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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0rhxRXEZb
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoWREniz6H
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAE8IExofn
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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5TF0xdOuO
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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjcizBl6pP
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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCj3zAuJTF
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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zf5KkXrhd
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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprMBTZFDhu
"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."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbNuo2MXXt
She held out her arm.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6oygdeKuy
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR250DzPxPS
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveJENYZ1NZ
 868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofuI51GZrS
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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXez7vlii5L
"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."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKakDtSCykh
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqVBYzCSxI
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU9yM3fiwq
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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AzgHUGXi0
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygj4vuJwKC
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwLSW1UVQG
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkPDi3NfKM
"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."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB3alEz9qa
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMd5EGWXSH
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIkhWFp7RP
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.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OcjQHaThC
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhPtEtUjol
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcgMuRpz3s
He went back to his seat.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtTFVloOI7
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLkXtTY9dr
Joe turned his attention on mama.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGXwjvEmCj
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ3Ls0Q14P
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8LZrHc3cm
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCR3umHLPX
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt05rIx779x
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAKPvSTKCM
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2sHH7ign1
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.1234 copyright protection864ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ7sxJ9pCd 尼

216.73.216.38