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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9yjvpCqQi
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5rCyYxgq5
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN8nYgrQll
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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFvsnOs3xC
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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2oVY7cikw
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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSHv2HBRrr
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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXlw2t8KIf
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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH0IRIfqjF
"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."584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeTGvfVsu4
She held out her arm.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFndTVNA3Y
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOSXewskA8
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ744kPwbzoK
584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIHAwWJDFx
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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTVhnK63e3
"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."584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSTD6E4sSO
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaypsbC522h
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rhmI3hcob
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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQB3RNhVna
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MDaPwCsWS
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagKRWY0Skr
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAtbyhoY3R
"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."584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6atnzw8Ui
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54QgM6dFZb
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19hn0cXNgY
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.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMBUhWOtS0
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkxdNaMl5U
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAUkoAxy2T
He went back to his seat.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO2WcErP7L
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0orWzilG5
Joe turned his attention on mama.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkE9UqTkJS
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7pLXjV422
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacTW02YeBS
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvwTRGokj6
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHzrlYAmkm
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqcZwDGXFQ
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."584Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0oqiMYOmz
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.
Penana
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