Martoons

Today: Thomas makes his way to Central Institute… for the last time?

Cast of characters

Thomas

*

Later that morning…

Traffic was flying this morning for Thomas.

He’d just done his class out at the factory (30 minutes outside Chinju) and was on his way back into town.

“Really like these early mornings,” he told himself as he took his seat in the near-empty public transit vehicle.

The bus was packed when he went out to the company at 6 a.m. but by 9 coming back, it was almost empty.

“By the time I get back to the institute for coffee at 10, I’ve already put in half a day. Love this place!”

* For how much longer will Thomas get to enjoy it though? *

He thought about the Coffee Lady.

He’d been dropping in on her regularly.

She didn’t say much – rarely did – likely, he reasoned, because her English was poor.

And she was a quiet type anyway.

Traditional Korean women typically spoke only after being spoken to, and that was okay with Thomas.

However, as his Korean language ability consisted of about six words, he’d mostly just sit in his café booth with his silly pasted smile, ogling at Coffee Lady’s hourglass body.

He was enthralled as she assembled her trays for delivery out to callers.

She had fast hands and was very diligent and Thomas fantasized about seeing those good, manual qualities put to work after hours with the lights out.

He felt all warm and fuzzy every time he merely sat in her presence, even if she basically totally ignored him.

He was jarred out of his daydream when his bus screeched to a sudden halt and the driver blared the horn.

Thomas stretched his neck up to the front to see what had transpired.

* What happened? *

Turns out it was the usual — some moronic Korean driver had entered the roadway from a side street without slowing down or looking left.

That had forced the bus driver to slam on the brakes to avoid converting the incoming car into instant scrap metal and its driver into road pizza.

Thomas just grinned, sighed, and shook his head.

Nearing the Chinju Rotary, he’d go back to the institute and grab a coffee from the machine outside.

Again he thought of Coffee Lady.

Maybe tonight he’d make his big move – he’d mosey in to the café and invite the little lady out for a late dinner.

And how about a weekend up in Seoul?

He’d always wanted to visit Olympic Stadium where the ’88 Games had taken place.

* Will Thomas get to ask out Coffee Lady? *

For her own part, Coffee Lady had been thinking often about Thomas too – hopeful, optimistic thoughts accompanied by shudders up and down her spine.

The Golden God was in several peoples’ thoughts, in fact.

At this very moment, deep in the bowels of Central Institute, two other individuals waited patiently for Thomas with very dynamic ideas about what his future would hold in store.

Thomas had just arrived and bounced up the stairs like he owned the place.

But an odd vibe came over him as he got to the lobby.

First off, the lights were all dim, casting a ghoulish pallor over the area.

Some kind of ‘save energy’ campaign?

Secondly, there was a new receptionist (another one – they seemed to change weekly), and as soon as she spotted Thomas she was on the intercom to Go.

“The waygook just arrived,” she said and then hastily disappeared into the back supply room.

He figured she’d come right out again so he waited, wanting to check if there were any messages.

Coffee Lady actually left phone messages once and a while and he was craving one right around now.

But the receptionist stayed scarce.

He could hear her shuffling about in the back room but – it was weird – he sensed that she was avoiding him.

Then he heard a hushed, hurried discussion coming from the boss’ office down the hall: Mr Go obviously and – Thomas cocked an ear in that direction – the other voice was unmistakably Wide Eyes’.

Thomas darted into the staff room and freed himself from his backpack.

His coffee addiction was gnawing at him.

And, even though he had eaten a rice, kimchi and soup breakfast out at the factory before his class (one of his perks), he was hungry again.

For now though, coffee would have to do.

He fished around in his pocket for change.

Next stop was the dispensing machine outside so he headed back through the lobby.

He could already smell his instant liquid treat.

Mmm!

“Whoa,” a voice said from behind him, “not so fast buddy.”

* Who is it stopping him? *

*

Tomorrow: Thomas really just wants a cup of coffee.