27 April 2004

Seoul

The temperature was scorching, even for summer. After paying for the clothes her daughter would wear for preschool lessons, Mrs Jung decided that they'd buy ice cream at a nearby playground. Usually, this treat was reserved for the weekends but she longed to sit on a bench in the shade of a birch.

The stay-at-home mum returned to the bench and smiled. A little girl had befriended her shy Eunbi, who had only enjoyed the company of her older brother and sister up until now.

"Hello, what is your name?" she sat next to her daughter, handing her the cold treat.

"Hwang Eunbi," the new friend stood up and bowed.

"Is my daughter bothering you?" her mum appeared, also with ice creams in hand.

"Not at all, our Eunbi's are becoming fast friends," Mrs Jung smiled.

"They share a name? What a coincidence," the working mum returned the gesture.

Once they had finished the ice creams, the girls played under the watchful eyes of their mothers, who were getting acquainted with each other.

"I'll take your number down so we can arrange play days for them," Mrs Hwang took out her cell phone.

"Yes," the other mum gave her details and the families parted ways.