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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d3ZlcN2df
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUk1xC2Gsc
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBHdsycwDJ
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5dr99C6He
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDcLVRvpYh
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBlwJg5z05
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGEHId3QJN
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1VJiipbTH
"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."482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQFhS9hJ2z
She held out her arm.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95NHaFGU6d
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYrIAZjwUS
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwFdQJGOic
482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00TwdUWhvH
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx4QNtJ62I
"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."482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5waawK7b1
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9dbVTu7OE
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsad12lgn8b
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlUbyxvGbU
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76WgOowr2H
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEM6gUGmSS
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN3yGuqx2U
"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."482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5p45HJsiw
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINeXjQUqA0
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMA2tL4vA7
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.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC1uBvR8s1
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ikeHKaS4K
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep9InnnuPv
He went back to his seat.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmeqouU0w3
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S7EL9kTme
Joe turned his attention on mama.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69C5leH5uv
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcj0g3uKLd
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Y43ZPRgc
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHxjtm0CVw
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA2RbmaNal
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvpSbiLpAZ
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."482Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge01qWwKLt
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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