Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Thomas

Coffee Lady

*

“My head’s spinning right now” said Thomas.

“Get this – I was lucky as hell to get this afternoon off and get down here from Ulsan.”

“I’m working my arse off in my new place and just starting to get my head above water.”

“With this little trip today, I’m finally out of debt. So I show up here to surprise my steamy Caffeine Queen with the cash I owe her … and I get the deep freeze!”

He turned in her direction. “Don’t be like that babe! Let’s talk – just for a minute. I can’t stay long.”

She waved him off without making eye contact.

* Why is Coffee Lady being so dismissive? *

Thomas looked at Fred and shrugged. “Isn’t that the way, eh? I must have hurt her feelings when I left Chinju for good without saying goodbye.”

”These broads never forget anything.”

“I couldn’t help my departure though. I was whisked out of here and didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to anyone – or even finish my coffee for that matter!”

Coffee Lady passed Thomas on the way back to her counter and mentioned to him in a low voice, “Important client right now. If he see you – maybe difficult.”

Thomas understood. “Coffee Honey, you met my friend Fred?”

She didn’t openly say yes but did make brief eye contact. “Copy?”

“Sure – black please. Nothing in it.”

She carried on to her counter.

Thomas: “Fred, yeah, hey look – I can’t stay. I’ve got, like, five minutes to get a taxi and get back to the bus terminal.”

“I’m working tonight – private students, big money. Can’t miss it.”

A rumble of thunder was audible.

“What’s your new place like?” Fred asked.

“Ulsan? Put it this way,” Thomas chuckled, “it’s not here and that in itself is a good thing.”

He looked back over to see what Coffee Lady was up to.

“At least this visit wasn’t a total loss. I paid back my debt to Coffee Lady – her loan helped me eat when I was here. Felt guilty about takin’ handouts but I was strapped.”

He fidgeted in his pocket and produced his tattered bus ticket, and turned it over. “Look, I’ll give you my number…” He handed it to Fred.

“Thanks.”

Coffee Lady approached them again. She had Fred’s coffee on a tray and was more conciliatory to Thomas this time.

“You must make appointment. About today – I am sorry.”

She placed Fred’s coffee down on the counter, put her head down and went back to work before Thomas could say anything. He turned to Fred.

“Look buddy, you give me a call and we’ll meet sometime.

Do it soon though. If my aborted tenure in Chinju is anything to go on, who knows how long I’ll be in Ulsan.

* Will Thomas get to stay in Ulsan for awhile? *

“Anything can happen in this crazy place, and stuff unfolds fast usually with no notice. This place ain’t for the queasy.”

He shook his head. “Actually this might sound odd but that’s kind of why I like Korea. My life back home was so routine and boring.

“And those Edmonton winters – way-y-y too cold! I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it.”

He looked at his watch. “Last minute of play in the game. All in all, I want to stick it out in Korea but as I said, you just never know.”

Fred nodded and shrugged.

Thomas: “Just wondering, how did you know I’d be here?”

Fred explained.

“Now, that’s fate!” Thomas said.

“The time was right for us to meet. It’s actually amazing you came to Korea. It gives me a good feeling knowing that you’re here.”

He chuckled in a half reassuring yet non-committal way. “You know, life here is what you make of it. A lot depends on your approach.

“I admit I was naïve as hell when first got here …”

He seemed to get lost in thought about his Chinju days, and fuzzy images of Wide Eyes danced before him. His fist involuntarily clenched down at his side.

“There is one guy here, though,” he muttered.

“I never liked him since I first laid eyes on him. I sincerely hope I never run into him again – I’d rearrange his face.”

* Will Thomas and Wide Eyes meet again? *

He snapped himself out of his downer, got up to go, and again looked to the counter. “Coffee Lady bye-bye!” He waved like a pre-schooler.

“Sorry about today. Next time – me make appointment – okay!”

She was preparing things but looked up briefly, snapping a quick head nod.

Thomas mimicked a phone call. “I call you – soon – okay?”

She didn’t say anything. Thomas walked over to the café’s smoky-glass door and Fred followed.

*

Tomorrow: Fred does a little eavesdropping.