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.430Please respect copyright.PENANADo3rH7V8DD
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."430Please respect copyright.PENANAOqkXDapixx
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.430Please respect copyright.PENANAQngXbUjahQ
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.430Please respect copyright.PENANAd0vpsjbjJK
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.430Please respect copyright.PENANAS4hbr9PdzJ
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.430Please respect copyright.PENANAwCmyNIGc3B
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.430Please respect copyright.PENANAjZYRCRzeLr
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.430Please respect copyright.PENANA7KJeG4Yvpt
"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."430Please respect copyright.PENANAdPcUCJNk9c
She held out her arm.430Please respect copyright.PENANAED03MBnRnN
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."430Please respect copyright.PENANAEzgZgARXuv
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.430Please respect copyright.PENANAMNGh70wglh
430Please respect copyright.PENANAWFPQ4s2xtT
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.430Please respect copyright.PENANAuE6DNcLfWl
"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."430Please respect copyright.PENANAi7kWoqiioN
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.430Please respect copyright.PENANAESLhX4dliu
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.430Please respect copyright.PENANAlPYnpJp9IL
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.430Please respect copyright.PENANAfNXwKACO8E
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.430Please respect copyright.PENANAiIDfYXADWj
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.430Please respect copyright.PENANAaPjrT66zkX
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."430Please respect copyright.PENANAFVOf6i3P0t
"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."430Please respect copyright.PENANACSKLND4zgE
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.430Please respect copyright.PENANAjjGLvjBXU5
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.430Please respect copyright.PENANAjOGnnrKjeF
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.430Please respect copyright.PENANAvP6GXYKmgF
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.430Please respect copyright.PENANA6lwjswT5re
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."430Please respect copyright.PENANAkDUEXbuxEH
He went back to his seat.430Please respect copyright.PENANAYyDOfDjojO
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"430Please respect copyright.PENANAUfmUrc5Nb0
Joe turned his attention on mama.430Please respect copyright.PENANAOaSImNSJI7
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.430Please respect copyright.PENANA1rxLb0o0tN
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.430Please respect copyright.PENANAFhIePFFiPJ
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"430Please respect copyright.PENANAy01qJCLKmc
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.430Please respect copyright.PENANAU1JHf4b4wr
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.430Please respect copyright.PENANAYK1YhK4xE8
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."430Please respect copyright.PENANAY3MjYppNzH
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.