Martoons

Cast of characters

Mr Go

Damion

*

As Go sat tucked away in his booth sipping his jet black molasses, he was struck by how quiet the place was.

He glanced around and didn’t seem to see anyone.

He hadn’t been to a coffee shop for a long time but the ones he used to patronize back home had always been packed.

Guess times are changing.

Older people like me don’t have money to burn these days, and the younger ones are going to those new age cafes or the internet cafes.

I’ve been so caught up in my business that the world has changed around me.

Oh the good old days!

Indeed, his business had become his life and an appreciation dawned upon him as to the tremendous sacrifice that he’d sunk into it.

I’ve put so much time into that place I simply can’t close down. I have to resist Max. But how?

* How will Go resist? *

His reveries were disturbed by the distant sound of a man coughing, at first in fits and starts, and then continuously and violently.

Apparently someone was coming up out of the men’s room down at the end of the café.

Ironically, the horrendous hacking sound uplifted Go. At least I’ve got my health.

While he winced at the excruciating audible assault, he found himself perking up further.

The cacophony of coughing continued and worsened, yet now Go found himself smiling.

I know that cough! 

*

Max’s Pool Hall    

They made eye contact.

“Oh, Mr Damion!” Go stood up at the edge of his booth but didn’t come out as he normally would.

“Mr Go – how the hell are you?”

Dame rushed over but when he got to the table, he could feel Go deflating and the initial joy of his greeting faded. Something wasn’t right.

Go sullenly sat back down in the booth, muttering an invitation for Damion to join him.

The waygook’s eyes darted around the café one more futile time before accepting the offer.

“Yeah, don’t mind if I do join you for a moment old buddy. Looks like my sweetie pie isn’t here.”

“I heard that was all over between you two,” Go commented disinterestedly.

“Yeah, it is,” Dame admitted.

“I didn’t come here to see Coffee Lady actually. I’m comfortable here, that’s all. I just came back from Kwangju.

“It was a great trip but I’m exhausted – those long bus rides are draining, even though you’re just sitting on your ass.”

“Anyway, I need a coffee somethin’ fierce and this is my favorite dive.”

“What brings you here? I’ve honestly never seen you in this place.” And that’s one of the reasons I prefer it!

Go didn’t answer, lost in thought. He couldn’t remember why he came here.

Dame eyed-up the young coffee agasshi and gestured her over, but she’d retreated back behind the counter engaged in her pager again.

“Yeah, you know Mr Go, I used to sit in here and just gawk at the legendary Coffee Lady, sometimes for hours.”

“Even if she didn’t say anything or even look at me, I’d melt. Like butter.”

His reminiscences made his eyes glaze-up – he actually hallucinated the warmth he felt on those occasions and felt it now trickle down through his body.

When it had run its course he sighed and shook his head.

“Ayeesh,” he muttered, “nostalgia!” Then, abruptly, he sat up straighter and his voice took on a decisive tone.

“But not anymore. Enough of that nonsense. I’m stronger now.”

“Sounds like you’ve become a wiser man since we last met.”

Go was nodding his head approvingly as he spoke but his voice tailed off, absorbed in his own doldrums.

Dame noticed the disengagement. “What’s up buddy?” His face went all screwed up as he sized-up Go. “You look like you’ve just lost your best friend.”

“I have. Or at least I’m going to…”

“Why? What’s going on?”

* Will Go tell Damion what’s going on? Could Dame help? *

*

Tomorrow: Mr Go broods and Damion laments.