The Song of the Weaver (3)
The sunlight filtering through the window made my eyes sting a little. The inside of the blanket was nice and warm.
"Sang-woo~ Time to get up, sweetie."
Oh no, Mom. I yanked the blanket all the way over my head.
"Eek! Our Sang-woo's gone? Where did he run off to~?"
"Uw aaaah!"
"Oh my!"
I burst out from under the blanket in an instant. Mom looked startled. Hehe, that was fun.
"Sang-woo, what did Mom say you should do first thing when you wake up?"
"Good morning? Mwah!"
"Mom slept well too~ Mwah!"
Mom scooped me up in a hug.
"Sang-woo's gotten so heavy! Are you about to shoot up tall?"
"You bet! I'm a grown-up now!"
Mom stroked my head gently. It felt so good.
"What if you get even heavier and Mom can't pick you up anymore?"
"Hmm... Then I'll pick you up!"
"Sounds good. Mom can't wait for the day you grow even bigger."
"I'll grow super tall, taller than you and Dad! And I'll be super strong too!"
"Then how about our strong boy makes the bed today?"
"...Hmm."
Mom set me down. The blanket was all crumpled up...
"Want Mom to help?"
"No!"
I grabbed the blanket and pulled with all my might. It flipped over backward.
"Huh?"
Mom laughed.
"The blanket's playing with you, Sang-woo."
"Hold still!"
I yanked it again. This time it smoothed out a bit. Mom gave it a little nudge from the side.
"There, like this."
The blanket was nice and square now. I felt a little proud. Huh? A purple spider was creeping across it sneaky-like. My eyes went wide.
"Mom!"
I pointed with my finger.
"Spider! Gotta catch it!"
Mom turned her head. She saw the spider. Then she went quiet for a second. Her face looked a little strange. A little... scary.
Mom spoke slowly.
"Sang-woo."
I looked at her. She stared down at the spider and said,
"Spiders are good friends. You mustn't catch them."
"B-but it's gross..."
Mom looked up. And smiled again, like before.
"Still, you mustn't catch it."
Mom gently scooped the spider onto a piece of paper with her finger. Then she opened the window and flicked it outside.
"It has its own job to do."
Mom closed the window.
"Okay."
If Mom said so, it must be true. Mom's a magical girl who protects love and... whatever else. Anyway, love!
But why a magical girl? Why not Magic Mom?
"Mom has to head out today too. Want to play at the playground with Min-ho till I get back?"
"Min-ho? Who's that?"
"Oh come on, you forgot your friend's name?"
Min-ho... Did I have a friend like that? I think I did! Forgetting a friend's name? I'm such a dummy.
"No! I know! Okay. I'll play with Min-ho and stay at his aunt's till you come back."
"Here, take this and go have fun."
Sticker snacks! And even my favorite Brave Snacks!
"Mom's the best! I'll be back!"
I waved to Mom and thundered down the stairs.
Min-ho, Seung-chan, Do-yun, and Ji-hoon were already at the playground.
"Sang-woo's here!"
"See? Told you he'd bring stickers."
"No way, Spinblade's the meta. Why's everyone stuck on stickers?"
"Yeah, Samurai Go and Spin-what's-it are for babies~"
Ji-hoon had some weird beyblade again. Sticker fights are way more fun.
"Real deal or baby rules?"
"Real deal, obviously! Baby rules are for girls!"
"First round baby rules! Real deal after."
"Spinblade... is fun though..."
I pulled out my sticker and yelled,
"Heh, behold the power of Brave Snacks!"
"Then I'll counter with Pikachu."
"Rock, paper— scissors!"
I won.
"First round real deal?"
"Call!"
I slammed my sticker down hard. Seung-chan's Pikachu flipped up! But it didn't turn over.
"Can't flip it, right? My turn?"
"Hold up! No coins in stickers!"
Cheat! Total cheat!
"That's skill. Put one in yours~"
"Ugh, didn't bring any."
"Gonna flip it~"
Seung-chan swung his hard. I squeezed my eyes shut. Farewell... brave snack...
"Whoa, Seung-chan, total letdown."
I heard Do-yun's voice. I opened my eyes. Pikachu hadn't even touched mine.
"Whoa, Seung-chan's aim can't be real."
Min-ho chimed in. It didn't even graze me. And best of all...!
Pikachu was face-up!
"Hyah!"
My Brave Snack nailed Pikachu's tail perfectly, sending it flying high. Pikachu came down, bounced off the ground, and stood on end.
"Hang in there, Pikachu! Don't make your trainer sad!"
It wobbled a few times, then finally showed its sunny face-up side.
"Nooo!"
"Yes!"
I snatched Pikachu. Score!
"Sang-woo, seriously, first round baby rules?"
"Nope. Your turn."
Time for tteokbokki with the coin on the back.
We took turns slamming stickers. Seung-chan lost all his after a few rounds and stormed off home, fuming. Min-ho and the others got called in for dinner one by one.
Now it was just me at the playground. One last swing, then off to Min-ho's.
Heading to the swings, I spotted someone in the corner by the slide.
"Huh?"
A girl I'd never seen before. Not from around here, I guess. Her clothes were all torn and ragged. She had her face buried in her knees, curled up. Her shoulders were shaking—she was crying.
I stood there watching her. Mom said if you see a crying friend, you have to help. My feet started moving that way on their own. Sand crunched in my shoes, but whatever.
Up close, her sniffling was louder.
"Hi?"
I stood by the slide and called out. She jerked her head up, startled. Her eyes were huge. Teary like glass marbles.
She wiped her tears with her sleeve as soon as she saw me. Her eyes were all red.
"Who're you? Go away."
She snapped at me. Sounded scary, but I didn't run.
"I'm Sang-woo! Lee Sang-woo. Why're you crying alone? Where's your mom?"
Her lip quivered at my words. Tears welled up again.
"Mom... says I'm in the way. Says customers won't come 'cause of me."
"Customers?"
"Yeah. Uncles come one by one, and Mom says I can't be there when she's working. She kicked me out 'cause I'm a bad kid."
She really thought it was her fault. I tilted my head. Yeah, you shouldn't bug Mom at work, but kicking her out? That's too much.
"Santa won't bring presents if you cry! Stop!"
"...Santa's never brought me any. Guess 'cause I'm bad."
"No! You're not bad!"
"How do you know."
"'Cause you're pretty. Pretty means good! Super duper pretty means super duper good!"
She stared at me hard, like don't lie. But I really meant it. Mom's a magical girl and super pretty, and the nicest in the world.
"For real? I'm pretty?"
"Yeah! Super duper!"
I rummaged in my pocket. Pikachu from Seung-chan was there, with a 500-won coin wedged behind.
"Look! This is 500 won."
"500 won?"
"Yeah! Enough for tteokbokki. You hungry? Let's go get some!"
I struggled to pry the coin out. Then I grabbed her hand tight. Ga-yeon's hand was ice-cold, like a toy left out in winter.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Baek... Ga-yeon."
"Pretty name too! C'mon! The tteokbokki grandma up ahead is the best."
Ga-yeon stood hesitantly. Her ragged clothes flapped, but with my hand in hers, it'd be okay.
We went to the little tteokbokki stand by the playground. The spicy red broth bubbled, tickling my nose.
"Grandma! Cup tteokbokki for 500 won! Two toothpicks!"
Grandma smiled and filled a paper cup to the brim. Red sauce sloshed to the edge.
"You first."
Ga-yeon speared a piece with her toothpick. She chewed, lips working, cheeks flushing pink.
"Tasty?"
"...Spicy."
That's what makes it tasty. Ga-yeon smiled for the first time, small. Like a bunny—so pretty.
We shared the cup and headed back to the swings. Her hand felt a little warmer now.
"Ga-yeon. We ate tteokbokki, so we're friends now, right?"
"...What's a friend?"
"Someone you play stickers with, hang out with, wait for Mom together!"
Ga-yeon clutched the empty cup and nodded.
"Tomorrow... can I see you?"
"Duh! I'm here every day!"
We swung together. Felt great. New friend!
"Huh?"
That purple spider from before was creeping by my feet. A tiny bit bigger than on the blanket. Legs longer, body plumper. It skittered across the sand super fast.
"Eek! Gross!"
Ga-yeon grabbed my arm and hid behind me. Her face went pale.
"Sang-woo, get it! Squash it quick!"
I shook my head.
"No, Ga-yeon. Mom said spiders are good friends. Can't catch 'em."
"It's so gross!"
"Yeah. But it has its own job. Gotta let it go."
Ga-yeon clung to my back, scared. I watched till it vanished under the slide. Mom's always right, so spiders must be good friends.
Then suddenly, a weird blue square box popped up in front of me. The letters jittered and shook like static.