[Tales of Happy World] Dad’s Birthday

The morning sunshine laid its face on the concrete floor. A little girl held a blind man’s hand and came into a stew restaurant. Their dirty appearance. Their foul odor. The owner could tell they were beggars.

"Look. We’re not even open."
"Come back later."

Worrying what customers might think, the owner tried to send them out. But the child silently sat the man down. And just to let him know they weren’t eating for free, she placed wrinkled bills and a handful of coins on the table, and ordered two bowls of soup.

"Sir, two bowls of sausage soup, please."

The owner called the child. "Hey! Come over here."

The child walked to the owner. "I’m sorry but I can’t sell you any soup right now."

"That is a reserved seat…"
"Sir, we’ll eat fast and leave."
"It’s my Dad’s birthday."

She hunched her shoulders and rummaged around, and came up with a handful of coins.

"Well…Okay…"
"Can you take those last seats?"

They moved to seats located near the restroom. The owner brought them two bowls of soup. And then watched them eat from the register.

"Dad, I’ll put some salt in it."

Instead of salt, the child took out the meat from her soup and filled her father’s bowl with it and added more salt for taste.

"Daddy, now it’s ready to eat."
"Your favorite sausage soup!"

The father with shrunken cheeks ate his first spoonful with a shaking hand. Her father’s eyes were filled with tears as he held his spoon. The owner’s heart pulled as he watched them.

"Ah, delicious."

After finishing, the girl held her father’s hand and went up to the register. She handed out four 1,000 Won bills and a handful of coins. The owner took just two 1,000 Won bills. Giving the rest back, he said:

"The soup is just 2,000 Won."
"I didn’t make them right because some of the ingredients weren’t ready yet."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Don’t mention it. I’m sorry about earlier."

The owner couldn’t bear to watch the child hide her pain or the father’s sad face.