Page 10 of Perfect Happiness
“We don’t go down to the village.So we don’t know anyone.”
The late-afternoon sun suddenly hid behind a dark cloud.The field of reeds became dark, the wind a notch colder.Jiyoo quickened her pace.She was nervous that the sun would set before she could show Father the “happy ducks” of the Half Moon Marsh.Father widened his strides to keep up with Jiyoo.
Soon, the Half Moon Marsh came into view.The sun hadn’t set yet, but there was already a thick fog floating on the water.Jiyoo stopped in front of the feeding area.
“We’re here.”
There was a lot more water in the Half Moon Marsh than last summer.The water level was right up to the edge of the feeding area.Only the very tips of the reeds and cordgrass were sticking out of the water, the air above it swarming with red dragonflies.Jiyoo took a running start, then jumped up onto the feeding rock.Father followed and stood behind her.
“Mother and I come here and give the ducks their feed,” Jiyoo said as she looked down from the feeding rock.
“Do you buy the feed?”Father asked.
“Mother makes it.”
“Your mother?How does she make it?”
Jiyoo told father how to make duck feed.As he listened, he would sometimes nod his head.He looked surprised that ducks ate pig meat.
“But where are all the ducks hiding?”Father asked.“I haven’t seen one yet.”
Jiyoo turned to look at the water beneath her feet.Just as she anticipated, there was a dark shadow moving beneath the murky water.Jiyoo tried to scream, but it was already too late.As soon as she opened her mouth, a jet-black shadow sprung up from beneath her feet.Startled, Jiyoo twisted her body and lost her balance.Her foot slipped, her legs shot up into the air, and her shoulders and head fell backwards.She instinctively closed her eyes.
The impact of the fall wasn’t as bad as she thought it was going to be.She didn’t even get pricked by the reeds.Nor did it seem like she had fallen into the thick mud.It took a few moments for Jiyoo to realize a pair of arms had safely caught her.There was a sturdy body supporting her back, and a voice whispering in her ear.
“Are you okay, Babe?”
Jiyoo waited before answering.She was listening to the pounding of her father’s chest on her back.Suddenly, unchained memories began to flow in her mind.A long time ago, her father’s hands and arms were always waiting nearby.Whether she tripped or missed her step, they were always there, like magic.She now remembered just how much she missed this safe and warm sensation.The sound of his voice every night in her dreams.
“Knock-knock.Earth to Jiyoo.You’re not asleep, are you?”Father asked.
“No,” Jiyoo said, trying to stifle the smile that was trying to form on her lips.“I’m awake.”
Father lifted Jiyoo up and sat down on the ground.Jiyoo was now seated on her father’s lap, in his embrace.After a while, Jiyoo noticed the loon.It waddled up onto the rock, craned its neck, and started to cry.An eerie wolf-like howl filled the sky.
Wa-oooooo.
“That’s a loon.They’re not afraid of people,” Jiyoo said.
Jiyoo lifted her body and stood up.She gathered herself and extended her hand out to her father who was still sitting on the ground.Father took her hand and got up with a grunt.
“That little guy is called a loon, you say?”Jiyoo’s father asked.
He wore a big smile as he asked this.
“Should we get back at it for scaring us?”he asked.
It was all Jiyoo could do to nod her head without cheering.
“On the count of three.One, two…”
Three.Jiyoo jumped onto the rock.She shouted as she landed next to her father.The loon screamed out in surprise, jumped a meter into the air, then flapped its wings as it fell into the water with a splash.
“Go away, you bully!And don’t mess with me again!”
Jiyoo took her thumb and stuck her nose up at the loon.This and the words she had just said were two things she would never say in front of Mother.Mother always pointed out when she did something vulgar.
“And where did you learn that one?”Father asked as he laughed heartily.
