The Dream

Halmoni's daughter and Hakkun were very close. They smoked together, drank together, talked together. After Hakkun and Soon E were married, she would often come over to their room at night. Soon E would silently fume as their smoke filled the small room.

Halmoni's daughter was devastated when her cousin died. Every day, for the first 100 days after his death, she prayed for him.

On the 100th day, he came to her in a dream and said,

"I'm going away."

Halmoni's daughter,

"I want to go with you."

Hakkun,

"No. It's not time for you to come."

Hakkun walked over to a tree where an old man dressed in traditional white Korean clothes was sitting.

Hakkun sat down beside him.

Using small black discs and white discs, they played the Korean game called pah-dook; similar to checkers.

The old man looked up at Halmoni's daughter,

"It's not time for you to come."

She watched as they finished the game. The old man picked up the pieces and put them in a small box.

He and Hakkun stood up and walked away.

When she woke up, she knew that Hakkun was at peace; she no longer needed to worry him.

Later, she would visit Hakkun's grave and tell him,

"You can rest now.

Your daughters are in American and have a good life.

Soon E is there too and she's happy."