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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAovdcJ0ebf
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNQye3xCYC
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8EIbQBLOD
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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrATupQ3r0Y
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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K1H2CF58S
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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EicHrsbtc
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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZaTBgiMAE
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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0KlNtuwTX
"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."607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8KEYY19cA
She held out her arm.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdXVZBXM0H
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZjGLFjiCb
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolECA2VWPe
607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLpOAFWIZK
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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNiQMTo83i
"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."607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8HfkqmYZV
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkpFCaid8d
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuVUAbDDTh
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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEsWVO0Ont
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyhN7wW82v
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDIWJduFHH
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9gY8BGN2W
"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."607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJboI4Cg4GT
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2mbayINET
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMKJnPYg6c
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.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgED7aO5di
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzJWbZLugk
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk9Pxzo3PL
He went back to his seat.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsc9dNQ3EV
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPspqHtcGm
Joe turned his attention on mama.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTMFzMWitf
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA0RLlgX7L
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqceljLQhS
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ51Lhdvax
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI59S5KL68x
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgARrtFL9gz
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."607Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmwgWUzpqa
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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