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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKylHhBw7K
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8Ps23p5lu
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RlcQ8czcP
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdK46YKfCk
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WMIfvZhQZ
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKfeMtzY0I
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFemmEdT9M
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpZXeSukTy
"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."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZAeEBiPE7
She held out her arm.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVD9yeZXy1
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvHYQu8W4a
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DILDvRpFM
551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORoQ3kMU1a
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR9lia0BIj
"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."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBvVM4Fuoo
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gjvEfeHuS
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy1RQ8lITK
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWr1EA5Oqa
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58zX0s2xNi
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39DIjn9kkU
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYYAcl33nW
"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."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfey6Qa17po
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuGHCRwaf5
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGbP9rpzpH
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AlTQ0D6yI
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnndxRl4Oc0
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlpzyrFzsq
He went back to his seat.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSharvgcwX
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipx6jbqv6r
Joe turned his attention on mama.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDFxYnNFVV
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM99pIIPwVe
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQCk2V8BGY
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg66p1RXeUl
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWsmewrznC
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6uT98XbIW
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAtfFv4mA8
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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