Martoons

Cast of characters

Miss No

Donna

‘Pink Jacket’ (Damion)

*

Pink Jacket     

Donna didn’t want to stare at the hobbling, bearded and beleaguered beachgoer, yet there was something familiar about him. “Yah, Boss…”

* Will she register that it could be Damion? *

“Why why why?” No said again, visibly showing her impatience and determined to focus her sights on the Big Top ahead.

“Let’s just get to that tent. Ayeesh, I’m getting headache!”

Donna, pointing discretely, urged her to look behind them. “Isn’t that person the soju tent owner – right there?”

“I can’t see much of his face but it’s hard to miss that gaudy fuchsia pink jacket.”

* Is it the soju tent owner? *

No glanced back but then quickly waved Donna off, chuckling. “You might be right about the jacket but the soju tent owner isn’t disabled like that.

“He seemed pretty athletic if you ask me. Remember how he shot out from his counter and over to that table? He wasn’t limping at all.”

The pink passerby was still covering his face with his hands and continuing to cough harshly.

“And I don’t recall him being sick like that either,” No scoffed. “I’ve seen a bunch of sickos on this beach during this visit.

“Why would someone come to this freezing place if he’s got a cold?” She shook her head. “And I think I’m catching a cold now!”

Donna shrugged. “The jacket looked familiar, that’s all. Can’t imagine there being too many like that around.”

Despite her skepticism, Miss No got thinking again and was shaking her head at how many people she’d seen here with ill-fitting clothes or out-of-whack colours – like this guy.

It’s probably the economy; a lot of people simply don’t have jobs and they wear thrift shop clothes. It’s unfortunate.

But that reminds me: If I don’t take care of business – find Fred – get back to Chinju – I’m going to be out of a job myself!

Donna was still mesmerized by the pink-jacketed passerby.

Miss No exhaled an exasperated sigh. “Come on Donna, let’s go.” She tugged on her jacket arm. “We don’t have time to waste.”

“We’ll give that big tent one more look. If we can’t Fred or Damion or Santa in the next few minutes, I’m calling the authorities.

“Legally I’m responsible for all you foreigners. We have to bring this thing to a conclusion and get back to Chinju.”

“I have no intention of walking up and down this beach anymore.”

“I dislike getting police involved but I have to – how you say – cover my ass?”

Pink Jacket had momentarily stopped coughing and suddenly glanced their way.

When their eyes met he seemed startled and launched into another hacking fit.

Then he pulled his pink collar right up over his entire head, like a convict coming out of a court house and wanting to avoid press photographers.

“Damion?” Donna called out. “Is that you? Hey!”

* Is it really Damion? *

Miss No broke out laughing. “Oh get real, Donna. Are we to believe our beloved Damion just magically appeared in front of us, all decked-out in pink?”

She scoffed lightly and tapped Donna on the shoulder in a reassuring way. “Did you dip into the soju last night behind my back?”

“It’s very possible you are suffering from a soju hangover – seeing all that gaudy pink!”

She laughed again; actually, more like a hysterical giggle.

Donna reluctantly surrendered and struggled to turn her head back. “Yeah, guess you’re right. I’m making too much of this.

Think I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep that well last night.”

* But Donna might actually be thinking and seeing correctly… *

No comforted her. “That’s okay. You know, with half of Ulsan having been on this beach last night and this morning, it’s not all that odd that two people would be wearing pink jackets.”

“I mean, think about it – I saw two people with white beards! What are the odds of that normally?”

Pink Jacket meanwhile, only several steps away, felt a chill shoot down his spine. Think I’ve blown my cover. Why did I look back? Never look back!

Determined to walk without flinching and get to that washroom and retrieve his original clothes, he wondered if Donna and Miss No were now following him.

Yet when he didn’t hear footsteps in the sand or anyone calling after him, he lowered the jacket off his head and darted into the washroom.

He did his wardrobe change in stall 3 and reflected that everything was going well.

Fred was presumably well on his way back to Chinju, while Miss No – as he’d just seen – was still on the beach walking back and forth as confused as ever.

* Will things continue to go well?… *

*

Tomorrow: A Santa gets bombarded with accusations by Miss No!