A Chinese immigrant with whom Polly lives when she first moves to the United States. Like some of Polly’s other roommates, Didi is enamored of Deming when he’s a baby, making so much time for him that Polly worries why she herself doesn’t have the energy to devote herself to Deming with the same kind of selflessness as Didi. Later, Didi gets Polly a job at the nail salon where she works. Fortunately for her, though, she’s not there when the immigration authorities raid the shop.
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Didi Character Timeline in The Leavers
The timeline below shows where the character Didi appears in The Leavers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
Ko describes Polly’s initial disappearance, explaining that Vivian receives a call from her co-worker Didi, who’s “screaming about the nail salon,” saying that “the boss [is] involved in something shady.”...
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Chapter 7
...with possibility,” she notes. She makes friends with one of her roommates, a woman named Didi who’s originally from a village close to her own. As time passes, Polly nears her...
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...troubles, she enters a period of bliss, marveling at how much she loves Deming. Meanwhile, Didi says she’ll get her a job at a nail salon whenever she’s ready. She also...
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Chapter 10
Before Deming comes back to the United States, Polly goes to a party at Didi’s boyfriend’s house. While she’s there, she meets Leon for the first time and is attracted...
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Didi gets Polly a job at Hello Gorgeous, the nail salon where she works. Meanwhile, Polly...
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...thinks. Not long after this, Polly and Leon take a trip to Atlantic City because Didi has a number of vouchers for free hotel stays, since her husband has a gambling...
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...entire idea, promising to make back the money he lost. The next day, Polly tells Didi about her plan, and even she thinks it’s not a good idea. “I just think...
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Chapter 12
...have left if she didn’t have to. She also tells him that Leon talked to Didi after Polly disappeared. “Turned out someone ratted their boss out to ICE,” she says. “Immigration....
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