I was sitting on a chair in front of a tall mirror, while mama stood at my back. She was combing my hair repeatedly as if wishing for it to grow long.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCWAY9pTOq
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AnyqHAgJ6
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxYxiJdiIG
Whatever caused mama to be firm in raising me the way mothers bring up women confused me. She's been very vocal about her faith in God at home, in school, and most especially in the church, but she was also actively taking part in something that she knew was against His standards.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM5A5XoeEG
Her children, including yours truly, happened to be all-male, but instead of being thankful for His wonderful gifts, she was still wishing for something impossible.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYLmwcEtPH
When papa had not yet stepped on the ship, he once told us that Mama had always desired a daughter so that she could have someone to help her with the chores and bond with by combing and braiding hair, putting on make-up, dressing up, and other girly stuff.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0plsYS7e8
He even said that when I was born, I looked—you know, like that girly type of angelic the media portrayed angelic to be: soft, white skin, pinkish lips, and round eyes covered in thick, curly lashes. So she raised me as a girl. Of course, papa was against it, but the last thing he wanted for himself was to endure Mama’s unbridled bombardment of snide remarks. So this angelic-looking twelfth grader suffered the consequences.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtWPKmMBZ0
My eyes flew open when something cold and hard buried itself in the strands of my hair. I fought the urge to raise an eyebrow as her butterfly hairpin sparkled above my right ear.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjNyGaXqJ3
"There, beautiful." She appreciated before lacing her fingers through my hair for the last time. "I hope your hair grows longer. Let your beauty shine."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7ZqMnneFa
She held out her arm.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhsuOWpNmC
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPErFonQISE
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBRKGlDre6
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWJsXDagHi
We were about to leave for the market when one of my brothers arrived, carrying loads of supplies. It was our eldest. He placed the bags on the table when he reached the kitchen. Upon doing so, the band that kept his hair in a neat bun snapped, causing the black, wavy strands on his head to tumble about his broad shoulders.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJboSdNuOD
"Oh, thank you so much, Joe, we didn't have to go to the market," said mama. "I hope we haven't taken up your time."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJSVtV4LXg
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5jm0Ss633
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS1jsen0Sw
My lips tightened at the sight of it. I wish I was more like him. I wish I had his lean yet perfectly sculpted muscles, his hard, square face, his thin mustache, and his low, husky voice. But mama’s dream of having a daughter has wound me into becoming the keeper of the house. Me looking more like a girl must have added to it.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VWD9KZcFA
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFpa8BdlDR
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnQpWvvOyT
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzqexS1Q54
"But you don't need to, my son. You are a man." She placed her hand on the ripped arm of my brother. "Besides, Judy is here. She can take care of everything."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAalKi54wg
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yq715f62Z
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYlgT8oPWD
He was talking about that golden butterfly clip Mama planted in my hair. I sighed but in relief. Finally, somebody realized just how awkward that looked.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjnr4rBsEk
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDE1jjuJMI
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1AdpwUqX4
He went back to his seat.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgLjymtRq7
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c9hcD5KjR
Joe turned his attention on mama.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuWuVvcWIT
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uzeul2so3
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58LeJMBWUN
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGMO43cP63
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFJrbzv7X9
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU8PG7hKm3
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTxvjcePeE
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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