"Did you bring all the paperwork I gave you." Soojin, my mother’s longtime friend spoke as she hugged my mother. Soojin was much older than my mother. She looked worn out almost like she hadn't slept for a long time. From what I heard from the past stories my mother would tell me, she was twice divorced with a young daughter. Her first husband died and her second husband left her for a much younger woman.

"Yes I brought everything I needed even small things like my American papers." My mother spoke as she hurriedly walked up to the main entrance of a beautiful modern style garden.

Although it was beautiful it was hard to get in. The taxi driver had to stop at the main entrance after the security guards stopped the car. First to search the car and then to ask about our visit. After almost an hour of interrogation they signaled us in. By the time we made it inside it was 9:15 am and her interview was at 9:00 am.

"Sorry Soojin, I'm actually extremely late I didn't think there would be a interrogation beforehand"

We kept walking towards the back of the main entrance. It seemed as commoners were not allowed to enter the main building.

"Its okay lets hope the head maid is in a good mood she's the one whose doing the interview but first things first."

Soojin stopped mid walk and peered at me and softly spoke.

"I don't think it's a good idea to bring Aspen today. The head maid is very strict on bringing children to work."

My mother peered back with a smile and looked right back at Soojin.

"I know but I didn't have anybody to leave her with. I won't bring her to work but just for today. You know I just got here a few days ago."

Soojin sighed and we continued to walk up to a smaller house farther away from the mansion. Heading closer to this modern style cottage it resembled cottages I had seen on television. They all had been in a nice tucked away forest area but here it was tucked away by a nice garden. As we kept moving the more I realized how big the garden was.

"Okay I'll leave you here. I have to work in the main building in about an hour. Please go in and I'll call for the head maid"

"Thank you Soojin, wish me luck today I'm going to really need it." my mother grabbed her friend hand as tightly as possible. This was the first time in 8 years that she had seen her.

"No worries Jihye I know more than anybody how hard it is to make ends meet. Now I have to go get ready."

She cheered for my mother and gave me one last glance as her smile turn colder.

I knew what she was thinking. I didn't look korean and you could clearly see that I was mixed. Thinking back I remember how much it stung for a 5 year old. I already knew my father didn't want me but to think that now korean society didn't want me either hurt me harder than experiencing a father’s rejection.

"Aspen wait right here okay"

My mother signaled me to come closer. She glanced at our surroundings and took a deep breath.

"Mom will do a short interview okay so just stay right here don't move or go anywhere else. Our life's depend on this job okay"

She took me by the hand and quietly moved me to small bench located to the side of the cottage. I smiled back at her and nodded. I knew more than anybody how much this meant to her and I wouldn't move even if the whole cottage caught on fire.

Years ago my mother called me Aspen after a street we crossed everyday to get to her job. "Aspen street" she would speak up loudly as we passed by almost everyday. I didn't get it until I was much older when I would giggle and proclaim.

"Mommy they called it Aspen street after me"

Life was harder but it didn't mean I was unhappy. I wasn't fatherless, my mother was my father and I couldn't be prouder. All the miss givings he thought he left behind couldn’t be further from the truth.

My mother waved goodbye as she made her way up the steps towards the entrance and shortly disappeared. I waited I sat down on the bench, after a while I got tired and moved to the grass besides the flowers. The cottage resided in the back of the mansion. The backyard was pretty big, half of it was pure grass while the rest was made into a beautiful patio. The cottage seemed to be a little hidden secret from the rich lifestyle that was presented at the main building.

From time to time I'd see maids come and go. Some heading to the cottage and and some heading to the main building. I would routinely stand up or sit down whenever they’d pass by. Some would stare down at me trying to figure out who and why I was there but wouldn’t approach me.

This is where my life did a complete turn. I credit this part of my life for the beautiful moments I would receive but also for misfortunes I would experience moving forward. If I could go back and change everything I would do it in a heartbeat.

"I ALREADY TOLD YOU IM TIRED OF ALL THSE TOYS. I WANT SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH.”

"Minsoo please come here! I'll ask Miss if we can go thru the toy catalogue once again and see if maybe we can order more toys."

"I DONT WANT ANYMORE TOYS IM SICK OF ALL OF THEM! I want someone to play with!"

"Minsoo I'll ask maid Chaewon to come play with you after she finishes with the cleaning."

"No I hate it she's too old to play with me I want someone my age!"

"Okay Minsoo wait!! Miss asked me to keep you away from the cottage!"

The stomping grew closer and closer. All I could think was about how much my heart kept pounding louder and louder with every step I heard.

"Who are you?!" They spoke up with arrogance. I kept my head low, as I was too scared to look up at who was speaking to me but I knew it wasn’t an adult. Their voice was childlike and quite demanding.

"Uhh sorry..." I minced, being too scared to say anything else. I looked up worried that if I didn’t pay close attention I’d be in bigger problems.

He was also a kid about my age. He was dressed in what seemed like fashion pieces straight from New York. He looked arrogant and poised but his face seemed that of a child model.

He stared at me for what felt like 20 minutes, he seemed confused by my appearance as though he had seen something strange. He smiled at me and then turn to his maid who had been behind him with a smirk.

"MAID MINA COME HERE" he waved arrogantly with his right hand.

The maid bowed and headed closer to him quite confused.

"I want her." He smiled back at her and then back to me.

"I want her. She looks unique so I want her"

He pointed at me while looking at the maid. She frowned as he loudly proclaimed his intent.

I looked back at him stunned at what he had mouthed. I was young but I wasn’t naive as I may have looked. Anxiety hit me and I couldn’t word anything out loud.

“Minsoo lets just go back inside you have violin practice at 11 and we can’t be late.” The maid waved for him to hurry back to her side. She stood close the main building.

“No I said I want her to play with me!!” He stepped closer. Reaching toward my hand he appeared pleased.

I was a shy child who didn’t like playing with strangers even children my age. I looked at him and worded “no” hoping he’d go away. I didn’t like attention and he was actively giving me way more than what I was accustomed to. For a minute there was silence and I felt guilty as I was known to be a people pleaser.

“I’m not asking you for permission. I’m demanding that you play with me.” This time grabbing my hand and walking towards the maid. Shocked I stood my ground.

“I said no! I can’t move from here and don’t touch me.” I was visibly shaking and most importantly worried my mother wouldn’t find me if I moved.

“What. Who are you and what are you doing in my house. Is your mother a maid?” He let go of my hand as he spoke.

I remained silent. I knew at that point that I had ruined my mother chances of getting the job. He was clearly the son of the Moon family and I had denied his request to play with him.

“Did you not hear me? I said which maid is your mother!” He shouted, now even more upset then intially.

“Minsoo please let’s go inside she’s probably the daughter of someone who is applying for a job.” the maid stepped forward trying to calm the situation that was slowly turning more aggressive every second.

“I’ll tell the head maid not to hire her. What’s your mother’s name, miss.” She looked at me with a cold look.

I had done it. I had ruined my mother’s only chance for a stable life. This was an opportunity that was extremely important to her and with a simple no I had ruined everything.

“Please no. I’ll play with you! My mother really needs this job. I’ll go wherever you want me to go but please don’t fire her.” I shouted back now visibly worried.

He looked at me and smiled. Almost as if he wasn’t mad anymore. He whispered to the maid something and soon the maid made her way back to the main building.

“I gave you the opportunity to play with me but you wouldn’t take it. I don’t like the word no. Everybody always wants to play with me. You know how lucky you were. For me to want to play with you?”

My mother was hired almost right away. From what I heard the rules were amended to allow children to enter the main building shortly after my mother was hired. This was for when Minsoo wanted to play. It seemed as tho this rule was amended for my sake. As most of the regular maids were young females in their early 20s. Soojin rarely brought her daughter as her mother would babysit for her. Her daughter was the same age as me but her mother never brought her around me. I never understood why until years later.

Initially I was allowed to enter the main building once a month to play with Minsoo. His mother Seo-joon was not fond of a maid playing with her son but did it for her spoiled son. Moon Seo-joon was a fashion model before marrying Moon Hee-kyung. She walked for big fashions brands like Gucci, Saint laurent, Prada. It was said that when Moon Hee-kyung meet her he was so wowed with her beauty that he set a fake business meeting just to chat with her. She fell for his charmful ways and after 2 years of dating they wed. She was known to throw the most extravagant parties around her social circle.

Moon Seo-joon was a cold mother towards Minsoo and their was rumors she suffered postpartum depression. Even tho those rumors existed she had a strict schedule for Minsoo and if he wanted something she made sure he had it. She compromised with him in letting me come play once a month. Everytime id go over I was told by the head maid that I was to do whatever Minsoo wanted me to do. I was to remember that I was a maid and to treat it like a job.

The first time I enter the main building was during spring. The mansion was a modern industrial style home. There were more windows than what I could count. The beauty of it was the color scheme it seemed to be a simple gray and white theme. It felt so inviting but at the same it was quite empty. The house felt as though nobody lived in it. Minsoo’s father was rarely home as was his wife. They seemed to come home around 8pm every night.

I would mostly play games Minsoo wanted me to play. Hide and seek or video games. As I was told by the head maid I was not to let Minsoo lose. He was unpredictably spoiled and she did not want to clean his messes. I did as I was told for the first few months until he had the head maid retrieve me twice a month then three times a months. It got to a point where I was at the main building 4/5 out of the week. It got exhausting playing a puppet that I slowly started doing things my way.

I started winning and voicing my opinions. At first it was not easy. Minsoo was not someone you’d want as an enemy but he seemed to enjoy my presence enough that he would not get mad about losing.

“It’s okay I’ll win next time don’t think your better just because you won this round.” He spouted not looking my way. He was so into the video game that he wouldn’t spare a glance.

With time I realized he wasn’t as scary as I thought he was. He was definitely spoiled but he seemed to have empathy for me. It got to the point where the maids had to retrieve me whenever he was throwing a tantrum.

“Don’t think of yourself so highly just because I give you attention.”

“What?” I looked his way. It seemed random as I was working on my homework and he was playing video games.

“You know what I mean. Just be lucky that I treat you well. That’s why you should always stay by my side.” He peered back looking frustrated.

“Well I can’t leave my mom works here.” I joked back. I didn’t understand why he would say that since I had no plans to leave.

“Well good because I really like your presence here” he smirked back as he resumed playing his video games.