Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Author:Sook Nyul Choi [Choi, Sook Nyul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Aunt Tiger sent Kisa to the convent to see if they had any special medicine. She also wanted to know if the convent would make an exception and let Theresa come home for a few days. When Aunt asked for Theresa, I knew she was afraid Mother would die. Maybe seeing her firstborn would be enough to make Mother well again. Mother was so proud of Theresa's religious calling, and talked about her all the time. Theresa looked just like Mother, too. She was tall and very fair, with large almond eyes. Whenever Mother spoke of Theresa, I couldn't help feeling a tinge of jealousy. Once I asked her why she didn't talk of me and miss me as she missed Theresa.

"You say the craziest things!" said Mother. "You are here with me all the time. How can I miss you?" We laughed and laughed and I felt very silly. Theresa had not been home for as long as I could remember, but I often thought how wonderful it would be if she were with us. I couldn't wait until Kisa returned home; maybe he would bring the medicine and Theresa.

Kisa came through the gate walking quickly, tipping from side to side. I thought he might fall over. He was back earlier than we had expected. He waved his arms in excitement all the while as he tried to catch his breath. "The war is over!" he blurted out. "The war is over! Japan has lost! The nuns got a message from the Bishop, who heard the Emperor surrender unconditionally. But the Bishop told the nuns to be very careful and to stay indoors, because it is more dangerous than ever to anger the Japanese now. Most Koreans don't know yet, and the Japanese aren't anxious to spread the news. They want to retreat safely first. For now, they have all the weapons and are still in power here. We have to be careful." Kisa pulled out a small package and handed it to Aunt, saying, "Reverend Mother said that the nuns shouldn't be traveling now, but she thinks this medicine will help. You all stay inside for now. I'll be back." He swung his arms back and forth vigorously to help propel himself to town.

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