Age 5

Young In calls today, "The first day of Kindergarten."

Jongin calls today, "Monday."

And so they both hop on the big yellow bus when it rumbles to the sidewalk just outside their neighborhood.  Young In first, Jongin second.

Young In waves goodbye to Mother and Jongin waves goodbye, too.  Mother waves back and the door of the bus makes  a swish noise before it closes.

She takes Jongin to the back of the bus because that's where it's the quietest, and it's where no one can sit behind them and kick the back of their seat.  Young In sits closest to the window and Jongin sits right next to her.  Their backpacks are stuffed under the seat.

Jongin smiles at her because he's never sat here before, all the way in the back.  He likes it.  It's also the first time he's had a mother to wave to on the first day of school.  

He likes that, too.

8:00 am