Martoons

Cast of characters

Mr Go

*

Same time, down the street.

A distraught Mr Go departed Max’s pool hall.

The gangster landlord’s last words echoed through his head; something about “padlocking his business forever.”

Go rolled-over options in his mind, and that didn’t take long. He had none. Well, not any that he could live with.

There was no way he was ever going to tandem up with a gangster, even if Max would only be a silent partner. Surely it didn’t have to come to that!

* What is Go going to do? *

He imagined himself asking his father what he should do.

The answer would be something like: “This is a true test to see if you have what it takes to survive in the vicious world of business.

“Whoever said it would be easy?”

“Did you really think all it would take is a few months’ hard work, and then you could sit back and count the money? Babo!”

Go needed time to think. One thing was for sure: He simply couldn’t face the humiliation of telling his people – all those who worked for him – that it was all over.

The thought of leaving them destitute and in the streets was agonizing.

And all those lovely students – he simply couldn’t let them down. The show had to go on.

Passing by Coffee Shop Max, Go spontaneously decided to pop up, slip into one of the booths, and relax with a coffee while he gathered his thoughts.

This must be where that Coffee Lady works. 

He’d heard about her innumerable times from Damion but never actually met her.

He hadn’t at first been interested in the drama between Damion, Thomas and this hostess. But now his interest was piqued by one thing: His tremendous respect for Thomas.

As the days had gone by, Go regretted more and more getting sucked into Damion’s blackmail scheme and getting rid of Thomas.

So, Go figured, if the Golden God himself had been infatuated with this Coffee Lady – whoever she was – there must be something to her.

What, then, was all the fuss about?

* What is it about Coffee Lady? *

Go slithered into a booth and lit up a smoke, immediately noticing no ash tray – and no Coffee Lady. He cleared his throat loudly. “Miss!” he called gruffly.

The youthful part-timer behind the counter was still ensconsed in her pager.

Go decided to have a little fun and turned on the sarcasm: “A strange being has entered your universe.”

“This species of creature is known as a customer. And if you don’t get over here with a little service, I will not leave you alone. Get with it!”

She was still oblivious, now sporting an ear-to-ear smile from whatever was on the display of her pager.

“Miss! Ayeesh! Ash tray!” he ordered.

She looked up, startled and embarrassed.

“Oh, yeah, yeah.” She discarded the pager under the counter and scooted over quickly with a heavy, old-fashioned glass ash tray.

“So sorry,” she said, “so sorry,” while bowing frantically. “I didn’t hear you come in. Stupid me… Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry…”

He waved her off. “Relax. For the wages they pay you, I should just be happy you’re here. Look, you’re not The Coffee Lady are you?”

She waved him off. “You’re talking about our manager. She is out making a delivery. Should be back soon.”

He waved her off. “It doesn’t matter, I was just curious. And I was just giving you a hard time a moment ago.”

“Could you get me a coffee please and then I’ll leave you alone. I need some time to myself.”

“Yeah, yeah, of course. You want it black?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

*

Tomorrow: Go encounters a familiar someone.