“Yah, he’s fifty-two. Too old. And he’s definitely a crier,” her mom yelled back.
“The assistant manager at the H Mart,” one of her aunts threw out. “I hear they make lots of money. Successful.”
Her halmoni had the Southern California Korean Businesses directory pulled out, flipping through the pages for inspiration.
This was already a disaster. Julia shook her head, on the verge of taking back her request. She locked eyes with her grandmother. Halmoni’s eyes widened noticing Julia’s near panic.
“Okay, everyone, now that we know what you’re looking for, let’s get to work,” her grandmother said. “We’ll find justthe right match and won’t put you out too much, Julia. We know how busy you are, and work is very important. How about three dates? It’s not too much to ask, right?”
“Three dates?” Her grandmother expected her to find a man to marry in only three dates when she hadn’t been able to even come close in all the years she’d been alive? Impossible. Not with her track record. But she also didn’t want to be on a merry-go-round of unlimited rotating setups, being reminded how, in the end, it was Julia who was the problem for the failed relationships.
“Yes, fine. That’s fair. Three dates you think would be a good match for me.” She nodded at her grandmother. This was the best she could do for her right now.
And now, it was her chance to make sure she got something out of this too. “And no matter what happens, when all is said and done, no one in this family gets to ever ask me about my dating life or my weight or my hair length or anything else again. And... no more gift bags.” Julia turned to look to her grandmother. “Three dates, and we all walk away happy and at peace.”
For the first time all night, the room was stunned into silence except for the loud gasp coming from the aunties at the prospect of no more goodies.
“Oh no,” one of her aunties gasped.
Oh no, indeed.
3
A Job for You
Tae
“Taehyung-ah, can you come and take this across the street to the Songs’ house?”
Tae entered the kitchen where he found his mother on a stepladder reaching in the top cupboard for a plastic container, the corner of her apron dangling precariously over an open flame on the stove.
“Mom,” Tae said in warning. He rushed up, turned off the burner, and placed a hand at her back to help steady her. “You’re gonna hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine,” she said as she stepped back down, swatting his hand away.
“What is all of this?” he asked.
“I’m making pajeun. Just a snack.”
Tae counted the four plates of Korean green onion pancakes his mom had made for a snack. “Mom, I’m sure they have enough food. It’s clearly a big family party. Do you really think they need more?” Tae asked.
“It’s not about need. They’ll like it. Oh, in fact, take this box of apples with you too. Now hurry and go before the pajeungets cold. Oh, and ask them if they still need you to look at their water heater.”
“Sure, Mom. I’ll fix their water heater... while they’re having a huge party. In case anyone wants to suddenly take a shower during dinner.”
“Aya, just go,” she said, slapping his back with a smile. It was impossible not to tease her. But it was also impossible to talk her out of a nice deed. What kind of food to send to a neighbor was the greatest of Korean mom worries. Oh that, and when her kids were getting married. He was sure his mom would hit him up with that question soon enough.
It wasn’t the first time Tae thought about how nice it was being home, spending time with his parents. The reasons that brought him back were tough. But he couldn’t help think of how it felt right being here. Helping his mom and dad made him feel more himself than a stable job and perfect-on-paper life ever had. He just wasn’t sure how much longer he could hide away before people began whispering about him, before he turned from hero to bum in people’s eyes.
Tae exaggerated a deep bow at his mom and grabbed the Corelle plate, the same dish set they’d had for as long as he could remember, with the amazing smells coming from under the foil, placed it on top of the box of Fuji apples, and headed across the street to the Songs’. There were at least ten cars parked outside. Tae had always been a little jealous of how big their family was and how loud their gatherings always were.
It was just the four of them: Tae, his older brother, and his mom and dad. It was almost just the three of them. But his dad had just finished his last round of chemotherapy, and if all went according to plan, they would get the news he was in remission soon. It was the second go at cancer for him, but he was a fighter. They all were. They had to be.
It felt too familiar. Dad got sick. Tae came home. Tae took care of things until his dad got better. Some people might havebeen bitter at the circumstances. Oddly, Tae felt at peace with it. It had always been his choice to do it. He just hoped and prayed they wouldn’t be in the situation again and that his dad stayed healthy this time.
But Tae wasn’t sure where that would leave him.
Tae crossed the street to the Songs’ house. Their grass was cut low and the hedges perfectly landscaped, just like his parents’ house. They should be, since Tae’s mom nagged him to take care of both yards the other day before the big family gathering they were having for Grandma Song’s eightieth birthday party. Their families had been neighbors for almost thirty years, since before Tae was even born. The house looked exactly the same as it had in all his memories, except all the cars had been upgraded. Especially the sleek new Porsche Cayenne parked in front.
