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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTs8Yagg1TD
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB8RQ02p8A
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihI2MaXAHY
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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwxuMsKT30
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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5LuMlzKnt
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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj7xhQTwp0
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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQWpJ9K0IQ
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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUfCq0uq2k
"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."410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25u1GSlXv5
She held out her arm.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCgV8KB6h1
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDAuJDR4pe
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjefcYkeS4P
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimtxx4UAut
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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv9vxLozLI
"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."410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrX7w67xzV
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbtESLCR2L
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpXyWG5c0H
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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbzfKk2ONW
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeBKQUh3JO
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsTj5a7GSm
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2OGLIfmDs
"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."410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY6cufLczN
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyz6tq9Gsi
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQG4zB7Bum
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.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfbds3bJH9
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GvQoUTBlB
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHom7wVsfKF
He went back to his seat.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliPir7T6dk
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uATSSqJKR
Joe turned his attention on mama.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX8LrtmE5a
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOpoUklXHo
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJeOFvINSX
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxby2yGuMQf
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeRZSkCuLJ
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xTxJcdes9
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvw2xUpkqk
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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