Martoons

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

Cast of characters

Thomas

Mr Go

Oddball

*Wide Eyes revealed – partly*

“No, I’m not complaining about my situation,” Thomas said to Mr Go over dinner.

The menu was some kind of fish where you could actually eat the soft, jell-like bones.

“I’m an optimist and hate whiners. I know things will eventually get better. They have to, or I’ll die – literally – of starvation.” He chuckled at his own joking comment.

He felt already dead spiritually, he told Go.

He’d gone to a Korean church here but couldn’t understand a damn thing the minister said.

Sure were a lot of people though.

Churches here were thriving, not like the ones back home.

He’d gotten a good meal there too.

He’d gone with his new friend, the heavily made-up and moody Coffee Lady.

She was actually a Buddhist, but went to the church just to spend time with Thomas.

He didn’t go back to the church – too many people giving him lame handshakes – but started to regularly hang out at Coffee Lady’s café.

She didn’t seem to mind.

In fact, she was tickled pink by her new foreign friend and saw him as kind of a status symbol.

In Thomas’ mind, he wanted to take it further but held back for now: He didn’t have the energy for a relationship and could be gone any day anyway!

He didn’t want to get into something and leave her broken-hearted – part of his respect for the culture.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Thomas said to Go. “You wanted to talk to me about that Oddball guy?”

Laughing, “Sorry, I’ve been babbling non-stop. Think I just needed someone to listen to me.”

Go nodded. “Miss No says I am good listener.”

* Mr Go gives hints about his ‘issue’ *

“Anyway, so what about Oddball?”

Go had felt like talking before, but now having eaten, was full and getting a bit sleepy.

He waved Thomas off. “He drinks a lot of soju. Maybe it is because he is part Korean.”

“Sure visits your office a lot. Not that I was eavesdropping or anything but your meetings seem pretty serious.”

Go waved him off again and seemed uncomfortable. “Yes, when he comes to my office he always wants to discuss serious things and drink soju while talking.”

“I don’t feel comfortable drinking in my place of business. I don’t want clients to see it. Obviously you did…”

Now it was Thomas’ turn to wave him off. “Don’t worry about it Mr Go. Nothing that I see leaves my lips.”

“What happens in the institute stays in the institute. I don’t know anyone anyway – only Coffee Lady – and she doesn’t speak Englishy!”

Go still seemed concerned. “One thing that bothers me I will share with you: It is a personal concern. A lot of his meetings with me I cannot remember.”

“I – how you say – black out? It’s only sometimes. Only when there is a lot going on and my brain gets overloaded. Bright lights… flashing…”

He slipped into a hypnotic daydream.

Thomas leaned over and lowered his voice. “Actually, a couple of nights ago I was in my favorite café having a coffee when I ran into Oddball…”

Coffee Shop Max. Although the room was so smoky that Thomas couldn’t be sure, he could swear Oddball was sitting over in the corner.

Chronically craving social contact, Thomas immediately went over to that booth and stood at the edge of the table.

Oddball didn’t make eye contact but knew Thomas was there.

He took a huge puff of his cigarette – a little too huge and erupted into a fit of smoker’s coughing.

“You okay?” Thomas asked.

* Does Oddball feel comfortable with Thomas? *

“Don’t worry about it,” Oddball retorted. “It’s just a cold. You the guy from Go’s institute?”

Thomas nodded. “Look, may I sit down?”

Oddball didn’t say yes but he didn’t say no either.

Thomas squeezed into the booth.

“They make these damn booths so small,” he said. “Thomas Mapletree,” and he held his hand out for a handshake. “From Edmonton, Canada.”

Oddball tentatively shook hands. “Edmon-chuk! So what can I do for you?”

Oddball slowly inhaled again off the cigarette.

“You could tell me your name for starters.”

“Yeah, suppose I could.” He went to put his cigarette temporarily on the edge of an ashtray but realized there wasn’t one on the table.

“Coffee Baby! Get your gorgeous butt over here and bring me an ashtray.”

Thomas didn’t like the way Oddball spoke to Coffee Lady.

No respect.

Even so, she was at the table right away with the glass ashtray but didn’t make eye contact with either of them.

Oddball tapped off the ash into the ashtray’s bowl and sat his half-smoked cigarette on the edge.

*

Tomorrow: Thomas learns some more about Oddball.