Martoons

Today: Thomas is struggling and Go shows him some compassion.

Cast of characters

Thomas

Mr Go

* What is Oddball’s association with Mr Go? *

Oddball kept showing up at Go’s institute almost daily, going into the boss’s office for meetings.

But they were more regular-type meetings – no secret swigs of soju; no army-type orders; no Mr Go gawking out the window.

After their little confrontation the other day, Oddball steered clear of Thomas and so did Go.

As far as Thomas was concerned, the scarcer any boss was the better, but he couldn’t completely avoid Go because he still hadn’t been paid yet.

He’d stupidly come to Korea only with about $500 and that was almost gone.

Korea was more expensive than he’d expected; almost on par with Canadian price levels.

To stretch the few dollars he had left, he was surviving entirely off ramyon, slurping down one or two packs at every break.

Despite being loaded with MSG and who-knows-what, they only cost 50 cents a pack.

Korean students and bachelors survived on them.

Thomas got a laugh from the students when he slugged two cases of ramyon over his shoulder into the institute, where he spent most of his time anyway.

Coffee Lady had purchased them for him.

Despite being addicted to the deleterious delicacy, it didn’t take long for Thomas’ brain and whole body to start shutting down from malnutrition.

He had to eat more and more ramyon to quell his hunger.

It got to the point where he’d slurp down a couple of packs, but be hungry again fifteen minutes later.

Then ten.

Then five.

Then he’d eat and not feel a thing.

Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em, he joked to himself.

The hunger would gnaw at him.

He’d get the shakes.

To make matters worse, nobody around work would talk to him these days.

He’d pick up rumours but when he confronted anyone about them, they’d just walk away and ignore him.

Starving for a conversation, he was at the point where he’d have even talked to Oddball – if he’d been around, which he wasn’t.

“Where’d that guy disappear to?” Thomas asked Go. “You know, the guy who was listening in on our meeting and the guy who meets with you in your office all the time? That …”

He couldn’t think of any other description. “That guy with the bad cough?”

“He very busy,” Go said disinterestedly.

* Is Mr Go being up front about who Oddball is? *

Thomas used his hands to beckon for more information. “Yeah, but, who is he? What’s he do?”

Go waved him off defensively. “He is a tourist. Just doing some sightseeing. Why?”

Thomas shrugged. “Guess I’m a bit lonely. Could use the company of another foreigner. Culture shock, I guess.”

“Yes,” Go said to Thomas reassuringly, “it must be lonely for a foreigner in Korea. But I am glad you are here. Business is good. I think you will have a long, happy life in Korea.”

“Buddies back home told me I’d get culture shocked here and I’m already feeling it. Hope I don’t get homesick. Everything will get better when my daughter comes – soon!”

But time seemed to come to a standstill.

Later in the week, Go saw a pale, emaciated Thomas wandering around work in a daze.

The boss took sympathy on him.

In his first few weeks, Thomas would leave the institute in the middle of the day and go sightseeing and come back with interesting observations.

But now he’d camp out in the institute all day.

He spent all his spare time in the staff room and dozed quite often.

* Will Thomas survive Korea? *

“Just trying to save energy Mr Go,” Thomas explained as boss looked in on him one afternoon and roused him froma nap.

He stretched and rubbed his puffed-up, red eyes.

“You know, I’m hungry all the time. I was actually thinking starting smoking again, like I did in high school. I know that can really kill hunger pangs.”

“Maybe you are just adjusting to life in Korea,” Go assured him. “You must be optimistic.”

“I am. My vision of the future keeps me going. As soon as I get paid I’m going to buy a whack of groceries. Real food. Mmmm, I can picture it now.”

But he didn’t like to think about that too much.

It was torturous.

“Anyway, momma always told me to live within my means and my means right now are lean and mean! No cash so I’m laying low.”

He got up. “Excuse me my good man, ramyon time. I’m starving.”

Go waved him off. “Thomas, come here.”

And he motioned him over while at the same time looking over the foreigner’s shoulder to make sure no one was looking.

“Let’s go and eat rice. I can see now that you are really struggling but you are a proud, humble man and haven’t said much. Koreans like those qualities in someone.”

He slipped Thomas $20 worth of Korean spending money and invited him out for a quick, real dinner. “I want to speak frankly with you.”

They headed out the door.

“That odd man you asked me about – he is not a tourist. Let’s go and over dinner I will tell you what I know about him. He is very … strange.”

*

Tomorrow: Thomas finally gets some socializing … and some vital scuttlebutt on Oddball.