16 Letters

16 Letters : Letter #11

TWELVE

    Three years ago, it was as if God decided to gift me with a son I’ve never had or even asked for. His name’s Noah Alex Choi, then a 10 year old kid with dark hair and the heartiest laugh known to mankind. Well, he never outgrew that laugh of his. And every time I hear Noah and Haley laughing together, I know that everything’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be okay, so long as they stay happy.

    Noah was, and always will be Haley’s go-to buddy. Whenever she’s in dire need of help, be it because she forgot to pack her lunch or she couldn’t find our pet dog, Squeep, anywhere, Noah would be there ten seconds tops.

    My family and Noah’s would hang out together, I would say, pretty often. Noah’s mom and dad were the humblest, most down-to-earth couple I’ve ever met. Noah’s dad, Mike Choi, was the founder of a certain food company in downtown Chicago. However, he’s never once spoken highly of himself or boasted in any way, whatsoever.

    Noah’s mom, Ally Choi, is hands down one of the best chefs in California, yet oddly, she’s always praising me and my burnt dishes of cheese-baked rice. Mike and Ally was just the sort of people who found it in their lives to be nice individuals, yet strangely enough they never ever acknowledge this fact. Ever.

                                                                           ***

    13 year old Noah was in my kitchen cooking up a storm. I watched from behind the counter, partly in amazement, partly in shock. Well, he obviously got the good cook genes from his mom, that’s for sure. “You sure Dylan?” Noah turned and asked me for the seventh time that evening. I nodded yes. “Pancakes?” he asked again. I nodded yes, again. He shook his head, almost in disbelief. “Well okay. I’ll make her the best pancakes she’s ever tasted” Noah concluded. “Anything beats mine, really” I mumbled under my breath.

    My daughter came home from ballet class that day, all sweaty with her hair disheveled and she was clearly exhausted, but the moment she saw her classmates, her grandparents, Mike, Ally, Noah, Squeep, and me standing in our living room with a birthday cake in my hands, she started crying. Crying tears of complete confusion.

    It was her eleventh birthday and she was really, really disappointed for not being able to perform for one of her dance studio’s ballet performance, due to a recent twisted ankle. I knew how much it disappointed her and grieved her and that was why I got everyone to come over to celebrate the day I met Haley eleven years ago. I knew the sight of everyone she’s ever loved and cared about, would cheer Haley up immensely.

    And cheer her up we did, because Haley went to bed that night smiling to herself. She may have laughed in her sleep too but I’m not too sure about that. And that was how I knew that everything’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be okay, so long as she stays happy.

                                                                    ***

 Dear Dylan,

          Family has always been important to me. I’d hope for Haley to always surround herself with people whom she loves and who loves her as much, in return. But then again, I know you’ve already made sure of that. I’ll always love the both of you.

 Love, Katie.