Lost Child
Lost Child
I was sitting at a cafe a bit far from home today.
Since I was the one seeking advice, it was natural and common courtesy to go out and treat them to a drink.
"So, it'd be best to keep them isolated separately for a while?"
"That's right. You need to wait until Mr. Seong-hwan's dogs get used to the cat's scent to some extent before they'll consider it part of the household."
"About how long roughly..."
"You'll need to put up a separate fence for about a week."
I had ordered the fence a while ago, so it was supposed to be delivered today.
'As expected, there are a lot of preparations needed to raise cats and dogs together.'
Today, I had come out to personally ask for advice from a fellow club member who raises both cats and dogs.
I had been studying by watching Qtube channels and the like, but if I could ask someone who actually keeps them, wouldn't that be better?
"But you said the two dogs are Pomeranians, right?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"Rather than a problem... Pomeranians think of themselves as ferocious beasts on par with wolves."
"Pfft...."
I had been momentarily confused, but when I thought about the behavior of my daughter and son, it was so plausible I burst out laughing.
'Indeed, ferocious beasts on par with wolves.'
'If that's the case, I could understand them barking at me to give them food.'
"I'm sorry. The metaphor was so funny and cute."
"You really seem to like dogs, Mr. Seong-hwan. The fact that you find even that cute..."
"But it is cute. Until now I thought they were just playing up to me, but it turns out they were trying to scare or threaten me."
They'd come up to me from time to time and bark, so I would hug and pet them.
'So they'd quiet down, and I thought they were being affectionate, but there was a secret like that.'
"Spoiling them too much isn't really that good."
"Of course. Our dogs even lick my cheeks all over."
I'd heard that when they hold their tails up straight and lick my cheek, it's a sign of affection.
'In that sense, Lil' One and Pipsqueak are showing me affection while also emphasizing how cool they are?'
*
"Then be careful going home."
"Thank you for coming out today and giving advice."
"It was nothing. I didn't have anything to do either, and it was nice to have someone to talk to."
I bowed my head in thanks and left the cafe.
'Since I was out anyway, I might as well buy some cat supplies.'
'Because I'm going to pick up the cat tomorrow.'
'A-ra had already prepared the food and such...'
'And she had water bowls and everything, so... maybe some Churu treats...'
I walked slowly toward where my car was parked while thinking about that.
As I entered the parking lot, a sound I hadn't heard just moments before grew louder and reached my ears.
It was neither a puppy's whimper nor a puppy's cry,
but the sound of a person crying.
And not just any person, but a very young child's crying.
As I slowly approached, I saw a little girl, about five years old, crying loudly.
'This place is sparsely populated, where people only come to park...'
I couldn't just pretend not to see a young child crying, so
I slowly approached and crouched down in front of her.
"Little one, where are your mom or dad?"
The child, who had been crying just moments ago, seemed to notice me in front of her and abruptly stopped crying.
'She was the type of child who cries when alone but feels embarrassed to shed tears when someone is watching.'
"M... Mom disappeared..."
She tried to stop the tears, but it seemed she couldn't, and she started crying again.
I knew well that when emotions about parents well up, even if you want to stop, it's hard to stop.
"Here?"
"N... no... at the... traffic light... ahead..."
It seemed she hadn't suddenly vanished, but had gotten swept away by the crowd while holding hands.
Then the parents must have noticed their child was missing and would be wandering around.
'That's why, when you're lost, you shouldn't go somewhere else—you need to stay right where you are.'
'More than "don't follow strangers," shouldn't parents first teach that if you get separated from Mom, you shouldn't go somewhere else?'
"Do you know your mother's phone number by any chance?"
"N... no."
"Dad's number?"
"I don't know... sniff..."
'There's no helping it.'
'First, I'd have to take her to the nearest police box.'
If only she'd known her parents' phone numbers, it would have been over quickly...
"Do you want to go to the police station with Oppa?"
The child shook her head vigorously, as if the police station was scary.
'Then the only option is to go to the place where she got separated from her mom and wait.'
'But telling her to just go there and wait until her mom comes is too much...'
'These days the world is dangerous, and being a girl doesn't make her safe.'
"Then shall we go to the traffic light and wait with Oppa?"
Only then did the child nod.
She kept rubbing her eyes to wipe the tears still streaming down.
I took a handkerchief from my pocket and gently wiped the child's tears.
Then I put the handkerchief in her hand and held her other hand.
"Then let's go find your mom."
Thinking about how A-ra lost her parents' hands and became an orphan, I couldn't just pass by.
It seems I'm not cut out to be a bad person anyway.
***
"Whoa, the floating population here is no joke."
It was a place with a four-lane road and six crosswalks alone.
Even now it was crowded and you could easily lose your grip, so I thought it was a place where you could lose a child at any moment.
"But what's your name?"
"J... Ji-ye..."
"Ji-ye, what time did you lose your mom?"
"I don't know..."
'Well, how would a lost child remember something like that?'
'If she could remember that, she'd remember her parents' phone numbers too.'
But they say these days even five-year-olds have cell phones...
'I guess not everyone does.'
"This is it, right? The place where you lost your mom."
"Yes..."
"Then let's sit here and wait."
There was a convenience store right behind us, so it was a comfortable place to sit.
If we went inside and bought something to drink, we could sit there.
"Do you want a drink?"
"Mom... said not to accept things from strangers..."
"It's okay, it's okay. We're just going to sit here and drink it anyway."
It seemed her mom had told her not to follow anyone who offers treats.
Even if it's a handsome Oppa, you shouldn't follow.
"Then let's go in and pick out something to drink."
"Yes... thank you..."
"You're polite too."
'You could tell she had been raised well and loved.'
It was rare to see a child barely five years old be so sensible.
We each picked a drink at the convenience store and headed to the counter.
As we approached the counter, the part-timer who had been sitting there spacing out got up.
"By any chance, did a parent looking for a child come here?"
"Huh? I think someone's been wandering around for a while."
'Just as I thought.'
It seemed she was combing the area thoroughly.
"Did she say she'd come back here?"
"Probably... Ah, if you're okay with it, you can sit out front."
"Thank you. Let's go."
"Thang you..."
'That's what I was planning, so it worked out well.'
We went outside, sat on the bench, and I opened the cap of the glass bottle.
The cold drink opened with a pop.
I had walked a little, and the cold drink soothed my dry throat.
The child also slowly lifted the cap of the drink she was holding and drank.
'What was that kind of drink called again?'
It was a drink with a bottle cap, like Kkamjjigi Soda that I used to drink when I was young.
"Is it cool?"
"Yes... thank you."
The child, seemingly embarrassed, blushed and I stroked her head.
'Are kids these days all this smart?'
*
First, I had bought her a drink and let her sit on the bench; then, just in case, I contacted the nearby police box.
As expected, the parents had already filed a missing child report,
so the police had dispatched people to search.
They said they'd tell the parents to come to the police station, and if I gave them my location, they'd send an officer to escort us.
'They'd probably ask me to give a statement or something.'
I hung up and returned to sit on the bench.
The child was still sucking on the end of the drink bottle with her tiny, fern-like hands, and I stroked her head and spoke.
"Your mom is waiting at the police station. Shall we go with Oppa?"
"Mom's at the police station?"
"Yeah."
"Did Mom do something bad?"
"No, she's looking for you."
'Kids really are kids.'
I never imagined she'd think in that direction.
They say kids' imaginations are amazing... but I didn't know it would be amazing like this.
"A police car will pick us up soon. Let's ride with Oppa to the police station."
"Okay... I understand."
'Earlier she said she didn't want to go because she was scared, but now she's fine with it.'
I wonder what changed her mind.
I just tilted my head and stroked the child's hair.
Lately, stroking heads has become a habit.
Whether it's a dog or a person, I just pet them; I feel like I'm going to cause a big incident soon.
Still, wanting to pet cute things is instinct, right?
It'll be fine...