Martoons

Cast of characters

Miss No

Donna

Owner of Big Top Soju Tent

Dame

Fred

Mrs Kim

Mrs Park

*

“I’ve had enough of this crap,” the Big Top’s owner said. “I’m not whoever you think I am. These are not my clothes.”

“I was doing a favour…” He waved her off. “Oh forget it. Ayeesh!”

* He’s not too happy about having done this favour, is he? *

Dame spoke up. “Miss No, he’s telling the truth. He’s not involved in this. He’s not your kidnapper. There is no kidnapper. I was just screwing around with your head.

“That guy you saw earlier carrying Fred over his back, bursting out of the men’s washroom? That was me.”

He grimaced and put his hand on his lower back. “And man I shouldn’t have done that. Think I injured myself.”

Miss No stomped her foot into the ground and put her hands on her hips defiantly. “So where is Fred then? Ayeesh! I want to know right now where is my waygook?”

* Will Dame tell her? *

“Don’t worry; he’s safe and sound … somewhere … but not here.”

“Where where where!?”

“He’s gone … long gone … on his way back to Chinju.” Dame couldn’t resist a final little stab.

“Apparently he has to meet with our Mr Go soon. Why, is there a … problem?”

Miss No’s mind was churning a million miles a minute. She was now looking through Damion, pre-occupied with her next move.

I’ve been tricked! But whatever Go’s planning for Fred, it’s not too late for me to stop it. Fred’s a good hour or two from Chinju.

* Do you think she’ll be able to stop his plan? *

*

Knife  

Mrs Kim recklessly maneuvered Go’s car down the alley behind Riverside and abruptly parked on the concrete pad.

Her quick braking suddenly transferred weight forward as the car jerked to a stop.

In the back, Fred was violently thrown forward against the back of Mrs Park’s seat. She felt the thud and glanced around.

“Oh, aigo aigo aigo!” Park berated Kim’s sudden stop.

“It’s okay,” Fred said collecting himself and regaining composure. “I’m alright.”

Otherwise, it had been a very smooth and quick ride back. They’d left the beach just in time and beaten the bulk of traffic.

Five minutes later and it would have been a totally different story – the standstill traffic Miss No and company was ensnarled in now.

Fred smirked as he disembarked Go’s car. The day had gotten off to a good start.

* Will Fred’s day continue to be good? *

Park rolled down her passenger side window and Fred crouched over to say farewell.

“So, I take it you two are off on your ski trip with your families?”

Kim waved him off. “Yes but we will not leave right now.”

“Our motel room at that beach was not very comfortable and the bath was backed-up so we could not wash properly.”

Park chirped in: “Now Mrs Kim and I will go public bathhouse. Fred, can you join us?”

“Ayeesh!” Kim said to her.

“Fred is busy – he has meeting with Mr Go! Leave him alone. Why do you think we had to drive back here pali pali!? You are such an airhead sometimes!”

Park covered her mouth apologetically. “Oh sorry sorry. Maybe next time, okay?”

“I envy you,” Fred said, imagining the cozy, enclosed environment of the steamy public bath chambers. “Maybe I will go there later – if this meeting goes okay.

“Honestly, I don’t even know if there’s going to be one. That’ll depend whether Mr Go shows up! I better head upstairs and see.

“His whole plan seems kind of sketchy – but thanks for the ride anyway!”

* Will Mr Go show? *

“Mr Go is good man,” Kim said. “He will help you. We have known him long time.”

Fred felt a surge of confidence and optimism that he hadn’t felt for days or even weeks. It shot through him like a mild electrical charge.

He nodded goodbye to the housewives, then Kim very clumsily and awkwardly backed out into the alley.

Fred suppressed a snicker as she negotiated a five or six point turn to align the vehicle properly in the narrow way, and then finally bombed out, kicking up gravel and dust.

Lousy driver, Fred thought, but great person.

I’d like to keep in touch with those ajumma after I leave here. Yet knowing Koreans as I do, they’ll probably forget all about me in no time.

* Do you think that they’ll forget about him? *

Nevertheless, through an odd and haphazard set of events, Fred and the housewives had at least established the beginnings of a friendship.

Fred was starting to see that a Korean friend was the most valuable thing a foreigner could have in this God-forsaken country.

They always came through for you in the end.

*

Tomorrow: Fred enters the institute to meet with Mr Go.