Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Rose

*

About 30 minutes later, after eating, Max and Godzilla were again embroiled in debate so Fred and Rose could speak without Max picking up on it. Rose leaned forward:

“Don’t tell Mr Max but I hate being hostess.”

“Obviously I would never associate with those kinds of men, like the one at the Rotary.”

“But unfortunately it is part of that job. Sometimes I get so depressed!”

“I’ve been looking for a new job for ages but once employers read my resume and see that my reference is a gangster (!) – game over!”

She looked down.

“Also, I am from a poor family with no connections. My family is small – only my brother and mother.”

“Your mother – the Cleaning Lady – is well known and well respected in your neighborhood though – because of her hot peppers.”

“Why don’t you learn how to grow them? Koreans always need hot peppers.”

Fred was sincere but Rose wasn’t taken away by the thought and still looked dour.

“I don’t have – how you say – green thumbs? And being a pepper farmer is old-fashioned.”

* Will Rose eventually find something else to do? *

Fred nodded sympathetically. “Anyway, hopefully you won’t run into that guy again.

I hope I never run into him again either – think I’d tear his face off!” Fred chuckled.

Rose understood Fred’s feeling about the incident but it was really a serious misunderstanding on his part.

Truth be told, Rose had found Rotary Man unusually interesting and wondered if she’d ever actually meet him again.

After that odd night in front of the Hollywood Inn, Rotary Man had come by her room a few times, yet his visits had suddenly stopped recently.

It turns out Rose’s mother, the Cleaning Lady, had called Max and relayed Fred’s complaint about the man’s behaviour, and Max had acted accordingly:

He’d halted any further liaisons.

Deep down inside, the hostess hoped that over time the chill would thaw.

And even though it was probably just a silly dream and impossible, she wished she could see Rotary Man again.

As she thought about him right now, she got all tingly inside.

* Will her interactions with him become something more intimate? *

*

Gossip+Paranoia    

Later that night.

Fred was jacked from his jovial night out with Max and associates.

The restaurant had been tucked behind the Chinju Rotary and as Fred walked home he coincidentally passed the same spot where Rose had scuffled with that notorious waygook.

It was amazing how quiet the streets were this particular time, devoid of vehicles.

Mr Go wasn’t exaggerating when he said that the whole country evacuated the towns and cities and went to visit ancestors.

The ex-boss himself was now likely mired in clogged-up traffic somewhere between here and the countryside.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As Fred strolled into his apartment’s empty parking lot and approached security, he sensed an even thicker, almost oppressive calm.

Usually by this hour the elderly night watchman was snoozing and Fred would just sneak past his booth.

Tonight though, the wiry and hackneyed property protection veteran actually stuck his head out, as if he’d been waiting for Fred.

* Had the watchman been waiting for Fred? *

“Your house – some situation. Mrs Won and her daughter leave few hours ago pali pali. No come back yet.”

Fred froze. “What’s going on? I thought they drove to the countryside.”

He waved Fred off. “I don’t know.” He squinted and inhaled through his teeth. “Maybe Mr Kim – big problem.”

He slid the window shut decisively.

* Has something happened to Fred’s host family? *

*

Tomorrow: Tension arises.