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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0ZrowI7rg
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61kPG46tqj
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUeGJ2ss4h
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q0SCELHQn
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdmZerMcfk
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHMSX69reh
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqR0dR5Z1J
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZddMMP38mx
"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."497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FC6IKzWnU
She held out her arm.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBZZFxiReO
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8seYLw4zhB
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7mztst3EC
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GwaVtsHec
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pTU6wmRsH
"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."497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwfjRFNM5g
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NjUUXELKt
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4qsPE7vhy
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGO8IlJAyX
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbISRLI775n
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZtoEyd7dW
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LH5dCbHG5
"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."497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YD0R1W9RZ
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jT2elFr2S
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7QEUZGi9X
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUstghIguNi
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmxJkJdFvV
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK0BMpfnuW
He went back to his seat.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIRoNXT8vn
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpLeXWO53D
Joe turned his attention on mama.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWiqKM0ZLF
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVdgChhAJD
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIbp0wPyYQ
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrFNhLS5XL
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgq539E0lA
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2746tWqo2
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7cd6Anlyr
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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