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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN2PR5gC6y
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SQ3h1PvqK
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVmJiAhdfL
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRxIUaazzM
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj09WGUAtw
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmPbDXhsCJ
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCLdpiv7Kd
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpTUBiSqsp
"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."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQDDs6210U
She held out her arm.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEYUseJByc
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2I0x637xn
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQfs44rlhH
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG6jV1eY9Y
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdWhQ9AJXb
"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."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWl3Xy8oUB
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmOquAA6Ss
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOzkRqRexD
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpr601ffoD
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg5kyrUr2y
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK5c9P3Eo2
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QZMCMewYY
"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."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDgLXGu9mF
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3oXXM03vf
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH6DSTNPWo
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVBwl1f43P
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauCeFIAHNC
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKWtvsgRPd
He went back to his seat.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPTDQ2BT2x
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVWO7UoOyF
Joe turned his attention on mama.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW7rXFRFFc
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFbNOkXaao
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ5JTPjz88
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPMmbktR4O
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpzBdLDo0p
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnhNwnRWf4
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYRDTzLaUo
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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