Chapter 23: Still a Small Sprout

Mihye Kwon always had one persistent worry.

It was about what dreams her children might have.

Despite their young age, Hye-yeon and Yuri were so mature that they always wrote predictable careers on their future aspiration forms.

Mihye wanted to ask them directly, but practical concerns held her back.

If their dreams required a lot of money, she, as a mother, couldn’t provide.

Unlike Yuri, who had a clear dream, Hye-yeon didn’t seem to have one.

That was because Hye-yeon had always been the “big sister” from a young age.

She’s cool…

Hye-yeon stared blankly at Yongsu.

His eyes fixed on the screen, writing with intense focus, he looked like a painting of a professional at work.

Enough watching.

Hye-yeon quietly closed the door.

“Not looking anymore?”

Uncle needs to work. We should sleep too. He said we’re moving furniture tomorrow.

“Ugh… I’m not sleepy.”

Close your eyes tight. It’ll come.

Hye-yeon led Yuri to the sofa.

Careful not to wake Jiyu, she lay down quietly and closed her eyes.

Writer…

She tried to sleep, but the image of Yongsu wouldn’t leave her mind.

What kind of job was being a writer?

Unable to sleep, Hye-yeon sank into her thoughts.

***

You can find writing material in everyday life.

Papa and The Gravekeeper were born from daily life.

Papa, about a man’s life, and The Gravekeeper, about one who watches over death, drew from common themes turned into art.

It’s not working.

The writing I did after three years was awful.

So bad, it felt like something a nearby elementary schooler might’ve written.

Have my writing muscles atrophied?

After not writing for so long, it wasn’t surprising.

But this was too much.

Better delete it.

It was a good thing I hadn’t checked it properly last night in my drowsiness.

I would’ve been crushed.

Sigh.

I deleted everything I’d written and stood from the chair.

Finding themes in daily life isn’t working.

Unlike before, my current life felt monotonous.

Not bad, but there was no emotional spark compared to the past.

I even wondered if I could just not write.

But I have to.

Deciding to write later, I left the room.

The door’s closed?

I never fully close it.

When I lived alone, maybe, but with the kids, I left it slightly open in case something happened.

I mostly closed it when using the computer, but not completely.

Did the wind shut it?

Puzzled, I stepped out.

Heading to the living room, I saw the kids.

While most were asleep, Jiyu was awake, staring out at the veranda.

Jiyu, what’re you doing?

“Huh?”

At my voice, Jiyu turned from gazing outside to look at me.

“Uncle!”

Yeah? What’s up?

“Look at this! Quick!”

I tilted my head and approached the veranda.

There, I saw a small rodent.

Oh? A lemming?

-Squeak! Squeak!

Called “traveler rats” in Korean, they showed up occasionally.

They looked like a mix of guinea pigs and hamsters.

“It’s mad at me!”

Yeah, they’re like that.

-Squeak squeak! Squeak!

I didn’t say much about the lemming’s temper.

As long as you didn’t touch them, their germs weren’t an issue.

“But it’s cute! Jiyu wants to touch it!”

No, you can’t.

Wild animals were wild for a reason.

They carried all sorts of germs, so it was best not to touch them.

-Squeak! Squeak… squeak?

Suddenly, the lemming bolted.

?

It wasn’t running from me—it was like it sensed a predator.

-Whine!

A weasel darted out, chasing the lemming.

Oh no…

I quickly covered Jiyu’s eyes.

The white-furred weasel pounced, biting the lemming’s neck.

“Uncle? Why?”

It’s nothing.

I didn’t want Jiyu to see something that might upset her.

The weasel glanced at us, then fled with the lemming in its mouth.

Was that the weasel Jiyu mentioned before?

It happened so fast, I was stunned.

Once the weasel was gone, I uncovered Jiyu’s eyes.

“Ah! The hamster’s gone!”

Yeah, it went home.

“Aww… Jiyu wanted to watch it more.”

It’ll come back.

“Really?”

Yup, for sure.

“Then Jiyu will wait!”

I patted Jiyu’s head.

“Hehe.”

She smiled brightly, grabbing my hand.

“Uncle! Jiyu’s hungry!”

Oh? What do you want to eat?

“Jiyu will eat anything Uncle makes!”

Really?

“Yup!”

Alright, can you wake your sisters soon? I’ll make spicy pork stir-fry.

“Yay! Spicy pork!”

Jiyu bounced with excitement.

Smiling at her, I headed to the kitchen.

Lemmings… and weasels.

I opened the fridge, pulling out ingredients for the stir-fry.

But my mind kept replaying the scene.

Weird…

In three years here, I rarely saw wild animals.

Maybe once a month?

Animals are wary and avoid residential areas unless something draws them.

Ugh, what a headache.

Moose, bears, or wolves were bad enough, but smaller animals like these were a problem too—because of germs.

No hospitals around here.

This was the countryside, and Canada’s healthcare system was a mess.

Even a simple check-up could take two or three months.

I need to do something…

I’d tell the kids not to touch wild animals, but I doubted they’d listen.

So many cute animals here.

Especially for a kid like Jiyu, cute animals were hard to resist, and that could cause trouble.

I’ll ask Ryan when he comes.

Sighing inwardly, I started cooking.

***

An hour after eating, the furniture arrived.

The sheer volume stacked in front of the house was staggering.

Since I’d bought everything the kids wanted, it was no surprise.

This’ll take all day.

It was the weekend, so I called Ryan.

He came over like it was obvious.

More like he’s escaping.

Specifically, escaping Mijeong’s nagging.

Ryan started assembling furniture with ease.

“You hate housework but love building furniture?”

It’s a guy thing.

“…Fair.”

There’s a strange satisfaction in assembling furniture.

Like building the house piece by piece.

It just felt good.

So, what do you think?

“Hmm.”

Ryan set down his drill and thought.

“More animals lately, huh? You’ve got a gun, right? Just shoot. They’ll run.”

The kids are terrified of guns.

“Isn’t Korea still at war? Why fear guns?”

He’d learned Korean because of Mijeong but didn’t know much about the culture.

War or not, guns were scary.

It’s a thing. Anyway, any other ideas?

“Yeah.”

What?

“Get a dog.”

A dog?

“Yup. A big dog marking its territory keeps most animals away. Some still come, though.”

…

It made sense.

Dogs were often kept for protection.

“Want one of our pups when they’re born?”

Shepherds?

“Yup.”

Ryan had two German Shepherds, gentle and loyal, which I remembered.

When are they due?

“How would I know?”

…Maybe I’ll ask Marcello for a Samoyed pup instead.

“Think it over. Getting a dog just for animals is a hassle.”

I hadn’t planned to get one.

Raising a dog to chase wildlife felt impulsive.

Animals…

Everyone suggested guard dogs, but I wasn’t sold.

With three kids, adding a pet was too much.

Guess I’ll reinforce the fence.

Lemmings and weasels were small enough to slip through.

I’d fix the fence and hold off on a dog.

“Um…”

As we worked, the door creaked open.

Hye-yeon stood there with two glasses of water.

“Have some water.”

Thanks, I was thirsty.

“Oh, thank you.”

Hye-yeon glanced around.

The room we were working on was hers.

It started bare, but now furniture was taking shape.

Might not finish today.

“Yeah.”

It was already 3 p.m.

Four hours in, and we hadn’t finished Hye-yeon’s room.

Let’s finish Hye-yeon’s room first. Yuri and Jiyu’s can wait till tomorrow. That okay?

“O-Of course! I’m fine on the sofa. It’s comfy.”

The sofa was comfy.

Ryan convinced me to buy it, and I splurged on a good one.

It was probably softer than most beds.

“Um… Uncle?”

Yeah?

“Could you… maybe make the desk today?”

We’d prioritized harder furniture, so the easier desk was still unassembled.

Sure, we’ll make it. For studying?

“N-No, well… yes! For studying!”

Then we’ll get it done.

I planned to finish Hye-yeon’s furniture today anyway.

As I handed her the empty glass and stood, my phone rang.

-Ring ring ring!

Hold on.

I pulled out my phone.

It was the coordinator.

“Hello? What’s up?”

“Author, the U.S. schedule’s been set.”

Oh.

The U.S. trip was confirmed.