Final re-writing by Hanna Lim

This is my final re-writing and I rewrote the story "Oliver Twist". The main character, Mark, is a mixed-blood boy who was born in Korea during Korean War time. The story happens in Korea at 1950's after the war.
I hope you enjoy reading it~!

The half; Let it be

“Hey, Mark! Where are you?”
“Frizzy! Frizzy!”
“Mark! Time to go~!!”
“We’re gonna leave now!!”
…………
“I’m here-“
“What have you been doing?!? Let’s go!”
“Ready to rock?~~?!?!” There were some whispering giggles.
“Why are you so excited?!?! I do not understand! It’s…”
“What?!? Have you lost your mind?!?”
“Shut up you little Frizzy- Are you in or not? Huh?!?”
“……I’m….I’m in….”
“Then shut up! And just do your job-!”
“…………”

I do not have much idea how my life has started…and I really hate the man and woman who caused this miserable life to me. They must be stupid. They must be insane. And they are nowhere now. I don’t know where they are but I’m here, at this poor orphanage, and I have no idea whether they are alive or even dead but I don’t care. Why? Because I know that nothings can be changed anyway. I just hate them. I hate my life. Sometimes I wanted to kill them but….never mind. Just let it be. I know one thing. There is one stupid exact thing that made me much more fed-up, unhappy, and pathetic. ‘I look different than others’. I have darker, very, brown skin color, too bigger eyes than other kids and the most hated part? It’s the hair, the curly, too curly hair. Because of my hair my nickname is frizzy and everybody calls me frizzy at orphanage except the mother, Susan. Whenever I go out all people stare me at least once and they say something to each other. I know what they talk about. They talk about my different looks. However, Susan is different. She never talks such bad things about me like the others. I think she respects me as a same mankind like the others although I have bit, or could be much, different looks. She’s very kind, generous and has very pretty smile but she’s so weak. She often gets sick. I don’t know why. I really hope she doesn’t get sick because she’s the only our mother. And I will be very lonely without her.

There is a kind of orphanage gangsters and they are the trouble makers. Big trouble makers. One of the boys, Kay, is a kind of boss. He is sometimes good to me and sometimes not. I don’t’ want to mingle with them but there are no one else who plays with me. Most of kids dislike me. They often said I look different. Look like an alien. They often fooled me. They laugh at me and give strange gaze to me like the people in the street. However, Kay seems like caring me bit more than them. He asks me to play with him and his friends. He gives me some lollies too. But there’s one thing I do not like about him. He bothers me to do something I don’t want to do. Especially, when there is a plan, the robbery. He always asks me to open the door for it. And he told me if something goes wrong, then it’s all my fault. I really hated that so once I said no to him. That night… I was beaten very very badly. So now I’m here. There’s no other chance. I just have to stick with them not to be alone. I need to do what Kay makes me do, helping the robbery.

It was dark night. The wind was blowing and it was raining hard. We walked quite a while and arrived at the corner of somewhere. I was getting exhausted. We passed an old house with huge fields around it and walked along the streets of the small town. Everything was very quiet. We reached a narrow road with big trees on both sides and it led us to a fancy old house with a high wall round it. The boys helped each other quickly to climb over the wall and Kay pulled me over. ‘Oh, my god.’ It was the first time to see such a huge house. It looked like a castle to me. “What the…Who lives in this kind of house?!” “Hush!” Kay said to us and we kept following him quietly. We were standing below a small window. Kay pushed one of the windows and it opened. “Now listen” Kay whispered me. “You’re going through that window. Then go along the corridor to the front door.” he went on. “Open the door and let us in.” “I’ve never done this and how……” “Quiet! Just do it You can do it!” he pushed me. “Hurry up!” I was very scared. I hardly breathed. Suddenly, I saw a little ray of light on way to corridor. It was from a room that was in the corner. The door was bit opened. I decided to run away so turned around. Then I heard a sound, a violin sound. ‘Wow! I’ve never heard that beautiful sound before.’ That sound led me closer to the room and there was a girl who playing the violin. ‘Oh…what a pretty girl. She’s so gorgeous….’I fell into the music and her. I forgot the other boys for a while. All of sudden a dog barked at outside. Barking and barking. I found that the girl was walking toward the door. I got panicked and just ran toward the window where I came from. I saw the other boys were running away. Very fast. I also ran. I ran as fast as I could. I felt like going to be fainted. But I kept running and running.

The next morning, I was really afraid to see Kay. ‘He’s gonna beat me. He’s gonna kill me.’ I was having a breakfast in the kitchen and Kay and his mates came in. “How you doing Mark~!” “Did you have fun last night, Frizzy?!?” One of the boys said to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t….” Kay was staring at me with cruel eyes. “Oh, of course you didn’t mean it. You’re such a good boy. You never done something I don’t like. Don’t worry my friend. You’re a faithful dog, aren’t you?” All the boys laughed at me. “I’ll give you another shot later on. The last shot. Just shut your mouth and wait for me!” He patted my back very hard and went out the kitchen. I was so frightened. I knew that. I knew he is going to put me in much bigger trouble. The trouble that never ends. ‘I have to do something or I could die.’ I was really desperate.

I was scribbling on the sand of playground by myself. I had no idea what’s going to happen and no one to talk about it. I felt so lonely and afraid. I wanted to run away but there’s no where I could go. “How’s going my boy, Mark?” It was Susan. “Hi, Susan.” “Did you have breakfast?” “Yeah...” “Hmm, what a cute picture! But my boy looks like quite sad. What’s the matter?” “…...nothing…….” “Yon know Mark, you can tell me anything. You tell me whatever you want. I’m here for you all times. Be strong my kid! Don’t worry and smile~.” She was smiling at me like usual. That beautiful smile. It was definite that she didn’t know about what happened last night. I felt so sorry for her. I wanted to tell her what happened but I couldn’t. I was so afraid. I was afraid of Kay but I also did not want to disappoint Susan. ‘What can I do….’ I’m a coward, stupid coward. And I suddenly remembered the girl, the violin girl. ‘Oh…what was I doing…’ I was ashamed.

There is a rich gentleman, Mr. Kim, who visits our orphanage in every two weeks. He seems very nice and kind. He brings us lots of good food and sometimes new clothes as well as shoes. Lots of kids look forward to seeing him because it is the only day that we can eat really full. One day he brought a girl with him and he introduced that girl to Susan. He said she’s his granddaughter. I envied her. I wished I was her. I wished I was born of rich parents. Because of his visit we were kind of having a feast for that lunch. I was sitting by myself at the corner of the big table and having lunch. Suddenly somebody said hello to me. “Hi” I pretended like I didn’t hear her. “You mind if I sit here?” I didn’t say anything but she was keeping standing in front of me so I just moved a bit. “What a lovely day~ by the way I’m Young. What’s your name?” “……Mark.” “Mark?!? Really?!?” She seemed bit surprised. I thought it might be because of my hair or something and I didn’t like her to sit next me because I know nobody likes me and I know she’s also going to fool me later on. But she was quite different than I expected. She said “My youngest brother’s name is also Mark! He’s just born and my granddad named him Mark. It’s funny~ what a coincidence~” I just looked up her. She was laughing with an innocent laugh. Even though I didn’t want to talk to her she kept asking me some questions so we had a bit of talk. She was very pretty and she seemed very kind like her grandfather. ‘Pretty?!?’ I suddenly felt like I’ve seen her before but I didn’t remember where. However I remembered the next night where I saw her. When I heard Kay and his friends were talking Kay said the house that we tried to rob the other night was his house, Mr. Kim’s house. ‘Oh my god!!!! Then the girl, the violin girl is Young?!?! Oh my god…’ I was in a big shocked and didn’t know what to do. And I thought I’m so unlucky and I was born with too many bad curses.

On the other hand, I found myself keep waiting for the day that Mr. Kim comes as hoping to see Young again no matter what happened. I felt like something wrong with me. And actually, I don’t know it’s fortunate or not, Young often came to our orphanage with her grandfather after the day I met her. I didn’t understand myself at all and I couldn’t stop me being a liar to her. But there’s no way to tell her the truth… so it just went on. And whenever she comes we had lunch together and played together. Moreover, we got closer as time goes by and I even felt like I’ve got a real friend now. I felt I’m not lonely and abandoned anymore. Although I know we can’t be a real friend. However, I was happy with her. I missed her when I’m not with her.

It was a Thanksgiving Day. Mr. Kim and Young brought very big turkeys with them. It was the best lunch ever. After lunch I played with Young as usual. “Do you wanna say hello to my granddad?” Young asked me and I said no at first time. “He’s a very nice man. I think he will like you.” She said to me.”…may be or maybe not… I think it’s not a good idea.” I said to her but she suddenly grabbed my hand and started running toward her grandfather. “Young! Stop! I don’t want!” But it’s already too late. We were next to Mr. Kim. “Grandpa, I have someone I like you to meet. He’s Mark. Mark, he’s my handsome grandpa” She introduced me to her grandfather. “…Hello…” I said very shyly. But it was bit strange when I said hello to him. He suddenly asked my name again. “What did you say your name was?” “My name is Mark, sir…” “Mark?!?” He seemed in a big surprise and a kind of shock. I didn’t know why but he was staring me with very big eyes quite a while and asked few questions, you know like some general questions. I was bit afraid of him with no reason and also getting sad with his looks. ‘He might be upset with me because I became a friend with Young….or….did he find out what happened the night?!?’ I suddenly felt really scared. “Hey, Mark~ did you say hello to Mr. Kim?” Susan was coming from the kitchen. “Yes….” “Young, why don’t you go and play with Mark?” Mr. Kim said to Young. “No problem grandpa~ Mark, let’s go for swing~!!” I said good-bye to Mr. Kim and me and went to playground with Young.

“Mr. Kim. Are you all right? Any problems?”
“……Oh…No. It’s just…It’s just strange but the boy looks very like somebody I know. Somebody I miss so much…..”
“Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Kim…..”
“Don’t be. I’m all right. I hope the boy isn’t scared of me.”
“Oh, he is not. Mark is a very nice boy. One of the nicest in our home.”
“Good. Good…….” Susan felt Mr. Kim seemed very sad as he was nodding and he said he’d better leave.
“Of course. We really appreciate with your help all the time. It’s a wonderful Thanksgiving”
“It’s my pleasure. I hope to see you soon again. Take care.”

On that day Mr. Kim and Young left bit earlier than usual. I hope it wasn’t because of me but Kay said they left early because of me and they never going to visit us again. I really didn’t know exactly why and got confused.

Few days had passed and I saw Mr. Kim in the orphanage playground. He was standing by himself and looked like watching me from an away. I greeted him with a nod. He nodded but his look was pretty firm. ‘He must be here to see Susan. He must be found out what happened that night…’ I was so worried and suddenly tears were dropped from my stupid eyes.

“Good morning, Mr. Kim. Come in.”
“Good morning, Susan… I’m so sorry to interrupt you without any notice but…hmm…I couldn’t sleep……So...My apologies”
“No, no. It’s all right. You’re always welcomed”
“Thanks.”
“Are you all right Mr. Kim? You look quite bad….”
“Yes. I know. That’s why I’m here. You know, the boy Mark.”
“Yes. Is there any problem with Mark?”
“No, no. Not like that. But can you tell me about Mark? Please? Like how he came in here, when was it….I want any sorts of things about him.”
“Yes….if you would like to. But can I ask you why?.....”
“….Do you remember the other day that I said he looks very like somebody I know?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“….Actually that person is my daughter.”
“Your daughter?”

Mr. Kim told Susan about the story of his daughter, Nan, who died 2 years ago.

It was during the Korean War. Nan was a very pretty and intelligent woman. She was working as a nurse at the hospital for American soldiers at that time. One day she told Mr. Kim that she met a guy, one of American soldiers, at the hospital and they fell in love and she wanted to marry him. After Mr. Kim heard about it he ordered her to come back home immediately because he was not only expecting Nan to marry with one of the wealthy families in Korea, like his family, all the time but also he never thought about having a foreigner as a son-in-law. The situation that Nan talked about was impossible to him and he didn’t understand her. But she never listened to him. When Nan brought the guy to say hello to her family Mr. Kim got much more shocked. The guy was black. He was a black American soldier. Mr. Kim threw both of them out from his house and told her not to come back if she‘s going to marry him and he couldn’t see her again after that happened. Even though he tired to find her he couldn’t. However, Mr. Kim got a letter from somebody 2 years ago telling that his daughter is in the hospital and she will die soon. He ran straight away to the hospital after he got the letter and he found out his daughter was in severe condition. And just before she dies she said about Mark to Mr. Kim.

“Dad, I’m sorry. But could you please find my son and look after him?”
“What? Do you have a son?? Where is he? Where?”
“I don’t know where he is but dad please find him for me. Find him. It’s my last wish.”

Nan said that the guy she loved went back to America after the war finished and they had a son. She wanted to go with him but she couldn’t’. She didn’t know he had a family, wife and kids, in America because he didn’t tell her until the day before he goes back. So the two of them, Nan and Mark, got left alone. When Mr. Kim asked why she didn’t come home after he left she said she just couldn’t. She was so sorry to her family. She decided to raise the son by herself but it was too hard for her. Also she got an epidemic disease somehow so she couldn’t keep Mark any longer and she left him at the front door of somewhere she said. And Nan couldn’t finish her story….

Mr. Kim said he was trying to find Nan’s son, his grandson, after she died. Mr. Kim said when he met Mark at the orphanage he reminded Nan too much and couldn’t sleep for few days. After Susan heard the story she remembered something and asked Mr. Kim to wait for few seconds.

“I wonder….by any chance…is she your daughter?” Susan showed him a gold necklace that had a little round picture in it.

“Oh my god!! Oh my god!! Yes! Yes!! She’s Nan! She’s my daughter!! Where did you get it? Where?!?”
“It was with Mark when he left in here. I thought it could be very valuable necklace so I kept it. But I’m the only person who knows about this necklace. I never mentioned about it to Mark. I was thinking to tell him when he’s old enough.”
“Oh my god…..He is… He is…..my grandson….Oh my god…He was too close to me…I spent two whole years to try to find him but he was too close to me….”

Mr. Kim was crying very sadly. He was crying endlessly. Susan was also crying. The happy crying. She was whispering by herself. ‘Mark, my little boy Mark. It’s time to go... …My little angel…..You will be always happy from now on…...’