만년 셔츠

Changnam was a first-year student at a secondary school. He was the most cheerful and popular boy in his class. His cap was worn out and his trousers were patched, but he never once looked worried. Every day, he walked a long way, about eight kilometres, to school.

It was a bitterly cold winter day. Changnam, who had never missed a day of school, came late. His shoes had fallen apart and were wrapped round and round with rags and straw rope. "My shoe fell apart on the way, and I was late because I had to fix it six times."

That day there was a gym class. The stern gym teacher shouted, "Everyone, take off your jackets!" All the students took off their jackets, but Changnam did not. Changnam turned red and asked, "Sir, is a forever shirt all right?" "A forever shirt? What's that?" "M-my bare skin, sir." When Changnam took off his jacket, there was no shirt, only bare skin. Tears welled up in the teacher's eyes. The students' laughter stopped at once. The teacher praised Changnam's courage, and from that day everyone called him "Forever Shirt."

The next day, Changnam came in old hanbok trousers instead of his school trousers, with straw sandals on his bare feet. When the teacher asked why, Changnam answered quietly. "The night before last, a big fire broke out in our neighbourhood, and ten houses burned down." "My mother told me to give our clothes to our neighbours." "I gave my last shirt and socks to my mother, too, because she was cold. I lied and said there were two of each left." The teacher asked, "But won't your mother know when she sees your bare feet?" Tears dropped from Changnam's eyes. "My mother can't see." The teacher and all the students bowed their heads and wept quietly.