The House in the Meadow

Chapter 8 Mixed Bag of Blessings part 2

"Tell them about what happened at the park," Euijin, who stood with his arms crossed, ordered. He'd gathered Daewon, Marco, and Hojung together while the little kids played. They all stood behind the shed near where the swallows nested but far enough away that they didn't bother the birds.

"We went to that new playground near the river. You know the one that has a nice slide and part like a fort. Chan's been wanting to play there a long time, but we never do. So, I said okay. There were another little boy and his brother playing while their mother sat on a bench looking at her phone. The little boy started playing with Chan. Kijoong and I were making a sandcastle. They got along really well, but then his brother grew jealous and tried to make him play on the swings with him. The little boy didn't want to go. The brother started a fight with Chan and pushed him. When Chan tried to defend himself, both brothers ganged up on him. That's when Kijoong bit the youngest one. When I tried to stop the fight, the mother came over and started yelling at me." Daewon ended his story with, "she was scary. Her face turned bright red, and she wouldn't let me talk."

Marco sighed, "It's over now, so I don't see what the problem is."

Daewon's shoulders hunched, "she wanted to know where we lived and kept trying to get me to give her my mother's number."

"Oh," Hojung breathed.

"What did you do?" Marco asked.

"Chan kicked her hard in the shin, and we ran away." Daewon looked ashamed.

"I think," Euijin began slowly, "that you and the little kids should stay home for the next few market days."

"That's going to be hard. Chan won't like it, and we'll have to rearrange the choreography." Hojung picked a piece of grass and chewed the end.

"Why isn't Feeldog part of this meeting?" Daewon suddenly asked.

Euijin tried to look unperturbed by the question "He has a lot on his mind right now."

After dinner, Euijin explained the plan without going into too much detail to all of the cousins. "We're going to have to work on adjusting some of the routines."

Chan, apparently upset at the idea of staying home, pouted. Kijoong didn't care at all.

When he looked up, Feeldog watched him wearing an unreadable expression. "Let's talk outside. You all clean up and do the dishes."

"Why wasn't I a part of the meeting? You wouldn't make a decision like that without having one. You purposely left me out. Are you even going to tell me what happened to Chan and Kijoong that they have to stay home?" Obviously hurt, Feeldog accused Euijin.

Euijin changed the topic by asking the question he really needed an answer to, "Did you decide yet?"

Feeldog glared at him and didn't say anything.

"Go." Euijin encouraged, "You want to, so go. But don't just leave. They all deserve a goodbye."

"What will I tell them?"

"Tell the truth."

In the middle of the night, Feeldog rolled over and reached for his hand. A part of Euijin wondered if Feedog would stay if he didn't let go of his friend's hand. He couldn't ask him not to leave but the idea of him leaving made Euijin feel like yowling wordlessly up at the moon.

The next morning, Feeldog packed his backpack and another bag. The cousins all gathered on the porch as he said his goodbyes. As a group, they walked him to the edge of the woods. Euijin was the only one who escorted him to the paved road. He hugged his friend goodbye. Before Euijin could step away, Feeldog wrapped his arms around him, hugging him back, and crying.