Page 58 of Perfect Happiness
Mother extended her left arm toward Jiyoo.When Jiyoo took a step toward her, Mother hugged Jiyoo’s shoulder and patted her on the back.
“Mommy would never leave you.My hand was hurting, so I went to the hospital.I’m sorry I was so late.I had to get it disinfected and stitched up.They also wanted to give me an IV.”
Jiyoo twisted her body slightly and escaped Mother’s embrace.
“Are you all better now?”
“I’ll feel better once I go downstairs and get some rest.I’m sorry, Jiyoo.I feel bad that you cried while waiting for me.”
Mother smiled.
“Should I rest up here with you?We can share the salad.”
Jiyoo frantically shook her head.She could already feel the peas becoming stuck in her throat.Because of this, her voice when she spoke sounded like a goat’s yodel.
“No.”
“Really?Are you mad at me?”
Jiyoo shook her head with a smile.
“I might hurt your hand if you sleep here.I kick in my sleep, remember?”
Mother stared into Jiyoo’s eyes as if to ask if she was sure.She just stood there without saying anything, like she was giving Jiyoo the chance to change her mind.Jiyoo tensed her shaking legs and endured Mother’s intense gaze.Just a few minutes ago, Jiyoo had been desperately wishing for Mother to come home.Now, all she wanted was for Mother to leave.
“Okay, then I’ll sleep downstairs.”
Finally, Mother left the room.The pea salad she left on the desk looked like a spy.
It was Sunday morning when they left the countryside house.Mother said they were going to Cheongyeon.Mother didn’t say anything as she drove.Jiyoo sat in the backseat as usual.As soon as she got in the car, she took outFrozen IIfrom her bag and started reading it.All her attention was drawn to her school bag because hidden at the bottom of the bag was Dad Puppet.She had many opportunities to put him back in the attic, but eventually she ended up taking him with her.
At first, Dad Puppet was just an object that gave her comfort.But now it had become something that protected her.He protected her from long hours alone in her room, he protected her rekindled longing for Father, and he protected her from the incessant cries of the loons, the recurring nightmare, and from the guilt of doubting what Mother said.
“Jiyoo, I have something to ask you,” Mother finally said as they got on the highway.“You have to answer honestly.”
Jiyoo glanced upwards without lifting her head.Immediately, she made eye contact with Mother in the rearview mirror.
“Did you open the box in the shed?”
Jiyoo heard a rattling inside her body, as though she had the hiccups.Jiyoo had almost forgotten about the box in the shed.Mother hadn’t mentioned it their entire stay in Woohyeri, so Jiyoo thought she didn’t know, even though she knew there was no way Mother wouldn’t know.
“Yes.”
Jiyoo’s face turned bright red as soon as she answered.She was embarrassed for trying so hard to hide it.Mother’s voice, which sounded like she didn’t mind Jiyoo’s peeping, terrified Jiyoo.
“Why?”she said.
“Well—”
Jiyoo reluctantly lifted her head.Mother’s eyes were smiling inside the rearview mirror.It was faint, but her smile was giving Jiyoo hope.Perhaps Mother would forgive her if she told the truth, even though that had never happened before.
“I went into the shed to put on my boots.I wanted to play in the Half Moon Marsh.But then I saw the box—”
“And opened it.”
Mother said, cutting off Jiyoo and finishing her sentence for her.
“I shouldn’t have.”
