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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkDfyeLWtg
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCzeOOlGOs
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ2AIErkp5
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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHyLDVXetr
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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMR7MaETZV
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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4jQEZrDKM
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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQnJCJtbW1
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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu7CoEonXP
"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."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFNurCanIf
She held out her arm.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXKXikPYXP
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjLAkx0PSV
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qzNzOWPX2
 562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4xK8jzLlF
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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl5Ewaq3cn
"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."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLG1R3nz3z
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtnDgEhvts
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrWQ46GQ5D
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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QHDIUp06A
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFtjh5F5YE
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFeNVZ6kxE
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJi9NpfrCS
"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."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uyUXCXWW1
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcsoimVUtU
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9o5zfrJok
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.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPkFXDPj5u
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fKJTHJZ5M
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezC118zbd1
He went back to his seat.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRopoXHb2C
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuyhFF9ZpG
Joe turned his attention on mama.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5Fowkqnox
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpTXMcTwSX
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQmUKp0sEA
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7GSUJL55F
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELSH7PeM5G
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75sidqqIEu
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."562Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKpxUkypvN
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.8964 copyright protection558ＰＥＮＡＮＡISLMtRu6zF 維尼

216.73.216.30