Page 14 of The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties

“Okay, simple,” Ma says, with a clap of her hands. “In the morning, we call everyone and see who got the title deed. No big deal!”

Abi nods eagerly. “Yes, that’s a wonderful plan. Wonderful! But ah...” He stretches his mouth into a terrified grin, glancing at Big Aunt before glancing away again. “We need to go to the Ruo Fa Group director’s house now to apologize and beg—ah, I mean, negotiate—to have more time to locate the title deed.”

“What?” We all say this at the same time, and Abi quails under our collective surprise.

“Yes, er, you see, it’s important that we don’t anger her, because—”

“Because she’s a mafia lord and might kill us if we anger her?” I cry.

Abi laughs, a shrill sound. “No! Of course not. Oh, you kids are so dramatic. Ha. Ha-ha.” He clears his throat. “She might—you know, just—be a bit offended, that’s all.”

“And what happens when she gets offended?” Nathan says.

Abi’s mouth opens and closes. Opens again. “Ah... nothing good.” He laughs weakly. He looks like he’s about thisclose to peeing himself, this man who’s all ropey muscles and fearsome tattoos.

“Okay,” Second Aunt says, looking resolute. “I go with you. I explain to this woman what happen.”

“I’ll come too!” Fourth Aunt pipes up. She’s still wearing that expression of horrified glee, grinning like a kid on Chinese New Year. “I’m not going to miss this for the world.”

Big Aunt frowns. “I come also.”

“Yes, me also,” Ma says.

For a split second, I see myself sayingNo. I won’t come. I’m staying out of it.

The thought lasts less than a heartbeat. Because of course I will come. How can I possibly not, when my mom and aunts have had my back at every unfortunate turn of events? They never even questioned it; they were all immediately in for the ride. Guilt gnaws at my belly for even hesitating to go along with them.

But why do they need to get involved here? The whole thing smells bad. It smells of danger. No matter how hard Abi insists that there’s nothing fishy going on, it oozes of hidden perils. The smart thing to do here would be for all of us to wash our hands of it.

“Would it be possible to have a chat with my family before we decide on anything?” I say to Abi.

A shadow crosses his face, and for just a moment, it looks thunderous. My heart stops. He looks every bit like the mafia lord he claims he isn’t. Every part of me wants to run away and disappear from his sight.

“Meddy,” Ma scolds, “so rude. Don’t be so rude to our guest, ya?”

I fight all of my instincts and stand firm. My skin crawls,as though it’s trying to get as far away from all of their disapproving stares as possible.

Then Abi smiles. “It’s fine. Yes, of course, I’ll leave you all alone to discuss. But I do have to remind you that we are running out of time.” With that, he stands and leaves the room.

I release my breath.

“Why you do that?” Second Aunt hisses. “You see, now you offend him. So disrespectful to your elders!”

“Sorry, I—I just—look, I feel really awful for Om Abi, I do. But it sounds really fishy.”

There’s silence for a moment, then Big Aunt starts sniffing the air. “Mm, yes, there is bad smell in here.”

Second Aunt sniffs too. “I think moldy. Maybe the curtains not washed regularly, aiya, so dirty.”

“No,” I groan. “I meant—ah, don’t you guys find it suspicious? Do you actually believe Om Abi when he says he’s not a mafia lord?”

“Oh, he is for sure one hundred percent a gangster,” Fourth Aunt mutters.

“Right, exactly!” I cry.

“Tch, don’t listen to Fourth Aunt.” Ma rolls her eyes. “She think everyone is bu san bu si because she is like that. Abi say he is law-abiding. If he is not law-abiding, why he say he is law-abiding?”

Second Aunt nods vigorously.

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