Haru's First Walk
Jang Pan-ho knew exactly why Yoo Yeonju was looking at him that way. He cleared his throat.
"Ahem. We needn't go far. A single loop around the park just up the street should do, shouldn't it? Haru will only grow restless if she stays cooped up in the house all day."
He said it while sliding a glance toward Haru.
Watching her husband, Yoo Yeonju felt something open wide in her chest. And she thought of Sapsaree — of Sapsaree rubbing himself against this man, over and over.
For those words to come out of his mouth. Let's go for a walk. Sapsaree really did something extraordinary.
Janggoon had been in an accident on a walk.
They had been walking the sidewalk near the house when a motorcycle came tearing down the pavement, cutting between Jang Pan-ho and Janggoon. Janggoon's leash caught in the wheel.
The rider had slammed on the brakes in time, so Janggoon hadn't broken a leg or a rib. But he had struck his head hard against the motorcycle. A concussion — and from that, brain edema, on top of the heart disease he already had.
Janggoon, who had weighed a mere four pounds.
After that day he had fought for six months before crossing over to the Dog Star.
Jang Pan-ho had blamed himself for all of it. The guilt of a man who believed he had sent Janggoon away with his own two hands was beyond anything words could hold.
Why hadn't he carried Janggoon all the way to the park that day? Why had he taken him out to walk at all? Why, of all hours, had it been that hour?
Yoo Yeonju had watched her husband suffer through those questions, day after day. And now those same lips were offering to take Haru for a walk.
"W-well. Yes. All right. Let's do that."
She turned quickly from her husband and looked down at Haru as she answered. Haru was already sunk in a deep sleep, making little rumbling sounds in her throat. Yoo Yeonju stroked her as she slept, then spoke.
"But, dear… will it be all right?"
"It's all right now. We can't keep her from walks forever."
"There's that, but I meant Haru."
"Haru?"
"Yes."
Remembering how Haru had trembled by the roadside, Yoo Yeonju spoke with a crease of worry in her voice.
"Our Haru might have trauma from that."
"Hmm. A bicycle did come that close. I suppose that's possible."
At her husband's words Yoo Yeonju's lips moved, then she reached down, picked up the phone from the floor, and typed a message.
Meaning Haru might be afraid of the streets themselves.
"Ah. Yes. That could well be. Hmm. Then perhaps she ought to stay home for a while."
"But isn't that pitiful too? She ought to get to step on some dirt, at least."
They were a couple who had walked Janggoon every single day. That was why Yoo Yeonju felt so sorry for not walking Haru — it felt as though she were treating her differently from Janggoon.
Even if this is only fostering, as long as she's in our home, we mustn't let her feel left out.
Whether he had read her thoughts or not, Jang Pan-ho nodded.
"You've got a point, my dear. A bit of sun, a bit of earth under her paws — it'll lift her spirits."
"Right? We'll carry her as far as the park."
If they didn't walk on the sidewalk, Haru wouldn't be frightened, and she would be safe from motorcycles and bicycles besides. Husband and wife were of one mind.
"Let's do that."
A short while later, the couple left the house with Haru. The neighborhood park was a ten-minute walk, and they arrived soon enough. It was the park they had always come to with Janggoon.
"Haru, look how many flowers are blooming. Let's sniff around and play here."
Listening to his wife speak to Haru, Jang Pan-ho felt a swell of old feeling.
This place hasn't changed.
The little neighborhood park, visited for the first time in nearly two years, was just as it had always been. Jang Pan-ho slowly looked around the grounds where his memories of Janggoon still lived. He walked at an unhurried pace, taking it all in, while Yoo Yeonju went a little ahead with Janggoon's leash in her hand.
Watching Haru toddle along on her tiny paws, sniffing at the grass, a smile settled on Jang Pan-ho's face.
"The little one seems to like it."
Bringing her had been the right choice. Haru walked better than they had expected — sniffing the grass, sniffing the flowers, trotting along along just fine. They had worried she might be afraid of the outdoors, and now they felt almost embarrassed for it.
As Haru wandered the park with curiosity bright in every step, Jang Pan-ho's heart eased. Yoo Yeonju's too. She looked back at her husband.
"I think we did well, bringing Haru out."
"So it seems."
As Jang Pan-ho spoke, the corner of his mouth lifting, something caught in his vision. A ball was flying toward them from far off.
In that instant, his face went rigid.
"Th-that—"
He needed to shout at them to get out of the way, but the words would not come. He could only point.
"What's wrong?"
At the same moment as his wife's voice there was a sharp thwack, and a rubber ball hit the ground — right beside Haru.
Haru startled and hid behind Yoo Yeonju's legs. Yoo Yeonju, equally shaken, scooped her into her arms.
"Oh, Haru, are you all right?"
The student who had thrown it had already run off after the ball.
"Those kids — why are they playing ball here? Don't you think? Haru nearly got hurt."
Yoo Yeonju held the frightened Haru tight, voicing her complaint. But when no answer came from Jang Pan-ho, she turned to look at him. He was standing there, dazed, and she asked, worried,
"Dear, are you all right?"
"Y-yes. I'm fine. I just hope the little one wasn't too frightened."
Looking at Haru in his wife's arms, the tips of Jang Pan-ho's fingers trembled slightly. Yoo Yeonju saw his hands and swallowed a sigh.
What if his trauma has come back?
If the ball had struck Haru's head — if Haru had gotten a concussion—
He would have blamed himself again. Just like before.
Yoo Yeonju had been badly shaken herself. But she was more worried about her husband. What if he shut himself away again, the way he had then. She was looking at his hands when Jang Pan-ho spoke.
"It was a good thing you scooped her up so quickly. Yes. Thanks to you."
Haru, nestled in Yoo Yeonju's arms, had her round black eyes wide open, looking this way and that.
"I-is that so? That's a relief, then."
"You look shaken yourself, though."
"Ah, of course I was. I never expected a ball to fly this far. But I'm all right now."
She was not all right at all.
Hah. That was too close. I stood there in front of the director, chest puffed out, promising I'd take good care of this little one…
He had promised to look after her well until she found a good home. And she had nearly been hit by a ball. Remembering it bouncing right beside her, a chill ran down Jang Pan-ho's spine.
Yoo Yeonju was shaken too. The walk had been for Haru's sake — and they had nearly had a serious accident.
We promised we'd take good care of her until a good guardian appeared…
Yoo Yeonju blamed herself with the same thought as her husband.
From that day on, the couple grew afraid to take Haru out for walks. If something happened to her on a walk, it would be because of them. And yet they did not want to be neglectful in caring for this precious, pitiful little creature.
What were they to do?
They could not come up with a solution until the day they went to Mongmong Animal Hospital.
On the day that marked one week since Haru's arrival, the couple visited Mongmong Animal Hospital with her. Lee Jun greeted them warmly.
"I don't even need to ask if Haru's been well. Just look how her face has filled out."
Lee Jun smiled as he lifted Haru into his arms, and the couple smiled with him.
"Haha. It seems Haru hasn't felt neglected."
"She seems so happy. I think she wants to brag about how well you two have been treating her. Look at those sparkling eyes."
"Well, that's good…"
"Give me just a moment. I'll run a quick blood test and be right back."
Lee Jun carried Haru inside. Watching his retreating back, the couple smiled.
"It feels nice, hearing that from the director."
"It does. Almost as if Haru really said those things herself."
Unaware that Haru actually had said exactly that to Lee Jun, the couple smiled at the corners of their mouths.
"The walks are the problem, though… my dear."
"Yes?"
"Didn't they say they offer boarding here as well?"
"I heard they do. Why?"
"I find myself wondering whether a walk has to mean going out to a park."
Yoo Yeonju's eyes widened a little, wondering what he meant.
"Haru loved the playground here, didn't she? So I thought — perhaps playing at the playground would be just as good. The second-floor playground is rather nice, isn't it? There's a walking path, and the sun comes in."
"Oh, you're right. Why didn't I think of that? She could play with her friends, too. That sounds wonderful. Shall I ask the manager?"
"Ahem. But what if they think we find Haru a bother? That we don't even want to walk her…"
"Surely not…"
The couple's conversation about Haru's walks ended there — until Lee Jun asked about it in the director's office.
"Her liver values have come down a little. I think it's thanks to you two giving her the medication so faithfully."
"Haha, I didn't do a thing. It's all this one, making sure she took it."
"Me? Haru just ate well, that's all."
The couple answered with broad, unguarded smiles.
"But where's our Haru…?"
"Ah, she's at the playground with her friends. I figured she might as well play with them while she's here. She seems to have grown quite attached to them during her stay. The kids are overjoyed to see her."
"Is that so?"
"Oh, what a relief. I was already feeling sorry we haven't been able to take her on walks."
The words slipped out of Yoo Yeonju before she could stop them, she was so reassured.
"It makes sense that Haru would refuse walks. Her memories of the street probably aren't good ones yet."
At Lee Jun's words, Jang Pan-ho let out a sigh and asked,
"Director, would it be possible to leave our Haru here one or two days a week?"
"That would be fine, but…"
Several emotions colored Lee Jun's eyes as he answered.
"Ah — we're not saying this because Haru is too much for us. And it's certainly not that she's a bother."
"I know. I know very well that you aren't that kind of person, Mr. Jang."
"I'm grateful you think so."
"I was only… looking at Haru, and thinking of how you might feel… ah, never mind."
Lee Jun had been worried that seeing Haru might make Jang Pan-ho suffer, thinking of Janggoon.
"The truth is, the other day…"
Yoo Yeonju told Lee Jun what had happened at the park.
"Oh dear. That must have been quite a shock."
"That's how it was. The sidewalk is dangerous, and even the park doesn't feel safe."
"So he suggested letting Haru play here. We can trust Mongmong Animal Hospital, after all. Isn't that right, dear?"
"Yes. I thought it would be nice if she could come play for a little while during the day. We'll pay the boarding fee, of course, but if it would be a bother for you, Director…"
"A bother? Not at all. Please do. And you may already know this, but there's a playground for dogs at Evergreen Park nearby. Hoesaegi and Gkamnyangi go there now and then as well. You'd be welcome to use that."
"There's a place like that?"
"Yes. Since it came up, would you like to go take a look?"
And an hour later, Haru was playing with her friends at the Evergreen Park playground.
Hoesaegi, Sapsaree, and Gkamnyangi, of course — and Ttangkhongi, Kakkong-i, Mongi, and even the Rascal Trio, all playing together.
"Dear, look at Haru. She's playing so well with her friends."
"So she is. Getting along with dogs that size, too."
The big dogs were being considerate of Haru. And among them, Sapsaree was keeping the larger ones in line. Jang Pan-ho could see it clearly.
Sapsaree is a remarkable fellow. A good, grateful creature.
Jang Pan-ho watched the dogs at play with a warm smile.
About twenty minutes had passed when a deep voice rang out.
"If you're all done playing, let's go!"
At the man's words, three large dogs came thundering over. Sapsaree and the others trotted after them. Meanwhile the three rascals were led outside by their guardian, and the dogs barked after them — woof woof, arf arf — for all the world as if they were saying goodbye.
Haru was among the dogs seeing them off. She stood a little apart, watching the Rascal Trio recede with sad eyes.
Jang Pan-ho noticed her and thought, The little one looks sad that her friends are leaving.
He called to her.
"Haru."
Whether she had heard him or not, she looked his way. In that instant, Jang Pan-ho saw it clearly — the Haru who had looked lonely and forlorn, her whole expression changing in a heartbeat at the sound of his voice.
Watching her bound toward him, face bright with a smile, hopping as she came, Jang Pan-ho found a thought rising unbidden.
When this little one left, it was going to be very lonely.