The Gemini: Emancipation

25 - The Gummy Bear Talk

October 12, 1998

It's not sunny out. Gray clouds fill the sky. The sort that appear fat with rain. Plump drops that could come plopping down at any second. The forecast said otherwise though. That's why Ms. Sarah's taken the kids out to play anyway. A little field trip to the park.

Though this playground's keeping her occupied, Brie hates this outing. All because she'd much rather see the sun. Murky weather makes her sad. And when she's sad she almost always sees him. That man that's not her daddy.

He never says anything to her, just watches. Like he's looking for something. At least that's what Brie thinks. The first few times he showed up it made her nervous. Only because nobody else ever sees him there. And she never tells only because it feels like she isn't supposed to. She's used to it now.

He looks lonely. She knows she isn't supposed to talk to strangers, but today she's bored enough to see if this one can speak.

He's sitting in a swing gazing off elsewhere this time. His heels dug in the ground, he sways a little side-to-side. Occupying the swing beside him are two of her classmates. Through with taking turns pushing each other, they scurry off to the slides. Brie sees that as her opportunity to converse.

"Hi."

His response isn't immediate making her wonder if he could hear her at all. She walks a bit closer stopping at the third swing down from his. Finally he sees her.

"Hello."

"What's your name?"

"Can you guess?"

Shoulders hunch. She's about to say no until a word pops in her mind. One that she's never heard before. It's spoken in his voice but she doesn't see his lips move.

"Gemini?" she tries.

"That's right. I bet I can guess your name."

His tone is one of play that makes the rest of Brie's hesitance melt away. Lightened by her shy smile, Gemini's eyes twinkle with their own.

"You know it a'ready."

"Of course I do," he agrees. "Lia? Gia? Natalie? Alexis?" Each of his purposefully wrong guesses gets a decline and eventually a giggle. "I remember now. Brie, right?"

"Yup!"

Gemini goes back to nowhere gazing. Little Bit moves to his neighboring swing now. She hops up, missing the first two times before she's able to sit. Just the toe of her shoes touch the ground. She's barely able to push off and gains only a little momentum.

Wiggle waggle. She leans forth and back, bending and extending her knees like mommy showed her before. It isn't working so well this time.

"Can you help me?"

"I can't do that."

He doesn't know a proper way to explain why. Though intelligent, her mind wouldn't understand that she'd only see herself swinging mentally while her physical remained still.

Not wanting to see her disappointed, Gemini readied to bend her emotions toward a lighter direction. But she beats him to it. Letting go of his 'no', Brie moved on to a new wonder.

"Why you wear makeup?"

"I don't. See?" Wiping the caricatured half of his skin, he shows a clean hand. "It's just my face. I was made this way."

"Your hair too?"

"Uh-huh."

Tip toes shoving at the dirt, she wiggles again. "I draw it sometimes."