Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Thomas

Coffee Lady

*

“Thomas! Thomas! Is that you?” yelled Fred. 

The dashing foreigner thought he’d heard someone and broke stride momentarily.

He glanced over but not long enough to allow anything to really register. His main concern was getting his arse out of this rain.

Fred yelled again: “Thomas Mapletree – from Edmonton. Hey, hey! Look up here!”

The rain muffled his shouts. The foreigner terminated his jaunt half a block down and nipped into a building.

From the sharp angle, Fred guessed it was Coffee Lady’s shop.

He zipped down the stairs and hit the sidewalk – also with no umbrella. If that was Thomas he had to catch him, quick.

* Will Fred be able to catch up to Thomas? *

He darted along under building awnings to keep dry. A bus suddenly flew by and whooshed-up a mini tidal wave.

Fred tried to retreat into a doorway but the wall of water soaked him from the waste down.

He cursed out of one side of his mouth but some students up ahead of him got the same treatment and laughed. So he laughed too.

Dragging his soppy legs several more steps, he ducked into Coffee Lady’s building.

He ascended the stairs two at a time and his heart was pounding with excitement.

This might very well be Thomas! Halfway around the globe and I’ve finally caught up to him.

Fred was already surprised: If it was actually Thomas, he certainly appeared to be strong and healthy.

Fred had pictured his Canuck cohort as emaciated and malnourished.

Fred took a deep breath, ran his hands down his sopping trousers to smooth them out, and nudged open the smoky-glass café door.

Yes – there indeed was Thomas facing away from him, sitting at the counter and talking to Coffee Lady.

As Fred approached from the rear he was smiling ear-to-ear. His hand was already going out for the anticipated rock-hard handshake.

Brothers meeting up again after all these weeks.

“Thomas Mapletree…” he called out with pride welling up, “what a coincidence! At long last.”

 His compatriot turned only slightly however. Thomas saw Fred but didn’t really react at all, clearly already caught up in something.

“Oh hey!” he said disinterestedly and then turned back to Coffee Lady.

* Does Thomas not recognize him? *

Fred froze in his steps and felt a chill down his spine. Then he chuckled, scratched his head, and waited for Thomas’ attention.

It was an instant reality check and he needed to take a step back.

Thomas was now busy giving a stack of money to Coffee Lady. She ritually refused at first but after he insisted, she reluctantly took it and promptly stowed it.

She was immediately called away by another customer. Finally Thomas turned toward Fred, who again gestured for that handshake.

He had a million things he wanted to say.

Thomas however didn’t seem himself. He was uptight and distressed.

* Why do you think that is? *

Until he inadvertently glanced down at Fred’s legs.

“Ha! Guess you are pretty excited to see me, eh? Looks like you had a little accident!”

He reached out and they shook hands vigorously. “I just wish Coffee Lady was as ecstatic as you.” He chuckled again.

*

Tomorrow: Thomas quickly catches up with Fred.