Korea

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Friday Fictioneers – Downtown Train

(Author’s note: I decided to go a whole different direction with this than I was originally thinking. This one has a little bit of a different feel to it. You’ll understand when you read…)

© David Stewart

Downtown Train

by Miles H. Rost

Patrick walked out of the hobby shop, happily clutching the bag that held his latest treasure. Robert, his longtime friend, scrunched his face in a puzzled expression.

“So, tell me this again. You’re building…”
“A bullet-style train setup in my garage. Since I don’t have a car, I figure why not use the garage for something hobbyish.”
“And this train is…”
“A KTX-Cheongryong, or KoRail Class 16000. 2 control cars and 4 motor/passenger cars.”
“Isn’t that excessive?”
“Nah. It pales compared to Rod Stewart’s setup.”
“THE Rod Stewart?”
“The same. Seems like a lot of celebs are railheads.”
“Y’don’t say…”

(Little known fact: Rod Stewart has two different rail setups in his houses in LA and England. He’s one of the big names mentioned as a celebrity who is also a rail enthusiast. Others include Michael Jordan, Roger Daltrey, and Elton John.)

You know you want to, so why not? Click the box frog!

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Friday Fictioneers – The Last Emperor

(Author’s note: Life gets busy. And when you get a new case handed to you with a whole bunch of things going on to get fixed, priorities come up. However, I am glad to finally have some time to write. Here’s this week’s Fictioneers entry!)

© David Stewart

The Last Emperor

by Miles H. Rost

Forced into a position where I didn’t want to be.

Father was deposed, My powers slowly stripped over 3 years, an Emperor with no empire.

Sure, they made me a king. But being subject to the whims of a larger emperor, a king in title only, was more than humiliating.

What will the history books say about me, Sunjong son of Gojeon? A prisoner in my own palace by the hands of two foreign usurpers.

Like my life, the palace is worn down. I’ve lost many years here. I never thought I’d be a gilded bird, caged in bittersweet splendour.

Emperor Yunghui (Sunjong) and Empress Sunjeong

Go ahead… read more!
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Friday Fictioneers – Island Rain

(Author’s note: Hey, everyone! Getting back into the game. Hoping to start posting every week again, and maybe drop some other story ideas on here. This month is going to be further work on my first book, at least a rough draft. We’ll see how things work. I have a goal of getting it off to an editor by the end of April. We’ll see what happens. Anyhow… here’s today’s fictioneers!)

© Me!

Island Rain

by Miles H. Rost

A laundry cafe.

Not exactly a typical thing to see, but in Korea, they’ll make a cafe or bar out of anything. It seems like Korea catches waves earlier, then moves on quickly. America doesn’t usually have things like this.

While sitting and waiting for my wash to dry, I sipped on a cup of yuzu tea, the sounds of jazz fusion music in my ears. The fact I was able to find this place during my month off from teaching was helpful, as I could work through the evening on my writing.

I could stay in this place forever.

You know you want to click it.
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Friday Fictioneers – “Beginnings”

(Author’s note: January was a very busy month. Exceptionally busy. Things are really picking up steam. Therefore, here’s today’s fictioneers!)

© Roger Bultot

Beginnings

by Miles H. Rost

“Su-Yeon Noona*!”

Paul slowed himself down as he approached the bench. Su-Yeon, raven hair and all, turned his way.

“Paul? What’s going on?”
“I just saw you pass by, and wanted to talk quickly!”
“What’s going on?”

He sat down, catching his breath. The British expat needed to exercise more.

“Valentine’s day is coming up. And I’d like to take you out for a date.”

Su-Yeon’s eyes got wide, then narrowed as she grinned.

“So you want me to leave my title of noona, soona?”

Paul blinked.

Gears turned.

He laughed.

Blush appeared.

“Oh stop it, you!”

Su-Yeon just chuckled.

* – “Noona” is Korean to denote a woman who is older than a man, but is familiar to them (regardless of biology). Commonly used among younger college-aged males for the upperclass college-aged women.

Oh come on, you know you wanna join.
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Friday Fictioneers – Korea Remembered (Madrigl)

(Author’s note: A lot of feels with the picture for this Fictioneers. A lot of them. Enjoy!)

© Brenda Cox

Korea Remembered (Madrigl)

by Miles H. Rost

Nambu Market in Jeonju was one of a few placed I loved to go.

The shops, the smells of the food, the atmosphere; All of it was intoxicating.

The blood sausage restaurant, serving up sundae, was lined up down the lane. I passed them all by. No twenty minute wait for me.

The kalguksu shop I went to had soft asia-jazz playing, and was a great place for someone like me.

The server put some water on my table, and asked me for my order.

“Mandu Kalguksu wa cola hanpyeong gajuseyo.” *

She smiled as she went to make my order.

*- “Knife-cut noodle soup with dumplings, and 1 glass of cola, please.”

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Friday Fictioneers – Still Losing You

(Author’s note: The month of November was not very kind, creativewise. A good portion of my brains had to be put to use at work. The rewards will be seen eventually, but it meant my online writing ended up sacrificed. Hopefully this will be a return to more weekly and sooner endeavours. Otherwise, enjoy today’s offering!)

asian-bus

© Fatima Fakier Deria

Still Losing You

by Miles H. Rost

“O-bun!”
“Kamsahabnida!”

Percy looked down at the phone, as the bus driver went back into Gwangju’s main bus terminal.

He told Caitlin that she had one week to decide: Go to Australia with him, or stay in Korea. He looked to the door of the bus gate, hoping to see her sandy hair peek out.

Deep in his heart, he knew.

He picked up his bags and boarded the bus. Seat 15, so he could see if she would board as well.

As the bus backed out, tears filled his eyes.

As it passed Gwangju’s city limits, he finally broke down.

purple-inlinkz-frog

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Friday Fictioneers – On Every Street

(Author’s note: Getting there. Enjoy!)

ssi-lights-of-jerusalem

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

On Every Street

by Miles H. Rost

I turned down what used to be a busy college street, one that was full of bars, chicken shops, all the places a student in Korea would go.

I looked at how transformed it was. Gone were the karaoke houses, the pizza shops. Now it was condos, small boutiques, and a grown-up veneer.

Each place I remembered seeing Soong-Mi, gone.

Each memory of her smiling face: fading.

She went her way, I went mine. To meet one last time.

I laid a rose at her memorial, a cross on a corner. It’s her face I look for…on every street.

purple-inlinkz-frog

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Friday Fictioneers – Shame On The Moon

(Author’s note: Y’know, I feel really bad. I haven’t communicated with y’all in the comments in a month. A lot has happened in this month, mind you, but that doesn’t mean much. So, in order to make sure I actually get back to you all, I’ll be spending part of the weekend responding to all the comments that have come in.

I appreciate how everyone who has commented so far, and I am really grateful for everyone keeping me moving in this writing thing. It’s been a tough couple months for writing, but I think I’m close to being able to bust out and really get things going. Now…here’s today’s Fictioneers!)

gah_window

© Gah Learner

Shame On The Moon

by Miles H. Rost

Minjin’s father slammed open the door.

“What was that sound?!” he growled. His daughter was sitting at her desk, writing in her book.

“I have been doing homework, father. What was the sound?”

He furrowed his brows, and turned.

“Never mind. My daughter is great, and I heard nothing.”

He closed the door behind him.

Minjin counted to 10, then smiled as she opened the window again, and brought out her binoculars. Looking through them, she peered into the open windows of the nearby fitness center.

“Come to mama,” she drawled, ogling the men exercising to the light of the moon.

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Friday Fictioneers -Sunshine

(Author’s note: It’s 3-1 in Korea, Revolution Day. This means a day off. The only one I’ll have for the next 2 months. So today, I give my best! Enjoy! And there will be more stories during the week as I go walking and enjoying the nice weather.)

clouds-above-the-trees

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Sunshine

by Miles H. Rost

“I wish I could travel,” Rockne said, staring at the bright clouds above.

“Where would you go? Not many people leave Blackford County,” his cousin, Marcus, replied.

“I dunno. I had a dream of beautiful girls in robes recently.”

“Are ya thinking of Japan?”

“Maybe. Korea sounds pretty cool, too.”

Marcus turned to his side and looked at Rockne.

“You got the hots for Yumin in science class.”

“Whaaaaaaaa?”

“She’s from Korea, and quite nice to look at.”

Rockne squinted, as the sun came out.

“She’s Korean-American. She’s from Portland.”

“Oh.”

“But yeah, she’s my ray of sunshine…”

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Friday Fictioneers – Vacation

(Author’s Note: More stories on the way, I actually have a few that I am working on. I just need to get over my day-to-day tiredness from teaching kids.)

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Vacation

by Miles H. Rost

The waves rolled in off the Yellow Sea onto the rocks of Anma Island.

“Hey, don’t go too far out, Em. You’re sunburnt and dehydrated,” Dee said, a quick warning. Mick and Tommy were already in the sea, playing around.

“I’ll be fine, Dee. I just need relief from this darn hot weather.”

The September heat had baked them as they trudged through the overgrown brush. Happily, about late afternoon, they found a flat pasture to camp.

Em sat at the bottom of the rock bank, dipping his feet in.

“This…is bliss…” He said, just before a large wave crashed upon his clothed form.

“…or at least it was.”

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(Anma Island, September 2011, with other bloggers (including the proprietor of the Green Walled Tower))