Chapter 41 – Volunteering (2)
[Heilang(黑狼)]
The nursery school signboard was written in black calligraphy, giving it an antique feel. Contrary to the magic cave that is associated with the name, there was a cute wolf picture drawn at the entrance of the nursery school. From the outside, it didn’t look like a hanok or an old tile-roofed house.
The building was a plain and clean modern design building, and the staff peering through the windows were also dressed in neat and tidy clothes. It seemed to be a much better managed place than I thought. I was standing in the entrance and looking at my cell phone. A message from Ichie appeared on the screen of my cellphone.
[Where are you going for volunteer work?]
[Come to think of it, I should go too if I want to get a discount.]
I laughed when I saw the text. It was because I found it amusing that Ichie had changed his mind. Was I scolded by my uncle for not knowing how much money was wasted?
If you scroll down a little more, you can see the reply I sent. It was the address of the orphanage. After school, we each changed our clothes at home and decided to meet in front of the nursery school. I leaned my head against a stone pillar and waited for Ichie to come.
“Suhyun-san.”
Closing my eyes and banging my head against a stone pillar, waiting for Ichie to come, I opened my eyes to a voice calling me from the end of the road. Ichie, wearing over-the-knee shorts and a light shirt, was waving at me. Long stretched legs and a thin, slender waistline caught my eye.
“It makes sense.”
“Did you wait a long time?”
Ichie sprinted in front of me and asked. I shook my head and replied.
“No. I didn’t wait too long. Then shall we go right away?”
“Go right away.”
Ichie nodded and looked at the nursery school excitedly. Surprisingly, she seemed to like this kind of volunteer work. An employee pasting something on the wall through a transparent glass door found us and opened the door.
She looked at us with a slightly surprised expression and said.
“Are you really here?”
“Yes. Really came Because I said I would serve.”
“There are usually a lot of people who just fill up with sponsorship. Those who come in person like this are really rare.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time.”
She was a lady who wore glasses and knew how to smile warmly. She was putting on the schedule for the month with her apron on. On the schedule seen over her shoulder, quite a variety of events were taking place, such as going to the movies or inviting a recreation instructor. Ichie and I looked around and asked.
“Then, what shall we do?”
“We don’t do anything difficult. Just simply take care of the children and help out with the work.”
It was a story that was not much different from the volunteer work I did in high school. We followed the staff’s guidance. Upon entering the office, we were guided to our seats.
The office was neat and tidy, but it didn’t smell like an old man, so it was unbelievable that he belonged to a martial arts concept guild like the Black Dragon Room. The only place that gave off the uncle’s scent was the library in the corner of the office. It was full of martial arts sites that looked very old just by their names.
Among them, the most notable was the 23-volume full-length martial arts magazine [City of Heaven and Demons]. It was a martial art that once recorded an unprecedented hit in Korea, and it was a work about the story of the Demonic Cult leader, Cheonma, reincarnated in Seoul and fighting against various injustices. Ichie saw me fixing my eyes on the novel and asked.
“Book. Many.”
“It looks like all of those Ark books.”
It didn’t seem like it was left for the kids to read. I heard the sound of the printing press running, and the clerk handed us a piece of paper and said,
“We have our application form. Could you write down your name and nickname?”
Ah.
******
The employee who received the documents took turns looking at the two of us once and then said to Ichie.
“Your nickname is ‘1,’ right?”
“Yes. It reads ‘ichi’.”
“Ah, and this person…”
The employee looked at me, muttered, and then tilted his head. I said.
“You’re right.”
“Ah yes…”
Even when I told her I was right, she didn’t look very refreshed. She fixed her expression with a smile and then looked at the two of us and said.
“Okay then. Shall we do some division of work? Teacher Ichie looks after the children together with our teachers. Teacher Suhyeon, I think you can organize the paperwork and sort the children’s sponsorship materials with me.”
“Sam?”
Ichie tilted his head at the word teacher. The staff said.
“Teacher. We call all the volunteers here teachers.”
Ichie looked at me at those words and patted his chest. Then he nodded and said.
“I am a teacher.”
“Hey, Ichie-sensei.”
Even when I said it in a teasing tone, she smiled as if she was happy. Meanwhile, the nursery school teacher took out a bottle of plum juice from her refrigerator and said,
“Then, shall we have a drink and start right away?”
I nodded. Ichie’s eyes twinkled with anticipation on his face.
*******
“Thank you for your effort.”
“Yes. You suffered. Mr. Suhyun. I live thanks to you. Originally, our director would come and move it from time to time, but it was difficult because a lot of things suddenly came in.”
I was sitting in a chair and catching my breath. When I turned my head, the staff with a bitter smile was catching my breath, wiping the sweat. The other employees seemed to be busy sorting out the documents they had just moved. As an awakened person, I am having such a hard time, but how hard was the staff who originally moved this quantity?
“Have a cup of tea.”
“Thank you.”
A cup of Ah came out in front of me. Instant coffee has never been this sweet. I shook my head at the dizziness of the sugar rising to the tip of my head, exhaling deeply and chewing on the ice.
“Thank you for your effort.”
Ichie staggered forward and leaned forward. Her apron was slightly tilted, as if she had been tormented by her children for a while, and her hair was messy. She said as she sat down next to me.
“Children, there are too many. It’s too lively. Play with my hair.”
“Thank you for your effort. In a sense. Aren’t the kids cute though?”
Ichie looked around and then shut her mouth. When she didn’t answer, her staff giggled. She served a cup of coffee to Ichie as well. She rattled her ice and leaned back against the back of her chair, sighed deeply and drank her coffee. A staff member came and settled our time for today.
“Yes. They did it for a total of 3 hours today, but we cut it for 5 hours each time you come.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes. These are our director’s instructions. The mindset of coming is important, so even if it’s less than that, he told me to give him a certificate in 5 hours.”
“Ah. Thank you.”
5 hours service time. It was the result of carrying luggage for 3 hours today. Looking at the office clock, the time was now pointing to 8 o’clock. Ichido was holding a piece of paper with volunteer hours written on it, and his eyes were shining brightly. She asked me
“How much is the discount for this?”
“10%. If you collect 10 of these, it’s a 100% sale.”
To be honest, I had no intention of filling it 100%. It was because I thought it was worth investing about 600,000 won even if only 80% was filled. However, the story was different if volunteer hours were distributed like this. It was worth a try if you volunteered for 10 days and saved all three million won.
“So, will you come tomorrow too?”
“Yes.”
Ichie nodded her head and added.
“Tomorrow, Suhyeon-san and I will work together.”
“Hmm…”
The employee rolled her eyes with a slightly perplexed face. She said while avoiding her gaze.
“I’ll look at the schedule tomorrow and tell you.”
“All right.”
Ichie was a little excited, as if it was confirmed that he would take care of the children with me tomorrow. The staff transported us to the door. The name tag had the name ‘Choi Miso’ written on it. She thought it was a name that went well with her warm impression.
It was time to go. As we were about to leave, the staff grabbed us.
“Eat and go. Today’s meal was delicious.”
“Ichie, what should I do?”
Ichie shook his head and replied.
“I have something I want to eat.”
“Yes, what… Yes. Then we’ll leave.”
“I’m sorry. Yes. Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you for today.”
As much as she shook her hand, we also bowed her head to say hello. She felt her heart swell at the thought of doing something good. Crossing the yard, I said to Ichie.
“It makes sense. Thank you for coming with us today. You have to train to win, but you came with me to match me.”
“We are a team. I do not go alone.”
Ichie’s words sounded plausible. If Ichie had started volunteering at an orphanage for similar reasons, she would have helped me too.
“I’m hungry.”
She was looking at me, gently caressing her tummy. I asked Ichie.
“It makes sense. What shall we eat?”
“Budaejjigae.”
Budaejjigae was a very good compromise. I was able to eat the rice by scooping up the soup, and it was also Ichie’s favorite spicy food. I told Ichie.
“It’s an excellent choice. Can you feel that your eyes are getting bigger after coming to Korea?”
“It’s thanks to Suhyeon-sang.”
The phone rang in a friendly atmosphere. Ichie looked at her pocket with a smile on her face. I took out my phone and checked the number to see who it was. It was senior Yoojung. I immediately answered the phone and spoke in a bright voice.
“Senior. Yes. What are you doing?”
Senior Yoojung said in a bright voice.
“Yes. Mr. Suhyun. I called to see if the service was over. Work ends a little early today, so I think I can go there. Let’s eat together.”
Ichie looked at me and said.
“Who is it?”
“I’m Yoojung senior.”
As I exchanged questions and answers with Ichie, Senior Yu-jeong asked.
“Is anyone there?”
“Ah yes. Ichie is with me now.”
“Miss Ichie?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go now.”
The phone is disconnected.
