Landing in Your Inbox

58 - soft center

January 2, 2021 11:01 AM
Korean Children Outreach Fund, Osan

Jeong-hyeok's encounter with children was usually on the plane and most if not all were pleasant. Fellow crew members teased that he would only smile a bit wider if the passenger was as high as his waist. He was more disposed to giving handshakes, high fives and even the occasional fist bumps. There were a few times when he allowed a child to visit the cockpit, obliging to give a tour. 

He and Seri helped in distributing the snacks and activity supplies they brought from Seoul. He would sneak glances on Seri who he realized might not be comfortable with children. 

But she went at it fully and with eagerness, giving her smiles freely. 

"Watching them makes me happy and sad." She confided in Jeong-hyeok later when they were finished. "They lived in tough families or none at all. At such young ages, they were abandoned and they had to experience trauma that they will carry growing up. They have a hard road ahead of them and it will mean the world if someone would step in this early and show them they don't have to be alone."

"I couldn't think of a better place for them than here." Jeong-hyeok reassured Seri, "This organization has helped so many."

There were 34 children living in the temporary home ranging from ages 3 to 17, majority of which were younger than 12. This age group got together to sing a few songs for Jeong-hyeok and Seri, something they've been learning in their music class that also doubled as their therapy. Their performance began with some rhymes that made Seri gush at Jeong-hyeok. As VIPs, the two were seated front and center. The outreach center directress sat at Jeong-hyeok's other side. 

Seri swayed and even clapped a little, her shoulder bumping into Jeong-hyeok at times. 

"What's in the big, big universe? 
What's in the big, big universe? 
There's Earth in the big, big universe. 
There is Korea on Earth. 
There is Korea in a very large and big universe.
There is Seoul in Korea. 
There is Seoul in a very big and big universe. 
There is a kindergarten in Seoul. 
There is a kindergarten in a very big universe " 

The final performance was by an 11-year old leading a touching rendition of Colors of the Wind with the rest of the children singing the chorus in the background. Jeong-hyeok saw Seri was engrossed, then her lips appeared to quiver. At the first chorus, she flicked something from the corner of her eye, like dust. She did it carefully so as not to ruin her eyeliner. It was at the sniffle when Jeong-hyeok offered his handkerchief which she did accept. She used the corner of his handkerchief to dab at pesky discharges. At the end of the song, Seri gave a hearty applause.

The directress talked a bit more about the different projects of the center over a lunch of chicken and pizza that Jeong-hyeok and Seri treated everyone with. Myeong-sun's son joined them this time, a sweet boy named U-pil. Seri was only half-listening to the conversation because there was a girl of about 5 or 6 who was seated by the corner of the gymnasium, not mingling with her peers and kept to her colored pens and paper. 

Myeong-sun followed Seri's line of sight, "Ah, little Nari. She was left by her mother a month ago. She's stopped looking for her now, but she still doesn't want to talk."

In a move that even Jeong-hyeok didn't expect, Seri excused herself from the table to go to the child.  

Jeong-hyeok kept looking until Myeong-sun aired her observation. "She seems to like children a lot."

"I only found out just now..." 

Seri crouched down, appeared to say hello to the child and complimented her on her drawing, her mouth forming an 'o' to demonstrate her amazement.