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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDd8Cttt5m
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmux0R4625
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXug7lqADeo
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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAMbqZ0hVq
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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49YCuxpmpr
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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs6oI5Ry1k
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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1JE3hRQca
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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtLu5wtf8N
"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."495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rW8AGRSre
She held out her arm.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Ur9GB9i7
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccuuDkVxcO
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxlDBsx1Pm
495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHRG6FSSfK
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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vWI2Zo5OH
"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."495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHdiCbL1xM
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF8tMW43BM
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlPOhA1zze
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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHlcUa3pos
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cLR5xA4Q2
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuNXAI17nM
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut1FYOsQgw
"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."495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehTMZk71QX
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW5IyKwgc4
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jh3S1Fl7C
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.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssb2fgfMmd
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu51qTHdm4
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEASI8ABlu8
He went back to his seat.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ7pU3QYxJ
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvNkTpuiYA
Joe turned his attention on mama.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53DJyYahKu
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjV7GF2kXp
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA58n8KOwgx
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlFeJJOAYv
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavzTsPYAzZ
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW9S7GR3Mv
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."495Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzskj2bCJ4
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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