Martoons

Cast of characters

Fred

Dame

Donna

Mr E

Miss No

*

Beach Exit   

The beach had filled up quickly and was now wall-to-wall people.

The sky was clear overhead but overcast at the horizon. Fred distributed the drinks to Donna, E and No.

Dame had returned and tipped back what was left of his cola and let loose with another loud belch from the depths of his gut.

Donna gave him a dirty look, which he ignored.

Around them, people’s eyes were evenly divided between the horizon and their watches.

“Thirty seconds! Twenty! Ten!”

“…Happy New Year!”

Exactly as scheduled, little specs of tangy orange light burst through pinholes in the thick mat of greasy, grey clouds.

A lot of people were holding balloons and they simultaneously released them.

Within seconds the sun had risen above that lower level of cloud, and the complete orb was now in full view – a big, juicy fresh orange against a grey, dense, almost smoky backdrop.

Angelic music gushed from the large stage speakers and simultaneously everyone began applauding.

It was polite, respectful praise for the year’s first sun.

A profound feeling overcame Fred.

There was something primordial in this instant: He felt a human connectedness to the sun; to nature, through thousands of years carried right through to now.

And he’d come all the way to Korea to experience it for the first time.

He sank into reflection but could then feel people jostling around him. They were methodically folding up their mats and packing their bags.

Sunrise had only just happened, yet the solar sphere was already a more-jaded, normal, everyday yellow.

The day had begun; New Year’s sunrise was history. People had things to do. The beach began emptying efficiently.

Fred glanced over to see what the others were doing. Mr E and Donna were chatting while Miss No had her eyes closed and was saying a silent prayer.

It had been a tense evening and a restless morning.

Relax, a voice in her head said, it’s the New Year. Everything’s under control. Round up the troops, get off this beach, and get back on the road ASAP.

Today’s going to be an e-a-s-y day. Just that meeting at noon then Mr Go can drive Fred to the airport. With that out of the way, you can coast…

* Will it really end up being an easy day though?… *

It was always lamentable to see a foreigner go.

Her business still hadn’t fully recovered from Thomas’ departure (would it ever? Would she?), yet No assured herself that the most important thing was how you dealt with any crisis after it happened.

And that part was coming together nicely.

Ready for the outside world again, she cracked her eyes back open. Yet when she glanced over to where Fred and Damion had been, they were gone.

* Where did they go? *

She did a double take and scanned the vicinity. Her eyes rotated in their sockets with lightning speed.

Wait – was that them scurrying toward the notorious men’s washroom?

Didn’t we already agree the little voice in her head said, that you were going to keep your cool? The foreigners are making a rest stop before we all go back home.

Relax…relax…re…lax…  

“Don’t have a baby in there!” she shouted to them with her hands formed around her mouth like a megaphone. “Come right back here after. We’re leaving right away…”

But they didn’t seem to hear. No stood fast even though every bone in her body was urging her to catch up to them and check things out.

Well, almost every bone.

Truthfully, she was mildly enjoying the body heat from being in proximity to Donna and Mr E. Yet she’d never been one to be seduced by coziness.

Will you take it easy? the little voice nagged. Take your eyes off that washroom exit. Let the boys do their thing. Enjoy this last moment on the beach.

Think of this coming year and how successful you’re going to be. Fred’s going, going, gone.

Mr Go’s out of the picture for now… Look at that bright sun. It’s going to be a brilliant day. And a dazzling year…

Yeah, yeah, whatever.

* Miss No can’t seem to relax can she? *

*

Tomorrow: ‘Santa’ grabs hold of Fred!