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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2gylC3Wv2
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV4A2hqgn8
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UPCBsgJdF
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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWq4z7tItA
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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahxGkf9jBh
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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqupDxUgIiT
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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHjIBPMdMr
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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEObxcrTQy
"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."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2bS1cMDda
She held out her arm.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoTbDwfHJp
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VmT9MNdLO
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXo0sXFk4h
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ3MZUuiJL
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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsUWu90dr1
"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."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5amGS0U0OK
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr32ZOOGFfK
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAYWpFmhZP
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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuPiVsnNxy
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRKEOKdIJX
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw5mQp8BGX
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTzEX7IL25
"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."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD4AkrsUy2
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVpcZ4ry1D
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzGmCSWynv
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.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbi3UULjpy
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQzVV8Q7tZ
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRh9W2OFUU
He went back to his seat.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPNDdP5szw
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IoU0ZPWxA
Joe turned his attention on mama.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokadIwovnD
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENfVvztN23
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u68kjywHb
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWFh20rM1p
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHugCJS1lW6
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD7ScQCnqH
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmtFo8QQpL
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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