Chapter 15 #3
I mean, last week, she only wanted me in the room with her and today, Tracy and I have been able to bathe her and give her a fresh pair of clothes.
So she is learning to trust adults again, and I know it’ll take more for her to get back to a version of normal, but I’ll use everything, including my last breath, to help.
Once Mei was bathed and dressed, smelling like fresh soap and apple shampoo. She and I sat on her bed, where she quietly let me do her hair, whilst Tracy headed down to make a start on lunch. We could both hear the rest of the children laughing and playing in the room below us.
“Mei?” Don’t you want to go and play with the others? It could be fun?” I’m given a small head shake in response as I finish off pulling her hair into two cute pigtails with baby pink saying it in the language she was more acquainted with seemed promising.
Theo silently watches as he realises he doesn’t understand what we’re saying, but his smile fades just the same when he senses that Mei’s reply isn’t yes.
I turn back to Theo, explaining that Mei only understands Japanese and a little Korean. When he goes quiet, he then surprises all of us by jumping up and around the bed so he’s right in front of Mei.
“Anyong, Chingu!” reciting the words for ‘Hello Friend’ in Korean. At first, it startled me. I knew Theo could speak Spanish, but never spoken it around me before, so the last thing I was expecting was for him to speak Korean. Mei and I gazed at him in shock.
Suddenly, I remembered one time he caught me saying something and said that I talked like Joonie.
Surly Bastard’s best friend, the person who used to look after him, maybe he had picked up a thing or two from him; did Surly Bastard know about this?
I know it isn’t like finding a golden egg or anything, and I myself grew up knowing two languages, but at Theo’s age, it’s impeccable how intelligent he is.
I don’t say anything and just watch the two of them stare at each other. Theo smiles ear to ear, bouncing so that his adorable curls fall in front of his face. He brushes them away.
“Gwenchana?” asking Mei if she’s okay, again in Korean, and my heart gets ready to burst at how cute his little Korean accent is, adorable and on point.
I love this little boy so much; I reach over to stroke his hair.
“Theo, Mei is quite quiet; she might not-”
“Anyong,” Mei whispers, shocking the two of us as Theo’s smile grows even wider, and I try not to let the tears in my eyes free as this is the first time she’s spoken to anyone apart from me. She was still shaking slightly and wouldn’t make eye contact with Theo, but she greeted him.
It sounds ridiculous, but this was a big thing.
The two of them start communicating in their own way, as if they speak a language I don’t know.
I quickly figure out that Theo can’t speak Korean fully, but he knows one or two phrases and words, when he uses the word “play” Mei nods and takes Theo’s hand as they both shuffle off her bed, she then takes my hand too and the three of us make our way down the stairs and the pile of children come running to meet us at the bottom.
“Theo’s back!” Darcy calls.
“And he brought Mei to play,” Oscar adds, with a big smile, even though Mei is trying to hide behind my leg and is squeezing my hand tightly. Theo takes a step down and stands in front of her to help her hide.
“Everyone, you have to say ‘Anyong’ to Mei, so she won’t be scared.” Theo declares as if he’s the leader of the group, despite only being here for a few hours.
The children nod in unison as Theo steps aside, and they all say hello to Mei in Korean.
At first, I wasn’t sure if it was going to work as I tried doing the same thing with them last week, but I was proven wrong by how Mei slowly let go of my hand, still holding Theo’s, letting him guide her down the last few steps, then introducing everyone to her.
I can’t help but shed a tear and wipe it away before any of the children see, as I turn to see Tracy covering her mouth in awe and Randall smiling in relief as they both stand in the hallway.
After Theo introduces everyone, the children make their way back to the playroom.
They all walk past Randall, but Mei freezes.
I notice the way she clutches Theo’s hand so tightly that it makes him jerk backwards.