Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Thomas

*

“Something really important could be going down tonight. It could change my life,” Thomas stated.

* What might go down? *

Fred was intrigued.

“Yeah,” Thomas chuckled, holding up his soju glass and looking at it offhandedly. “Too much of this stuff will give me, shall we say, performance problems.”

“Tonight might be my lucky chance with someone and I don’t want to blow it.”

* With Coffee Lady perhaps?… *

Fred hadn’t clued-in at first but was now instantly interested in Thomas’ tale of imminent intimacy but decided to wait and let him surrender the tantalizing details.

In the meantime he eyed-up two fresh and otherwise unclaimed glasses of beer on the other foreigners’ table.

Since Thomas had paid for them anyway, Fred diplomatically swooped in and commandeered the pair of perspiring goblets and plopped them down in front of himself and Thomas.   

“Nice having this break, eh?” Thomas curled his fingers around the newly-arrived pint glass.

“Up in Ulsan I’m busier than a rat’s arsehole. Swamped – but a good swamped. Easy money.

“By the way, sorry for whining so much about my situation before – you know, being hungry and broke and all that. I’m sitting pretty now.

“But enough about me. How about you?”

* How much will Fred reveal? *

“Honestly? Complete and utter uncertainty,” Fred blurted out.

Thomas’ eyes were glued to the shapely and stylish young server lady hustling around the bar with the trays of booze.

“Huh?” Thomas said. Fred’s comment had broken his glazy glare.

“You’re telling me how good things are going for you Thomas, and that’s good to hear brother.”

“It wasn’t so long ago you were dazed and confused – just like I am now.”

He briefly explained the white van incident with Miss No a few days before. “She never got around to actually firing me because I took off! But I could feel it.

“The tension in that van was so thick you could have cut through it with a sushi knife. Anyway, I haven’t really seen her since but I’m pretty sure when I do I’ll be canned.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Could be tomorrow or the next today. Or today! Who knows!”

“Don’t leave Korea, man.”

He shook his head and shrugged. “I have no idea.”

* Will Fred continue to stay in Korea? *

Thomas seemed genuinely sympathetic. “Shite! I feel bad. I’ve been so wrapped up in Perky’s and my life that I haven’t been keeping in touch with you.”

“We could have got you out of there earlier. I got connections now.”

Fred waved him off. “No problem. You warned me last time – remember? ‘Worry about yourself. This place comes at you from all sides.’ Ain’t that the truth.

“But instead of freaking out, I should have done what you advised – lined myself up with a long list of private students to keep the cash coming in.”

He shook his head. “It was going so well until Mr Go’s mental problems flared up and Miss No took over.”

Thomas waved him off. “Don’t even go there, bro’. Been there, done that.”

“But hey, if a white guy can’t get a job in this country – like – within five minutes! – he’s got serious problems.”

Thomas chuckled. “Tell you what. I’ll put the bug in Mr Kang’s ear about your situation tomorrow when I get back.”

“Oh – you’re not heading back tonight? Apparently Koreans don’t do Boxing Day so the rest of us lowly waygooks have to work tomorrow.”

“Not this guy. Mr Kang owes me. I’ve done a lot of extra work for him so I ain’t heading back ‘til tomorrow.”

“If I had to sit on another bus today, either me and or Perky would lose it.”

He stretched luxuriously. “Yes sir, before I get back on the road, I’d like to get solid night’s sleep.” He chuckled and shook his head.

“Not that I will tonight though.” He raised his eyebrows coyly.

Fred clinked his glass down. “I knew there was a reason you came back here! And not just to schmooze with us foreigners for Christmas.”

*

Tomorrow: Thomas ‘fesses up to why he’s in Chinju – and it ain’t to see Freddy!