Martoons

Cast of characters

Thomas

Coffee Lady

*

Thomas’ Big Move      

Thomas didn’t like the effect Coffee Lady was presently having on him.

It was the same now as all the other times he’d visited her café. He became like a little puppy dog following his master around everywhere.

Currently nestled into his favorite booth, he was just sitting there and watching her all googly-eyed.

Having switched into drool mode, he was transfixed by the hourglass silhouette scurrying around the dim premises, undertaking her petty tasks: Wiping coffee rings and spills off tables; snuffing out abandoned cigarette ends that smouldered away in ashtrays.

Best of all was when Coffee Lady had a moment’s downtime and flipped open her little makeup mirror to dab on a touch-up of foundation and lip gloss. Yummy.

Tonight being Christmas night and not all that busy, Thomas got a real treat – Coffee Lady did her nails. It was all so mundane and … so … fascinating.

And ultimately disturbing. It made him feel like someone should be dousing him with a bucket of ice water. Hello!

What bothered him about being under the caffeine queen’s spell? It was just so damn comfortable. She made him completely useless as a man.

He was completely contented just sitting there passive, his eyeballs tracing her every graceful move.

If only… If only I’d been able to stay here in Chinju… If only there was some way I could come back.

I’d spend every waking moment when I wasn’t working, right here in this café beholding the most beautiful woman on the planet…

* Do you think Thomas might move back to Chinju? *

Thomas found himself sighing like a Korean. Then he kicked himself in the butt and snapped out of his daze.

He’d never work in Chinju again. He’d promised himself that. Only Coffee Lady kept him coming back for visits.

He knew now, though, that he’d have to move things farther along with her.

From what he knew about Korean women, they’d tolerate dating for about four months then they’d expect a commitment – i.e. marriage or a proposal at the very minimum.

* Will he propose again then? *

Christmas night was coming to a close as Thomas sat with his muscular butt cheeks all snuggled into his booth.

Perky was sound asleep, crashed–out on the booth’s bench, her body just long enough to fit nicely.

As she snored her little snores, Thomas was mulling over the ‘big deal’ he had in mind for tonight and found his jaw curving into a smile.

He felt all tingly. He was going to make his move on his goddess.

* What is this move that he’s going to make? *

He was – for the very first time – going to reach out and touch her amorously; embrace her; passionately make lip-to-lip contact.

He’d only flirted and played around before and Coffee Lady hadn’t been fooled – she’d playfully slap him back and push him away, no hard feelings. Korean style.

But tonight his intention was different.

He was going to go for it, no holds barred. It was risky; he might get his face slapped but he had to take his chances.

And if she accepted his warm, loving embrace, then he knew this was for real.

It would be physical evidence, a million times stronger than the countless fantasies that had played games with his head.

He also knew however that the timing had to be just right and it might be an hour or so until the opportunity presented itself.

Presently, his priestess looked annoyed as she hurried around the café tidying up from the part-time helper who’d filled-in for the last few hours.

The sink overflowed with dirty dishes; piles of smouldering cigarette butts teetered in ashtrays; and apparently the helper had flushed some tampons down the toilet and clogged it.

“Ayeesh!” Coffee Lady muttered as she rushed down the hallway to the washroom, plunger in hand. “I don’t get paid enough for this crap.”

 Yet even when she was angry Thomas felt a warm buzz. He’d never felt such confidence with a woman, but other thoughts did crowd his mind.

* Like what? *

Yes, he wanted to completely consume Coffee Lady on this evening – Christmas! How appropriate! – but one idea bugging him was that perhaps this was one of those situations where you want something so much that it just ain’t going to happen.

In fact, Thomas was already at two strikes: The first one was just inside the café door when they arrived 30 minutes ago.

She’d stopped and allowed Thomas to get her into an embrace.

But then he – not she – had felt her pager buzzing in her pocket and alerted her to it.

Fool! She broke the embrace, inspected the pager’s display, and then rushed inside to return the call.

If only I’d kept my trap shut…

* Will it end up happening for Thomas? *

*

Tomorrow: Find out what was strike two.