Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Mrs Won

Scene: Good Lucky Apartments, Mrs Won’s unit

*

When he got up around 9, Mrs Won was home but scurrying about preparing to leave again.

Apparently she’d got back home after midnight, slept briefly, got back up at 4 a.m. and already revisited church to pray.

Now she was home briefly to freshen up and on her way out one more time.

* Where is she heading off to now? *

“Mrs Won, did you enjoy your Christmas gift?” He’d left the music tape for her in the kitchen where she’d see it.

“Thank you, Fred.” She didn’t make eye contact. “I am sorry I have no gift for you. In Korea, we don’t give gifts at Christmas.

“Oh Fred! I have great news!”

* What is the news? *

He smiled cautiously, sensing something was up.

“My sister and her husband have given birth to the baby,” she proclaimed with gleaming eyes. “It is a dream come true – a son!”

Fred strained his hardest to share her joy but even the ajumma could see that he was cringing at the obvious favouritism.

“Sorry Fred. We Koreans prefer a son. It is our custom.”

With no further affirmative reaction from Fred, she collected her purse and car keys.

“Are you going out again Mrs Won?”

“I’m going to visit my husband in the hospital.

“Oh, Fred…” She dashed over to the kitchen table where she’d written down a message.

“Last night I saw your friend Mr E. He came back to church very late. It was after midnight.

“He wants to meet you in front of Central Institute this morning. Apparently Mr Go has some problem.”

* What sort of problem has Mr Go gotten himself into? *

Fred was mildly concerned but wasn’t good at sudden schedule changes. He was looking forward to simply vegging out for a few hours at home.

And, everything seemed to be an emergency for Koreans.

Won looked at her watch. “Mr E said he would like to meet you at 10 a.m. but it is already 9:30. Do you need a ride?”

“I appreciate the offer Mrs Won but you seem very busy and I don’t want to hold you back – you’re just leaving.”

She waved him off. “No problem. Have you had breakfast Fred?”

“Not yet.” He quickly reassessed the gravity of the situation and realized he should keep the appointment. He valued his burgeoning friendship with E and Go.

It was one of the few real things he had in Korea.

“And I really should eat something if I’m going to go out. You’re right.”

“No problem. You prepare your clothes and I will get breakfast ready for you.” She scurried back into the kitchen.

Fred changed and sat down at the table only moments later. Won had prepared a bowl of rice with some kimchi and side dishes.

She also had Fred’s Christmas gift tape playing on a tape machine on the kitchen counter. 

Fred shuddered as ‘My Way’ came on. “That’s not Frank,” he muttered to himself. It was indeed a tacky cover version.

“Did you say something?” Won asked.

“This is my favorite song!”

He inhaled the food, realizing he was indeed delaying Won’s departure. Moments later they headed out the door, down the elevator and got into her car.

There wasn’t much traffic as they headed to the Rotary for the drop off.

“Mrs Won you told me your sister will be staying in my room.

“Now that she’s had her baby I guess I need to leave right away.”

She waved him off. “She had some problem with the birth because she is older and it is her first baby.

“So she will stay in the hospital for a few days. Don’t worry Fred. Enjoy the holiday.”

Fred grinned that it was in fact a holiday – one day only. He and all the other foreigners he knew had to work tomorrow.

That, of course, would be sacrilege in Canada.

“About your room,” Won continued. “You can change apartments when you wish. Talk to me later. Maybe I can help you find a new place.

“Many Korean families want a foreigner to live with them. Take your time. There is no hurry.”

What she meant, of course, was ‘maybe move out as soon as you can.’

* Will Fred be able to easily find a new place to live? *

They arrived at the drop-off spot. Even though she was running late, Won pulled over to the curb and put the car in park.

“Fred you don’t want to catch a cold. Wait in the car until your friend comes.”

“Did Mr E tell you what this meeting is about? Did something happen to Mr Go?”

“He said that Mr Go was drinking a lot and last night the police picked him up and took him to jail.”

A horn tooted. E had just pulled up behind them.

*

Tomorrow: Mr E and Fred go visit Mr Go in prison.