Free From Wonso Pond by Kang Kyong-ae Page A

question now, he hesitated as to what he should do. The lantern was playing hide and seek with his eyes, flickering in and out of
sight, as though it was laughing at him, ridiculing him. Ch’otchae took a step forward, his heart in his throat. Just then Kaettong asked,
    â€œMa, who was that?”
    â€œGoodness . . . What are you doing out here?”
    Kaettong’s mother came in their direction.
    â€œThat was Kannan, wasn’t it? What’s she doing over here at this time of night?”
    â€œKannan?” shouted Ch’otchae suddenly in surprise. Kaettong’s mother stopped in her tracks.
    â€œHey, who’s that?”
    â€œIt’s just me.”
    â€œ. . . Oh, Ch’otchae?”
    â€œMa, why did Kannan come over to our house?”
    â€œGood question . . . Maybe Tokho sent her over.”
    Ch’otchae, for his part, was still staring out blankly at the hand lantern disappearing into the distance. Then he trudged off once again, wiping away more of the urine from his temple.

22
    Ch’otchae walked around aimlessly, and then, with one last spin around Tokho’s house, finally made his way home.
    He didn’t want to go back inside though, and after walking circles in the front yard for a while, he plopped down beside the woodpile. The scent of rotting wood hit him, and he thought about how Kaettong had just pissed on him. Then he felt an indescribable rush of the anger pent up inside of him.
    Leaning against the woodpile, he asked himself why he’d never even once been able to meet that damn girl. Is she sick, or something? he wondered, as a huge, bright star shot through the sky above him, dragging a long tail before disappearing into the darkness. As he stared vacantly into the spot where the star had disappeared, the black mole on Sonbi’s brow entered his mind. That shiny black mole! Standing out on her perfect, glowing face. It was just like that shooting star, vanishing without a trace. He sighed deeply and shut his eyes tight. The tighter he squeezed, the more clearly he could see that black mole. Damn that girl! he said, jumping to his feet. Then he heard yet another set of footsteps coming toward him. This finally set off his temper.

    â€œWho’s that!” he shouted crossly.
    â€œIs that you, Ch’otchae? I’ve been looking high and low for you. And you were here the whole time? What are you doing over here?”
    Fighting for breath, Yi Sobang came to Ch’otchae’s side, took his hand, and led him into the house. Ch’otchae tried to suppress his anger, but his nostrils were still flaring.
    â€œCh’otchae!” Yi Sobang moved closer to the boy’s side. Ch’otchae lay on the floor not wanting to be bothered. Yi Sobang placed his hand on Ch’otchae’s forehead.
    â€œSomething’s hounding you, my boy, isn’t it?”
    Ch’otchae pictured Sonbi in his mind’s eye and tried to shake off Yi Sobang’s hand. He rolled onto his side, refusing the man’s gesture. After some time, Yi Sobang spoke again.
    â€œYou asleep?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œTell me why you’ve been up and about at night.”
    â€œBecause I can’t fall asleep.”
    â€œWell, why can’t you fall asleep?”
    He wanted to say something, but his lips remained tightly sealed.
    â€œCome on Ch’otchae, you don’t have to hide anything from me. Just tell me what’s getting at you, and I’ll do my best to help.”
    Yi Sobang suspected that Ch’otchae was losing sleep over a girl, but he didn’t know for sure who she was. He hoped he could find out who, so that he could try to make things happen. If he let things take their natural course, Ch’otchae might get sick before long, or even worse, end up causing a major incident.
    Ch’otchae had been quiet for some time now. Yi Sobang moved up close to him and lay down by his side.
    â€œYou’ve got a girl on