Grandpa: Shield and Spear
From the moment I learned Grandpa had bought that massive plot of land for the Spear and Shield Villa, I'd suspected he had serious money—but this was way beyond what I'd imagined. Buying land in Gangnam back in the '80s and flipping it for Pangyo? Unthinkable. Our family... we were loaded. Not that it was my money. Thinking back, there'd been plenty of hints I should've picked up on. He and Grandma traveled overseas two or three times a year. The car parked in the yard right now was a foreign import... And now it hit me—even as a kid riding around with Grandpa, that'd been a Benz, hadn't it? Forgotten memories started flooding back in vivid detail. I felt like an idiot for never suspecting a thing all these years.
"Darlin', don't do stuff ya hate~ Just chase what ya love. Life's too short, an' Gramps can handle that much easy, kiddo."
Coming from anyone else, those words might've sounded irresponsible, but from him, they landed like profound wisdom, all wrapped up nice.
"I'll think about it... But what I'm doing now is too much fun. It's rewarding, too."
"Yeah? What's this fun gig o' yours?"
"Well... I'm actually doing YouTube."
I gave him a quick rundown of the past month's adventures. Grandpa wasn't out of touch with trends—my eyes could see the smart TV, tablet, and gadgets all around—so this explanation should click for him. I pulled up my channel on my phone and showed him.
"This is my channel. I post camping videos. Recently joined a good company, so it's getting easier..."
"Heh, ya went nuts for camping even as a kid. Nothin' beats doin' what ya love."
"Right? Never expected it'd blow up like this—pure luck."
Grandpa comforted me with, "Nah, it's all yer hard work, kid."
...I don't think so, Grandpa. Back when I was a guy, I streamed for years and got zero views...
"Oh, right—Grandpa, I need to do a live stream. Mind if I set up in the yard?"
"Sure thing~ It's work, gotta do it~ Camping videos, eh? Park that camper right in the middle o' the yard fer comfort~"
"Really? Thanks!"
I hugged him quick and bolted to the yard. I repositioned the camper from the corner to the center, unpacked the camera and tripod, and set them up for a perfect shot. Connected the tablet via Bluetooth, finished prepping... and then it hit me—the karma I'd forgotten about.
Was it safe to go live like this? If the hate comments flooded in right away, I might not handle it. Hmm, what to do? As I pondered, Grandpa came out with some sliced fruit.
"Eat this while ya work~ Gotta eat well to live well."
...Wait, with Grandpa here...?
Sorry, Grandpa. Just play along for a sec!
"Gramps, you busy?"
"Gramps is always free as a bird~"
I roped him into helping. Explained the stream basics and that we'd cover tonight's BBQ too. He agreed cheerfully, so we settled in and prepped again.
"Stream's starting now. Just be yourself—it's internet streaming, no taboo topics, just chat back casually to viewers."
"Got it~"
Whew, here goes. I'd streamed forever yesterday, but starting fresh still had me tense.
> Streaming has started.
The start button switched to stop, and viewers trickled in. 10, 50, 100... Weekend afternoon rush—faster than my debut stream. Hit 1,000 in a flash, so I launched into my opener.
"Hey everyone. Camping steady as ever, Han Areum here. Streaming from Grandpa's place today. This is my grandpa."
Grandpa, chilling in the chair by the camper, gave a casual wave. Viewers went nuts.
Kuh-kuh... What can you do to me now? Me, with invincible Grandpa shield! You lot... A sly chuckle slipped out.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down, folks. Was gonna stream from a Gimhae campsite, but missed Grandpa too much, so here I am."
"Heh-heh, yeah? Gramps that missable?"
Oof. A little guilty twinge.
"Of course~ Super long time since I last saw you."
"Heh, yeah~ Over a year now~"
"Act natural, like always. Pfft... struggling a bit?"
I'm not usually like this. But chatting with viewers turns me childish somehow. Their free spirit rubs off?
"What's this? Stuff keep poppin' up, but I can't see nothin' good."
"Oh, right—one sec."
Shoot, should've set up TTS for Grandpa sooner. Hurriedly fired up the app on the tablet.
"Now it'll read out chats—not all, but some."
"Yeah?"
Grandpa peered at the screen like it was a shiny toy.
...?! These psychos!
"Oh my, our darlin' got a boyfriend?"
"No! That guy's just trolling... those bastards..."
"Heh? Heh-heh-heh, our girl's such a catch, eh?"
Grandpa chuckled like it was hilarious, and chats unleashed a barrage of questions at him.
"Our girl as a kid? Hmm... Got one that pops right up..."
Eh...? What're you about to say?
"Ya were 'bout ten... Eatin' sweet potato at home, right?"
"G-Grandpa! Not that story...!"
"Hey now, streamer hidin' her past? Can't have that."
A mischievous grin—not his usual—spread across Grandpa's face.
Ugh... Yeah, this is his style.
"Right, right. So, she chokes on the sweet potato, mistakes my hidden sorghum liquor fer water, and gulps down half the bottle solo?"
"Kuh... st-stop..."
"Then she staggers 'round, tearin' up the whole house? Her pa's watchin' TV in the livin' room, and she bursts out, grabs the bottle—somethin' ticks her off—and whacks him upside the head with it!"
"Kaaaaah!!! Stop! Stop!!"
"Puh-heh! He grabs the back o' his head, turns, sees it's his girl, and stares all blank-faced like the world ended!"
Kweeeh... hole...! Any rat holes around?! Anything but viewers knowing this...
Mortified. Tried blocking, but Grandpa and viewers teamed up to roast me. No escaping this. Just wait it out.
And that's when I realized: Grandpa's shield blocks enemies, but sometimes stabs you from behind like a spear.
After the black history fest wound down, I finally regained composure.
"Happy now, everyone...?"
Yeah, water under the bridge. Dwelling means I lose. Perfect timing—sun dipping low.
"Alright! Dinner prep time! Gramps, where's the meat that arrived yesterday?"
"In the fridge, safe. I'll fetch it."
Grandpa flashed a smile and headed inside. Seized the chance to set up the BBQ grill in the yard corner.
"Charcoal BBQ tonight. Seafood yesterday, so meat today?"
Shoved in fire starter and some charcoal from Grandpa's stash. Lighting with the torch, out came Grandpa with a huge tray: two thick vacuum-packed sirloins and two hefty short rib racks.
Whoa, check that marbling? Way better than the promo pics.
"Heh, Gramps goes wild fer meat. Our girl knew and sent the perfect cuts~ Where else ya find a dutiful granddaughter like this?"
"Ahem, yeah, I know my stuff? Vacations here, you always grilled for dinner."
Grandpa beamed proudly. Kinda flexing for viewers, but that look embarrasses me... Busied myself poking the coals.
As they whitened, laid the short ribs whole on low heat first.
"Ribs with bone need slow on low for even cook. These are extra thick, so it'll take a bit."
Shifted them aside. Then plopped the sirloins direct over hot coals.
Sizzle! Beautiful sound echoed through the yard. Meat aroma spread, and Alexander III in the corner started whining.
Kuh, yeah, you know good smells too, huh? Good thing I saved scraps. Pressed 'em firm for grill marks, then aside.
"Oh, you caught that? Yeah, he's losing it over the smell. How to resist?"
"Uh-heh-heh! Dogs know good eats!"
While meat cooked, swung the camera to Alexander III, straining at his leash.
"Breed? His grandpa was Jindo, now? Name... guess. Bet you can't."
"Pfft, told ya—Alexander III. Cool, right?"
"Oh, and inside there's a 1-month-old Pom named Maximus."
"Uh... Gramps named 'em..."
And the world... no, the chat... froze.