Somebody Take Me Home

I

Seonghwa heard the bell and checked the babyphone one last time before getting to the front door. A very young woman was standing radiantly in front of his house. She was all smiles. She bowed slightly forward, and Seonghwa briefly made out a black car behind her, waiting next to the sidewalk with the engine still running.

"Good afternoon, Mr Park!" she said enthusiastically. "I take it you remember me? I'm from Social Services. We called each other a few times over the phone and I dropped by your lovely home a week ago."

"Of course I remember you, Miss Kim," Seonghwa replied politely, bowing in return and offering her a smile. "Good to see you."

The woman nodded in a self-satisfied fashion, and enumerated in a crystal-clear voice, "Well! As you must have been told, today is the big day! We have checked everything with you - your situation, your house, your family - and quite obviously, everything about you is ideal." Seonghwa gave her a curt smile. "I'll just need your signature and I'll leave you with him!"

The tall, black-haired man took the pen she was handing him and scribbled at the bottom of a thick form. The woman smiled again, putting the papers away in a swift gesture.

"Mr Park, as I warned you right from the start, this little one will need extra attention. He's still quite disturbed by what's been happening in his family, and even though he's made real progress, he's still having some difficulties at times."

Seonghwa remained neutral and the woman continued very seriously, "You don't need to know the specifics, unless it helps in any way, but he hasn't had the most benevolent and loving parents and he's been quite neglected. You'll notice very soon that he still has some trouble talking or expressing emotions."

"I understand," Seonghwa said calmly.

"And if anything happens, you can always call us. We'll come and check on him every few weeks." She received a polite nod again. "But rest assured, apart from that, he's behaving well and he's already on the right path towards recovery. I'm sure you'll be great for him! And having some other kids around will definitely help."

"You can count on me. I'll make him very welcome."

The young woman gave him a dazzling smile. "Very good! I'll go and bring him to you. I'm sure you'll be wonderful friends."

Seonghwa watched silently as the very energetic woman walked back to the black car. He had had to deal a few times with her or her colleagues from Social Services. For the past five years, he had welcomed a few children in need of a foster family at his house. He had always striven to make unfortunate children the happiest he knew how. Because he wanted to give his love to those who needed it he most. And because, six years previously, he had not been able to give his wife and his child, who had both perished during childbirth, the love and help they deserved.

The young man, who had now almost reached thirty-one, began to smile as the car door opened and a teenager got out. He was no more than fifteen, very thin and puny, and he was staring at the ground while the woman talked to him, squatting.

She eventually led him to Seonghwa, holding his hand, and left him and his small luggage on the porch, after warm goodbies.

"Hi, Yeosang-ah," the grown man said in a soft, low voice which he knew was appeasing. He was looking fondly at the boy, who was still not glancing up. "I'm Park Seonghwa. I live here, with four other children who need another home, like yourself."

He smiled. "Do you feel okay? It must have been a tiring journey up here." The boy remained mute. "Is it alright if I help you with your luggage?"

He pointed at the backpack. Yeosang did not react, so he slowly took hold of it and lifted it up on to his shoulder. "Are you ready to go in and check your new home?"