Dreams of the Future

Ryu Ji-ho took a deep breath as he grabbed the freshly delivered newspaper, sliding it carefully under the front gate. But before he could step away, the gate swung wide open, startling him.

In front of him stood a heavyset woman with tightly curled hair. There was no mistaking her. She was the notoriously ill-tempered homeowner.

"Hey, you!" the woman barked, her voice sharp and accusing.

"Good morning, ma'am," Ji-ho replied with a forced smile, trying his best to sound polite.

This house was well-known in the neighborhood, not for its charm, but for its owner's relentless nitpicking. Ji-ho had become all too familiar with her tendencies, and he knew it was best to tread carefully. One wrong word, and he'd be caught in a storm of complaints.

"Why is the newspaper always late?" she snapped, her face flushing red with irritation.