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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0jkmMVf5X
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC1lYdpJC5
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh58DK0di8
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUPMQeeKJ1
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWYWVDBqa4
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiI62ZOWT1
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJvDBOJhxT
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPfCHuodgc
"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."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj01k9iBJ6
She held out her arm.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeedusmbHx
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAvYeIR3IN
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHydv8u7f4
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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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66H2gc6UFs
"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."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwVyexqicU
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS393fxrgvj
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIeeGcl5cp
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrt3O6J2KT
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoesF49k6o5
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI634aG3M8I
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0Ete0bGtU
"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."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5X6ikwlIk
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpfvyLQgNd
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8ZpwsqLAV
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXP3TFWFad
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbil9pZcYN5
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThPMRG1gio
He went back to his seat.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZagu5NvS1
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE3zv3PC4c
Joe turned his attention on mama.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9gipD3lb9
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRwUwAB7PS
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TELtob7iw
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBUgH9TLwI
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jFDtYmX0l
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXOc3rhng1
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYEu8cUM4V
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.8964 copyright protection638ＰＥＮＡＮＡAprNvh54Kh 維尼

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