No or maybe Yes?
You're at the supermarket with your Appa and your uncle. You want to buy a cake for your grandmother's birthday. A toy makes you express a strong desire that you absolutely want it. It's everything your toddler's heart desires, but… what if Appa says no? It's a good thing your Uncle Junho is here and wants to spoil you a little.
"…and you'll let yourself be put back in the shopping cart later? Appa doesn't want to have to search for you halfway through the supermarket and…….Junho, we don't need a clown costume, it's just a little surprise for Mother. Put the costume back"
You giggle once as your uncle Junho approaches the shopping cart with a clown costume in his hand, lowering his head dramatically and sadly, saying something about being a spoilsport. Your gaze goes up to your Appa - Inho - whose dark eyes are intently on you, seemingly hoping you've understood this rule.
Because you wanted to walk a little too.
You usually enjoy sitting in the car seat in the shopping cart and watching your Appa carefully as he concentrates on putting the items from the shopping list into the cart, occasionally asking for your opinion on whether… we should put strawberries or raspberries, beans or corn in the cart… sometimes InHo even hands you a snack he brought with him or your sippy cup filled with juice or water to cheer up a whiny toddler.
"Walk too! Like Uncle Junho and Appa!" - you say, stretching your arms toward InHo again.
He smiles gently and repeats his rule. If you let yourself be put in the shopping cart later without grumbling or whining, you'll be allowed to walk around a bit.
"First, you can help Appa find the birthday candles for Halmoni's cake, okay?" - Appa suggests, and you nod once your feet are back on solid ground in your shoes.
"YES! I'll help Appa!" - you say, toddling along like a puppy next to the cart and InHo's right side. You would pick out the very best birthday candles!
After your Uncle Junho returned the clown costume to where he bought it, you were allowed to help him pick out some party hats. (They were red ones with green and white dots!) and Junho also convinced Appa , to put one of those little balloons filled with confetti in the shopping cart.
For the candles, choose a swan theme.
Your grandmother loves swans so much. Whenever you go on a trip to the park with her—because Appa and Uncle work for the police in Seoul and your grandmother likes to look after you—you watch the swans on the lake in the park.
Yes, you made a very good choice! You're a wonderful little helper!
"…Chocolate cake or vanilla?"
Appa and Uncle discussed for a long time in front of the large shelf of freshly baked and decorated cakes, and a glance to your right revealed that the aisle across was filled with all the toys for children.
With wide eyes and euphoria, you walk over to the aisle and admire all the toys.
It took a few minutes for Inho and Junho to decide on a cake, and while InHo pushed your shopping cart over to you and the toy section, JunHo was tasked with getting her mother's favorite wine from the wine section.
"Appa! Appa! Wanna Please! Appa Buy?" - you held out a toy to InHo, full of joy in your big, toddler eyes.
A plastic mini-Olaf from Disney Frozen. He has a blue scarf with white snowflakes around his neck and a green cup of hot chocolate with a marshmallow in it in his hands. You really wanted that toy. Then the mini Olaf can play with the Olaf plush toy in your room…and with the two Elsa dolls. And the Anna figure that can sing! Appa will definitely buy it for you, right?
InHo looked from you to the shopping cart and calmly explained the following situation.
"The toy isn't on the shopping list. We don´t need it. Give it to Appa, then he'll put it back on the shelf and we'll go to the checkout"
You blink at him a few times, and your little hands automatically tighten their grip on the toy. Why doesn't Appa say, "Of course, my little princess, Appa will buy you the toy?"
"Olaf toy. Appa? Please?"
"You already have an Olaf toy at home. Appa isn't buying you anything today"
The tone Appa chose was now a hint…I won't tolerate any arguments, young lady…but the toy is so great and you want it!
"No!" - you say, and want to hide the toy behind your back…but InHo has already seen this idea coming and quickly takes it away.
"Appa! Wanna!" - you whimper, holding out your hands.
But InHo dismisses you with a stern look back at the shelf. Your sad look and the possibly brewing toddler tantrum leave the experienced police officer completely cold.
"I said no, Princess, not today"
The words hit you like a bad dream.
Your eyes fill with tears and you sit down on the floor in the middle of the aisle, about to vent your anger in a fit of rage.
You hear your Appa gasp quietly, and before he even puts you in the shopping cart, Junho arrives, no doubt surprised to see you…sitting so sad on the floor.
"Wow, wow…did you try to explain to her again that Hans can't come to Seoul , from Frozen and that he's hurting Appa and Uncle because he couldn't marry Princess Anna?"
"What? No. She wanted a toy. I said no"
"InHo, how can you turn down a request from the cutest little toddler? Look how sad she is?"
Yes! Why can't Appa see how sad you are?
You look at Junho and give him Grabby Hands.
"Uncle Junho!" - you whimper, and instinctively Junho picks you up and rocks you gently.
"Shhhhh… I know Appa is really mean and can't understand why his daughter absolutely needs a new toy, huh?" - Junho cooed, and Inho gave him a "Don't fall in my back, brothe look… but JunHo ignored this.
"Yeeeah… Appa mean. Me wanna toooooy", - you sniffed dramatically and bury your head in JunHo's jacket.
"Appa is just beign rational"
"InHo, that's not helpful. How can you be so cruel?"
"She has so many toys… she doesn't need another one .....today."
"She's been so helpful today… you know what, Princess? Uncle JunHo will buy you the toy. Show me which one you want, okay? But no more crying, okay?" - JunHo cooed, and these words made you look up.
Sniffling, you point to the shelf where Appa had put the Olaf toy back.
"InHo, that doesn't even cost 4,200 won (3 US dollars). You know what, you poor little toddler and my favorite niece… Uncle JunHo says you can have lollipop! If Appa is so mean… your uncle has to spoil you a little"
And with those words, JunHo handed you the toy and stroked your hair soothingly as he walked past InHo and the shopping cart.
"You spoil her, Junho."
But Junho just grinned.
"That's an uncle's job, when Appa says no to the toy", - said Junho, and seeing you cuddling up to Junho with your toy, InHo can't be mad at you or his brother. Or resentful.
"…if Appa's behaving nice and good, he might get a lollipop…but only a tiny one, what do you say?" - Junho whispered to you.
A quiet giggle escaped you.
"Thank you, Uncle Jun-Ho," - you say, and as you stand in front of the candy shelf with the individually wrapped lollipops, you pick out a particularly large lollipop.
If Appa says no, your Uncle Jun-Ho would grant you almost any wish.
THE END
