The Letter (1/1)

Taemin lay on the ground, carrot in his mouth, kicking his legs as he read the Sunday comics. Onew was out getting furniture, Key was grocery shopping, and Minho and Jonghyun had gone out drinking. He had the house to himself. He heard the familiar thump of the mail outside the door and laid still for a moment until he was sure the mailman had left. He rolled towards the door snatched the mail, then army crawled back to his spot on the floor surrounded by empty soda bottles and candy wrappers."Hm."He flipped through the mail. His weekly comics magazine hadn't come in yet. It was unusually late this week, he fretted. He tossed a few other magazines to the side, a letter to Jonghyun from his mother was slid under the couch, never to be seen again, and... what's this? He flipped the unusual letter over a few times."Park Kyung-Hu. Who is that?" he muttered, turning it over again. "Oh!"It was addressed to apartment 513, not theirs! It must belong to that ajumma across the hall. He stared at the ceiling. He supposed he could go give it back. But when he got back the sun might've moved and his patch of sunlight would be gone.Yes that's right. SHINees' dancing machine was secretly a lazy boy.He sighed and rolled towards the door a bit, but ran into the leg of the couch and gave up."Wouldn't it be nice to be a cat." he mused aloud, slowly shuffling himself to the side.He continued rolling towards the door, but when he finally got there and looked up, the handle was at least a foot out of his grasp. Hm. Another noble deed foiled by the insurmountable obstacles in his life. Well, he better just roll back to his comics. He managed to flop over once, but was overcome by the effort and simply lay on the floor, letter still in his hand. Maybe... he eyed the crack under the door. Maybe he could just sort of slide the letter really hard under the door and it would land in her mail. He closed one eye, taking aim and pushed with all his might. The envelope flew into the air, did a graceful loop-de-loop, and settled back down just inches beyond his reach. He sighed. Another one of his insurmountable obstacles. What to do.Five Minutes Later"Taemin! What are you doing!? I almost hit you with the door!" Key yelped, staring at the boy lying on the floor.Taemin looked up at him plaintively."It's too difficult.""What?" Key asked, puzzled, as he edged past the boy and shut the door behind him."This letter came for 513-ajumma, but I don't want to move.""Taemin, that's just- What is this!?"Taemin pushed his face to the floor. Key must have just seen his candy soda nest."Mmph mmm." he mumbled, face buried in the floor."Is that... is that gum in the carpet!?"The prospect of delivering the letter across the hall was quickly becoming more appealing to Taemin."How much soda did you drink?" Key practically screeched, snatching the crumpled cans off the floor. "When we agreed to leave you here alone, that did not give you permission to eat on the floor!""Mmmm." Taemin muttered again, then slowly pushed himself to sitting. "I think I'll go deliver that letter now.""You certainly will not mister Lee, you will get back here and clean up this mess this instant!""Okay, I'm going!" Taemin called, leaving their apartment and knocking on the door across from theirs.A loud meowing sounded from inside, followed by the sound of at least three locks being undone. The door slid open a crack, stopped by a chain lock."Who is it?" Kyung-Hu peeked through the crack."Ajumma, it's me. Taemin. From across the hall, remember?""Oh yes," she said, closing the door to slide off the chain, then opening it and beckoning him in. "The skinny little mouse.""Taemin, where did you get all this candy? Have you been hiding it?" Key stormed out their door."Sorry, I'm busy!" Taemin cried, sliding into her apartment and slamming the door.Kyung-Hu stared at him, a large orange and cream cat winding itself around her ankles."What's going on here?""Ah, a letter for you was delivered to our condo." He bowed and held it out.She took it from him, sliding her finger under the flap to open it. She pulled out the letter, unfolding it. As she scanned the words, her face broke out into a smile."What is it?" Taemin finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity."My daughter and her husband are coming to visit the city soon! They are going to come over on Friday.""Oh." Taemin said, losing interest almost immediately."Oh, their daughter is coming as well!"Taemin perked up his ears."Is she pretty?""Of course! She's the most lovely girl in the world!"Taemin grinned, as images of pretty girls wearing white dresses and dancing around in fields floated through his head."Friday, you said?"