Martoons

Cast of characters

Coffee Lady

Dame

Thomas

A taxi driver

*

Most of Thomas’ New Year’s Eve day so far had been purely mundane, lazing around his apartment with Perky, eating instant noodles and watching a video on TV.

All the while his mind had been elsewhere – back in Coffee Lady’s café in his favorite booth.

He’d been obsessed with her since Christmas night almost a week ago, the last time he’d seen her.

He’d been hurried out of the café then and hadn’t got the chance to ask her those big questions about their relationship. Or lack of, he now scoffed.

* Will he get to ask her them tonight? *

As soon as Dame turned over the phone, he broke out laughing – despite trying to muffle it – and that turned into a coughing fit.

Thomas instantly recognized it. “Coffee Honey? Who was just talking to me?”

* Do you think she’ll tell him? *

She knew full well Dame and Thomas were arch enemies. “Oh, only customer,” she said in the most innocent, little girl voice she could muster.

“He just stoppy by for a coffee and now he leavy. He helpy me with Englishy.”

“That bastard,” Thomas muttered. “Moving in on my action again.”

* Can Thomas tell that it was Damion? *

Coffee Lady flubbed the call, too embarrassed to even string a few words together.

When Dame laughed uproariously again, followed by Coffee Lady nervously hanging up, Thomas got the wrong idea and snapped.

“That’s it, if I can’t have her tonight – and I’m a Good Guy, there’s no way in hell that dumb-ass is going to.”

He slammed the phone down and looked over at his daughter. “Perky, how would you like to take a little road trip tonight? We’re going to ring in the New Year’s.”

Thomas got her all dressed up warm and within moments they were in a taxi to Chinju.

It looked like he’d definitely be meeting his heartthrob after all, thanks to a strange twist of events; namely, Dame yanking his jealousy chain.

As Thomas calmed down a bit and the cab whizzed on, he realized that the fare would be about be about $100. He shook his head and kicked himself for knee-jerk reacting.

Nevertheless, what was done was done he told himself; you only live once; and love does funny things to people – i.e. makes ‘em incredibly stupid.

Besides, really, there was nothing more that Thomas wanted to do tonight than be with Coffee Lady. Now he had his excuse.

He’d make sure to thank Dame for that – after giving him a knuckle sandwich for flirting (again) with his lady but … Forget Damion.

Doing anything to him won’t look good in front of Coffee Lady.

This is the chance I’ve been waiting for and I’m going to be on my best behaviour. Thanks for this, Dame baby!

* Will Thomas stay on his best behaviour? *

Meanwhile, back in Chinju outside Coffee Lady’s café, another cab happened to be idling down in the street. Dame hopped in.

“Meesta Taxi,” he ordered in the same cheesy accent and then started laughing again, “Lighthouse Beachy – now – quickly. Ok?”

For some reason he instantly felt better – about the situation and himself.

He’d done his good deed for the day and was now doing what he most wanted to do – hit the seaside and slurp soju and noodles with his two best friends.

Hopefully Messieurs Go and E would forgive him for being late, and wouldn’t be too far along with the soju.

The cab sped out of Chinju and Dame dozed off as they cruised along the highway for several hours.

On the outskirts of Ulsan City, he came-to as the cab turned up a winding road past a humongous industrial structure stretching out for a dozen blocks.

The waygook looked out in amazement at the endless edifice.

He spotted a logo on a big sign shrouded in darkness. “This factory – what?”

“Hyundai Mo-ta,” Taxi Driver said dismissively.

Dame flicked a thumbs-up. “Ah, so this is where they make ‘em. Num-ba One.” He was amazed by how big the facility was. One, two, three blocks and counting.

But, was it his imagination or was Taxi Driver speeding up? “Why drive so fast?” Dame asked.

* Is the Taxi Driver speeding up? *

“I’ve never seen this place. Looks incredible. Slow down, man. World famous – right in front of my eyes.”

Taxi Driver waved him off. “No slow down. When I drive past here – bad memory. Long time ago I work here for…”

He counted on his fingers. “Five yee-a. One time we had long, terrible strike. Big security guard beat me. He have heavy stick and hit my head. Now one ear – no hear.”

He turned his head toward Damion and pointed to his dummy ear, which was the left one.

“Whoa, that’s serious stuff man. Sorry to hear that. No … pun intended.”

The cabby waved him off. “My wife say I lucky – if my other ear, I no hear taxi customers! Then I no can worky.”

Dame chuckled. “I like your sense of humour. Even if some bad stuff happened to you, you can still joke about it.”

The cabby snickered. “Maybe I am lucky. My wife talk a lot but I only hear half! Hee hee!” He glanced quickly yet warmly at his passenger. “You – Korea?”

* How do you think Dame will answer? *

*

Tomorrow: Dame shares his life with his cabbie and arrives at Lighthouse Beach.