1.2 Grandpa Bing Bing

Che Ju ran so quickly, Ah Won and Yong Tae struggled to keep up. He knew he was the fastest boy in the village and loved to show it. The friends ran past the school and Head Master Yoo Sang’s house at the top of the mountain, and began the climb down into the valley past the shops that were just opening. Behind them the sun eased its way over the East Mountain.

“Keep up you two!” Che Ju laughed. “We are almost to the gate, we can rest there!”

The friends pressed on until they reached the village gate, the only entrance to Kkachisan village on the west wall. The lucky magpie, symbol of the village, was carved atop the brown pillars that stood like tree trunks holding the massive gate.

Ah Won and Yong Tae collapsed against the thick wooden pillars, exhausted and out of breath.

“We’ll never make it in time,” Yong Tae panted. “Can’t we just collect some bamboo here? That way, if we don’t make it, I won’t have 10 years of bad luck. Anyway, I would be happy with a normal bamboo grass blade. I don’t need a silver one.”

“Hey! We’re going to make it, I know exactly where we’re going. And no way am I settling for a normal blade of bamboo for my Little Brother. How would that look on your 3000th Day celebration?”

Ah Won had caught her breath, and a little of Che Ju’s excitement. “Ya! Yong Tae! C’mon, you will receive your first hat today, and our Sah Boo is presenting it! That’s a BIG deal! ”

Yong Tae dropped his chin to his chest, hiding his face from his friends. Instantly, Che Ju knew why.

“Yong Tae, don’t worry about it. Not every boy’s father is able to present him with his first hat. It happens a lot. Last month the boy from DaeRim Village got his hat from his uncle, a goat herder, on his 3000th Day. You get yours from our Sah Boo! I want this to be special for you, Little Brother.”

His friend put his arm around Yong Tae’s shoulder.

Yong Tae lifted his chin and saw Che Ju’s smile. “Alright, lets go.”

“’Bout time!” quipped Ah Won.

Quickly, Che Ju bolted off down the mountain, with Ah Won right behind. Yong Tae pressed off the gate and gave chase, thankful for his friends.

The three friends raced down the mountain into the valley. The sun was nearly half-way over the top of East Mountain when they crossed the bridge and left the road to follow the path next to the river. It was only a short trip down the path, past the cave of Grandpa Bing-Bing, to Dae Namu grove.

As they passed the cave, a thin wisp rose from the entrance like smoke from the nostril of a sleeping dragon. The cave was dark, but something moved inside, and the friends stopped to stare as they heard a loud sound from the cave. “Krrrsssh…Crack! Krrrssh…. Crack! Krrrrsssh….Crack!”

“C’mon, let’s keep moving,” Che Ju said. “Seems like Grandpa Bing-Bing is a little more active today.”

A high pitched voice startled the trio. “Grandpa BING BING! More active, HA!” Grandpa Bing Bing slipped from the underbrush behind them and began to circle around, trapping them between himself, the river, and the mouth of his cave. His tattered robes were knotted with roots. Twigs and leaves twisted into thick braids with his hair and beard, and the ground at his feet sprouted with thorny weeds wherever he stepped.



His eyes caught Che Ju's. “Knew it! My trees told me what you found yesterday. It’s mine! The silver bamboo grows for me, not you!”