The Dropbox Baby

Sorry about the vacation but training for work and trying to do Nano, I got a behind trying to do it all. 

Today I have a short story inspired by a news article: Korean pastor saving babies with anonymous ‘Baby Box’.  The article in part reads:   " Hundreds of unwanted babies are abandoned on the side of the street in South Korea every year. Jong-rak knew he needed to set up a way to save the lives of these precious babies.  He built a drop box on the side of his home with a humble sign reading, “Place to leave babies.”"

Here's today's short story:

November 19, 2030

Seventeen years ago, there was a documentary made about my life and hundreds of others just like me. We are the "Dropbox Babies." I wasn't aware that I held that distinction until a year ago, when my parents showed me the documentary. I knew I had been adopted as I don't look like my adopted American parents.

I was one of the lucky ones. My mother left a note saying this was the best she could do for me. This was the best she could do for me, really?

The pastor found me a good home. I had a good family and a good life but doubts still nagged at the back of my mind. How could she give me away, if I was so special? I wasn't physically or mentally handicapped, just unwanted. I am not alone, over eight thousand children were abandon in 2010 in my biological country of South Korea.

My family showed me church but I felt unlovable. If the woman, whom had brought me into this world couldn't love me, I wasn't worthy of love. I was mad at God and the world.

Then I watched the documentary and the film maker became a Christian during the filming. He could see God's hand in the saving of what seemed like doomed children. Maybe there was hope for me.

I was preparing to make my way into the world, out from under my parent's wings. I realized I, too, had been loved and still loved as tears streamed down my mother's face as I left to return to see my birth country with a reunion group of returning "Dropbox Babies." 

Dad too, although, he wiped them clean, not wanting the camera to catch his moment of weakness. He whispered, "I wish we could be there to share this time of discovery. But we understand you need to do this alone." He squeezed my shoulder. "Just remember we are always here for you. You'll always be the son of my heart. I love you." 

One last embrace from mom, she cried, "Go find yourself. God has a plan for your life. He always has. It's why he rescued you. But please, please come back to us. I love you."

It was a favorite saying of my parents that I was the son of their prayers and heart, if not of their bodies. It has taken my trip back to my homeland to understand that saying.

Sci-fi Smackdown on Wattpad

Update: I took too long to get this post, the cover and Tito's irises done. I missed the time cutoff. :(  But it still looks like there will be some great reads created. I left the external like to Sci -fi Smackdown on the Fallen story page (under the cover on the right if you like to read what others are writing.) 

After I posted Conscripted on Wattpad, I was looking at the other new short stories and I ran across the Sci-fi Smackdown competition on Wattpad. So, crazy as my life is I am trying to get my initial 500-1000 entry downloaded.

Here is the cover: 

Fallen

I created Tito's irises, just for fun. (If you want to know who Tito, please go read the story. Thanks!)

This is just more fun than a girl should have!

Kim Izzy

~Picture it & Write! - Future Unknown

Ermilia's Picture it & Write! Click on the picture to learn more.

Lavina hated her mom at this moment. Throwing herself to the sand, she couldn't care less that it was damp. She didn't hate her mom, not really, but she wished her mom would just try and listen to her side of the argument. They were arguing all the time these days. It was like she wanted Lavina to be "old and full of wisdom."

Laying her head down, it hit something very hard. Rubbing the back of her head, she said, "Really, people are pigs!" Someone had left trash on the beach. A glass bottle, no less. It could break and people could get nasty cuts, infections and could die. Great! Now, she sounded like mom. She hated that side of herself. 

Of course, no one heard her. The beach was deserted. With brilliant colors gracing the evening sky, Lavina was surprised that she was alone. 

Twirling the bottle around, Lavina notice the magnifying effect the bottle had on the gorgeous sunset that had drawn her to the beach tonight. Hoping it would relax her. She had been so uptight lately. With senior pictures around the corner and her senior year starting in a few weeks, the pressure was mounting. 

What was she going to do with her future? She needed a magnifier to help her see her far away future. But where did one get such a thing? Even mom couldn't predict the future.

I love sunsets! Hope you enjoyed the short story.

Blessings,

Kim Izzy

~Picture it & Write! - Alban's Brother

 

"Wake up, Alban! You're having a nightmare." Mom shook me hard.

I wiped wetness from my eyes. "What?" I asked, "What's going on, Mom?"

"You were screaming in your sleep. That wetness was your tears. What happened to you today?" Mom's hand shook as she stroked my damp hair away from my face. She sat on the edge of the sofa beside me. "Do you know where your brother is? Your father is out looking for him."


The last time I saw Darvades, my older brother, he was holding a molotov cocktail cocked and ready to release. Our sister, Ola, pulled me down the nearest alley. I hadn't seen him since. What should I tell mom? I searched the room for any distractions I could find.

Mom took my chin in her hand and pulled my face close to hers. "Tell me. Tell me, now. You were screaming his name. There is no out."

On her breath, I smelled the garlic bread from supper last night. I sighed and I began, "Ola and I were taking Darvades his lunch."

Darvades worked at the local refinery, where the riots started. The rioters chased the enforcers down the street to the business district or so the local gossip reported.

Mom's head shook from side to side, trying to deny what I was saying. "You two told me that you missed all that nonsense. Those riots are stupid!"

Ola stood framed in the door of her room, only she and our parents had bedrooms. It took all the money we had to afford this ratty two bedroom ground floor apartment. Tears streamed down her face. She rushed over putting her arms around mom and me kneeling on the rag rug on the floor beside the sofa on which I slept .

"You're only thirteen, Alban." Mom turned to Ola, "You're only fourteen."

"I'll be fifteen in a few weeks, Ma." Ola said, "We got out okay. And the riots are not stupid. Darvades is fighting for better pay and safer working conditions. You know three boys were maimed last month alone."

"But Darvades still isn't home safe. Where can he be? I am scared." Mom's body shook. Tears rolled down her checks falling on to my blankets.

The front door swung open. Dad half carried Darvades who was covered in soot and blisters. But very much alive!

Hoped you enjoyed!

Kim Izzy