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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllCA26fLnG
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0FJD5QIj9
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRP9pwm4FT
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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75huKaakNa
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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWp5HXDw96
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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv90D99XKh
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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv3TxhcToV
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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyqFXIYMDw
"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."836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLU59iYQD3
She held out her arm.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGpp1PjewC
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzxF6r3QPs
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6goySVXSoh
 836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK4qeik4yy
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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JCaDi1gbI
"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."836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bQUKKK3M1
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tsfZyjCVU
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7EHHqwG0L
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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPBD3td7s1
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudKXCEIPYY
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCvgMHRcyg
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPdp1IPCDr
"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."836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCNNWRe9El
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHePrRqicKr
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXJ1Hh5AWv
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.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8XfDAXWLI
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LHnvxBPG0
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zVl01o8uZ
He went back to his seat.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VcVrI2cHQ
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoUEMPhCsW
Joe turned his attention on mama.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcW7JZ7HQR
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ100Md182Ir
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb46tMKP2jK
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsYkKWXptm
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CxqgUaxji
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD9zMNViZR
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."836Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMqXhsCQRk
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.1234 copyright protection832ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhxl2tqOba 尼

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