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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuiSSZMkz3
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m7IGza3RC
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z5lk39wn2
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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gXFG3ww66
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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJK9EQmlnK
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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtGapwGHOX
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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTJcNz2n1m
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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfwT1GY8O0
"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."411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYvZ4HhI2y
She held out her arm.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmcLWGcFPl
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70m4UPnDod
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTv3jGpRzz
411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24Ak8v3xBS
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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgBuc16Yrf
"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."411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5ecDvtdNJ
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAtDhSQTmJ
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU0SKUJpm6
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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGML3ObO1Gj
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiCvJkSGxY
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8abiqigdHC
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGLt4ZJx4i
"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."411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW8l7oy3OR
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAXPL9IWED
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ip4Ga8bAT
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.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaid1MVtCR1
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8cmLfgSRx
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexq0lqt2SN
He went back to his seat.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v0sfJAV3Z
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXHEK6c0Ua
Joe turned his attention on mama.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm3IHtNiLP
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJJF34unaP
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzt5BURqBl
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLFrdBtk7b
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjN3HUtyKW
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ818ia3qafG
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."411Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9VKjTc9Kj
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
