Jimin was finding it difficult to breathe right now. His heart had gotten stuck in his throat as he’d come to the end of Serendipity. He’d sung his heart out to the precious girl seated next to him. As he stared into her mesmerizing, emerald eyes, he wanted to touch her so badly. He wasn’t content with the brush of her hand against his own. So he relinquished that pleasing contact to reach up and touch her cheek, cupping her face with his right hand. A slight smile played about his lips as he bent towards her, intending to claim her lips with his own.
Just then, the silence was broken by a small child screaming just a few feet to their left. Abruptly awoken from his reverie, Jimin dropped his hand and turned towards the screaming mimi. A little lad of about four years, tears streaming down his chubby cheeks and soaking into his red-and-navy-blue-striped shirt, sat on the grass as he cried out for his “Maman!”
Instantly ascertaining that the little boy had been separated from his mother and was now both lost and panicking, Eileen moved swiftly to his side and knelt on the ground next to him. Getting down on his level, she peered into his wee face as she gave into the impulse to ruffle his dark brown hair. Wide, crystal-blue eyes full of tears stared up at her.
She conversed with him in French, asking him if he’d gotten separated from his mother. When he nodded yes, she asked him where he’d seen her last. As he pointed off into the distance, she followed his line of sight and saw a frantic, young brunette running towards them, her long, straight hair flying behind her as she approached them. The girl appeared to be about twelve years old. She came dashing up to them and threw herself at the little boy, encompassing him with her arms as she dragged him up against her thin chest.
“Pierre! You little rascal! You scared the spit out of me! I’ve found you, but I’ve lost Maman in the process!”
Jimin had no idea what she was saying, but Eileen seemed to be following the conversation. As the girl fell silent, Eileen began to speak to her in halting French. After a few brief exchanges with the girl, Eileen glanced up at Jimin.
“They’ve lost track of their mother. When the boy disappeared, the mother and daughter went in different directions. I’m going to help them find her.” She thought of his desire to keep himself hidden from the public. “If you want to wait here, I’d understand. I’ll come find you when we’re done. Or?” Did he have to leave now? Her heart lurched at the thought. “Do you need to head to the hotel now?” Her heart was now racing in her chest, blood pulsing through her ears. Would she even be able to hear his response?
He shook his head as he put his sunglasses back on. “I’m coming with you.”
He bent to retrieve their trash. He tossed it into a nearby can as they headed to find the missing mama.
—
Standing in the Disney store in downtown Paris, Tae laughed as he held the Belle doll up next to Jin as he observed his own worldwide handsome face in the mirror opposite them.
“Need a date for tonight?” Tae asked. “I think I found you the perfect woman. She’s a Disney Princess after all.”
“That makes no sense, Tae. Belle wasn’t ever a princess. She’s the daughter of a tinker.”
“Well, she’s sold over here with all the princesses. I don’t know what to tell you.” Tae looked through the boxes of dolls. “Not happy with beautiful Belle, huh? How about Snow White? Will she do?” He held up the raven-haired doll with the pale face and large, dark eyes for his friend’s perusal. Tae grinned at him, his eyes twinkling. “I think she’s perfect for you. After all, there’s seven of us. We could be her dwarves. And I should know…”. His eyes were positively dancing now. “I was her once, you know?”
Jin laughed as he recalled the day Tae had been forced to dress up as Snow White for their crazy dance practice while the remaining boys lucked out and clothed themselves in six different dwarf costumes, complete with silly hats and gigantic, colorful shoes. Which kept flying off the feet of certain members, if Jin remembered correctly.
He turned towards Tae to reply when his attention was suddenly caught by a scene unfolding outside the large picture window at the front of the store. Jin suddenly squinted as he stared out that windowpane at one certain member. “Is that Jimin?” Then he shook his head. “No. It can’t be! He’s with a woman and two kids.”
Tae glanced out the window, intrigued by the possibility of finally discovering the whereabouts of his best friend. Instantly, his eyes connected with those of Jimin, who turned at that moment and looked his way. Jimin’s eyes widened in surprise, and he spun around to face away from Tae as he debated what to do.
Jimin, Eileen, and the two children had just come to a stop in front of the Disney store. Pierre had begun to throw a temper tantrum. He had thrown himself down on the sidewalk and was flailing around and screaming. And, of course, drawing a lot of attention to them. Just the thing Jimin wanted to avoid. The last thing he needed was to be accused of child abuse by the media. He backed away, melting into the crowd.
Tae, still watching from the window, lost sight of Jimin. But he was undeterred by this circumstance; he made a beeline for the front door of the store and followed Jimin’s trail.
Meanwhile, Eileen knelt down before the distressed, little boy. “It’s ok, Pierre. We will find your maman. We will, I promise you. I know she is looking for you right now.”
The tiny child began to calm down as the crowd around them grew larger. Eileen, her emerald eyes wide, looked around at the crowd as she announced, “Pierre has lost his maman. Does anyone see her?”
“What’s her phone number?” Someone called out.
Pierre’s sister, whom Eileen had since discovered was named Elaine, walked towards the author of that question. Coming to a stop before the kind woman, Elaine held her hand out to receive the cellphone being offered to her. She quickly dialed her mother’s number and began a rapid conversation with her in French.
A few moments later, she bravely addressed the crowd with a poise beyond her years, “Maman is on her way here. Thank you all for your concern and help.” Then she turned to speak to her tiny brother as she stretched her hand out towards him. “Pierre, Maman is coming! Shall we look around the Disney store while we wait for her?”
The little boy’s tears dried instantly as he began to nod vigorously, a huge grin stretching his mouth in two opposite directions. He grabbed his sister’s hand, and happily the two headed for a part of the Magic Kingdom that could be bought, both eager to discover its hidden treasures.
Eileen smiled at the two adorable kids. She turned towards Jimin, remarking, “Aren’t they so cute?”
But Jimin wasn’t there. She looked around. Where had he gone? And why did she feel panic rising in her chest?
