by Alana Terry
So the new folks knocked on the door, and I was thinking on whether or not I should fake a tummy-ache, except Pastor said something about there being dessert, and I didn’t want to blow my chances before I found out what it was. So I went with Miss Sandy to the door, and I’ll give you one guess, Teacher. Who do you think it was?
Well, it couldn’t have been Grandmother on account of her being already dead, and it weren’t Granny neither, although that woulda made me real happy, too. But do you know who it was? It was Auntie, swear on the Dear Leader. And soon as I saw her I knew it was her, and I think she recognized me about half a second after that. She dropped to her knees and shouted “Ginkgo!” and spread out her arms and caught me when I ran to her. That’s another funny thing, Teacher, ’cause that’s not really the way Korean folks tend to say hello on account of us being a little more quiet than Americans. But there weren’t nothing quiet about this meeting, ’cause I was asking her what she’s doing here, and she was asking me the same thing, and Pastor and Miss Sandy were trying to figure out what was going on and so was Auntie’s brand-new husband who’d come with her.
And Auntie started to cry, so I started to cry, except I didn’t care who seen it, and it was the first time I learned you could be happy and sad all at once. ’Cause part of the time we were crying on account of being so glad to see each other, and then all of a sudden we were crying ’cause we’d missed each other so much. And so much had changed, like her getting herself married and me moving all the way to America and getting myself a brand-new family, and it didn’t seem fair we hadn’t been able to celebrate those things together, so we cried even worse. Then we’d look at each other’s faces and how silly we looked, and that’d get us laughing in between the sad parts. And I didn’t mind talking Korean then, even though I hadn’t done it in a while. I hadn’t forgotten it none, even though later on Auntie said I had an accent, which I think is funny on account of Chuckie Mansfield teasing me about the same thing when I first come to Medford, except that was when I was speaking English with a Korean accent and not the other way around.
Well, we finally got inside the house enough so Pastor could shut the door to keep the cold air out, and then Auntie took my hand and we looked at each other’s faces and started our fussing all over again, except this time there was more laughing than crying instead of the other way around. And Miss Sandy was wiping her eyes, so Pastor was teasing her about that, and Auntie’s new husband just stood looking awkward-like, which I supposed I’d do too if I thought I was going to some Americans’ house I’d never met, and it turns out there was a boy there who knew my wife and they spent a half hour cry-laughing they were so happy to see each other again.
And Pastor kept saying things like, “What are the chances?” and Miss Sandy made us tell how we knew each other, and that took so long it was dark out before any of us thought about eating a bite, so Miss Sandy made dinner instead of just soup and that pineapple cake she’d planned on. When it was bedtime, she said I had to say good-bye on account of me having to get to school the next day, but when she saw how disappointed I was, she said we’d schedule a time for Auntie and my new uncle to come over again real soon.
So now I’ve seen them twice (three times if you count that first night), and I told Auntie I’d use all of Christmas break to teach her and her new husband English, and he’s really nice too if you forget about the part of him looking sorta goofy when we first met. Auntie still hasn’t told me all of her story about how she and Uncle got here, but I suspect it’s got some sad parts as well as the good parts, just like mine. And of course they’re coming over to have ham with us on Christmas Eve, and Miss Sandy even invited them to come back Christmas morning too. She’s been asking me what sort of presents they’d like, which is funny if you think about it on account of me meeting Uncle right at the same time as her. But I think we settled on it finally, and Uncle’s getting this fancy study Bible that has Korean and English side by side that Pastor had to order special off the computer. For Auntie, Miss Sandy was going to buy one of those gift cards where a lady goes all day to a healthy spa, which is where they go to make themselves feel better and look more colorful and pretty-like, only I said Auntie’s not really into stuff and nonsense like that, or at least she wasn’t back in the old days. So we thought extra hard, and what we decided was to still get her a gift certificate, except it won’t be for that sort of health junk. It’ll be for a garden store, so soon as spring comes she can plant as many flowers and vegetables and anything else she’d like. And I haven’t seen the home where the Korean church is letting them live on account of Uncle being their pastor and whatnot, but I asked her real sneaky-like if it had a backyard. She said yes, and then I asked her if it had a garden, and she said not yet but she was hoping to grow one. So I think that’s going to be the perfect present for both of them, don’t you?
And that’s why I’m so glad there’s only one more day of school until Christmas break on account of me wanting to spend as much time with Auntie as I can, ’cause she has a lot of English to learn, and I’ll only have these two weeks to teach her full-time, and then after that it will just be in the evenings or weekends or whatnot. The last time we had them over, Miss Sandy said we should just have them move into the guest bedroom to make visiting easier, and I got a little disappointed when I realized she was joking, but she said we’d figure it all out so we’d see them lots anyway. The hard part is neither Auntie or Uncle know how to work a car, but tomorrow Miss Sandy and me are driving over to their house to teach them all about how to take the subway ’cause once they learn that plus the buses they can visit more often. But I figure it’s going to take at least a year for Auntie and me to catch up, and sometimes I think maybe I’ll even tell her about The Nightmare, but we’ll hafta wait and see about that. And she’s changed in some ways, like of course being married to Uncle Simon. Both of them have English names now too, so she’s Aunt Hannah, although I’ll always think of her as Auntie, and when I say Auntie I’m talking about the Korean word for it, not the English version.
And speaking of names, that’s something else I forgot to mention earlier. After Pastor and Miss Sandy brought me home from Mrs. Cho’s orphanage in Seoul, when we got to America we had to go to this judge to get me something with my new name on it. And Pastor said I was gonna become a Lindgren now, which obviously is his last name and the one Miss Sandy took when she married him so many years ago, and now that they were adopting me the judge was going to change my name to make me a Lindgren too. And then Miss Sandy asked what I wanted my first name to be, which sounds like a really silly question until you get to thinking about it. ’Cause I had so many different names, it seems, and she was telling me I could be any of those or if I wanted, I could choose something totally different, and I thought on it quite a while before I made up my mind. Part of me liked the idea of starting all over, sorta like I did in Chongjin when Granny named me Chong-Su. And if I picked an American name like Luke or Johnny or Ben, it would be a way of saying I was starting a new life, which I was.
But even though that sounded like a good idea on the one hand, there was part of me that knew even if I had a new name it wouldn’t change all those other things that happened to me. And that’s why I settled on staying Woong, since that’s how I started my life. I was Woong all the time I had my old mama and papa and was part of a family back in that little fishing village. And I figured if I kept my first name Woong, it would show folks that even though I went through a lot of hard times like the flood and the famine and even worse things later on, and even though for a while I thought I was cursed, and even though there were plenty of things I wish I could forget, none of that changes who I am really, and that’s Woong. So that’s what I told Pastor and Miss Sandy, and that’s what they told the judge so he could put it down on that special piece of paper that proves I belong to them.
Except I wasn’t going to stay just plain old Woong the fisherman’s son or Woong the flower swallow or Woong the orphan from
Seoul. That day I became Woong Lindgren, a boy with a new mom and dad who love me and don’t even punish me too bad for sneaking snacks in the bedroom, a mom and a dad who say they’d do anything to keep me from going hungry again, a mom and dad who made me a promise in that judge’s room to love me and take care of me forever.
And you know what, Teacher? That’s exactly what’s happened.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
One of the most unique aspects of Flower Swallow was how fast and smoothly everything came together. Usually, I write the entire first draft, do several rounds of self-editing, and then send it off to a professional editor. This time, Amy Leibowitz agreed to edit my story chapter by chapter while I was working on it. Her feedback was invaluable, her observations astute, and her encouragement very much appreciated.
I also want to thank my early readers who took chunks of Woong’s story and gave me feedback while I was working on it. This was a big time commitment, and probably frustrating when you had to wait a whole week for the next chapters to be ready. I want you to know how thankful I am for your support, suggestions, and encouragement.
Flower Swallow is a novel born through prayer. I couldn’t have made it through even the first draft without the intercession of my prayer team. This core group of five friends (and one prayer-warrioring grandma) understood the spiritual warfare that surrounds a project like this. There was never a time when they didn’t have me covered, and this novel could never have been completed without them.
Damon Za is a cover designer who’s worked with me on several novels now, and I have to admit this one is my favorite. Thank you.
I’m also thankful for my readers, without whom this whole project would feel fruitless. A special thank you to those of you who send messages or emails to let me know my books speak to you.
Lord, you saw me through yet another novel when so many obstacles could have come in the way. You kept my aging computer functioning. You cleared out my schedule. You gave me the energy, the inspiration, and the prayer covering I needed. I couldn’t write a single word without you. I love you so much.
To my husband, I’m not sure you will ever understand how important you are to me. If it weren’t for your support, I would have never had the boldness to pursue my writing in the first place. I don’t think I will ever be able to explain how much strength it gives me to hear you say you are proud of me.
I’d also like to thank Liberty in North Korea and other organizations who are helping the children of North Korea. This book is dedicated to those little ones who are still suffering the poverty and oppression of the Hermit Kingdom. May God deliver you to a place of freedom and abundance, just like he did for Woong.
I’ve never included a fictional character in my acknowledgments before, but Woong himself is a very special little guy, and I hope that his story keeps on reminding us to pray for impoverished kids around the world who are struggling to survive. When I set my mind to write a novel about street children in North Korea, I never expected to find a character so whimsical and adorable that he earned a permanent place in my heart. But you know what, Reader?
That’s exactly what happened.
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Discussion Questions
These questions are designed to be use for personal reflection or for group discussions. If you have a book club and are interested in a virtual hang-out where I skype in to join you in your meeting as you discuss Flower Swallow, let me know!
Ice Breaker Questions:
In three words, how would you describe yourself as a young child?
Who was one of the most influential adults in your life while you were growing up?
What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you ever come close to reaching that goal?
What was the sickest you’ve ever been?
What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without food?
Were you ever homeless (or close to it)?
Have you ever considered fostering or adopting? Why or why not?
What do you think would be the hardest part of being a foster or adoptive parent?
Book-Related Questions:
What did you like about Woong? Is there another person (real or fictitious) he reminded you of?
In what ways were you like Woong as a child? In what ways were you different?
Did you have a favorite supporting character from Flower Swallow? Are there any characters you wish Woong could have spent more time with or talked about more?
What part of Woong’s story struck you the most?
In light of all the hardships he went through, did you find Woong’s story uplifting or more of a downer? Why?
What did you learn about North Korea from this book? What would you like to know more about?
Were you satisfied with the way Woong ended his story? Is there more you would have liked to know about?
If you could write the rest of Woong’s story all the way through to adulthood, what would you include?
Do you believe the characters that helped Woong out were all people, or do you think any of them were angels?
Personal Questions (for those who want to go deeper):
What’s the lowest point you’ve been at in your life?
Is there some part of your life you’d like to forget if you could?
Woong has a hard time forgiving the American cameraman. When in your life have you struggled to forgive someone?
What is your biggest fear if your family ever had to endure a famine like what Woong went through?
Have you ever had an encounter you might consider angelic? How might your life change if you met an angel face to face?
Do you believe in curses?
***
Hungry for more North Korean novels? Want to learn the story behind the photographer who took Woong’s photo?
Read Out of North Korea today.
Ian McAllister has searched the world over, hunting for that all-elusive perfect photograph.
He finds it on a tourist trip to North Korea when he stumbles upon a young street kid foraging for roots.
Unaware that this single act will brand him a spy and cost his freedom, Ian takes the shot.
Now he must pay the penalty.
Read Out of North Korea now.
Want more from Alana Terry?
Check out http://www.alanaterry.com for current titles and join the Alana Terry Readers’ Club to get your three free novels!
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