“It seems dark still…” Shi Woo teased, she could hear the excitement in her son’s voice. “You’ll just have to wait.”
“But MOM, the light is coming over the east mountain! It is my 3000th day and we have to gather the last blade of bamboo grass for my hat! You don’t want my next ten years to be all bad luck do you! You know that’s what’ll happen if I don’t get the bamboo before the sun comes all the way up. Plus, Che Ju and Ah Won are coming and…”
“Ok. Ok!” Shi Woo interrupted, “I’m up. Bring me my sandals, and we’ll go get your grass. Are your friends here yet?"
“Ah Won is outside, but Che Ju is always late. He probably stopped at his girlfriend’s house.”
Yong Tae’s nose wrinkled when he said “girlfriend”. Shi Woo smiled at her son. He would be ten soon. She knew his opinion of girls would change. He ran back into the bedroom, and she ruffled his hair before taking her sandals.
“Someday you’ll have a girlfriend too, Yong Tae.”
Yong Tae opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, Ah Won stuck her head in the open window.
“No girl would ever like Yong Tae. They all know he belongs to me!” Ah Won flashed a smile, and her face disappeared from the window. Moments later she reappeared in the bedroom.
Grabbing Yong Tae’s arm, Ah Won leaned in to kiss him “Isn’t that right?”
“Bwaaa!” Yong Tae’s eyes grew wide and he pushed her away with two hands. “Get offa me!” He backed away, lost his balance, tripped over a pot, and landed hard on his bottom.
“And he’s a little clumsy,” Ah Won jibed as she leaned over Yong Tae and landed a kiss on his cheek..
“Gross,” Yong Tae wiped his cheek with the back of his hand.
“Yong Tae! Be nice to your friend. Ah Won is a pretty girl, there’s nothing gross about her,” Shi Woo chided.
“And I’ll pound you if you aren’t nice to me. Remember that too!” Ah Won laughed as she turned and darted out of the bedroom. “You two better hurry! The sun is almost up now . And here comes Che Ju!”
“Here Yong Tae, take these rice cakes and share with your friends. Go ahead without me and gather the bamboo blade. I will have breakfast ready when you come back.”
Yong Tae grabbed the rice cakes, “Ok, Mom! Thanks! Be right back.” He called over his shoulder as he slid the door aside and joined his friends outside.
“Hey Big Brother, glad you could make it,” Yong Tae greeted his friend, "but where is your hat? You'd better put it on before one of the masters sees you, or worse, Sah Boo Nim"
Che Ju's hand went to his head reflexively, and he blushed a little as he realized his mistake. "Oh, I must have left it...somewhere...Don't worry about it."
"You can't go around town with no hat." Ah Won stated flatly. "You will have to...somewhere...and get it before we can go."
“Ha! There's no time!" Che Ju ignored Ah Won's jibe and returned to his light-hearted self. "I went to the forest yesterday to find the perfect blade for your mom to weave into your hat. It’s going to be great. We are going to have to hurry to make it to Dae NaMu Grove before the sun though.”
“Wait a minute,” Ah Won paused the group as they walked. “Dae NaMu Grove? I won’t go there. Grandpa Bing-Bing lives in that part of the forest.. He’s crazy!”
“Yeah,” Yong Tae offered his agreement. “My mom said he moved to the forest because he talks to trees! She said he thinks that plants are his family….and he never wears his hat! I’m not going near him.”
“He’s harmless,” Che Ju laughed. “I went there yesterday, and he didn’t even come out of his cave. Besides, that’s where your bamboo blade is.”
“No way. There is bamboo grass everywhere. Why should we go to Dae NaMu Grove?”
Che Ju’s answer was just above a whisper, “I told you, I found the perfect blade." His eyes shone with excitement. "On top of an old grave in Dae NaMu Grove there’s a silver bamboo plant! Let’s Go!”
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