1:4 Dahk Jee Game

When Yong Tae and Ah Won approached the Ka Chi San village gates, red and winded from the hard run up the mountain, they found Che Ju relaxed and playing with his dahk jee.

"So what do you think Yoo Sang wants to see us about?" Che Ju asked casually.

He was kneeling on his haunches next to one of the treelike pillars. His two friends approached, panting and out of breath. He took out a folded paper star that was dyed red on one side and blue on the other. He laid it onto the ground, placing it flat on a smooth rock. He pulled another dahk jee, this one folded like a crescent moon, from his coat and took aim at the star.

Hwaaaack!

The moon slapped the stone next to the star, and two more dahk jee appeared from his jacket.

Hwaaaack! Hwaaaack!

Two colorful squares smacked to the stone.

Ah Won gathered her breath first. "Are you kidding? You can't think of anything we maybe did wrong? Yoo Sang will make us clean the Do Jang for sure."

Hwaaaack! "Not on Yong Tae's 3000th Day." Hwaaaack! Hwaaaack! "No way."

"Big Brother, give me those. You are terrible at this game." Yong Tae crossed his leags and sat on the ground next to Che Ju. "And you are wrong." Hwaaaack! "Remember last New Year when we snuck to watch him perform the Phoenix Hyoung? Remember how you promised to show us a spot where no one could see us?" Hwaaaack! Hwaaaack! "We had to clean the floors for a week that time."

"Yeah," Che Ju pushed Yong Tae's shoulder. "But it was worth it then too, wasn't it" He winked and laughed at Yong Tae. "C'mon, your worse than me! Pass those back this way."

"It's my turn!" Ah Won quickly nabbed the three dahk jee as the boys attempted to pass them. "I would clean the Do Jang for a month to see the Phoenix Hyoung again, but I'm not so sure I'd clean it for an hour for some bamboo, silver or not."

Thoofp! The moon struck the star and flipped it over turning the red side up. Ah Won smiled, taking a second to soak up the looks of surprise from her friends. Thoofp! Thoofp! The first square flipped the moon and the other hit the star, flipping it again.

"Waah! A blue star! Nice, Ah Won." Yong Tae said.

"Yeah, pretty good for a girl, huh?" Ah Won leaned down and kissed Yong Tae's cheek, catching him by surprise.

"Ya! Gross! That's twice already today, Ah Won!" Yong Tae wiped at his cheek.

"Well, it is your 3000th Day Yong Tae. She just wants to make it special for you," Che Ju teased as he collected his dahk jee. "C'mon, let's go have some more of your mom's rice cakes before we go get our punishmet."

"Sounds good." Ah Won rubbed her stomach. "I'm starving, and Shi Woo makes the best rice cakes in the village!"

"Ya, Ah Won...can you run ahead for a second? We'll catch up. I want to talk to Yong Tae."

"No problem," Ah Won winked, "but don't take too long, I can't promise you I will leave any rice cakes."

Turning quickly on her heel, Ah Won set off towards Yong Tae's house, leaving her friends behind.

Che Ju put his arm around Yong Tae's shoulder. "Just wanted to say 'I'm sorry', Little Brother. I wanted your 3000th day to be a special one, and it looks like I got us in a lot of trouble with your Grandfather. Don't tell Ah Won, but if we have to clean the Do Jang, I will do your share of the work."

Yong Tae smiled at his friend. He knew Che Ju had a good heart, that's why they had been such good friends for as long as Yong Tae could remember.

"Ok, thanks Big Brother. I know you didn't want to get us in trouble. I'm not worried about the punishment. Grandfather Yoo Sang has always been fair. Besides, like you said, its my 3000th day...he can't punish me and give me my hat on the same day."

Che Ju gave Yong Tae a playful shove. "Alright then, let's go." He smiled broadly, "Let's race to your house. You get a ten second head start."