Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Mr Go

*

A short time later. Central Institute, late afternoon.

“Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself first. In this place, it comes at you from all sides.”

Fred gave his head, thinking about those words from Thomas.

He’d almost lost contact with his Canadian cohort over the last month, having been caught up in his own affairs.

Mr Go had almost completely disappeared from the scene too.

Even Damion had been laying low. Fred still had a job, though, despite the rumour he’d heard that night.

* Was the rumour false then? *

Outside, the sweltering dog days of the summer monsoon had given way recently to more moderate, almost Canadian-like fall temperatures.

Today was Friday but it was different: Normally Fred worked Saturdays (most Koreans do) but not this weekend.

It was the eve of Korean full moon Thanksgiving, one of the year’s two long weekends.

He’d heard that the whole country literally shut down and towns and cities emptied out as folks headed off to the countryside to visit relatives.

As he cleared off his desk for the day he faced the existential angst of having nothing planned for this weekend – or even tonight for that matter.

The usual Friday night foreigners’ beer meeting was off; apparently some waygooks had planned a weekend trip to Seoul.

Fred hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder and wondered if he should stop by the first phone booth on the way home and give Thomas a call.

Perhaps this weekend would be the perfect opportunity to take the 3-hour bus ride to Ulsan and make good on his promise to visit.

The idea started to gather steam as he passed by reception on his way out.

The receptionist however hailed him from behind her counter and handed him a chit.

 “This – Mr Go phone number. He call you. He wants you to call him okay?” She rearranged her desk phone and angled it toward Fred.

* What do you think Mr Go wants to talk to Fred about? *

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Go had been squeezed out of the business. Fred suddenly realized how much he missed his former boss.

* What has Mr Go been doing then lately? *

He picked up the phone and dialed, envisioning Go licking his wounds in a somber, smoky soju tent somewhere. The phone rang and continued to ring.

Fred was just about to hang up when finally, a tired, tentative voice picked up.

“Yeah.”

There was no background noise. It couldn’t be a soju tent.

“Mr Go?” Fred said cautiously.

“Yeah yeah.”

“Long time no see!”

The other voice sprung to life. “Oh – Meesta Fled!”

“I’m just leaving Central Institute. The receptionist gave me your message.”

“Ah, yeah. Tomorrow is start of Korean Thanksgiving.”

“I will drive to my hometown for weekend with my parents and grandparents. But, on the way, can you come with me to mountain? I would like to invite you.”

OK, Fred thought, this had the makings of the perfect cultural experience for the holiday and he gladly accepted.

Go arranged to pick him up outside Good Lucky Apartments at the crack of dawn.

*

Tomorrow: Fred finally meets his ajumma’s husband.