The House in the Meadow

Chapter 5 Lamps and Wishes part 2

The bus traveling to the city market was packed with people. Worst of all, the bus was hot and smelled terrible. Jun, Hansol, and Marco were lucky and found three seats together at the very back. Chan ended up sitting on a seat that was directly behind Kijoong and Daewon. Hojung sat across the aisle. Feeldog and Chan were both so far behind him that he couldn't see them unless he hung halfway out of his seat and twisted in an uncomfortable position.

Chan pouted. He was sure that the three at the back were having a great time. They all knew how to make long bus trips fun. Kijoong, half kneeling, tried turning around to talk to him but Daewon scolded him until he stopped. Chan chatted with Hojung who had borrowed one of Hansol's mangas and tried to read with him.

Three stops away from their destination, a pregnant woman boarded. She carried a large satchel with her as well as a purse. The only available seat for her was by the window towards the back. Daewon stood and insisted on giving his seat to her. Thankful, she promised to watch Kijoong.

Chan wondered where Daewon thought Kijoong could go on a crowded bus and shook his head when Kijoong introduced himself as Daewon's baby.

Daewon quickly added, "Brother. He's my baby brother."

Kijoong made a face but didn't argue. Kijoong asked the woman a number of questions like "when will your baby pop out?", and "do you think you'll love it?", before telling her about how their bunny had babies. He turned around and excitedly half screamed, "Channie, this lady is going to have a baby!" He turned back to the woman, "Chan's my cousin. He's older than me."

When the bus stopped, the lady slowly stood up and slipped the handle of the satchel over her shoulder. "You be good to your brother and cousin," she warmly told Kijoong before digging through her bag until she found a tiny stuffed dog that hung from a keychain. "My friend gave this to me, but I think you should have it."

Kijoong wanted the keychain but hesitated before reaching out his hand to take the toy. The woman reached down and placed the keychain in his hand and wrapped his fingers around it. Kijoong smiled and politely thanked the woman.

Daewon was stuck at the back and Chan couldn't reach their backpacks on the overhead rack. An older man who had the window seat pulled down all three packs for them. Chan helped Kijoong put on his book bag before putting his own on, and then slid Daewon's straps over one of his shoulders. Holding hands, the two kids exited the bus and waited for Daewon by a cosmetic store that had a big tv in the window. Entranced, they watched the same perfume commercial featuring a ballerina three times in a row. Kijoong put his hands over his head and did a lopsided spin, trying to imitate her.

Daewon finally got out of the bus and held hands with each boy. Chan turned to check and see if the pregnant woman was watching. Even though she was on the phone, she smiled at him before she turning away.

The market was overcrowded. Daewon tightly squeezed their hands as he nodded to friendly vendors. When they emerged on the other side, a folk trio was busking at their usual space. They'd attracted a smattering of passers-by, but the fountain square itself was filled with people. Daewon didn't mind the trio, but then Daewon had sleepy old people's taste in music, or at least that's what Jun said. Jun liked loud music that was easy to dance to.

They managed to find a bench to wait for the others. Kijoong played with his little stuffed dog.

It wasn't even noon yet but the sun was already intense and bright. Chan sweated in his yellow polo and navy pants. If he was at home, he could run around shirtless in shorts and play in the stream where Marco fished. The water was cold but felt so good. Now, he was hot, bored, and impatient.

Chan looked at the fountain with its base full of water in longing. He could imagine how much fun it would be to stomp and splash in it. He didn't though; it was against the rules.

The others joined them and decided to change locations. They moved to a beautiful plaza with high-end shops lining its sides. The crowd was younger and dressed nicer. Chan, even at seven, could tell these things. They set up in front of a metal sculpture that stood in the center of the square in the center. The heat made dancing hard, but the crowd that quickly formed around them made up for it.

At around one, a band showed up and said that they had signed up to busk there in advance. The cousins started packing up.

Kijoong hopped around with his legs close together, "momma," he said to Euijin forgetting he was only supposed to call him that at home, "I need to go to the bathroom."
Euijin looked around at the fancy boutiques and grimaced.
"I'll take him." Daewon offered.
"What about you, Chan?"
Chan shook his head no, but Jun piped in that he needed to go. Not wanting to be left out again, Chan followed the little group of Kijoong, Daewon, Hansol, and Jun into a small cafe that smelled good. His mouth watered. The display cases held pretty cakes and cookies. The white tile floors were so clean that they reflected the light and the two tables had blue vases with a flower in them.
Daewon with Kijoong holding his hand, headed straight towards the bathroom.
One of the two employees stopped them. "The bathroom is only for paying customers."
"It's an emergency, and he's just a little kid." Daewon pleaded.
"What about the rest?" The employee gestured back to the small cluster behind Daewon with his head.
"They all need to go, but they can hold it. My little brother can't."
"Let them use the bathroom. The boss won't be in for an hour anyway." The other employee, an older woman, told him. "I've watched them dancing out the window. They're pretty good."
Jun, making sure he didn't touch anything, eyes fixed on the pastries and cakes. "Did you make all of these?" He asked the woman in the white coat and black bandana.
"Most of them." She answered.
Kijoong and Daewon came out. Jun went in. Hansol joked with Daewon who kept a tight grip on Kijoong's hand. Jun came out, and Chan went in.

An older woman who had sparkling rings on her fingers entered the store. She glanced at the cousins and wrinkled her nose like they smelled terrible. Daewon and Hansol looked at each other and silently agreed. Daewon ushered Jun and Kijoong out of the store. A while later, the lady, holding a cake box and a bag, exited.
"This is not a place to loiter." She sneered. "Do your parents even know you're here?" She left without waiting for them to answer.

Chan and Hansol came through the door. Chan's eyes grew wide. He reached down and picked up a yellow, 50,000 won bill.
"We should give it back to that lady," Daewon said, but he didn't look happy. "It's too crowded. I didn't see which way she went."
Hansol shrugged. "Maybe this money is supposed to be our money."
"She seemed like a mean lady. She called us names when she was talking to the bakers." Chan complained.
"Rich people don't like poor people. They only like money." Hansol added.
Chan handed it to Hansol who, unlike the rest of their small group, had a wallet.
Reunited with the rest of the cousins, they gave Feeldog the money.
He smiled, "We're raking the money in today!"

They bought tteokbokki at a stall run by a kindhearted grandmother who always gave them a little extra. Afterwards, Feeldog surprised the cousins by announcing that everyone could pick out an ice-cream for dessert. Jun knew right away what he wanted. Chan and Kijoong stood looking down into the freezer overwhelmed by all the choices. The store owner barked at them for keeping the lid open so long. Chan chose chocolate and Kijoon chose vanilla. Feeldog paid, and they ate their ice cream waiting for the folk trio to wrap up so that they could have their usual space.

"Chan," Kijoong turned and smiled at him. "We had ice cream." he lowered his voice. "Our wish came true."

In the day and a half, since they'd made it, Chan had forgotten about the wish and the genie lamp. "It did. We even got to pick out our own." He whispered.

"The genie is real," Kijoong whispered back.

They busked and earned another full-day's worth of money. At the recycling center, they found two missing volumes of a manga series that Hansol was collecting and the first three volumes of another set. Chan couldn't believe all the luck they've been getting. He was even able to sit in the back with Jun and Hansol on the way home.

That night, as they prepared for bed, Kijoong kept smiling over at Chan, his whole face lit up with joy.

I'd like to thank Neiya for all her hard work editing this chapter.