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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHMugfI33P
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXof6UKRpn
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS7dQIAre0
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdU9ucTjOO
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI8vBentwv
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADEZWYqUxQ
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ShE7oYVDc
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVTI998Thq
"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."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu6sPuGixr
She held out her arm.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPqLP1p8FB
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJdYHEDBHe
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPTjUPQbUx
608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVNVadpSjg
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsnDXAWTBc
"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."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZgU6YqpxE
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrwf2sH8an
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9noCGbEcIb
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRPrtHzvOT
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D6U6KLNkn
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHa61DZrSt
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f2MqKMJQI
"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."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD41SabLzaa
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jv3XRFD7y
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbXWACdP1O
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.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKX8AUXuwO
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJsU0BLrP6
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDITikYp2jR
He went back to his seat.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ogNODIUKy
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMPZYG9cxi
Joe turned his attention on mama.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUQTmYlF2j
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAHS39XuVP
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRe15XSzQm
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ7dTpg74s
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvHplBhJAb
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ3fLaLUwV
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXRWHt5udA
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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