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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHZMSFoy05
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnyCJrV7R2
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fj4OMVjRQ
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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDc3ehAbiU
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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuh6jrSQhD
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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCbbqzx84S
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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz8L0EzwDr
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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLX7qjmyS0
"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."611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtoSAW5zJq
She held out her arm.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1MgQs3ioE
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ2PdxTBst
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6ECU6pPcN
611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpYXxTnQAe
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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsQzB8TVdT
"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."611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaelEhBVkx
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFFbX9YXim
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4y3L6S3rC
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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aUzcvlYiy
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitEERHBsDY
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIP77vHYWZ
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MFqJNnldO
"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."611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYGuJo7kPB
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNg8B4PEfn
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMGRb5HVJI
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.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJcvPftWG0
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CM2111nvl
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4dSRfqQRv
He went back to his seat.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswNmBArZ1o
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnTRSYiFO0
Joe turned his attention on mama.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjg08ROBcl
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLXdgT6VBD
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHnfBq3Xhm
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pT4G6K6gl
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXYayHZWJ3
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeYNLmPmTr
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."611Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4q1yciweY
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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