[One Sip of a Book] Where Is Mom?

by Seo Miteum

Published 25 May.2023 13:43(KST)

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly resonate with readers, creating a connection with the book. We excerpt and introduce such meaningful sentences from books.

This is a children's fairy tale presented by Professor Lee Do-heum of Hanyang University’s Korean Literature Department, who was selected for the 'Korea Research Foundation Outstanding Scholar (Convergence Field)' project aimed at nurturing scholars with Nobel Prize potential. The story depicts the journey of three salmon siblings?Ari, Maru, and Eden?who, while searching for their mother, discover each other's reflections in their eyes and find the ability to empathize with others' pain and suffering as if it were their own. The author states that she wrote this fairy tale hoping that children and adults alike will build their own distinct worldview and ecological, coexistence-oriented thinking to overcome the greatest contradictions of our global village: the climate crisis and inequality.

"Sister! Why don't we have a mother?"

The three baby salmon finally realized that unlike other fish, they were the only ones without a mother. Eden sighed and said,

"Other fish have their mothers to fend off bigger fish that come to eat them... And not only that, they warmly comfort them with their pectoral fins to soothe their frightened hearts."

Gluttonous Maru chimed in.

"That's right! When our yolk sacs disappear, we have to find food on our own, but other fish have their mothers bringing food to them."

Ari also sighed deeply and added,

"Yes, since we don't have a mother, unlike other fish, we don't know this underwater world. No one teaches us what exists in this world or how those things relate to us. We don't know which creatures are harmful or beneficial, which algae are good or bad for our bodies. We have to learn how to catch certain creatures and avoid others by instinct, risking injury or death alone. Above all, we cannot receive a mother's love."

The three tried hard to recall their mother salmon's face. (Pages 36?37)

"Dear everyone! How did you find the competition so far?"

All the salmon fry smiled and answered loudly.

"It was fun!"

"All of you are first-place salmon. Everyone has hidden talents that can make them number one, and those talents are equally precious. Even the fish we thought were the best have many things they cannot do, and the fish we thought were the worst have many things they do well. From now on, never say that someone is better than someone else. In fact, don't even think about it. You are all equally the same fish, neither better nor worse than anyone else." (Pages 64?65)

The next day, Teacher Seulgi brought younger and smaller baby Saemi birds into the classroom. Then she told all the salmon fry not to study today but just watch the baby Saemi play.

The baby Saemi were still clumsy at swimming and were pushed backward while trying to move upstream. One baby Saemi bumped its body against a rock due to the current. Another baby Saemi failed to control its strength properly while trying to pick algae and hit its head on a rock, bleeding and fainting for a long time.

At first, the salmon fry watched and giggled. Teacher Seulgi did not say a single word. After several days, the laughing salmon fry gradually disappeared. Instead, as time passed, feelings of pity for the baby Saemi grew like algae in the hearts of the salmon fry. More and more salmon fry ran to help the baby Saemi. After observing the baby Saemi for ten days, Teacher Seulgi gathered all the salmon fry and said,

"Everyone! How did your hearts feel when the baby Saemi were hurt? Did you find it funny, or did your hearts ache together?"

Everyone gave similar answers.

"At first, it was funny, but gradually my heart ached."

"Right? Feeling another fish's pain as if it were your own is your true heart and the most fish-like heart you have." (Pages 76?77)