Page 61 of Angel of Thursdays

“She wants to correct you.”

“Those are different things in her head.” The sound of something being moved. “Hanbok. Hayoung’s wearing pink. It’s super cute. Jaewon is—” A crash in the background. Minju switched to Korean, sharp: “PARK JAEWON PUT THAT DOWN. I SAID—yes. Both hands. Thank you.” Then, back to English: “He’s wearing the blue one. I’m letting the hem out tonight. He wants the shoes.”

“I don’t see why he can’t wear the shoes.”

In the background, Jaewon’s voice, in the English that Minju and David’s combined efforts had not yet displaced at home. “MY FAVORITE COLOR IS RED.”

Minju, ignoring her son: “They’re killer animatronics, Oppa.”

“His favorite color is red. You’re already putting him in blue. Let him have his shoes.”

“You are not my ally.” A pause. “—Fine. We’re doing the Parks on Tuesday, then here Wednesday. Two Seollals in two days. Both kids in hanbok twice.” She exhaled. “At least David’s umma is less… Type A.”

“Than ours.”

Two Seollals. His sister had been splitting holidays since Jaewon was born. He suspected David’s father was the easier negotiation compared to their mother. Give him the grandson first and the rest was flexible.

“Sebae at half past ten. Dinner at five. You and May taking BART?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Sebaetdon—Honestly, Hayoungie hasn’t gotten the bowing down yet.”

“I won’t mention it to her.”

“Funny. I need to manage—” Jaewon’s voice in the background, closer. “—yes, you can have the—no. Not that. The other one. —Oppa, I have to go.”

She hung up. The singing had stopped. Cassiel stood in the kitchen with the phone in his hand and the tea cooling on the counter.

He texted May.

Cassiel

What are you wearing Wednesday?

Forty seconds.

May

to Seollal??

Probably clothes.

Cassiel texted back:

Cassiel

Wear the blue oxford.

May

OK!! Do I need to practice the bowing?

I looked it up and one website said full kneel and another said just a bow. How low. I can kowtow like a eunuch

Cassiel

It’s a bow. You’re not greeting the emperor.