GOOD BYE, MY BUDDY!

 

He had aged visibly for these days. Actually he was born in 1994. Among his community, their ten-year-old age is the same age as 80-year-old person in human society. Whenever I saw him, his physically exhausted appearance hurt my heart. Yes. He had been my buddy for over two years since I lived in America. He was always with me wherever I went even his stamina looked terrible. He was loyal to me just like a faithful dog, considerate and patient. He always showed constant friendship to me. He was so honest that he couldn’t hide his feeling even his complaints on me. Therefore, he often grumbled at me when he thought he was given an unfair treatment from me.
  
His name is Chevrolet Astro Van. His social security number is 3HHC167. He was sent to me from my husband’s boss in return for my husband’s help. When we lived in Korea, my husband took care of his boss’ business whenever his boss asked him for his help from the U.S. His boss repaid my husband’s help with some gift. That was why my buddy came to me. Anyway, I got a very good first impression when I met him. He wore a dark green suit. I liked his suit even if he looked rather shabby in that suit. His suit was worn to rags because he had worn it for a long time. Honestly I made his suit worn-out a few times because I was clumsy with dealing with him. His body was too huge for me to accompany to somewhere, but it didn’t matter. We got used to each other before long, so I felt comfortable and peaceful when I was with him.
 
Sometimes he grumbled at me when I asked him to go up a steeply inclined street. He came out on strike two times. One day, he denied going to some place, so he suddenly stopped in the middle of the intersection. The other day, he didn’t move an inch from the parking lot, so he made me have a really hard time. At those times, I felt embarrassed and upset because I thought his behavior was so rude. I didn’t want to keep our relationship any more. I wanted to leave him for another my new friend. However, I did a right thing for him. I took him to the special clinic and let the special doctor find his problem and heal him completely. Also, I tried to find out his complaints on me because I was ready to correct my shortcomings. I really wanted to keep our friendship from the bottom of my heart even I paid too much money to the doctor for him. Frankly I didn’t have enough money to get a new friend instead of him at that time, so I had to soothe him. Fortunately he got back his strength, and our friendship became stronger than before. We verified our persistent friendship with each other through those happenings.

He was very humorous. He was diligent. He liked dancing and running. He enjoyed rocking himself from side to side. Besides, he forced me to do just like him while he was doing that. He ran almost 20thousand miles, and that seemed a very heavy labor for him because he showed signs of fatigue recently. When I was going to some place with him, I felt ill at ease about that he could break down from overwork. I felt heartbroken when I thought of our farewell coming someday.

Finally, I had to let him leave me a few days ago because I couldn’t take care of him to fall in his health any more. After a long consideration, my husband and I decided to find another friend who was willing to understand his condition and take care of him even his low spirits.

Luckily my husband’s coworker, he was a Mexican, wanted to get him as his companion. Although we explained to him how exhausted my buddy was then, he seemed to want my buddy earnestly. He wanted to give us a thousand dollars by way of returning for getting my buddy. Also, He asked us if we could give my buddy to him for 10 months’ installment plan because he didn’t have enough money then. My husband and I said yes. He took my buddy right away and I never saw him after that until now. I still worry about him whether he is OK or not. I really hope he will be happy with his new friend as long as he lives. I liked him so much.

As soon as my buddy left from me, my husband I began to look for my new friend because he was concerned about my sense of loss. He found a qualified guy. His name is Sedona born in Kia. He doesn’t get his own social security number yet because he was just born in 2004 and his parents just emigrated from Korea and their VISA is still processing now.

When I met him at some place in Garden Grove City and I recognized that his native country is Korea, I was so glad. My heart began to pound with excitement. It’s common to be grown up so fast through his community, so he already became so handsome man even if he was just born a few days ago. He looked very sharp and his new silver-colored coat looked so refined. I felt friendly at first sight. His parents asked me for lots of money, so I shouldn’t avoid it.

He isn’t tamed by me yet and hasn’t accustomed himself to me yet, but we will get along with each other pretty soon. I know I am not supposed to fall in love with him. Frankly, he reminds me of my first lover. No matter what people say, it is nevertheless true. However, he has to be just my friend. Also I don’t want to cheat my husband. Furthermore, I can’t forget my buddy, Chevrolet Astro Van, forever. I am sure he does just like me. He is only one companion who understands my trouble with the beginning of immigration in the U.S. (2004)

P.S. I dedicate this story to the memory of my old buddy, Chevrolet Astro Van.