Martoons

Today: Fred is let in on a rumour…

Cast of characters

Fred

Another foreigner

*

Donna quickly headed out with Fred’s eyes inadvertently following her toward the exit.

He was mulling over something she’d said – or implied:

That a lot of foreigners didn’t last a week here.

He sunk into sullen reflection.

He’d just completed his second week.

Admittedly it was a struggle but he was going to stick it out – if Korea let him!

The waiter arrived with his frosted mug of icy cold beer.

Fred gripped the handle, raised the glacial mug to his lips and tilted it up.

The sub-zero sudsy beverage slid down his parched throat like rushing rapids, the effervescence like a zillion tiny razor blades slicing his epiglottis.

He withstood the pain for an excruciating eternity (about 5 seconds) and half the mug’s volume of beer disappeared down his trachea.

With the resulting brain rush seconds later, his mindset immediately elevated to a higher level of hope and optimism.

Soaking up the atmosphere of the noisy, crowded establishment, he waxed philosophical:

When was the last time I got horizontal with anyone?

He honestly couldn’t remember.

Scanning who was left at the foreigners’ table for possible candidates, he duly noted two average-looking women (from Canada?) chatting merrily and looking as if they were well on their way to achieving inebriation.

His eyes moved on and scanned the Korean tables.

Attractive, immaculately groomed ladies abounded, but they were all heavily wrapped-up in their tables’ conversations and he was unable to make a single eye contact.

It was as if there was a fortress wall around each table.

Fred defaulted to simply enjoying his beer.

“Yahoo!”

His yell elicited a few wan smiles from nearby tables.

“Pimply-faced waiter, I love you. And Korea rocks!”

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned that way.

“I’m sorry.”

It was one of the drunk Canadian ladies who was now leaving with her friend.

“Sorry?”

Fred said.

“Why?”

The woman looked at him gravely.

“Maybe I shouldn’t tell you this.”

She wobbled as she stood there.

“I wouldn’t want to freak you out.”

 * What is she about to tell him? *

“Try me. I think I can handle it.”

“It’s probably nothing but I heard your institute might shut down soon and everyone laid off.”

Fred was immediately shaken but tried not to let it show.

“Where did you hear that?”

“Just a rumour. Maybe there’s nothing to it.”

She wobbled again and looked away to see where her friend was.

* Where did this rumour arise from? And is it true? *

Fred thanked her and wished her a goodnight. 

“Hey, sorry man,” the lady said leaving.

“Shouldn’t even have mentioned it. Later.”

Fred nodded.

Wobbly lady and her friend left giggling merrily but Fred’s beer rush quickly evaporated and he found himself sinking into a distressed daze.

A rumour was just a rumour yet often contained a grain of truth.

Within minutes most of the other foreigners had left.

Wimps, Fred thought.

Still being Canadian and packing it in early. 

But they’d learn soon enough the Korean way of enjoying the night like there’s no tomorrow.

* And when will they learn this? *

He made one more scan around the Korean tables for cuties (or even uglies) that he could practice his Korean with but didn’t catch anyone’s eye.

Now alone at the table, he sipped the rest of his beer but it was now warm and flat.

The night was over.

As Fred made his way to the door, his mind was already planning the next move:

Investigate that rumour.

* What will Fred find out? *

*

Tomorrow: Fred lends a sympathetic ear.