The Korean government had been very efficient in expanding into the North. Their first priority was making sure people were fed. As a result, there were few complaints or protests. The arms facilities were turned over to some of the larger Korean corporations. Hyundai had taken over most of the shipbuilding and boat yards. The ammunition plants were being converted to manufacturing fertilizer and other chemicals. Another was trying to build private aircraft. The workers squabbled and balked about new procedures and quality control, but with real wages they were getting used to the idea that, if they did a good job and people bought their product, they would get paid more. It was a nice incentive.
There was a knock at her office door and her assistant Captain Neuman stepped in.
“Ma’am, there are two people outside to see you. They are both Americans and said you told them to contact you if they needed help.”
“Who are they and what do they want?” They wouldn’t be the first asking for a favor, although the fact that they were Americans surprised her slightly.
“They didn’t say what they wanted, Ma’am, but they did say their name was Dickson. A Mr. and Mrs. Dickson.”
Claire Richardson sprang from her chair and walked past the Captain to the door. The older couple was seated in chairs in the waiting area of the outer office. Richardson could immediately see that they were Dickson’s parents. The man had the stature of the boy and the color of his hair, but she could tell Lieutenant Dickson had looked like his mother. The resemblance was so strong Richardson was almost taken aback. She gathered herself and straightened her blouse before entering the room.
“Mr. and Mrs. Dickson, I am so glad to see you. Won’t you come in my office?” she asked as she shook their hands and led them into the next room. Coffee was offered but politely refused. The two nervously sat together in the chairs beside her desk.
“Thank you for seeing us, General,” the man said.
“It’s my pleasure, Mr. Dickson. I can’t express how sorry I am at your loss.”
They waved it away. “We know, General. Our son wrote and told us about talking to you a couple of times. Your letter was really appreciated,” said his mother.
“I know we haven’t been in touch with you, but we decided to come to Korea and ask for your help,” the father said.
Richardson leaned forward in her chair. “If I can, I would be happy to,” she said.
The man smiled. “You mentioned in your letter the little boy Will saved, Jua Jing. We hoped to see the boy,” Mr. Dickson said.
“You see, Will was our only child. So if we can, we want to adopt this boy and bring him home to Nebraska.”
Richardson’s face spread into a smile. She punched the intercom. “Neuman get my car and driver,” she ordered.
Turning back to the Dicksons she said, “I will take you there personally. Have you been making arrangements?”
“Yes. We were told things weren’t ready, but this was the only time we could get here to see the boy, so we came anyway. We wanted you to be with us,” Mrs. Dickson said.
Richardson nodded. “I appreciate your thinking of me. Let’s go see him,” she said grabbing her cover.
The three left the headquarters and drove for ten minutes before turning into a small gated courtyard where children were playing. The three walked up the steps of a nondescript white building and were met by the Administrator.
“General Richardson! How are you?” she said.
“Che Ya, I want you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Dickson. They have flown here to see Jua Jing.”
“Ah yes, the Dicksons! I have been working to complete the necessary papers for the adoption. Please come in,” Che Ya said. They entered a small office. “Unfortunately, I still do not have the necessary passport and approvals. I checked again this morning, but they are still at the Ministry,” she said.
The Dickson’s looked heartbroken but tried to maintain themselves.
“What do you need?” asked Richardson.
“It’s all with the Foreign Secretary’s office. They tend to be a little slow sometimes.”
Richardson grinned. “Let’s see.” She summoned Captain Neuman in and gave him some instructions. He dashed out of the room and the car was heard tearing off. “Well, while we have everyone here, could Mr. and Mrs. Dickson meet the young fellow?” she asked.
Che Ya nodded. “I’ll go get him,” she said.
After she left the room Mrs. Dickson asked, “What are you having the captain do?”
“I have a little clout around here, so I asked if he would go up there and rattle the cage. He will use my name and authority. I figure he will be back within an hour with everything you’ll need,” she said smugly.
Che Ya entered the room with a young boy. He was typically Korean, with black hair and dark eyes. He was thin and tall. His face was slender and his eyes darted around the room, a little afraid and obviously not quite sure of what to think. Jua Jing could not remember the events of that night when he was rescued. Yet, when his eyes rested on Mrs. Dickson, a strange look came over his face. Slowly, he walked up and let the fingers of his right hand touch her cheek and feel her hair. “I have seen you,” he said in Korean.
Jua Jing remembered the face. It was a face he probably would never forget, but he couldn’t remember where he saw it. He didn’t know why, but he reached up and hugged Mrs. Dickson hard.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she put her arms around the child. After a moment he backed away and looked at Che Ya. “Have I seen them before?” he asked.
Che Ya explained. “Do you remember the night the soldiers came?” she asked. He nodded.
“Do you remember the one who helped you?”
He looked at her face for a moment, then his eyes shot wide and he gave a shudder. He suddenly remembered the young man carrying him through the building, the shooting, and the explosions. In an instant it all came rushing back. He remembered the man wrapping his arms around him tightly before the big bang that seemed to shove them hard. He remembered the face of the man as he was taken up and walked out of the place. It was the face that looked so peaceful. He clung to Che Ya as the memories returned.
“That is his mother,” she said.
Jua Jing looked at Mrs. Dickson’s face again. As they watched, the fear seemed to leave him. He stood more erect, his eyes opened wider and he gave a slight smile.
“Would you like to come live with us?” Mrs. Dickson asked.
The young man eased forward and in broken English asked, “In United States?”
The Dicksons stared in amazement that the young Korean child could speak some English. She nodded. “In a place called Nebraska,” she said.
His smile grew wide. “Where corn grows! I learn in school,” he said to her excitedly. Jua Jing walked back to Mrs. Dickson, no longer afraid, and began to tell her about his school.
The new family slowly began to know each other. By the time Captain Neuman returned with all the paperwork, there would be no pulling them apart.
The Boeing 747 cruised smoothly through the air on its way to Atlanta. In first class, Sergeant Major Paul Hufham sat sipping a beer. He had been offered the post of Command Sergeant Major at Fort Benning, Georgia. Not too bad, he thought. Cushy job and lots of perks. But best of all he would be there when Su Lynn had her baby.
Hufham received word that Ricks was already up on those two new legs. He even chuckled that Ricks had fallen flat on his ass the first time he tried to stand on his own. Little SOB would make that goal to carry his kid if it killed him.