Martoons

Fred seems to have two good candidates. But this is Korea and things rarely work out as well as one thinks they would…

Cast of characters

Fred

Master Lee

*

Afterward, Fred regretted pushing the Damion idea on Donna, as it put a slightly negative final spin on what had been a great meeting.

Nevertheless, he sent Donna’s visa documents to Master Lee for processing.

Donna was so grateful for the job that she told people at her Korean church in downtown Edmonton.

They put on a big gala for her and Fred was invited.

She made a brief speech there and announced her new job, and consequently received a standing ovation from the dozens of Koreans present.

Many of them shook Fred’s hand after and thanked him for helping Donna.

Days later another candidate also signed up.

Thomas was a university grad and single dad who lived in Edmonton’s gritty west-end with his daughter.

* Where’s the cash for Fred’s recruiting the candidates? *

This is a piece of cake Fred thought as he telephoned Master Lee just after Thomas inked his contract. “How many teachers do you need?”

“As many as you can find,” Lee said. “No limit. I know many many Englishy school in Korea. They are growing up like weeds.”

“Great, but just wondering: When do I collect my fee for each person?”

“After the foreigner actually arrive in Korea, Englishy school owner will send you fee. Ee-jee money.”

Fred sat back at the wobbly desk in his dingy little rental room.

He put his hands behind his head and glanced up at the ceiling as he stretched, then broke out in a big smile.

“Yeah!” he yelled out.

Easy money indeed Master Lee, easy money indeed!

He was sitting on a gold mine.

* One down, one to go *

Suburban squalor would best describe Fred’s current accommodations since graduating university.

He rented a compact bedroom in a condo unit, and it was a step down from the spacious and cheap ‘university ghetto’ houses he’d lived in for the last four years.

Now in the ‘real world’ armed with a liberal arts degree, his new place was old and run down.

The former condo manager had absconded with several hundred thousand dollars’ of maintenance funds.

So roofs leaked, wall siding was falling off, exterior stairs and sidewalks were cracked; the roadway through the complex had potholes so large some neighbors called them lakes.

One neighbor suggested they be stocked with fish.

Yet the redeeming feature of the house was the freedom and personal space it afforded. 

The actual owner of the place was a gay guy; he and his partner were never home – they owned a vineyard in California and spent most of their time tending to that.

Fred liked that they trusted him to have the run of the place.

That’s why he wanted to keep up his credibility and pay his bills on time.

He got home one morning after a twelve-hour graveyard shift to find his answering machine flashing rapidly.

“It’s Donna. Just wondering where my visa is. You said two weeks and it’s been almost a month. Call me. I’m getting desperate.”

Fred made note of the call and crashed, dead tired from his shift.

When he got up at 2 p.m. to begin his day – what was left of it – Donna had left another message:

“At least be professional and return my call. I need to know what’s going on. I’ve given notice on my job and my apartment…”

* Will Master Lee be sympathetic with Donna? *

Fred hadn’t spoken with Master Lee for a while so he called him right away at the Tae Kwon Do club.

Lee was busy instructing and over the phone Fred could hear a cacophony of youngsters yelling in the background.

“Ha-row?!” Lee finally said into the phone.

“I won’t keep you long,” Fred said with a sense of urgency. “Just wanted to know what’s happening with Donna’s visa?”

There was a pause.

“Who are you?” Lee asked.

Fred was surprised that Master Lee didn’t instantly recognize him.

It made him a bit uneasy. “Fred from your Tae Kwon Do tournament. Now I’m hiring foreigners for you. Remember?”

There was another unnerving silence and then finally, “Oh yeah, yeah, yeah! Meesta Fled! How are you? Long time no see.”

He felt more comfortable. “So, about the documents I gave you for Donna and Thomas…”

There was another delay. “Yeah, yeah,” Lee finally answered, “… first teacher you recommend for Korea –“

Fred felt tension over the phone. “Donna?”

“I’m sorry,” Lee said. “My friend in Korea cannot hire Donna. Impossible.”

A chill overtook Fred. “But … she already signed her contract. She’s told everyone she’s leaving! She’s …”

Master Lee masterfully remained silent.

With steely fortitude he composed himself. “I am very sorry. Many problems with Donna. How can I say …” He searched for words. “Koreans prefer white.”

Fred was aghast. “She’s Korean—Korean Canadian – you know that! Just give her a chance.”

Lee quickly changed the subject. “Can you introduce any other foreigners?”

“What about Thomas?”

“Thomas – very handsome. I want to interview him.”

*

Tomorrow: Will Thomas’ interview with Master Lee go well and get him to Korea?