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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeLYJFbfL1
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5IdqCihCJ
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYTGhc5p3U
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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwJLzuMUFn
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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRUAw09j6h
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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo54Gr4mND
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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGPSKtMYF6
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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKDl4CcE4c
"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."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlY9IygYjA
She held out her arm.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bNDFkjnXG
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePc6otqz7v
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakN5EKDjgL
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4BF0RuZlk
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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIsu9DIAiT
"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."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByQMSjwObX
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYaXDZrylw
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN2a40p8P7
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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIsqtZkYU9
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8W6uOWzKdd
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa2zvZLFbu
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ5fdAIY24
"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."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TU2lxu5nw
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wOGtfErFr
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFrOZyhRuI
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.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceCdNMEGWx
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JSTumCElS
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHR0KuGV4u
He went back to his seat.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lo9wGAFfe
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzaXm1xFzZ
Joe turned his attention on mama.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLhvf0TSbH
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7d5aECMml
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGhvBbuyM4
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZIFytBykD
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY3JNPjIRO
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotNu9We0yI
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjmdGrc3Zf
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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