Chapter 17


    The unknown man was named Park. Hisughter enveloped the room. Ill show you a draft at some point, he said.


    <strong><i>Please draw one that President Roh will be satisfied with,</i></strong> the grandfather said.


    Im not sure what he is up to.


    <strong><i>Im afraid Im too slow-witted to realize Go head tell me,</i></strong> said Park.


    Aha! I knew my grandfather was smiling broadly, even though I couldnt see his face, only the back of his head.


    <strong><i>Workers are pouring out into the streets for demonstrations,</i></strong> he continued,


    <strong><i>And our factory is closed down due to a general strike,</i></strong>


    Riding the waves of demonstrations, workers came out to the streets and fought for their rights.


    What the grandfather was asking him was to stop them.


    <strong><i>Well, the problem is our top priority. No worries. That will be solved before the Olympic Games,</i></strong> said Park.


    <strong><i>Please, just steer it in the right direction,</i></strong> the grandfather said. Park nodded yes.


    <strong><i>Do you have another thing?</i></strong> asked Park.


    <strong><i>Has the ANSP (agency for national security nning) been busy ofte?</i></strong>


    Park raised his eyebrows, blinked twice.


    <strong><i>Thebor union is causing trouble,</i></strong> the grandfather added,


    <strong><i>Ive received reports on that matter,</i></strong>


    <strong><i>I heard Sunyang is as informative as the ANSP,</i></strong> said Park.


    <strong><i>Very ttering,</i></strong>


    Why would he want to mobilize the ANSP? Only to grasp the trend of the union?


    As a result of the money he contributed to the presidential campaign fund, he was able to benefit from national agencies.


    <strong><i>Ill line up a few of them to take care of the union,</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Thank you, really appreciate it,</i></strong> the grandfather said.


    They exchanged a few more words and their goodbyes. I could hear the sound of the door opening, then footsteps fading away down the hall.


    And.


    I stood with my eyes fixed upon the grandfather as the sliding door opened.


    <strong><i>Do-jun, did you wait long? Did you eat anything?</i></strong>


    He pulled out his chair and sat down next to me.


    Although Its been just two months since Ist saw him, he was nosy as if he had met me in a few years.


    All I could say was <strong><i>I studied hard,</i></strong>


    While I was talking, he scanned the table.


    <strong><i>Do-jun?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Yes?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Tell me honestly, did you hear what I said in that room?</i></strong>


    Most of the food were barely touched, which made him suspect that I was eavesdropping.


    The slightly opened door might have been intended; if I said Id heard what he said, he would like it.


    But eavesdropping is not a good thing. I shook my head as my eyes fell to the floor, as if I did something wrong.


    Smiling, he gently stroke my hair. His hands were rough and cold.


    <strong><i>Did you understand what I said?</i></strong> he asked, his eyes lighting up a little.


    What he said was too political for a 11-year-old to understand, and I wanted to dole out joy a bit by a bit.


    I shook my head.


    The light seemed to fade from his eyes.


    <strong><i>But I have a question,</i></strong> I said before the lightpletely disappeared


    <strong><i>What is it?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Was the man in that room the president?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>No, but he came to meet me on behalf of the president,</i></strong>


    His eyes fixed on me with wonderment and curiosity.


    <strong><i>Souldnt you meet the president? You are thergestpanys chairman in the country,</i></strong>


    I was sincerely curious. I wanted to hear the reason why he met Park, not the president.


    <strong><i>At school, you would hear rumors: who is kind, who is greedy, who is good at fighting?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Yes, a lot,</i></strong>


    <strong><i>If your closest friend or a trustworthy person would tell you about a rumor, you would probably believe it, wouldnt you?</i></strong> he continued, <strong><i>but you should not, (thats a trap)</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Whether the rumor is right or wrong, you should check on it yourself,</i></strong> he added.


    <strong><i>Were you checking on something yourself earlier then?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Yeah,</i></strong> he answered.


    I slowly, gently nodded.


    <strong><i>Do you still remember something important I said before?</i></strong> he asked.


    I racked my brain.


    <strong><i>I dont have to understand what you are saying right away but remember it when I need to?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Yeah, right, and remember what I just said too,</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Yes, grandfather,</i></strong>


    <strong><i>And one more thing, you must be a listener, not an exiner,</i></strong>


    And a decider, not a follower.


    He would decide whether he would be part of the politicalndscape after considering its draft.


    <strong><i>Now I have to get back to work. Why dont youe to my house on Childrens Day (May 5)?</i></strong>


    With excitement in my voice, I said, <strong><i>Yes!</i></strong>


    ***


    After the grandfather returned his grandson home, he went back into the main room. There was a middle-aged man sitting on a sofa waiting for him. The man sprang from the sofa and bowed as the grandfather entered the room.


    <strong><i>Do sit down,</i></strong> he said, sitting down. Then asked, <strong><i>What about Park?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>He is in a suite downstairs. A female rookie singers been sent to the suite,</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Good. What about the ballroom?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Gave newly-elected members some (money),</i></strong> the man added, chuckling <strong><i>arranged new female models and prepared rooms (for some of the members),</i></strong>


    <strong><i>Great,</i></strong> the grandfather said, then lifted his mug of tea, rested his feet on the tea table and swallowed a gulp.


    <strong><i>What do you think Park will bring me?</i></strong> he asked.


    <strong><i>That is not important, sir. Once Soviet natural gas resources are acquired,</i></strong> the man said.


    <strong><i>Are you sure about this?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>LNG will be an entre for Sunyang,</i></strong> the man said in confidence, his eyes glowing.


    The grandfather looked at him with a grin, and infinite trust.