Martoons

Today: Fred hits a brick wall with Master Lee’s get-rich-quick scheme but then gets a bit of luck.

Cast of characters

Fred

Donna

*

Next day was Fred’s day off and he was going to start his interviews for Master Lee.

Over the preceding week, he’d received half a dozen calls from prospective candidates ostensibly eager to work in Korea.

It was time to get the ball rolling.

Yet he wasn’t impressed by the first handful of candidates and his initial hunch was coming true – this wasn’t going to be as easy as Lee had made it sound.

It didn’t even look like his final candidate was going to show up. Now 15 minutes past their scheduled meeting time, Fred started packing his briefcase, ready to head home.

“Oh my God – you’re the security guy!” a woman called out.

He looked up and saw her hurrying toward him. “What a coincidence! The Hyundai Pony lady – Donna right? You’re applying for this job in Korea?”

“You bet, and since it’s you I might actually have a chance of getting it, eh?! This is cosmic.”

“I mean, what are the chances? It’s almost a blessing that my car was broken into. I wouldn’t have met you otherwise. Talk about destiny, eh?”

Fred restrained himself from rolling his eyes.

He recalled Dee’s comments that Donna was a bit flaky.

Nevertheless, he liked to make up his own mind about people and as he talked more with her, his opinion changed.

She was a caring, compassionate person who had a good heart and her head on straight.

She was in her mid-twenties, somewhat obese but very perky and spunky, and had international and community experience with a church group she’d been involved with.

She was originally from Korea, had been adopted by Canadian parents and lived in Canada since early childhood.

She’d never been back to Korea but it was a dream of hers.

After only a few minutes interviewing her, Fred felt like he’d found a winning candidate.

They kept talking and the interview became more like a friendly discussion.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Fred said. “This is … cosmic! I think you’d be perfect for this job. When can you start?”

* Will Donna take the job? *

“When’s the next flight to Korea?” She chuckled.

“Unfortunately the process takes a little time – at least a few weeks.”

“Yeah, I know. And I don’t know if I can go right away anyway, if at all. I really just wanted to see what this was all about.” She paused.

“You could have fooled me,” Fred said, brutally suppressing his disappointment. “You seemed dead serious about this, all the way through.”

Donna reconsidered. “Can I share a personal thought? The only thing holding me back is my brother Damion. He’s had substance abuse problems on and off.

“He moved back home recently and I’ve been helping my parents deal with him.

Don’t know if I want to leave them alone until things get better.”

Fred had had enough of excuses and personal problems.

He’d been hearing them all day from his other interviewees.

Instincts were telling him, however, that maybe Donna just needed a little nudge or a sweetener.

“I understand your situation but you still have to live your own life and make a living.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Sorry, but that fortune-telling gig can’t be giving you all that much job-satisfaction!”

“And not that much cash either!” Donna replied lightheartedly, but didn’t say anything else and there was an unnerving pause.

Fred could feel his prize candidate slipping away.

* Can Fred reel in this fish? *

“I just had a crazy idea,” he blurted out. “Why not take your brother Damion to Korea with you? I mean, why not?”

Donna waved him off. “That is a crazy idea and I’d be hesitant to do that.”

“Koreans are heavy drinkers and he might easily lapse back into drinking problems. He almost pickled his liver at film school.”

Fred was not to be deterred and now had dollar signs in his eyes.

Donna seemed like a sure thing and if he could bag Damion too that would be two times a thousand dollars.

As odd as Damion seemed – who knows … “He might be in his element in Korea. Your guess is as good as mine. It’s worth a shot. What’s he got to lose? And it’ll get him out of your parents’ hair.”

Donna’s face lit up. “They’ve actually encouraged him over the years to go back and visit Korea.” She pondered. “He does have a good side. If you’re in his inner circle, he’s the kindest guy in the world.

“That’s the Korean in him. He’s also got a real power over people. It’s hard to explain. If you knew him, you’d know what I mean.”

Fred started packing things up and clipping his brief case closed. Donna gathered her belongings.

The interview had reached its natural end.

* Is Donna’s brother suitable for Korea? *

“Actually,” she said, “Damion hates Korea. It’s a long story but he’s convinced his original parents in Korea abandoned him.”

“When I think about it seriously, I honestly couldn’t ever see him going there. Thanks for thinking about him, though.

”Here,” she gestured for the contract documents.

“I’ll sign my life away. You’re right. I’m sick and tired of the way things are going now for me. I gotta get out of this place. My parents will understand.”

*

Tomorrow: Fred seems to have two good candidates. But this is Korea and things rarely work out as well as one thinks they would…