Tau, I met a man with two disabled sons, one from a traffic accident and one crippled by an addiction to video games and, I’m sure, online porn. Nearly sumo sized, he would only crawl from bed to use the toilet. This man made pennies from selling egg or fish sausage bánh mì. His wife sold cheap clothing on a sidewalk. When they die, their hikikomori will be flung into all the ickiness, noises and joys he’s always fled from. Squirming, he will shield his eyes as his blubber melts, second by second, until he joins his loving parents.

This morning, I found out the security guard I’ve just met has a similar son. Over 30, this useless boy won’t leave the house. One of his sisters is a seamstress, the other a singer at parties and weddings. Divorced, she has a child and a home she’s renting out. His mom operates a drink stand. Who cares if his dad survived crawling over a landmine at age 18 and, now, must also cook for him? Daddy’s dishes taste better than mommy’s, he insists.