The Gemini

9 - Her Soul For Sale

October 20, 1988

Jody parked along the front curb of a two story house that she used to call home. Her aunt's tan Plymouth sat in the drive. Another navy blue vehicle beside it signaled that she had company. Sighing, Jody got out.

When she woke up this morning she figured to pay a visit to her Aunt Li. She still hadn't found out who took care of her rent and since the woman wasn't keen on telephone's, Jody had no choice but to take a long drive to Beverley Street and ask in person. Well maybe not outright, Jody's pride wouldnt let her. So she planned to make it look like a regular drop-in and maybe it would come along somehow.

Door bell ring. Not long after, it was opened by a shorter woman who looked years younger than her salt and pepper streaked hair indicated. Dressed primly in a pair of navy blue slacks and a grey turtleneck sweater, nothing about her had changed since the last time Jody had seen her seven months ago.

Li smiled seeing her niece's face. Jody. The slim woman pulled the girl into a hug. Not expecting the gesture, Jody stumbled into it.

"Ow ouch, wait." Jody winced. Her hair was caught in Li's beaded necklace. "I'm stuck. Just let me..." she finagled carefully, having to break a few strands to get free.

It never failed. Li had a love for necklaces of any sort and Jody would always get her hair stuck in them somehow. It was a much easier task to get loose now that her hair was shorter.

"Hi." Jody finally greeted.

"Come in, come in. It's getting cold out here." Li waved her in, shutting the door immediately behind her.

Jody didn't find it cold at all but there wasn't a time when her aunt didn't make that claim. Even during the summer she would complain about it being "chilly."

"What brings you over. It's been so long." Li asked once they had settled in the front den.

"That's why. I've missed you." Jody smiled, telling a half truth. She did miss her.

Li had always been apart of Jody's life and over the years their bond became unbreakable. Jody's parents met when her mother came over from China on an education visa. They fell in love and got married soon after. At the request of Jody's mother, Li came over to be with her younger sister and the rest was history.

When Jody was 12 her mother died of cancer. Her father left two years later, claiming that he felt suffocated and couldnt handle raising the girl on his own. So he left the house and Jody to Li. After many bitter years, Jody came to terms with the abandonment and her sorrows.

"Thats very sweet to hear." Li's eyes scanned Jody. "Are you okay? I saw you limping."

"Yeah, I had a mishap at work. Twisted my ankle, its a lot better now though."

Li nodded. A brief silence ensued. All the while Li still eying her niece. "Are you going to tell me the truth now?"

"What are you talking about?" Jody tried her best to sound clueless.

"You are never this quiet. Are you sick?"

Scratching an itch above her eyebrow, Jody shook her head. "No, Yí ma, it's just a lot going on right now."

Li's expression softened a slight at the tired look on her nieces face.

"I came over to-" Jody was interrupted by a voice from the kitchen. It's owner coming around the corner.

"Li, you're out of honey, I can run and go get some from..." The woman trailed off when she saw the new face in the room. "Juju!"

Oh god.