Context Clues | In Editing

Chapter One | Duck Butts and Blobfish Faces

Kang Il

Had you told me that a duck would be the cause of the end of my career an hour ago, I probably would have laughed you off and rolled my eyes at the preposterous notion. The idea that fowl would be the end of my career as a professional baseball player instead of, I don't know, a foul ball? Ridiculous.

Yet here I was, sitting in the middle of a police station, with three dogs, two policemen, my coach, my agent, and the remnants of my dignity shoved in a room much too small for the herd of people (and animals) crowding into it.

"We are so incredibly sorry for this situation, and we will be sure to right this immediately," Coach Gal Jii states firmly as he addresses the police officers.

I hold back my eye roll at his words, frustrated I was the one in the wrong here when the damn duck started everything, but there was nothing I could do except pout and make sure my dogs don't try and mount one of the strangers.

Rhino, don't you even think about it.

As though my dogs can read my mind, they all look at me with their quite literal puppy dog looks.

This isn't your fault either.

They wag their tails at the small smile I send them; I tap my thigh and they as heel at my feet as the police officers leave and allow my boss and my agent to begin the usual process of nagging me.

Gal Jii lets out a huff as he turns back to me and sternly glares. Pan Young, my agent for the past 5 years, keeps his face emotionless.

"Before you tell me this is all my fault, how in the world was I supposed to expect a DUCK to fly out of nowhere and spook my dogs. They're very well trained," for the most part ... "And you can't expect them not to react every now and then to a crazy situation." I argue.

"A duck," Gal Jii states. "A duck caused you to pop two kids' balloons, swear on a popular livestream, and yell at the aforementioned kids?"

Yes. Why is that so unbelievable?

"Yes."

Rhino, Mongoose, and Turtle wag their tails at my voice.

"Kang Il, do you have any idea how bad this is?" Coach coughs.

He looks down at my dogs and eyes them warily.

"I'm sure it's not good..."

"The owners want me to bench you."

"For how many games?"

"Permanently," Pan Young finally opens his mouth.

"Permanently? They want to fire me because I swore on a live stream? It was an accident!"

"This has not been the first incident you've caused that's been upsetting to the team's image, Kang Il."

"You have no good will built with the team, the owners, or our brand. The only reason you've lasted as long as you have despite your many, many, many faults," rude... "is that you're a damn good ball player. But this was the last straw."

"So what are you saying? I'm fired unless I fix my image?"

"Exactly."

"Pan Young, I—"

"The owners have contacted an up-and-coming public relations liaison. She's the best of the best and has agreed to come on board on a short-term contract to clean up your image. If at the end of the contract the owners aren't satisfied, you'll be put up for a trade to another team," Coach Gal says.