My Freedom Trip By: Frances and Ginger Park

When Soo was in her country, Korea, soldiers took over and they could not speak their minds and divided it into North and South Korea-many tried to escape to South Korea. South Korea was once a peaceful place, a beautiful place, free. One of her classmates had been missing from school then more and more children were missing from school and fleeing. Father woke her up one night and said he was going to South Korea with a man named Mr. Han and he would be coming back for Soo and her mother. He will wait for her on the other side of the river. Soo and her mother waited for a sign from her father and one evening they heard a knock at the door. A man in peasant clothing was at the door. He stepped inside and said his name was Mr. Han their guide to the freedom land. He had a message from their father who was safe and waiting for them, he was safe. Her mother began packing her knapsack she explained how tonight she was going on her freedom trip. Soo wanted her mother to come with her but she explained how Mr. Han would come back for her once she got over safely. They rode a train and no one spoke or made eye contact. They snuck off at the foot of a tall mountain and slipped away into the night. They heard wild animals and they would often stop to listen for footsteps. Footsteps were upon them suddenly and they crouched among the bushes. Mr. Han said that the soldiers could see their shadows because of how brightly the moon was shining that night. They sat down and ate fruit. In time the moon vanished and Mr. Han took her hand and they walked until daylight came. They were close. Suddenly they heard leaves rustling. A soldier jumped into their path and told them to go back to their village-he begged with the soldier to let the child cross the river where her father was waiting and she kept in mind that her mother told her to be brave. After silence the soldier lowered his weapon and let the child go. She met her father on the other side of the river. After Soo’s freedom trip soldiers were posted everywhere along the border and her mother was not able to cross over to South Korea and soon the war broke out. Soo and her father never saw her again. Many years have passed and Soo thinks about Mr. Han and her mother. She still carry’s her message with her “be brave”.