Another rather disappointing Cody episode


One Friday I am too exhausted with the classes and think of going out with Cody for a drink. I haven’t seen him at the campus or at the café where he works for more than a week. I reach out to him and he sounds tensed. As it turns out, he is thinking of leaving the country.

Why Cody?

Well, you see this virus thing… I might as well go to my country man.

But US is not safe either. Plus you will have to pass through busy airports. You are safe here.

Ya maybe but you know what happened at the café?

I was about to ask you that. I haven’t seen you there for the last few days.

So I worked there for 3 weeks. I had applied for my IRD number (PAN equivalent of NZ. You can’t get paid in NZ if you don’t have a IRD number) and after three weeks I got a rejection. Apparently, I can’t work here.

Why? I thought you told me you could work for 20 hours and your student visa allowed that.

Ya man, even I thought so and so did those café people. But I am not allowed to work. So I worked there for three weeks and they did not pay me. They could not pay me. So I cant stay here. I have to go.

Well… when do you plan to leave?

Tomorrow.

What??? That soon???

Ya man. I want to go as soon as I can. I want to go to my country. So I was about to call you. Do you mind taking my car? I will give it you at the price I bought.

(Cody bought a Subaru for $4500 which according to him was priced $8000 on some site. The car was smooth and good as he drove me around on the night we played pool. He was very happy with the purchase. Ya man, I will at least sell it at may be five or six grand when I leave.)

Oh Cody… but I just bought a car two days ago. An old Nissan.

Oh man fuck!

I am so sorry Cody. I had no idea. But let me talk to someone in my class who was looking for a car.

Ya man. Please talk to him. I need to sell it like NOW!

Later I text him that the guy has already bought a car. He is disappointed. Two days later on Sunday night I think of Cody again and I text him.

Hey Cody… so whats the scene? When are you flying out?

Hey man… In half and hour

Ya? Really?

Ya man, I am at the airport.

That’s great Cody.

Ya man… had to sell the car real cheap. But I am on my way home.

Great. You have a safe flight. I wish we could do a goodbye drink.

Ya man… but if you are in Colorado… text me. Unfortunately I had to leave super quick!

So that’s the end of the Cody affair. He was really happy when I met him for the first time. He got a nice place to stay, a car and a job in three days of landing in NZ. I allow myself a twinge of disappointment before I shake it off. It’s understandable he left.




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