Dream Wandering • Yunsang

The Time Before I Knew You

A young Yeosang, only 6 years old, blue school bag on his back ran at full force in one direction "Mummmmmmyyyyyyyy" he yelled with glee. His little smile lighting up his face.

"Yeo Yeo!" Yeosang's mum said sweetly as she opened her arms.

Yeosang collided into her chest, almost toppling her over "I love you mummy"

"I love you too munchkin" she said showering the young boy in kisses all over his mochi cheeks.

Today was Yeosang's first day at school.

Yeosang's parents always thought their son was too small, too innocent for school and the big wide world, and due to their home being out in the countryside the Kang's had originally decided to home school their son, and had done so for a full year. Yeosang had never gone to kinder or any form of pre-school either due to there being no centres for miles, their home was in the middle of nowhere.

But come a year later sending Yeosang to school seemed like the best option for their son, even if the nearest school was a 40 minute drive away. It's why he was starting school a year later at the age of 6 rather than 5.

Mrs. Kang had been waiting nervously for her son with other milling parents, worried as to whether her little boy had been ok throughout the day.

"Did you have a good day Yeo Yeo?" she asked as she stroked Yeosang's hair.

Mr and Mrs. Kang had been so nervous to drop Yeosang off this morning, the young boy was all smiles but they knew that beneath his smile was a bucket of nerves.

Seeing his genuine smiling face now made her feel so much better and reassured, knowing that she and her husband had made the right decision.

Yeosang's eyes were brimming with happiness as he took his mums hand.

"Mummy there are so many people to play with at school!! We played games and read books and did colouring. Mummy you have to bring me here tomorrow ok?"

Mrs. Kang smiled knowingly with a chuckle, its school, and a Monday, of course he'd be coming back tomorrow, she didn't say that though, instead she said "Of course! Only if you're having fun though!"

Yeosang nodded, his little mop of blonde hair bouncing on his head.

The next 2 weeks passed by smoothly. Mr and Mrs. Kang were so proud at how well Yeosang was settling into the school routine.

He never complained about getting up early, and he was in no way fussed with the long drive to school, as long as he got to listen to his favourite songs on the radio.

Sometimes Mr. Kang would drop Yeosang off, sometimes Mrs. Kang, sometimes both, and each time as soon as Yeosang stepped through the school gates he'd give them a huge hug and a kiss, grab his bag firmly and wave them off with a big smile.

He seemed to be fitting in nicely with all the children in his class, he was regarded as a junior celebrity since he was starting school a year late. All the children were interested to know about the new boy.

He was behind on his knowledge, and Mr. and Mrs. Kang knew that their son would have to work hard to catch up. Yeosang seemed to take it all in his stride however, and for him extra homework was kind of like a fun game and as soon as he got home he'd race to his room to complete all his special tasks to help him improve.

The only one thing he did complain about were his school shoes. He was never one to wear shoes and often ran around both the house and the garden without them. Mrs. Kang was always concerned that Yeosang would step on something, but Yeosang was careful and he never did. So it was a bother for Yeosang knowing he had to wear shoes all day at school.