We're in Vietnam on an unauthorized break from schools and work. After everything that's happnened we need to get away for a while and be together as a family. Some things matter more than everyday obligations and vacation is our favorite mode of being together. I was in Vietnam alone 8 years ago and I always wanted to come back with the kids.

Economic development has taken off since I was here last. Eight years ago everyone was riding bicycles, now they are all on motorbikes. It makes Hanoi polluted and it's really hard to navigate the streets, and it must be terrible from a public health point of view. What good is an authoritarian government if they can't even regulate traffic? Over all, however, Hanoi is still as cute as I remember: tree-lined streets, colorful houses (often beautifully restored, with real hard-wood), theaters, cafes, and lots of great shops. It's not the image you got during the Vietnam War, but Hanoi is a very romantic place.

It so happened that we were here during April 30, "Victory Day," the day Saigon fell and the last Americans left from the roof of the US Embassy. It is good to be here on Swedish passports. Swedish tax payers invested heavily in North Vietnam after all and it's Victory Day for us too. I explain to the kids the amazing story of how a nation of farmers defeated the greatest military power on earth, but maybe I overdid it. Diane, certainly no hawk, eventually gets annoyed at all my references to "Defeat Day."

In the end we celebrated Defeat Day like the Vietnamese celebrate their victory: by having pizza and ribs in an American fast food restaurant. It's been 35 years after all and a majority of people here have no personal memories of the war. They are happy to get American investments, not least in fast food joints. "Yankees Come Back, we want your burgers!" This year's firework in central Hanoi was sponsored by Hyundai, but apparently Kentucky Friend Chicken will sponsor next year's. After all, it was the Americans who made Victory Day possible and, come to think of it, Colonel Sanders and Ho Chi Minh look really, really alike (in addition to the goatees and the glasses, both seem to be left-handed).

This is a story Beata just wrote. She's a really good writer too! While Saga is doing everything to attract attention to herself, Beata is sitting quietly in a corner putting together really great stuff. It was always thus. This is the first chapter of a detective story:

I was working on a case, nothing that important really, because I am only a town police, and in this small town nothing really happens. I am good at my job though,and when there is a case to solve, I work fast and well. I get the job done.

I was distracted from my thoughts when I heard a knock at the door. "Come in," I said, not looking up from my work to see who was knocking on the door. It probably wasn't that important anyway.

"Um, there is a missing kid report," Janice said, poking her head around the door. Missing kids. That is another thing I handle, but I don't like it. I have my own son, and if he ever got lost I don't know what I would do.

"Well, come in. don't just stand there," I said, finally looking up into her tiny face. It was a wonder how she ever became a police officer. She was young, around 22, with brown hair and brown eyes. Today, she looked like she hadn't slept enough, tired and scared.

"What is wrong with you? Why do you look so scared? Come to think of it the whole office has looked scared the whole morning." She just nodded at me saying that I was right.but not telling me why.

"Ok, so lets see this missing girl. Give me the sheet." She handed me the sheet, but said nothing.

The girl on the poster was an angel.  She had blond curly hair put up in ponytails, red round cheeks and light blue eyes.

"The parents must of cried a lot. I know I would if William ever got lost," I said and kind of laughed. Janice didn't laugh with me. She just stood there looking tensley at me.

"What is it? Do I have something on my face? I did remember to put my shirt on didn't I?" She nodded again. I didn't really understand what that meant, but I decided to let it pass.

"What happened to her? She just went missing or got kidnapped?" She nodded again. Now I really didn't understand. What was all the nodding about?

"Ok... thank you for this, Janice. I will look into it a bit more. If you hear anything else about this girl please let me know."

I went back ti my work but Janice didn't leave. She stood there staring at me. Staring at what I was doing as if she wanted to say something more.

"I said you can leave now, Janice, or do you have something else to say?Anything you want to tell me?"

She said something quietly to herself, but shook her head and turned around facing the door. She took two steps, then turned back to me and looked at me. I looked back at her, not saying anything, but I felt confused I didn't know what was wrong with her, or with me. She carried on staring at me, but didn't say anything. Instead, she handed me a sheet of paper slowly. I took the piece of paper from her and looked at it. On it was a picture of my son. William.