Joy Shared, Sorrow Halved
There is a saying that joy shared is doubled, and sorrow shared is halved.
The family of Jang Pan-ho was living that truth firsthand.
When his wife came back from the market and set a paper bag on the table, Jang Pan-ho spoke.
"Roasted sweet potatoes."
"They looked so delicious. The roasted sweet potato man said it had been a long time since he'd come around, so he packed us extra, you know? If our Janggoon were still alive, we would have bought sweet potatoes at least ten more times this winter..."
His wife stopped mid-sentence.
Until just a few days ago, Janggoon had been a forbidden word between them.
"He would have eaten even more."
Jang Pan-ho picked up a sweet potato and gazed steadily at the photograph in the frame on the living room cabinet. In the picture his eyes rested on, he and his wife, their daughter, and Janggoon were all smiling brightly.
A gentle smile touched Jang Pan-ho's face as he went on.
"He used to jump right up even from a dead sleep the moment he caught the smell of roasted sweet potatoes..."
"That's why you'd deliberately buy them whenever you came home late."
"I did."
The couple ate the sweet potatoes Janggoon had loved, sharing those memories together. Neither Jang Pan-ho nor his wife hid their grief any longer, locking it tightly away. They mourned together. They shared the sorrow.
Grief was not something that vanished just because you hid it, nor something that faded just because you tried to forget. You simply let it flow, naturally, as it would.
Now able to bring up memories of Janggoon with his wife so easily, Jang Pan-ho's face had grown much more at ease. Watching him from beside him, his wife wore a peaceful expression of her own.
Having spent a week remembering Janggoon, Jang Pan-ho's relationship with his wife had grown far closer than before. They had spent so many years with Janggoon that the conversations they could share were endless. The more you talk, the more there is to say.
At first Jang Pan-ho had spoken only of memories of Janggoon. Now he talked about Sapsaree as well. He showed his wife Sapsaree waving a front paw.
"Oh my, how can a dog do that? I've never seen anything like it."
"Heh heh. This fellow is remarkably well-mannered. When I arrive, he gently sets that cute little paw on my back. It's just like shaking hands."
Sapsaree had raised his paw to encourage Jang Pan-ho. Jang Pan-ho had taken it that way.
"He's so adorable. This Sapsaree seems like such a warm-hearted child."
"Warm-hearted, yes, and affectionate. For such a big fellow, he's so full of charm — as if he thinks I'm some tiny thing that doesn't even weigh a kilo."
"Hehe, really? Just hearing about it makes me feel good."
"Heh heh, that's right. You should come see him sometime. He'll be very much to your liking."
"I'd like that."
"Since the subject has come up, I'll ask at tomorrow's class."
The newly proactive Jang Pan-ho went to the Community Welfare Center the next day and took a seat at the center table. Jang Pan-ho, who had always held fast to a window seat, had made his first foray to the middle of the room. His classmates were surprised, but they cheered him on all the same.
"Our Sapsaree has really gone and done it."
"Mr. Jang. You're not skipping the walk today, are you?"
"Haha, that's right. I won't."
The welfare center classmates who were seeing Jang Pan-ho's bright smile for the first time were startled — and then they laughed along with him. Kim Kang-hoon and Lee Jun, who knew the circumstances, laughed too.
Thank goodness.
Yes. It really is.
Beside them, Sapsaree was smiling brightly as well.
That day, after a wonderful time with the shy grandpa, Sapsaree came home and reported to his hyungnims.
"Hyungnims. Today the shy grandpa welcomed me. He said hello first."
"That means he's acknowledged you-ong."
"That's right. He realized you're cooler and stronger."
"He also said you're way more popular-ong."
"Heheh, that's true. The grandmas and grandpas call out Sapsaree, Sapsaree, and they love me."
"If they like our youngest, they must be good people-ong."
"That's because our youngest is so cool."
"That's right-ong. Sapsaree is cool because he takes after us-ong."
"That's true. But Hoesaegi."
"What is it, Gkamnyangi-ong."
"This vest our youngest is wearing — isn't it cool?"
Gkamnyangi pointed at the yellow vest with Animal Therapy Assistant Dog written on it, which Sapsaree still hadn't taken off even after coming home.
"It's cool-ong. I want to try it on too-ong."
Sapsaree started. If his hyungnims wanted to try on the vest that held photographs of his benefactor Hyungnim and himself, of course he had to take it off for them. It wasn't just anyone asking — it was his cat hyungnims. And yet, on the other hand, a thought slowly crept up that he did not want to give it away.
In the end, his first thought won. Sapsaree wriggled his front paws this way and that, worked the vest off, and held it out in front of his cat hyungs.
"Hyungnims. Try it on."
The cats, however, could not wear it.
"It's as big as a sleeping bag-ong."
"You could cover yourself with this and sleep nice and warm."
The cats sighed, looking at the vest. Then Sapsaree suddenly remembered a cat wearing a vest just like his own. That cat had possessed paws much smaller than even Hyungnim Hoesaegi's or Hyungnim Gkamnyangi's. The memory struck him, and Sapsaree shouted.
"Hyungnims. There are small clothes too. A cat way smaller than you hyungnims was wearing one."
"What? A cat was wearing one?"
"That's right. A cat was wearing the same thing as my clothes."
"Is that so-ong? Then does that fellow get praised too-ong?"
"Does everyone say he's cool?"
Hoesaegi and Gkamnyangi, thirsty for praise, showed intense interest.
"I-I don't know."
Sapsaree answered honestly. He truly had no idea whether that cat who had said such strange things to him had received any praise or not. But this much was certain. The first thing that cat he had never met had said to him, out of the blue, was I forgive you.
"It was a weird cat."
Sapsaree's last words, however, never reached the cats. Before he could even get them out, the cats had already dashed into the dining room.
Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin were eating a late dinner there. Hoesaegi approached Lee Jun.
"Hyungnim-ong. Give me a yellow vest too-ong."
"That's right. I'm going to wear one too."
"Alright, what d'ya wanna eat? What should I give ya?"
"They just ate."
"Ah, that's right. Then they're bored, are they? Should I wind up the mouse toy?"
Go Gi-jin set down his spoon and started to get up, but Lee Jun waved him off.
"Sit down. That's not why they came."
"That so? Then why're they actin' like this? Looks for all the world like they're askin' for somethin'."
Hoesaegi seized the moment and said it again.
"Give me the vest-ong!"
"You guys have vests too. Wear those."
"Those are different from Sapsaree's-ong."
"We're going to wear Sapsaree's."
"You can't use that one. It's not warm at all. Your own clothes are much warmer."
"No-ong. We're going to wear that-ong. And then we'll go where Sapsaree goes-ong."
And then we'll get praised-ong.
"That's right. We're going with Sapsaree!"
They would go, and they would hear people say they were cool.
As Hoesaegi and Gkamnyangi meowed insistently, Go Gi-jin scooped a cat up in each arm and rubbed his enormous face against them.
"Aigoo, you're so sweet I could just eat you up. You wanna be helpers that badly?"
"Ah, that hurts-ong. Let go-ong."
"Let go, let go. I can't breathe!"
The cats struggled in Strong Hyungnim's arms.
"If you want to wear Sapsaree's vest, you'll have to put up with at least this much."
"Is that so-ong?"
"That's right. He squeezes even harder."
When Sapsaree, who had followed them in, confirmed it, the cats shut their mouths and settled down at once.
"Seeing you put up with that, I guess you really do want to be therapy assistants."
Being a therapy assistant meant getting praised and being told you were cool. The cats, who had also heard from Sapsaree that you got delicious treats, nodded vigorously.
"That's right-ong."
"We're going to become therapy assistants."
For these picky cats to volunteer for work that meant putting up with being touched and petted by complete strangers... Lee Jun sincerely praised their spirit of sacrifice.
"You guys are amazing. To even think of doing such hard work."
"We were amazing to begin with-ong."
"Amazing."
The cats wore thoroughly confident expressions.
"Alright, let's give it a try. Try it out, and if it seems doable, you can take the test like Sapsaree."
A week later, the cats climbed into the car with Sapsaree and Hyungnim. It was the day they were going to the Community Welfare Center. That day, not only Bangwool-i and Sapsaree but the cats as well were scheduled to visit as therapy animals. That was why Lee Jun had brought them along.
"Hoesaegi, Gkamnyangi, the therapy assistant cats will be coming in a little while. Just watch what those cats do and follow along."
"Got it-ong."
"So we just have to copy them?"
"Yeah. If you're not sure about something, make sure to ask."
This is so easy. That was what the two cats thought.
Hoesaegi, Gkamnyangi, and Sapsaree. The car carrying the three of them was a cheerful racket — meow-meow-ong, nyaooo nyaong, woof~ woof-woof. Each of them was having the time of their life. Hoesaegi and Gkamnyangi were giddy at the thought of being praised, and Sapsaree was bursting with excitement at the thought of showing off his cool, handsome cat hyungnims to the grandpas and grandmas.
Jang Pan-ho, standing at the traffic light across from the Community Welfare Center, was excited too.
"Sapsaree looks even more handsome in person."
"Really? He looked handsome in the photos too."
"Much more handsome. And so well-mannered. Always greeting people properly."
The thought of introducing Sapsaree to his wife brought a smile to Jang Pan-ho's face. Looking at him, his wife smiled too.
I'm so glad we found our smiles again.
The couple, who had not had anything to smile about for the past year, gazed across the street at the Community Welfare Center with the same warm, easy smiles.
A moment later, when the light changed, Jang Pan-ho placed his hand against his wife's back. It was a courteous, gentle touch.
"Shall we cross."
"Yes."
Jang Pan-ho did not take his hand away until they had fully crossed the crosswalk. The whole way, Jang Pan-ho and his wife were smiling.
When they arrived at the Community Welfare Center, Sapsaree was there to greet them.
Woof woof woooof!
Sapsaree came up and rubbed against Jang Pan-ho, and the eyes disappeared from the man's smiling face. He was grinning so widely with joy that his already-narrowed eyes vanished from sight. With crescent-moon eyes, Jang Pan-ho scooped Sapsaree into a hug.
"Aigoo, our Sapsaree. Wasn't it hard coming all this way?"
Whine, whine!
Sapsaree mumbled that it wasn't, that he had missed him, and burrowed deeper into Jang Pan-ho's arms.
"Yes, yes. This grandpa missed our Sapsaree too."
His wife, looking down with a fond expression at Sapsaree wagging his long tail in delight, crouched beside Jang Pan-ho and met Sapsaree's eyes. Sapsaree smiled brightly, went to Jang Pan-ho's wife, and rubbed against her. She smelled the same as the shy grandpa.
"Oh my...!"
Feeling a dog's warmth for the first time in nearly a year, Jang Pan-ho's wife welled up. She too had struggled with the absence of her precious companion, Janggoon. Her eyes grew moist, and her hand moved of its own accord toward Sapsaree's head — filled with all the longing to see, to stroke, to hold.
She stroked Sapsaree's large head and spoke.
Thank you for making my husband smile again. Thinking that, the grief that had been knotted in a corner of her heart began, little by little, to melt away.
Hehehe. Held by both of them, Sapsaree smiled brightly. Watching the three of them, Lee Jun felt the corner of his own mouth lift.
Just as Manager Jang said, it seems Sapsaree has received some healing too. I'm so glad I brought him.
Then a meow rose from the carrier bag in his hand.
"Hyungnim-ong. When do we get to come out-ong!"
Hoesaegi burst out in complaint. He wanted to get out already and hear people say he was cool — so why was he stuck in a bag?
"Ah, right. Yes, let's go inside. The weather's cold for the elders — shall we head in?"
"Heh heh, let's do that. I was so happy to see him I forgot Sapsaree might be cold."
"Oh my, really. Our Sapsaree must have been so cold. Let's go in."
Lee Jun had spoken out of concern for the elders' health. The two of them were worried about Sapsaree's.
"But there are cats in the bag?"
"Ah, yes. They said they wanted to see you, sir, so I brought them."
The elderly couple, already walking toward the building, looked at Lee Jun. What was that supposed to mean?
"Ah — these are Sapsaree's hyungnims, and every time Sapsaree comes back from seeing you, he brags about you. Ahahaha."
"Oh my, Doctor. You're so witty. Look at that. My husband's mouth is smiling all the way to his ears."
"I was only telling the truth."
"Hahaha, you rascal!"
As Jang Pan-ho stroked the Sapsaree who had supposedly been bragging about him, a spark of life returned to his eyes. Seeing that light in her husband's gaze, his wife felt tears well up again. How long had it been since she had seen that lively gleam? She was grateful to Sapsaree and the cats who had put it there. Even if Dr. Lee Jun had been joking to make her husband feel good, she still wanted to thank those remarkable cats who had given him strength.
"Hehe, my husband likes this so much. Anyway, I'd like to see these cats who wanted to see my husband as soon as I can, too."
"Shall we? Let's go in and meet them."
"Doctor, I'll carry one of them."
"Ah, no... thank you."
Jang Pan-ho had not asked for the bag. He had said one of them. He was clearly showing genuine interest in the animals.
A good sign.
Lee Jun had been about to say it was all right, then handed Jang Pan-ho one of the carriers.
"Thank you. Sapsaree's godfather!"
At the words Sapsaree's godfather, Jang Pan-ho flinched — from surprise, and from being moved.
"Hahaha. Then let's go in."
As the group entered the building, a gentle sunlight shone down upon them.