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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32EAUeAx1K
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq2X6RQe3h
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb83ROqnFu
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDJRZu55Mj
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnMojBFgNS
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Rq6legPRg
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJHBPpS5A9
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSqm93Gt8M
"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."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtX1Hkyar3
She held out her arm.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YuDknSsmt
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSqVM8HPdD
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpl3sxdVWO
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri3bZqfIEE
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeCWVP5em9
"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."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtGYo6Zcgf
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroxxGmZXxj
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzSFZFwnf6
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDfzmrR09X
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo14ssbpeLJ
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE1gEjvDLL
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWJYPoRLiu
"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."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYAGbIDV7Q
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ffblNI6go
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ301b0nzltS
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrfeQEwg75
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoNWUQsGnX
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgJBpuEq5z
He went back to his seat.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9p1FPnswO
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPRrh7OAEF
Joe turned his attention on mama.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GBJoqh8R8
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2kvsykHNP
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7vAhnEIT9
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk74blZE6E0
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIw2mu3zLV
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRf1aCaqjr
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIWLAaQI3n
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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